For any new parent, sleep is the holy grail. Of course, some people win the parental lottery and get a baby who sleeps through the night with no trouble. The rest of us, however, are left sifting through Facebook groups and parenting books on sleep training, desperate for a little nugget of wisdom that will let us and our babies get a few hours of quality sleep.
Enter the Lumi.
The Lumi by Pampers is a new baby sleep monitor that is paired with sleep training advice from experts. Their goal in creating this product is to help new parents understand their baby’s sleep habits in order to start healthy routines from the first night that you bring baby home. Although the term “sleep training” can be divisive, Lumi is all about providing parents the information that they need to follow their own baby’s cues and get everyone the shut-eye they need—because every family is different, but the right information can make a big difference.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Easy to use, with intuitive app, simple set up for the monitor, and ability to move the monitor from room to room
Takes the guesswork out of nighttime diaper changes and lets you learn about your baby’s specific sleep habits
Smartphone connectivity lets you monitor baby from anywhere, without carrying another piece of equipment
Cons
Does not monitor breathing or heartbeat
Sleep system sensor is designed to be used only with Lumi by Pampers diapers, which have a special texture to allow you to attach the monitor
Sleep sensor must be replaced approximately every three months. Sensors cost $59, or are included free if you subscribe to Lumi diapers.
Lumi by Pampers: More than A Baby Sleep Monitor
The Lumi by Pampers sleep system comes with two separate parts, which can also be purchased in a combination package to get the most benefit: the Smart Baby Monitor and the Smart Sleep System.
Smart Baby Monitor
The Smart Baby Monitor is similar to other baby monitor products that are on the market. Here’s what you get with the monitor:
- High-def video feed
The high-definition encrypted video feed connects via your household Wi-Fi to an app on your smartphone.
- Room temperature monitoring
The Lumi measures the room temperature and humidity, and the app lets you monitor noise from your baby’s room consistently, even when your screen is locked or you’re using another app — a great benefit.
- Portability
Another perk of the Smart Baby Monitor is that it is easy to transport, so if your little one falls asleep in your bedroom or somewhere else that’s not the nursery you can still keep an eye on her.
Smart Sleep System
While the monitor is great on its own, it’s the Smart Sleep System that really sets Lumi apart. The Smart Sleep system features a sensor that attaches to your baby’s diaper and measures wetness and sleep by tracking baby’s movements. However, the sensor does not measure breathing or heartbeat like some other wearable baby monitors.
Instead, the Lumi app allows you to track your baby’s sleep. For instance, it will give you information like when she was restless and when she was in the deepest sleep. Alongside that data, the app is educational, with features like sleep coaching videos that are meant to help you learn about infant and baby sleep patterns and establish the best practices to keep your child sleeping longer.
The educational component—coupled with the data specific to your baby—are what you’re really paying for with Lumi by Pampers.
“The Smart Sleep system features a sensor that attaches to your baby’s diaper and measures wetness and sleep by tracking baby’s movements.”
Features to Love
- Combination Smart Baby Monitor and Sleep System can be purchased as a bundle to save money
- Alerts for wet and very wet diapers that let you know when it’s worth doing a night time diaper change.
- Wifi connection and smartphone app make it easy to monitor your baby, while an encrypted connection ensures privacy. You’ll be able to hear baby even when your phone is locked or you’re using different apps.
- Monitor is easy to set up and move from room-to-room, ensuring that you can always watch your baby no matter where he falls asleep.
- Educational component helps parents learn about the science of infant sleep through different stages.
- Camera has 1080p HD and optional 180° wide-angle view to allow you to monitor two cribs at once.
What to Consider Before Buying
The educational components of the Lumi by Pampers system are really beneficial, especially for first-time moms who want to establish good sleep hygiene from the start.
It’s comforting to know that you’re getting reputable and reliable information all in one place. Having data from your baby and seeing how that correlates with the sleep habits you’re learning about is beneficial as well. I would have loved this on those late, lonely nights when I was up with my baby and searching the internet for anything that might help me get her on a better sleep schedule.
As helpful as the Lumi by Pampers sleep system is though, it is important to recognize that it doesn’t monitor your baby’s breathing or heartbeat the way that other sensors like the Owlet Monitor Duo Smart Sock3 + Cam do.
Technically, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the routine at-home oxygens monitoring devices for babies as a way to prevent SIDS. However, many devices like the Owlet become very popular with parents, so if you’re looking for something that provides oxygen and heartrate monitoring, the Lumi won’t be able to give you that insight.
That—and the fact that the system locks you in to using Pampers diapers—which may or may not work well for your infant, makes me hesitant to recommend the system.
Overall, other comparably-priced baby monitoring systems can provide the same essentials of the Lumi, with the added benefit of monitoring vital signs and giving you more flexibility with diaper purchases.
That said, if you’re really eager for sleep guidance, you can purchase just the Lumi Smart Sleep System for less than the cost of a sleep consultant. Just remember that you’ll spend another $59 on the sensor every quarter when the battery runs out, unless you subscribe to Lumi diapers.
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