A baby breathing monitor can be one of a new parent’s most powerful tools against SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome.  SIDS occurs when a newborn baby stops breathing while sleeping.  All babies under one year of age can potentially fall victim to SIDS, but it occurs with much greater frequency in babies that are born underweight or premature.  While audio and video baby monitors can be valuable tools in knowing when your baby is awake or upset, if your baby is at high risk for SIDS, it is very important that you consider the use of a baby breathing monitor in order to ensure his or her good health.  There is nothing more heartbreaking for a new parent than the loss of a child, so it is important to do everything possible to prevent it.

Most baby breathing monitors operate through the use of a pressure plate that is placed beneath the pad or mattress that the baby lies on, so it is an entirely passive device that does not affect or inhibit the baby at all.  Each time the baby moves or takes a breath, the pressure pad registers a minute change and can interpret that as a breath taken, usually accompanied with a LED indicator light.  It is only when there is no breathing or movement for a specified length of time, usually about twenty seconds or so, that it acts.  An alarm sounds, alerting you that there is a problem and, ideally, startling the baby into breathing again.

Some models have a wider array of features than others.  Certain models that are meant to be placed under the sheet instead of under the mattress will also come with a built in thermometer, and can alert you if your baby is running a very high fever.  Other models of baby breathing monitor are specifically designed for certain age ranges or for hospital use.

Any new parents is going to worry about the well being of their new baby, but the use of a baby breathing monitor, particularly in cases where the baby is susceptible to SIDS, can provide a welcome peace of mind and let them relax in the security of knowing that their baby is breathing and okay.  They can sleep better at night and go through their day with less worry, knowing that they will be alerted right away if something goes wrong and freeing them from the overwhelming need to check every few minutes to make sure the baby is okay.