How Many Babies Has Owlet Saved? Real Facts About Baby Monitors and SIDS Prevention

When you hear Owlet, a smart baby monitor that tracks heart rate and oxygen levels using a sock-based sensor. Also known as smart baby sock monitor, it's designed to alert parents if their infant's vital signs drop outside safe ranges. Many assume it’s a lifesaver—maybe even the reason fewer babies die from SIDS. But here’s the truth: Owlet hasn’t been proven to prevent SIDS. No device has. The American Academy of Pediatrics says the only proven ways to reduce SIDS risk are putting babies on their backs to sleep, using a firm crib mattress, keeping soft bedding out of the crib, and room-sharing without bed-sharing. Owlet can give you peace of mind, but it doesn’t replace safe sleep practices.

People often confuse SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome—the unexplained death of a healthy baby under one year old, usually during sleep. Also known as crib death, it’s the leading cause of death for babies between 1 month and 1 year old. with other sleep-related risks like suffocation or overheating. Owlet tracks heart rate and oxygen, but it can’t detect if a blanket covers your baby’s face, if the crib is cluttered, or if your baby is sleeping on their side. That’s why experts stress: safe sleep environment, a crib with nothing but a fitted sheet and your baby—no pillows, bumpers, toys, or loose blankets. Also known as bare crib, it’s the single most effective way to lower SIDS risk. Owlet might beep if something’s off, but it won’t stop a baby from getting tangled in a swaddle or rolling onto their stomach. And here’s something few talk about: false alarms. Many parents report constant alerts that turn out to be nothing—leading to sleepless nights and anxiety, not calm.

So how many babies has Owlet saved? The company says hundreds, but they don’t share peer-reviewed data to back that up. Independent studies, including one from the University of Wisconsin, found no significant drop in SIDS rates in homes using Owlet compared to those that didn’t. That doesn’t mean Owlet is useless—it can help parents of preemies or babies with known medical conditions. But for healthy infants? Stick to the basics: back to sleep, bare crib, room-sharing. That’s what the science says. The posts below cover what actually works—from breathable baby blankets that reduce suffocation risk to the exact weeks when SIDS risk peaks, and how to choose a monitor that doesn’t add stress. You’ll find real advice from pediatricians, not marketing claims. What keeps your baby safe isn’t a gadget. It’s what you do every night.