Parents Turn To Tech To Ease Anxiety

A study conducted by Owlet, a smart infant monitoring company, reveals that concerns about their baby’s safety are causing many parents to lose valuable sleep.

The research highlights that a significant 40% of parents are unable to sleep while their baby is asleep due to overwhelming worries about their child’s safety. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is identified as the top concern for 38% of parents during the first year of their baby’s life.

The study, which surveyed 1,003 UK parents, found that mums or dads wake up to check on their baby an average of four times a night, with 23% checking in more than six times. The results also show that “exhaustion” is the most common emotion felt by 66% of parents in the first year, and the situation worsens when the baby is unwell, as 56% of parents get very little or no sleep when their child is sick.

The survey also reveals the extent to which mums and dads feel they have to ‘do it all’, with 69% admitting that they are too worried to leave their baby with others. This lack of personal time and rest is taking a toll on their mental health, as 49% say a lack of time for self-care is negatively impacting their mental well-being, and over half (55%) say more sleep would benefit their mental health, but they are finding it impossible.

However, parents are turning to technology for help, with 68% reporting that baby-monitoring tech has reduced their stress and anxiety levels. Many mums and dads are interested in using technology even more, with 54% wanting it to help them decide whether to seek medical attention for their child and over one in three (35%) wanting to track vital signs like heart rate and breathing in real-time.

Kurt Workman, of Owlet, acknowledges the challenges parents face, saying, “At Owlet, our mission is to provide parents with the tools they need to monitor their baby’s well-being in real-time, helping to alleviate some of that stress and allowing them to focus on enjoying their time with their baby. By leveraging technology, we aim to create a safer, less anxious environment for parents and their little ones.”