Safety is often the first thing on the mind of new parents when their baby arrives. There are many aspects to baby safety, one of which is avoiding cot death or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Cot death usually occurs when the baby is sleeping and it primarily affects babies who are between one and six months old. Babies who were born prematurely or born with a low birth weight are also particularly at risk.
There are things parents can do to reduce the risk of cot death. Standard precautions include letting the baby sleep on his back, putting him at the foot of the cot, keeping his head uncovered and maintaining a comfortable temperature and a smoke free environment.
Even having taken these precautions, many parents are still worried, given that most parents cannot be present next to the baby at all times. They want to be alerted immediately if something does go wrong while the baby is sleeping, so as to give them a chance to respond to the situation.
Fortunately modern technology provides a helping hand to such parents in the form of a baby movement monitor. It is a device which monitors a baby's movements, including breathing, when he is asleep. It usually consists of a movement sensor pad, a transmitter and a receiver. The setting up and operation of a baby movement monitor is quite simple.
First, the movement sensor pad is placed under the mattress on which the baby is sleeping. It is used to detect the baby's movements. Second, the transmitter, connected to the sensor pad via a cable, wirelessly sends the detected baby signals and sounds to the receiver. Third, the receiver plays the received information on its speakers. Parents take the receiver with them wherever they go within their home. The receiver typically will sound an alarm if no baby movement is detected after 20 seconds.
It is important to know what to do in the event that the baby stops breathing. This means being familiar with baby resuscitation techniques and other urgent steps that can be taken in such situation.
The most well known manufacturer of these baby movement monitoring products is Angelcare. Angelcare movement sensors come in several versions ranging from the popular basic AC201 to the more advanced AC401 models. These systems have been very well received by concerned parents, particular those whose babies fall within the high risk group for SIDS.
A baby movement monitor alone cannot prevent cot death. However, it is yet another useful tool that parents have at their disposal to reduce the likelihood of such event. It can bring peace of mind to parents who are otherwise too worried to leave their baby alone and sleep properly themselves.
