And so we check constantly to see if our babies are still breathing.
Friends have asked me if this obsession dies down over time.
Im on my third baby, and I dont worry as much as I did with my first.
Its on our minds.
That factorcould be secondhand smoke, or it could be sleeping on their stomach instead of their back.
Can Technology Help Us Stop Worrying?
I know I worry more than I need to; SIDS is rare.
Knowing that doesnt stop the worrying, though.
The rig,Owlet, is wireless and fits in your babys sock.
If your baby stops breathing, the company says, the app will sound an alarm.
Its also $249, which is the only reason I havent bought one.
They each work a little differently.
So will these monitors help in a real emergency?
Owlets website doesnt consider this possibility.
Theirlist of Common Questionsincludes only one in the right ballpark: Does Owlet guarantee the safety of my baby?
Your babys safety is your responsibility.
The rest of the top questions are about things like fit and washing instructions.
Basically, you should check the fit of the sock.
Still, my sneaking in and checking on the baby isnt a medical equipment either.
He wrote as much in apaper in the medical journal The BMJ.
These devices have never been tested in any meaningful way, Dr. King says.
In other words, we dont know if they could actually save a life.
Just because you know a baby stopped breathing doesnt mean you’re free to do anything about it.
If a machine isnt helpful, are we better off without it?
Using and checking a monitor could end up making you worry more, especially if there are false alarms.
Im not saying they should be banned or anything, Dr. King says.
Sometimes we just want another way to check in.
Here are some things that really could keep your childs life someday (or somebody elses).
Sign up for an infant first aid and CPR class.
Hospitals and fire departments often offer them, or check with theAmerican Heart AssociationorAmerican Red Cross.
I wont tell you to relax and not worry.
SIDS is a real risk, and obsessive worryingmay even be a universal aspect of parenthood.
So the best it’s possible for you to do is keep risks in perspective.
And if you sneak in to watch their chest rising and falling in the crib, thats fine too.
Illustration by Sam Woolley.
