Web site: angelcarebaby.com
Smart Baby Monitor review: Angelcare. The Angelcare monitor launched in 1997 after engineer Maurice Pinsonnault bought the patent rights to a breathing monitor sold in the UK. In a nutshell, Angelcare has two functions: first, it is a regular audio baby monitor. Second, it measures baby’s “breathing movements” through a sensor placed under the crib mattress. If baby stops moving for 20 seconds, an alarm sounds on the parent unit.
Here’s our problem with this concept: Angelcare clearly plays on parents’ fears of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. However, experts such as the American Academy of Pediatrics say monitors like Angelcare don’t work in preventing SIDS. And Angelcare is very careful to steer clear of such promises (its website doesn’t refer to SIDS, only the “anxiety which all new parents face”).
Bottom line: if your baby has a medical condition that requires a breathing monitor, you need to get a medical grade monitor from your pediatrician.
In Angelcare’s defense, folks who have this monitor praise it for the “piece of mind.” But you can generally get the same piece of mind from any audio monitor that costs half as much as the Angelcare ($85 for a single, $100 for double receivers).
As a side note, we should mention that Angelcare does make an audio-only model (the AC420, $46.50). This model omits the breathing sensor and gets very good marks from parents. But it is rather pricey (by comparison, the Vtech audio monitor we recommend is 40% cheaper). And there is no dual receiver version of the Angelcare audio only monitor, limiting its appeal.
In recent years, Anglecare has expanded their line of monitors to include video monitors (around $100). Bottom line: Angelcare’s movement monitoring feature is not worthwhile, in our opinion. What you have left are audio or video monitors that are quite pricey compared to other brands. So we will give Angelcare a failing grade: if experts say movement monitors don’t prevent SIDS, what is the point? Rating: Not Recommended.
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While I understand the rationale behind the review, it is incomplete. Angelcare does make a model that does not include the motion sensor. It would be very helpful to comment on that model as well. The bottom line conclusion is, “if experts say it doesn’t prevent SIDS, what is the point”, but that doesn’t apply to the model without the motion sensor, which is rated very well on Amazon.
You are correct: the AC430 Sound Monitor from Angelcare is just an audio-only monitor. And it does get good marks from parents. However it is rather pricey at $58; our recommended Sony monitor is $44 for a single or $56 for a double (current prices on Amazon). And the Angelcare doesn’t come in a dual receiver version.
No it does not prevent sids, but it alerts u in the event your baby does stop breathing or moving n will give u a fighting chance to save ur baby as opposed to sleeping through your babies death. Angel care is a monitor for motion and will alert u if there is no motion. It is not medicine or a cure but it does monitor movement. And I wanna know if my baby stops normal movement. I wouldnt be without it. I am a nurse and use hospital grade monitors every day. And this works. I had a couple of alarms. False alarms maybe, but i could not detect any breathing or movement during 2 of those times, she was in a deep sleep for sure. I startled her and she took a deep breath both times. I dont know what the success rate of early and fast intervention withSIDS is but by God I wanna know that i did all i could to protect my child and give her the best chance i can. And intervention in 20 seconds is fast and no long term damage should occur. Because we dont generally know that our child is at risk for SIDS UNTIL ITS TO LATe, this is a great tool. No it cannot prevent it, no it wont cure it, but it can let u know if it occurs. I find this to be a fantastic monitor and a great first step in the prevention of SIDS DEATH. All parents should know how to do CPR on their infant cuz this monitor will not do that. I think that anyone discouraging the use of this is doing a disservice to young moms who may be very impressionable and take ur word for it and not use it. Then have the worst happen. Look on Amazon reviews their are numerous stories about how this saved lives. Set it up properly, turn it on, test it out. Make sure its functioning properly and u will have a greater chance in the event that bb stops breathing than if u dont have one. Sound monitors wont workbecause babies dont make a sound when they die of SIDS, u have to have a motion monitor. Now u could have a wearable monitor but those can make bobos on little feet. So you have to alternate them frequently. I feel one is less likely to put one on a sleeping bb than just flipping a switch on a bedside monitor. I am passionate about this , there is nothing worse for a mom than to loose a child. Get a motion monitor people, never put ur infant to bed with out one, cuz u never know. My granddaughter never slept anywhere but in her crib per the American pediatric association guidelines and Angelcare. Until we can better understand SIDS AND HAVE SOME ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY THIS IS THE BEST THING OUT THERE. JUST REMEMBER IT WON’T WORK UNLESS U TURN IT ON.