Best Baby Sleep Apnea Monitors

Looking For The Best Baby Sleep Apnea Monitors

Everyone experiences pauses in breathing once in a while. This does not only happen to adults but to babies as well. This breathing pattern is called apnea. Although this is completely normal to some, it may also be related to some health conditions that should be a cause for concern especially when it happens to your baby. Being in this kind of predicament, you may opt to seek for the help of baby sleep apnea monitors.

The Different Types of Apneas

The word apnea has its origin from a Greek word which means “without wind.” It is the medical term used to describe the occasional cessation of breathing of a person. Even though it is normal, it may also be a symptom of something more serious that is health related.

Basically there are three types of apnea: obstructive, central and mixed. Obstructive apnea is most common in babies and children. It is caused by obstructions in the airway such as adenoids and enlarged tonsils. This is quite dangerous especially for babies since it usually happens during sleep time. And as babies, they still can’t articulate whether they are already experiencing symptoms of the condition.

Symptoms of this type of apnea include snoring, labored breathing, gasping for air, and changes in color. But the cardinal sign of obstructive apnea in babies is restlessness.

Another type of apnea is central apnea. This is usually caused by defect in the part of the brain the controls breathing. In babies, this could be a congenital defect. Central apnea is very rare in adults but quite common in babies especially those who were born prematurely. Unlike obstructive apnea, this can happen at any time of the day.

The third type of apnea is called mixed apnea. This condition is the combination of obstructive apnea and central apnea. This is particularly very common in infants. It could occur any time, whether awake or asleep.

What To Do If You Think Your Baby Has Apnea

When your baby is born, he or she is automatically evaluated for any problems in health like defects in breathing. But this is just an initial evaluation which can change in the next few months. The first step is to have your baby checked up by his or her doctor. If apnea is detected, the doctor can suggest different ways to help you monitor your baby one of which is with the use of baby sleep apnea monitor.

What to Look for In Baby Sleep Apnea Monitors

There are a lot of different baby sleep apnea monitors each with different features. In choosing a baby sleep apnea monitor, there are certain features that the device must have to ensure the proper monitoring of your baby.

Heart Beat Monitor

This feature is a must for the device that you will choose since no apnea monitor is 100 percent accurate in detecting cessation of breathing. This will serve as a backup in case the apnea monitor fails to detect apnea because it will also manifest in the heart rate of the baby.

Another must have feature is a remote alarm. Even if you are not in the same room with the baby, a remote monitor will notify you if anything goes wrong. It must also have a power loss alarm. This is used when the devices are low in power. Last but not the least, the device must also be equipped with an AC power for recharging and powering the device.

Choosing The Best Baby Monitor For Your Family

A baby monitor is a very useful device for modern parents. Such a device allows you to check on your child’s safety even when you are doing other things at a certain distance or outside the room. It not only saves you a lot of time and burden, but it also keeps you at ease knowing that your precious one is safe even at a distance. However, with the many different kinds of monitors available in the market at present sometimes it may get confusing. Knowing the different types of monitors and what to consider will surely help you in making a choice.

What are the types of baby monitors?

In selecting a monitor that best fits your family, you have three major options to choose from –an audio, video or a sensory monitor.
   
Audio monitors allow you to hear the activities of your child (ex: crying) as they pick up sound. This type comes in both analog as well as digital models. The analog monitors are the most affordable but are usually still reliable. They work through the radio frequency and use FM signals to transmit the sound. The major set-back of this variety is the tendency of other receivers picking up the same signal that your monitor transmits, thus less privacy and disturbances are possible.

On the other hand, the digital model may cost a little more but it provides more privacy and usually has a wider range of reception than analog. Another advantage is that the digital models do not have as much static and they give a clearer sound quality so you can hear your baby better.

Video monitorsallow you to see and hear your child by combining sound and video just like miniature TV sets. They use a small camera either mounted on the wall, table or crib to transmit the images into the LCD display. They are usually portable and come with multiple cameras and even night vision.

Sensory monitorsdetect the baby’s slightest movements even during sleep. It fits under the mattress of the baby and alarms you when the baby stops moving or is absolutely still for 20 seconds. Some models available also come with audio monitors installed. These come with a portable parent’s unit that sends you the alarm and allows you to hear your baby’s activities.

What are the things that you should consider?

Always remember, that in choosing the type of baby monitor for your family you must reflect on which model would best suit you and your baby’s needs. The size of your home, and the clarity of frequency are very important factors to consider. Simpler monitor models will do for smaller houses, but you may need a more sophisticated monitor system for a larger house.

The lifestyle and the type of work that you have to do around is also another important factor to consider, especially if your work requires you to be farther away from your baby’s room and you may need a monitor that covers the range, particularly a portable one.
   
Always remember that whether you would prefer an audio, video or sensory monitor, the clarity of sound and video of your unit should be of very good quality for you to effectively monitor your child. Whatever model you may choose, the most important aspects to consider is that your choice must certainly cater to your needs, fit your budget and most especially provide you with a good avenue to watch out for your baby’s safety.