Baby Vida Oxygen Monitor vs Owlet Baby Monitor Review (2024)

Taking care of your precious babies while they sleep is an exhausting job, especially if you have a newborn. The danger of SIDS can be unnerving; that is one of the reasons why millions of parents decide to buy oxygen monitors or breathing monitors for their babies.

After going through both products in detail, we vote for the Owlet as the best baby monitor between the two.

Let’s find out why.

What is an oxygen monitor?

Oxygen monitors refers to pulse oximeters. In simpler terms, they are also considered as breathing monitors.

Unlike basic baby monitors, namely the audio baby monitors that use microphones in the form of baby units that parents place near the baby to transmit the baby’s sounds, an oxygen baby monitor is a device with sensors that helps measure the level of oxygen in the blood and heart rate.

Using a technology called pulse oximetry, short rays of light are transmitted through the blood in the body in order to detect the oxygen saturation.

As this technology is non-invasive, an oxygen monitor becomes a rather valuable baby gear to help with detecting abnormalities in baby’s breathing.

While the device do not guarantee the prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome otherwise known as SIDS, many parents find some peace of mind with the help of these devices acting as an extra alarm to notify them in case their child is in respiratory danger.

Especially when it comes to monitoring a newborn in the span of six months from birth, breathing monitors like pulse oximeters or those that detect baby’s movement are a better option.

That brings us to the two products on the market are widely considered by parents. Baby Vida oxygen monitor vs Owlet has been a discussion for quite some time, but which one is better?

Overview of the Baby Vida Oxygen Monitor

The Baby Vida Oxygen Monitor comes with a sock that you can wear on your baby’s foot. It is comfortable as a regular sock as it is made of Spandex and polyester.

The good thing is that it is easy to use this monitor, and it offers the same readings as one in the hospitals.

You can set it up very quickly. The moment you turn the monitor on, you set up the age range. It is crucial since the oxygen requirements and heart rates are different for different ages. All you need to do is to follow the setup instructions.

This product does not have any wires. The only thing you need to do is to put it on and connect to your smart mobile device using a baby monitor app that will help you monitor the vitals.

As mentioned by many Baby Vida oxygen monitor reviews it is suitable for babies from 0 to 12 months. Apart from monitoring oxygen levels, it also monitors your baby’s heart rate.

Baby Vida Oxygen Monitor, White

Pros:

  • Easy-to-use monitor.
  • Adjustable oxygen levels and heart rate limits.
  • Monitors oxygen and heart rate
  • Works without Wi-Fi by using Bluetooth, wireless
  • Compatible with Android or iOS devices
  • 60 ft range
  • Holds charge up to 18 hours, recharges fully in about 3 hours
  • Quite affordable

Cons:

  • Not suitable for premature babies who have tiny feet
  • Sensor hard to place correctly
  • Sometimes it gives false readings
  • Does not read for abnormal heart rhythms
  • Some babies may take it off

Overview of the Owlet Smart Sock 3

The baby Owlet oxygen monitor has come a long way since its inception, from the Original Smart Sock, to Smart Sock 2 and now, the third-generation breathing monitor.

This innovative sock is smarter than its rivals like the Levana Baby monitor, with a modern design and enhanced usability.

This remarkable product will notify you of everything, even when your baby makes a gentle motion in its bed. The Owlet Smart Sock 3 baby monitor is designed to track vitals of the baby such as oxygen levels and heart rate all the time while your baby sleeps.

This product contains one-handed, fast wireless charging to provide a fully charged smart sock in less than 100 minutes. Simply put the Owlet monitor on the Base Station, and you will get an up to nine-hour charge in less than 15 minutes.

This baby oxygen monitor is suitable for babies 0-18 months old.

Like all baby monitors, this product comes with some pros and cons. Here are some of them:

Pros:

  • Tracks the baby’s heart rate and oxygen level
  • Measures how long and how well the baby slept
  • Includes one-handed, quick wireless charging
  • Connects with your app, compatible with Android or iOS devices
  • Room temperature sensor
  • Efficient and quick wireless charging system
  • Up to 16 hours of battery life

Cons:

  • It is expensive
  • Sometimes gives false alarms
  • It is not compatible with a 5Ghz Wi-Fi network

Baby Vida Oxygen Monitor vs Owlet Monitor: Features Face to Face

Ease and Comfort of Use

Both Baby Vida and Owlet Smart Sock 3 are easy to use. First, you connect it with your mobile device. Then, you need to follow the instructions and set up the baby’s age, and finally, you need to put it on your baby’s foot.

However, in terms of comfort, the Baby Vida sock seems to strangle the baby’s foot due to its less intuitive design. Placement of the sensor n the baby’s foot is difficult to ensure a good connection, as the sensor is actually a piece of hard plastic/rubber that has to be placed on the baby’s heel to the calf.

The Owlet sock has a well made design instead, wrapping the baby’s foot tight enough not to slip off yet allows some room for a more comfortable wear. You don’t have to worry about incorrect sensor placement as the small sensor disc is embedded in the sock.

Baby Vida is more suitable for babies up to 12 months. Unlike Baby Vida, the Owlet Smart Sock 3 comes in two different sizes – one that fits smaller babies of 5 to 12 lbs, and another that fits bigger babies from 12 to 30 lbs. This means you can use Owlet for babies 0-18 months.

Verdict: The Owlet wins in my opinion due to the improved design that reduces chances of the sock being kicked off that is more comfortable for the baby. Plus, the Owlet can cater to babies up to 18 months of age, making it a better investment compared to Baby Vida.

Baby Vida vs Owlet | Baby Journey
Owlet Smart Sock 3 Baby Monitor comes with left and right socks that you can easily wear on your baby’s foot. Source: Owlet Care
Baby Vida vs Owlet | Baby Journey
You have to ensure proper placement of the sensor for Baby Vida, making it less convenient to use.

 Reliability

The Owlet Smart Sock 3 is a very reliable item, but I cannot say the same for the Baby Vida Oxygen Monitor.

Owlet offers precise products which are very important for products of this type, and with the improved sock design, the chances of getting a false positive or false negative is much reduced.

On the other hand, many users reported that Baby Vida monitors have a higher chances of showing false results, perhaps due to the sock design. Some users also reported that the Baby Vida’s readings are not as accurate as they’d expected.

Verdict: Measuring babies’ oxygen levels is a very delicate job. In terms of reliability, the Owlet wins as it gives a more accurate reading and less false alarms compared to Baby Vida.

Hospital-grade Technology

Both Baby Vida and the Owlet Smart Sock 3 use the same modern technology that doctors use in hospitals around the country. Both use red rays that measure oxygen levels in the blood, also known as pulse oximetry.

This procedure is not painful since it’s non-invasive, and therefore both monitors are safe for babies. Both also produce a near-accurate readings when measuring oxygen levels and heart rate.

Verdict: In terms of hospital-grade technology, both the Owlet Smart Sock 3 and Baby Vida are equally good. It’s a tie here.

Baby Vida vs Owlet | Baby Journey
The Baby Vida smart sock uses non-invasive technology to measure oxygen levels and heart rate readings comparable to hospital-grade tech.

Range, Battery and Connectivity

The Owlet Smart Sock 3 has a 100 feet range, but Baby Vida falls short here, with only 60 feet range.

Performance wise, the Baby Vida can hold about 18 hours of charge while the Owlet can run up to 16 hours. They both fully recharge in three hours or less, with the Owlet gaining 9-hour charge in just 15 minutes, which is pretty impressive.

Baby Vida also works without Wi-Fi, streaming real-time data wirelessly to the mobile device via app. However, there’s more flexibility with the Owlet Smart Sock 3 as it works with and without Wi-Fi. You can connect the product to the base station using Bluetooth.

The Owlet Base Station will notify you using sounds and lights. Yet, if you want to watch live readings, you will need Wi-Fi.

Verdict: From range to battery to connectivity, the Owlet wins on average as I appreciate the quick-charge feature with a longer range. To add on, I can chose to stream live readings with the Owlet anywhere over WiFi, something the Baby Vida isn’t able to do.

Portability

When we talk about portability, we are looking at the ease of bringing the unit and using it away from home or during travels.

The Baby Vida monitor is small and compact for easy carrying, and the wireless connectivity means you can easily use it even if you don’t have access to WiFi on vacation.

The Owlet Smart Sock 3 Baby Monitor is also compact in design. The Smart Sock 3 can communicate with its base without using Wi-Fi, so the baby monitor is equally practical for travel.

Verdict: In terms of portability, it’s a tie.

Baby Vida vs Owlet | Baby Journey
Owlet Smart Sock 3 is portable to bring along for travel. Source: Brunettes and Babes

Baby Vida vs Owlet Baby Monitor FAQs

What is the best baby oxygen monitor?

We find that among the many baby oxygen monitors that use pulse oximetry in the market, the Owlet Smart Sock 3 is the best option at the moment. The only downside is that, some parents find this best baby oxygen monitor expensive.

Does the Owlet monitor work without Wi-Fi?

The Owlet Smart Sock 3 works without Wi-Fi. You can connect the product to the base station wirelessly using Bluetooth. The Base Station will notify you using sounds and lights.

However, if you want to watch live readings, you will need Wi-Fi for the app to work.

How long can a baby wear Vida or Owlet oxygen monitors?

Babies can wear these oxygen monitors for up to a year. However, some parents continue using the monitors for up to 18 months.

Should I get a baby breathing monitor?

Parents are reasonably concerned about SIDS. It sounds like a marvelous idea, but always keep in mind that it is not a medical device nor does it prevent SIDS.

Some baby monitors can even cause unnecessary concern for parents because of false alarms.

Is the baby’s oxygen monitor necessary?

The general idea is that it is unnecessary to buy a baby monitor for your baby. However, sometimes in case of health problems, doctors may recommend it for your baby as an additional tool to help you watch over your child.

Even so, parents should never rely on baby monitors 100%.

Do pediatricians recommend Owlet?

Pediatricians do not recommend Owlet Smart Sock 3 since the FDA does not approve it. Again, it is not a medical device, and cannot be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any serious disease. This extends to the Baby Vida monitor as well.

Baby Vida vs Owlet | Baby Journey
Owlet Smart Sock 3 Baby Monitor turns out to be the best breathing monitor. Source: Owlet Care

 

Baby Vida Oxygen Monitor vs Owlet: The Winner Goes To…

Each of the products, Vida and Owlet, is in the form of a sock that can be put around your baby’s foot. Additionally, they do the same job.

However, there is one clear winner in this comparison, and it’s none other than the Owlet Smart Sock 3 baby monitor!

Despite its high price range, we think that having a device that is hassle-free in terms of overall usage ad functionality while providing comfort to the baby is worth the price paid.

So which oxygen monitor or breathing monitor should you get? It all depends on your preferences.

Use the Baby Vida Oxygen monitor if:

  • You want a cheaper smart sock option
  • You do not usually go out of your home
  • You think that using an oxygen monitor for 12 months is enough

If this sounds like you, be sure to check out Baby Vida!

Use the Owlet Smart Sock 3 if:

  • You need a more fitting yet comfortable smart sock
  • You go to work or you are often outside your house
  • You want 99% precise results
  • You want to use this product for up to 18 months

If you are ready for the latest best breathing monitor, consider the Owlet Smart Sock 3!

Having compared Owlet vs Baby Vida monitors, we hope this guide helps you understand these two monitors better.

Thoughts? Comment below!

baby vida baby monitor vs owlet review | Baby journey

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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