Physiologic baby monitor are now on the market. These sensors, which are integrated into a sock or a "onesie" or clipped onto a diaper or sleeper, send an alert to the caregiver's smartphone when one of the monitored parameters, such as breathing or heart rate, drifts outside of preset ranges. Recently a group of pediatricians outlined their concerns about the accuracy, effectiveness, and safety of these devices.
They concluded that pediatricians should discourage these purchases because
- healthy infants don't need to be monitored thoughtout the night,
- these sensors can lead to parental anxiety and unecessary testing for the baby following a false alarm, and
- these devices must fit tightly around the baby's foot or ankle to achieve an accurate reading, which poses a risk for blisters and skin breakdown if worn for a prolonged period.
The pediatricians also noted that these monitors may make parents feel okay about unsafe sleeping practices like improper positioning or having objects in the cribs.
Though the manufacturers of these devices claim they are selling "peace of mind," the truth of the matter is that these monitors have
not been tested or approved by the FDA and
there is no evidence that these devices can prevent SIDS.
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