Safe Baby Sleep with Apnea Baby Monitors

Babies, as well as adults can experience pauses in breathing, specially during deep sleep. This pause in the breathing cycle is called Apnea. Almost everybody experiences apnea at some point in their life and the occurrence is usually harmless. However, if it is frequent it may point to a health condition. When it affects a baby, precautions are in order. The best way to keep tabs on your baby health in this regard is by using a baby sleep movement monitor, preferably a combined movement and baby heartbeat monitor.

There are three main types of apnea: central, obstructive and mixed. Of the three, it is obstructive apnea that is most commonly seen in babies and children. Obstructions in the airway may be caused by adenoids or tonsils that are inflamed or enlarged. Apnea of this type can be dangerous, even more so since it often happens during the semi-unconscious condition of sleep. Babies can´t communicate their discomforts, so you want to pay attention to excessive snoring, laborious breathing, lengthy breathing pauses and in the worst case obvious change in skin color. While all of these may seem obvious you should know that the most common hint of apnea discomfort is a unnaturally restless baby. A baby monitor with movement sensor and baby heartbeat monitor will simplify your control of if the baby encounters sleep apnea problems.

Central apnea is another type that also affects babies as well as more rarely adults. Central apnea has nothing to do with physical obstructions but is a symptom of malfunction of the central nervous system. It is commonly caused by some form of brain defect in the region that controls our breathing. This may be a congenital defect which may disappear in time. Premature babies are specially at risk of to experiencing central apnea. Central apnea can happen at all times of the day.

There is also mixed apnea which is a combination of both previous types. Mixed apnea also affects infants and can manifest itself at any time of the day.

When a baby is born it is usually evaluated for health problems such as apnea. However, this first evaluation is no guarantee that the condition will be absent at a later time. One way to raise the security of a baby is to use digital baby monitors and if you suspect your baby to be susceptible to apnea then a baby movement sensor will be helpful in keeping tabs on your baby while it sleeps. Even if it shows no sign of sleep disorders, the monitoring will allow you to relax somewhat and be able to move about your home while remotely being in contact with your child. Obviously, if your doctor does detect apnea in your child then some form of baby sleep monitor should be on your immediate shopping list.

Automatically monitoring breathing in a small child is a difficult task and in effect, it is the baby movement that is being monitored. To raise the security level, you should look for a sleep apnea monitor for infant that includes baby monitoring of baby sound and movement. This type of combined monitor provides a high level of baby sleep security. One of the most popular models on the market is the

Angelcare Sound and Movement monitor with dual handsets.

Another option is the

Snuza Halo Baby Movement Sensor

which monitors baby movement when in direct contact with the baby and is designed to fit on the baby’s diaper.

The Angelcare unit is probably a better choice for your permanent home since it offers a sensor that does not rely on attachments. The Snuza is a small unit easier to bring along while outside the home or on trips.

Filed under: Baby Apnea

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