Owlet Smart Sock 2 Review: Is the Owlet Worth It?

Bringing home your baby from the hospital is a joyous occasion, but it’s also scary, especially for first-time parents. You may be even more scared if your child has health issues. For this reason, many parents turn to baby monitors for help. The Owlet Smart Sock 2 is the most unique type of baby monitor on the market. Created by Kurt Workman, Zack Bomsta, and Jordan Monroe, the Smart Sock is getting rave reviews after just a few years on the market. Is the Owlet worth it? Here’s what you should know.

How the Owlet Smart Sock Baby Monitor Works

The Smart Sock wraps around your baby’s foot. The monitor is not only tracking your baby’s sleep patterns, but you will also get information about your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels. This is important information for parents who have babies with health issues. Parents can sleep knowing they will receive an alert if their baby has an issue. The Smart Sock also claims to monitor children in case of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

The information from the Smart Sock is sent to a base station next to the parents’ bed using Bluetooth technology. When everything is OK, the base monitor is green. When your baby’s oxygen or heart rhythms change significantly according to your presets, parents receive alerts with lights and sounds.

Owlet added Connected Care, an app that allows parents to see more information about their baby. You will be able to see a history of your baby’s sleep patterns that includes how long they slept each night and when they were in a deep sleep. You can also see a history of their oxygen levels and heart rates.

Cost of the Owlet Baby Monitor

The Owlet Smart Sock costs about $299, a small price for knowing your baby is OK. To make the baby monitor more affordable for families, Owlet has a payment plan of three, six, or 12 months.

Online Reviews

Owlet has garnered great reviews since its introduction in 2015. On Amazon, more than 64% of parents rated the baby monitor as excellent.  CNBC called the Owlet Smart Sock, “worth every penny.”

The medical community has given negative reviews to the Owlet, noting that the monitor has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. A study by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia compared the Owlet to an FDA-approved monitor. Twelve infants wore the Owlet monitor on one foot and the FDA-approved monitor on the other. The study showed that the Owlet measured a baby’s oxygen levels normal during 5 out of 12 hypoxia incidents. The hospital said the Owlet was inconsistent in detecting hypoxia. Owlet responded by saying the tests were conducted on high-risk, late premature babies. The study also did not indicate if the babies were moving, which would have affected the results, Owlet executives said.

The Journal of the American Medical Association also questioned the Smart Sock saying the monitor could play on parent’s fears and actually put babies at risk. It has also been noted that the monitors are not proven to reduce SIDS. The AMA asked the FDA to regulate the device.

Is Owlet Worth It?

Thousands of parents have given the Smart Sock positive reviews. While medical officials still have some concerns, parents my sleep easier at night knowing the Smart  Sock is monitoring their babies. With the payment plan, the Owlet is a good buy for new parents.

Have you used the Owlet Smart Sock 2? Tell us your experience in the comments.