Owlet Smart Sock is product designed to monitor infant heart rate and oxygen levels during sleep. Through advanced technology and real-time data, it gives parents the ability to keep tabs on their children's vital signs from their smartphone, which can provide extra peace of mind. This innovative product has become a symbol of how technology can be used to improve child safety and the health and well-being of families. It syncs with a base device via Bluetooth and offers real-time reporting of the baby's vital statistics through the Owlet app. The sock is available in two sizes to fit babies from birth up to about 18 months and can be used alone or in combination with Cam2 from Owlet.

We have been testing the Owlet Smart Sock on an infant for a few weeks to see if it meets our expectations and see how user-friendly it is. In this test, we will go through installation, use and evaluation.

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How does Owlet Smart Sock work?

This smart sock attaches to one foot when the baby is sleeping. Owlet makes use of pulse oximetry technology to monitor heart rate and oxygen levels in the blood. The information is then transmitted wirelessly to a base station the size of a snuff box and on to an app on the parents' smartphone, providing real-time updates and alarms if any of the baby's vital signs deviate from normal. Parents can monitor their child's condition through the Owlet app, which provides detailed information and history about the child's sleep and health. This technology offers an extra security for parents, especially during the night time, by giving them the opportunity to keep an eye on their child even when they are not in the same room. The sock is designed to be soft and comfortable for the baby, and can be easily adjusted to fit as the baby grows.

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Design and quality

The sock is soft and comfortable for the baby to wear. We have not noticed that the child bothers to wear the sock at night. It was a bit tricky to get the sock on correctly in the beginning. The kicking mini-feet will happily wriggle when the sock would be put on. A few times the sock slid to the side during the active kicking of the night causing alarms to be triggered. It made us worried, of course, but it was relieved when we realized that it was only the sock that ended up wrong. Practice gives skill and it became easier over time to get the sock on so that it sat properly throughout the night. The sock can be ordered in different colors, pink, green, light blue and dark blue. The colors are pleasant and nice and we think the sock is cute on the little baby's foot.

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Installation and configuration

The installation of the Owlet Smart Sock was a relatively simple process that involves a few steps.

1. Download the Owlet app: First, you should download the Owlet app to your smartphone. The app is available for both Android and iOS devices.
2. Connect the base station: Plug the base station into an electrical outlet. This device will act as a base station to send data from the sock to your phone. We recommend placing the station near your bed so that it is easy to turn off the alarm should it be triggered.
3. Prepare the sock: Attach the sensor to the Owlet sock. The sensor is the most important element that monitors the vital signs of the baby. Also, be sure to look at which of the sizes suits your child best and choose it. It comes in two different sizes to fit if you have a smaller or larger foot.
4. Load the sock: Before using the sock for the first time, make sure it is fully charged. This is done by placing the sock on its wireless charging station. A fully loaded sock lasts about 16h.
5. Synchronize the sock with the app: Open the Owlet app and follow the instructions to sync the sock with the app via Bluetooth. This allows you to get real-time updates directly to your smartphone. You can also fill in some information about the child and add a picture.
6. Place the sock on the child's foot: After everything is set up and synchronized, gently place the sock on your child's foot. Make sure it sits comfortably and securely.
7. Check the connection: After placing the sock on the child's foot, check the app to make sure it transmits data correctly and that the connection is stable.

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Security and privacy

According to Owlet themselves, safety and privacy are of the utmost importance. From a safety aspect, Owlet uses pulse oximetry technology, which is considered safe for children. The materials in the product are BPA-free, latex-free and lead-free, which minimizes the risk of skin irritations or allergic reactions. When it comes to data privacy, all information collected by Owlet Smart Sock is protected. The app is password-protected, ensuring that only authorized users have access to the child's health data. Although the Owlet Smart Sock provides valuable information about the baby's vital signs, it is important to remember that it is not a medical device and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice or monitoring. Owlet urges users to follow safe sleep practices at all times and consult health professionals with any health-related issues.

Owlet recently went public with the information “this is the first and only non-prescription baby monitor with FDA-approved live health readings and health messages for healthy babies between the ages of 1 and 18 months. Available to current and new Dream Sock users, starting at the end of 2023.”

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Notifications and Notifications

The base station has several functions. First of all, it acts as a hub to send data from the sock to your phone so that you can get the data into the app. The base station charges the sock when it is not sitting on your child with a magnetic connector. It also gives off colors depending on what the reading from the sock says. There are 3 different colors that the base station display depending on the reading, yellow, blue and red. Below you will find explanations for all colors.

During the weeks we tested the sock, the alarm was triggered several times during the night. It's a tune that goes when the reading becomes deviant and draws attention that something is wrong. There was a “false alarm” on all occasions and the child was not in danger. Of course, you may find it annoying that the alarm sounds when the baby is well. But one can choose to view it positively, the alarm is working and the baby is fine. At the times when the alarm was resolved for us during the test period, it was the sock that moved on during the night and therefore could not read properly, and the fact that the base station was a little far away from the sock in another room that caused the signal to be blocked. We recommend keeping the base station close at hand so that the signal stays strong, and that you do not have to run too far up to turn off the alarm.

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The app

The app is nicely easy to understand and doesn't contain lots of unnecessary information and an update to the app is underway with new smart features. When you open the app, you will see the reading in real time, it may take a few seconds for the information to sync. If the sock is not on the foot, you can go in and look at the history. There are 3 different graphs.

Sleep

First graph shows how your child has slept during the night or day while the sock has been on. It indicates which periods it has read of the child sleeping easily, deeply or being awake. It also appears that the sock has not been able to read any data for a certain period. As a parent, we have found this graph to have been interesting after a long night's sleep. Because you can also understand your own sleep. For example, as a nursing mother, you could read the graphs and see the pattern on it and read how many times you breastfed during the night and what waking periods you had with your baby. The same happens when changing diapers or when the baby wakes up and has difficulty falling asleep again. Although the data does not tell the whole truth about the parent's sleep, we could still see a certain pattern and could gain a better understanding of why people felt more or less tired after a night's sleep.

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Oxygenation

The graph in the middle shows how the oxygenation has been during a night's sleep. Oxygen rates are mapped for an average of 10 minutes and updated every 30 minutes. Graph data and notifications are stored for 30 days. The graph is within the green range if the reading is within the normal range. Yellow if it is trending towards the red range and red means that the readings have fallen outside the preset values and when the reading reaches there, an alarm goes off to the parents so that they can check on the child.

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Pulse

The third and final graph shows what the pulse looks like during sleep. It can go up or down during the period but as long as it stays at normal levels in the green area then the alarm will not be triggered.

Is Owlet Smart Sock affordable?

Owlet Smart Sock costs between 3000 and 3800kr depending on which store you buy it from, we have seen that the price can vary a bit. It is difficult to price a product that has to do with safety and children because our children are the most precious thing you have and many are prepared to pay a lot for safety and health. Owlet are clear that you cannot replace the sock for professional medical advice or monitoring of sleep without it being merely a supplement.

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Owlet Cam 2 - A Perfect Complement to Owlet Smart Sock

To further enhance the safety and convenience of parents, Owlet offers not only Smart Sock, but also Owlet Cam 2. This baby monitor is designed to work seamlessly together with the Smart Sock, creating a comprehensive monitoring system for your baby.

Features and Benefits

1. Video surveillance: Owlet Cam 2 offers 1080p HD video in your smartphone. This gives you the opportunity to see your baby, day and night, thanks to nightvision.
2. Two-way communication: With a built-in microphone and speaker, you can not only hear your child but also talk to them, which can be reassuring for both child and parent.
3. Temperature sensor: An integrated sensor in the camera helps to keep track of the room temperature, so you can ensure that your child always has a comfortable and safe sleeping environment.
4. Motion and Sound Alerts: The camera can send notifications to your smartphone if it detects noise or movement in the child's room, providing extra peace of mind.
5. Secure and Private Connection: As with Smart Sock, data privacy and security are central. Owlet Cam 2 uses a secure, encrypted connection to ensure that only authorized users can access the video.

Collaboration with Owlet Smart Sock

The main advantage of the Owlet Cam 2 is how it complements the Smart Sock. While the Smart Sock monitors your baby's vital signs, Cam 2 adds a visual and aural dimension to the monitoring. This means that you can not only see real-time statistics about your child's health through the app, but also see and hear your child instantly. This gives a more comprehensive picture of the well-being of the child.

Read our full Owlet Monitor Duo review.

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User Experience

The integration between Owlet Smart Sock and Owlet Cam 2 is seamless and user-friendly. You can easily switch between seeing your baby's vital signs and monitoring them through video right in the Owlet app. This means you don't have to use separate apps or devices to get a holistic view of your child's health and safety.

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Summary

The advantages of this product are many. There are few products today that allow parents to monitor their child's heart rate, oxygen levels and sleep trends. We feel that the product has given us notifications as soon as the reading has deviated from the preset zones. The sock itself is well designed to fit the foot and is soft and comfortable and nothing that the child reacts to or gets chafing on the foot of. The app is easy to use with real-time data overview and the ability to personalize the app with your child's photo.

The few disadvantages we see are that at first it may feel difficult to get to the sock so it fits well and does not lose connection. You can't set your own parameters, it's something that's already in place. The cost is relatively high for a short-term use although an extension package is available for older children.