Best Baby Movement and Heartrate Monitors: Snuza vs Owlet vs AngelCare vs Levana

Owlet Smart Sock	Snuza Hero	Angelcare
Best Overall & Most Features	Best Value	Best for Sleeping Only
Buy Owlet Smart Sock 2 on Amazon	Buy Snuza Hero on Amazon	Buy Angelcare on Amazon

When looking for baby movement and heart-rate monitors, the choices can feel overwhelming. Here’s a quick comparison with some pros and cons of four systems to help the decision making easier.

Owlet Smart Sock Review

The Owlet Smart Sock 2 tracks heart-rate and oxygen levels through a wearable, hypoallergenic cotton sock for babies up to 18 months. The Smart Sock connects to a base station through Bluetooth and notifies parents of potential problems through light and sound alerts. This systems also comes with access to its own App (for both iPhone and Android devices) that transmits data collected over Wi-Fi for instant access and notifications day or night.

Pros

The Owlet system is portable and can be worn any place baby sleeps, including in the car. This system tops many others in its use of oximeter technology, which is used in hospitals to monitor oxygen levels. The sock also uses no cords, and comes with a rechargeable battery. The phone App also provides tech-savvy parents with detailed information and extra options for peace of mind.

Cons

This system is pricey, coming in higher than several other alternative systems. The sock is rechargeable, and while no cords near baby is a plus, the extra effort required to make sure the sock is always charged is a downside. Another snag with the system is that the Owlet App only works when connected to Wi-Fi and on newer phones with updated software.

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Learn more about the Owlet Smart Sock 2 in this video:

Snuza Hero Review

The Snuza Hero is a device that clips onto your baby’s diaper. It has a soft, silicone tip that detects and monitors abdominal movement. The Snuza offers a gentle vibration feature that is intended to rouse baby after 15 seconds without movement. After a total of twenty seconds without movement, the Snuza sounds an indicator alarm. An alarm will also sound after three rounds of vibration to signal parents of a possible problem.

Pros

The Snuza monitor is built for convenience, and is priced at . It is small, portable, and battery powered, requiring no dangerous cords or recharging. While the device boasts a battery life of 2000 hours, the battery is also replaceable for around $10. The Snuza can be worn wherever baby sleeps, and can be taken with your baby to daycare or Grandma’s with little hassle. The Snuza also features both a flashing light and soft clicking sounds that can be turned on or off to indicate breathing.

Cons

Because the Snuza detects movement from baby’s abdomen, it can pick up on outside movement and is not recommended for use in car seats and strollers. The soft silicone monitor can also be moved out of place by squirming or rolling, occasionally setting off false alarms. The Snuza is designed to clip to the front of baby’s diaper, but this can cause difficulties or discomfort when babies get older and begin to roll or try to sleep on their stomachs.

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Check Out Our Co-Sleeper Reviews

Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor Review

The Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor offers a system designed to be used under the mattress of your child’s crib (or bassinet). A sensor pad placed underneath baby’s mattress provides adjustable levels of sensitivity that can detect even the smallest movements, such as breathing, while the unit left in the nursery doubles as a nightlight. A rechargeable base with a range of 820 feet alerts parents with alarms if no movement is detected for 20 seconds.

Pros

The Angelcare system offers comfort to parents while baby is sleeping independently in another room. The system monitors movement and sound from baby’s room, and switches to battery backup mode if the power goes off. It also tracks nursery temperature and alerts parents if the room is too hot or cold, and can also be used with only the audio function. At , the price-point is also relatively low, making for a more affordable choice.

Cons

This system is less versatile than other systems, since it must be used on a hard, flat surface and underneath only standard crib mattresses. The system isn’t easily portable, doesn’t work in many places baby may be, and while there is a battery backup for both the sensor and parent base, the units do use AC adapters, which means that while they will be underneath the mattress, there will be cords present in the crib, which may make some parents uncomfortable.

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Levana Review

The Levana Oma (powered by Snuza) is Levana’s version of the movement monitoring system. The Oma is essentially the same device as the Snuza brand product in looks and features. The Oma clips onto your child’s diaper, is battery powered, and features the same soft, flexible tip for monitoring abdominal movement. The Levana Oma can still be found online, but has currently been discontinued by the manufacturer.

Snuza vs Owlet vs AngelCare: What is Best for Your Needs?

If you are have hefty budget, you can’t go wrong with the Owlet Smart Sock. For a more affordable, but portable option, you’ll be very happy with the Snuza Hero. However, if you just want something while you baby sleeps, go with the Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor.