Sense-U Baby v3 Review

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley in the United States, Sense-U is a high-tech startup company committed to developing innovative products.

Performance Comparison

Expected Reliability

The Sense-U managed a better-than-average performance for expected reliability. This metric has a convoluted testing and research process. It is difficult to say with certainty how accurate this kind of monitor is as it will vary depending on the baby, circumstance, and user error.

During testing, we didn't experience false alarms for non-breathing, but we saw a report of this online in our research. Our unit occasionally reported that our baby was on his belly when he wasn't, but it didn't falsely report breathing activity. We had good connectivity with the base and sensor even when leaving the building, and both the base station and paired smartphone went off simultaneously when our little tester did roll over onto his tummy (a position associated with an increased risk of potential SIDS in infants). We enjoyed having the base station, and like that it allows monitoring in the house even if the paired smart device isn't present.

Set Up

Setting up the Sense-U is easy, with only an app to download and a base station to plug in. It is easy to clip to clothing, and the sensor connects to the phone via Bluetooth, so you can use it without the internet.

The base station can be plugged in anywhere and connects to the device via WiFi.

Ease of Use

The Sense-U is easy to use and performed well in this metric. It has a straightforward design, and the app is relatively intuitive, with cartoon positions showing your baby's position.

The initial screen interface includes connectivity information, the baby's breathing rate, "feeling temperature," and room temperature. The menu on the right consists of adding devices, managing devices, sharing, help, and other basic controls. The base station offers color-coded alerts.

Monitoring Cababilities

This monitor does a little more than motion which indicates breathing, but it doesn't include sound or video. It doesn't lose points for this, but it is worth mentioning if your goal was a one-and-done product.

The Sense_u can show your what position your baby is in to help you avoid stomach and side sleeping. It also monitors temperature and breathing rates. It has some adjustability for how much time it takes, with no indications of breathing before an alarm will sound. You can also connect it to a Sense-U video monitor for video and sound monitoring or smart sheets for growth tracking. Sleep tracking and growth monitoring are accomplished by accessing stored data which requires a monthly subscription.

Alerts

This sensor and app had a reasonably good range in our tests for Bluetooth. We could leave the building where testing took place and remain connected. Alerts include a vibration and sound alert on the smartphone and an audible and light alert on the base station. The non-breathing alarm has some adjustability on when it will alert.

There is no in-nursery alarm and no vibration on the sensor itself to stimulate the baby into breathing. The alarm will repeat if not silenced and is stopped when you hit the okay button. You need to adjust your phone volume accordingly, and we recommend the highest volume when monitoring. With the volume off, it did vibrate, but this is unlikely to rouse a parent at night. With the volume up, it was about 60dB on the phone and 55 dB on the base station.

Electro Magnetic Field (EMF)

The Sense-U had higher EMF readings during testing than much of the competition in this review. While the level is similar to our tests of wearable fitness trackers, it could be a concern for some parents as this unit sits directly on your baby.

While the jury is still out on the possible health effects of EMF, we think it is good to err on the side of caution without being paranoid. Only you can decide for your child how much is okay with you.

Should You Buy the Sense-U v3?

Depending on your monitoring goals, the Sense-U can be a great addition to your monitoring lineup. It is a straightforward, wearable button that is easy to set up and use that monitors movement that indicates breathing and if your little one has rolled over. While this monitor will require WiFi and an app download for your smart device, we think most tech-savvy parents will be up and running fairly quickly.

What Other Movement Monitor Should You Consider?

If you want a simple wearable monitor to alert you if your baby has stopped breathing but isn't worried about other tracking or you don't want to use your smartphone, the Sense-U might be more than you need. The Levana Oma Sense is a clip-on wearable that does nothing but alert to the lack of movement that indicates breathing. It is budget-friendly and easy to set up and use. Alternatively, the Monbaby Smart Button v3 is a similar button style to the Sense-U that uses Bluetooth technology, thereby negating the need for WiFi and saving you almost half the price of the Sense-U.

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