For a fundamental biological function, sleep is fairly high-tech—even infant sleep. There are (expensive) cribs that hook up to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled bassinets that move and track your baby’s moves. There are wearables. There are apps. There are devices that deliver analytics on your baby’s sleep, stage, and age.
Some of these gadgets have even been granted authorization and clearance by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), leading parents to wonder, “Do I need the latest and greatest?”
“While [sleep tech] devices can provide peace of mind and support for some, I emphasize that these tools are optional and not essentials,” explains Sarah Oreck, MD, a reproductive psychiatrist and co-founder and CEO of Mavida Health.
When used thoughtfully, baby sleep technology can reduce anxiety by providing a sense of security and potentially improving sleep. Yet obsessively tracking every movement and endless alerts can also heighten stress or anxiety, negatively impacting sleep.
If you have—or want—tech in the nursery, it’s important to understand how it could help or harm your mental health and how to make a sleep plan, tech or no tech, that works for you and your family.
How to use baby sleep gadgets wisely
Set boundaries around sleep tech
Getting a full report of how your baby slept overnight might sound great, and getting alerts about every move they make in a crib might not seem like a big deal, but devices and products can contribute to anxiety when they generate constant alerts or data that can lead to obsessive monitoring and heightened stress, explains Oreck.
“Over-reliance on baby sleep technology can potentially harm mental health by increasing worries and creating unrealistic expectations for constant monitoring,” says Oreck. “When parents feel pressured to use every available device, they may experience heightened stress and hypervigilance.”
If someone else is taking care of your baby and you’re still checking monitors, for example, it also pulls you back in and potentially doesn’t get you the break that you need.
“The constant influx of data from these technologies can lead to obsessive checking and an inability to relax, negatively impacting sleep and overall well-being,” says Oreck.
Appropriate boundaries can help. Boundaries might include deleting an app from your phone if you’re out for an evening or utilizing only some of a product’s features—using a smart crib but not hooking it up to an app to track all of the data.
You could also simply simplify—by using a handheld baby monitor that doesn’t send alerts versus a monitor that’s linked to your phone, for example.
“Over-reliance on baby sleep technology can potentially harm mental health by increasing worries and creating unrealistic expectations for constant monitoring. When parents feel pressured to use every available device, they may experience heightened stress and hypervigilance.”
-Sarah Oreck, MD, a reproductive psychiatrist and co-founder and CEO of Mavida Health
Be aware of misleading marketing tactics
Sometimes, products really do work as intended and really do help parents and babies sleep more soundly, which is wonderful. But whether it’s a promise of 12 hours of sleep or a feeling that you need a product after watching promotional materials, know that marketing language can prey on parents.
Marketing messages that emphasize the necessity of a device for a baby’s safety are particularly problematic, says Oreck.
She adds that these messages can elicit fear and a sense of inadequacy if someone is unable to afford or effectively use technology. “This heightened state of alertness and pressure can contribute significantly to anxiety,” says Oreck.
Always make decisions based on your values and what feels right for your family—not what something on social media or an advertisement says. If you’re ever concerned about your baby’s health, your pediatrician is always the best place to start.
Do a mental health check-in around a product in question
Be mindful of your emotional response to a product. Oreck says signs a baby sleep device or product is working for you include feeling more confident and supported in your parenting decisions, more reassured, less anxiety about your baby’s safety, less stress, and improved sleep quality.
Conversely, if a device isn’t serving you, you may notice increased anxiety, frustration, overwhelm, stress, obsessive monitoring, disrupted sleep, or guilt or inadequacy if you can’t use the device effectively or if it doesn’t yield the desired results, she says.
Once you know how you’re responding to a product, prioritize tools—in real life or otherwise—that enhance your well-being and reduce stress rather than those that contribute to anxiety or feelings of inadequacy, she reminds.
When in doubt, fall back on your parenting instincts—not tech
“No device can ever replace attentive and responsive parenting,” says Oreck. That’s why she always suggests trusting your instincts, seeking support—whether through family, friends, or support groups—and fostering a healthy environment for both your baby and yourself.
This, she says, can all provide reassurance and alleviate the pressure of feeling solely responsible for your baby’s well-being.
Seek professional support
Oreck notes that many of her patients struggle with issues around not just sleep—but also navigating a marketplace full of products that promise to solve any and every issue around sleep.
It’s OK—and helpful and critical—to reach out for support when you need it. “Your well-being is just as important as your baby’s,” she says. “Taking time for self-care, maintaining open communication with your partner, and seeking professional support if needed are crucial steps in managing stress and fostering a healthy mental state.”
FAQs
What gadgets help babies sleep?
Although some baby sleep gadgets have been granted authorization and clearance from the FDA, experts say these tools are optional and not essential. In some cases, over-reliance on baby sleep gadgets can negatively impact your mental health.
If a baby sleep device helps you feel more confident and supported in your parenting decisions, then that’s great—but if it’s causing you stress and anxiety, then you may want to reconsider using it.
Check out more helpful content for parents and families from Cassie Shortsleeve:
- A Quick Guide to Safe Baby Sleep—Plus 3 Top Product Picks From a Pediatrician
- 6 Common Questions About Room Sharing for Kids, Answered
- 7 Tips to Transition Your Child From Crib to Bed
- 6 Travel Sleep Tips All Parents of Babies and Toddlers Need
- 6 Nighttime Potty Training Hacks From a Pediatrician
- 6 Ways to Manage Multiple Bed Times as a Parent
- Children and Naps: A Primer for Parents
