They say that once you have kids, you always sleep with one ear open. Of course, this is especially true when you’re bringing home a newborn. It’s a joyous occasion, but it can also be one filled with anxiety.
For many new parents, SIDs and other health concerns can cause a lot of stress. This is particularly true for those with children coming out of the NICU.
With a newborn in the house, you might find yourself standing over your baby throughout the night. New parents do this to keep their children safe, but it can be anxiety-inducing and exhausting.
Infant monitors can help give parents peace of mind by keeping track of baby’s vitals while you’re sleeping. Often, these devices are wearable – and can take the form of a bracelet or sock that straps onto your baby’s foot.
The Owlet Dream Sock is one of these. It has a small sensor in a fabric sock that wraps around baby’s foot. The sensor tracks your child’s heart rate and oxygen levels. It will alert you to any big changes in these areas using notifications and flashing lights.
In this article, we will cover the basics of the Owlet Dream Sock. That includes where to buy it, pros and cons, parent reviews and more.
Where to buy the Owlet Dream Sock
You can buy the Owlet Dream Sock online on the company’s website. It’s also available in the Owlet Amazon Store – sometimes at a cheaper price.
Free delivery on orders over £35: Owlet UK / Owlet US
What is the Owlet Dream Sock?
The Owlet Dream Sock is a wearable sock monitor. It tracks your baby’s heart rate, sleep trends and oxygen levels. That way, it gives you peace of mind for those all-important first few months at home.
The Dream Sock comes with a Base Station and varied sizes for both left and right feet. Once on your baby’s foot, the built-in sensor will take readings. It uses pulse oximetry, a method of measuring blood flow and oxygen levels.
The free Owlet App will then send these measurements to your phone. If your child’s heart rate and oxygen levels drop a lot, the Base Station and app will tell you with lights and sounds. That way, you can rest easy knowing that if anything goes wrong, the app will alert you immediately.
What age is the Owlet Dream Sock for?
The Owlet Dream Sock is for children aged from newborn to 18 months.
Has the Owlet Dream Sock saved any babies?
In some cases, parents claim that the Owlet Dream Sock has saved their baby’s life.
In online community forums parents claim the Owlet Dream Sock identified health conditions in the nick of time:
In these reviews, Owlet alerts allowed parents to respond to their children’s needs quickly. In each, the device prompted timely medical intervention that helped identify critical conditions.
Pros and cons of the Owlet Dream Sock
If you’re wondering whether the Owlet Dream Sock is right for you, here are the pros and cons in a handy table:
| Pros | Cons |
| Tracks health stats: Heart Rate Oxygen Sleep Trends | Not a substitute for medical advice, nor a fail-safe for preventing SIDS and SUDI |
| Can help ease new parent’s stress by notifying parents if baby’s levels go outside of preset zones | The preset parameters cannot be changed |
| Comfortable for babies to wear | It takes some time to find the right placement for the sock and can disrupt the pre-bedtime routine |
| Visible green or red monitoring lights that don’t disrupt your baby’s sleep | If you are sharing a room, the alert system can wake both you and the baby |
| Alerts can lead to an awareness of underlying medical conditions | Sometimes, you are given too much data to interpret, which can cause further anxiety |
Where to buy the Owlet Dream Sock
You can purchase the Owlet Dream Sock and Camera from their website or from Amazon. Get free delivery on orders over £35:
Owlet Dream Sock reviews
The Owlet Dream Sock 3 received a 4.1 / 5 star rating from 342 global reviews on Amazon. Owlet Dream Sock customer reviews found that:
- Users find the Owlet Dream Sock worth the cost. It offers the reassurance they want about their baby’s safety.
- Users liked the health statistics Owlet provides which was what they were looking for.
- Users appreciate real-time tracking and smartphone alerts. This is especially useful during late-night feedings or when away from home.
- Some minor criticisms exist. Some users experienced connection issues between the base and their Wi-Fi.
Where to buy Owlet
You can purchase the Owlet Dream Sock and Camera from their website or from Amazon. Get free delivery on orders over £35:
Owlet unboxing
You can find an unboxing of the Owlet Dream Sock in their video:
Do doctors recommend Owlet Dream Sock?
Doctors might recommend Owlet Dream Sock as a way of reducing anxiety but not as a medical device. In other words, you shouldn’t use it as a substitute for proper medical care.
Owlet emphasises that the device is for families with healthy infants. That means that Owlet Dream Sock’s primary goal is to offer parents peace of mind.
The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine says that monitors may help “high-risk” infants. (1) However, Owlet emphasises that there’s more to ensuring your child’s safety from SIDS and SUDI than the Dream Sock. (2)
Where to buy the Owlet Dream Sock
You can purchase the Owlet Dream Sock and Camera from their website or from Amazon. Get free delivery on orders over £35:
What is the guidance for SIDS?
On their website, Owlet gives guidance on how to reduce the risk of SIDS and SUDI.
Their advice includes 6 main points:
- Make sure your baby sleeps on their back
- Ensure a firm, flat sleeping surface
- Avoid using soft bedding
- Keep the crib free of choking hazards (toys, small items)
- Consider using a fan to keep air circulating
- Avoid any exposure to tobacco smoke
Free delivery on orders over £35: Owlet UK / Owlet US
Are there any alternatives to the Owlet Dream Sock?
There are alternatives to the Owlet Dream Sock that can track your baby’s pulse and oxygen levels.
To make your decision easier, we have compared the Dream Sock to two other devices. These are the Liip Smart bracelet and the Creative Finger Pulse Oximeter.
| Owlet Dream Sock | Babysense Baby Breathing Monitor | Sense-U Smart Baby Monitor | |
| What’s included | 2 Dream Sock kits (both left and right, 4 socks in total) A base station Access to the free Owlet app | 2 discs placed under baby’s mattress Base station with alert | Sense-U monitor with clip for attaching to baby’s nappy or clothes |
| Price | £299.00 | £79.99 | £84.99 |
| What and how it monitors | Tracks your baby’s heart rate, oxygen level and sleep trends Uses a sensor to measure blood flow and oxygen levels Sends data to your phone through the Owlet App The base station will alert you with lights and sounds when levels drop | Measures slightest baby breathing movements using two discs which are placed under baby’s crib. The base station sounds an alert if no movement is detected in 20 seconds. | Monitors movement, rollover, baby’s body temperature and sleep activity using a small round monitor that clips onto baby’s nappy. |
| Extra features | Real-time notifications via base station and phone Proven safe and accurate pulse-oximetry technology Available for infants aged 0 to 5 years (Owlet Plus) 18 hours of battery charge | Babysense video monitor can be purchased separately | Optional Sense-U base station purchased separately allows you to see your baby’s real-time data from anywhere. Sense-U video monitor can also be purchased separately. |
| Ease of use and setup | Simple to strap onto your baby’s foot and connect to the mobile app. | Takes 10 -15 minutes to set up the discs so that they cover the entire area of the crib. | Easy to set up as the monitor clips onto baby. 5 minutes to download and connect the app. |
| Reviews | 4.3/5 stars from 1,813 Amazon reviews. Worth the cost Useful real-time tracking of baby’s vital health statistics Some connection issues | 4.5/5 stars from 289 Amazon reviews. A good option for a basic breathing movement sensor. | 4.1/5 stars from 1,085 Amazon reviews. Parents liked the ease-of use but some wanted more health statistic monitoring. |
| Where to buy | Owlet Dream Sock | Babysense Baby Breathing Monitor | Sense-U Smart Baby Monitor |
Is the Owlet Dream Sock worth it?
The Owlet Dream Sock is worth it for parents who are concerned about their baby’s health. This might be due to a fear of SIDS or because of other health concerns.
The Owlet Dream Sock gives a detailed picture of your infant’s well-being by measuring their heart rate, oxygen levels and sleeping patterns. This can help ease parent’s anxiety and provide peace of mind.
However, the Dream Sock might not be the best fit for parents who do not feel the need to monitor their child’s vitals. In these cases, a straightforward audio or video monitor might be more appropriate.
Let’s compare the Owlet Dream Sock to some of the other devices for baby breathing and movement.
You can find cheaper monitors online, like the Babysense baby breathing movement monitor. While the Babysense provides an affordable option, it only monitors the small movements that are created by baby’s breathing. Owlet on the other hand monitors more in-depth health statistics such as pulse rate and oxygen levels.
So, if you buy the Owlet sock, you also have a more comprehensive picture of your baby’s well-being. If you’re on a budget, you can pay for the Owlet Dream Sock in monthly Klarna payments.
However, it’s important to remember that the Owlet Dream Sock isn’t a registered medical device in the UK. It can track and send data to your phone but can’t offer the analysis of a medical professional.
So, if you want a sock monitor that will provide peace of mind, the Owlet Dream Sock is an excellent choice. And for a monitor that will grow with your child, we would recommend the Owlet Dream Sock Plus (for 0-5 years).
Where to buy the Owlet Dream Sock
You can purchase the Owlet Dream Sock and Camera from their website or from Amazon. Get free delivery on orders over £35:
Free delivery on orders over £35: Owlet UK / Owlet US
Other Owlet Products
The Owlet camera
The New Owlet Cam 2 offers night vision and HD streaming. So, you can watch crystal-clear videos of your baby sleeping soundly on your phone.
The Cam allows you to:
- Watch, save and share video clips
- Sends sound, motion and cry notifications straight to your device
- Offers room temperature and humidity readings
Does the Owlet Dream Sock work with the camera?
Yes, the Owlet Dream Sock does work with the camera. The free Owlet App monitors readings from both the Dream Sock and the Owlet Cam.
Can I buy an Owlet Dream Sock and camera separately?
The Owlet Dream Sock and Cam can be bought separately. However, the two devices measure different things.
The Dream Sock measures heart rate and oxygen levels. Meanwhile, the Owlet Cam will send a live video feed to an app on your phone.
The Owlet Cam can also measure room temperature and humidity.
So, paired together, the Owlet Sock and Cam can give you a full picture of your baby’s well-being.
Owlet camera price
The new Owlet Cam 2 is available for £159 or as part of a package deal with the Owlet Dream Sock for £399.
Free delivery on orders over £35: Owlet UK / Owlet US
The Owlet app
The Owlet App is free and pairs with any Owlet device. It updates you on your baby’s condition and can store photos from your Owlet Cam feed.
When used with the Dream Sock, it can monitor your baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate. It also runs this data through an algorithm to determine the sleep quality of your baby’s latest nap.
With the Owlet Cam, the app can be used to measure room temperature and humidity. It will also send you sound, motion and cry notifications.
The app is available on Google Play for Android (7.0 and up) and on the App Store for Apple devices (iOS 14.0 or later).
Can you use the Owlet Dream Sock 2 without the app?
Yes, the Owlet Dream Sock can be used without the app.
The Base Station will alert you if your baby’s oxygen levels or heart rate drop below preset zones. However, you won’t be able to keep up to date on live readings.
Should I get the Owlet Dream Sock, Camera and App?
The Owlet Dream Sock, Camera and App can track your baby’s well-being and calm any anxiety you may be feeling about baby’s well-being. Although there are cheaper options on the market, the OSS is smart and convenient.
A lot of Owlet’s competitors offer video and breathing monitoring – like the Babysense baby breathing movement monitor. However, what sets the Owlet Dream Sock apart is that it monitors oxygen levels and pulse rate. That way, it can give you deeper insights into your baby’s general wellbeing.
The Nanit Pro offers a similar solution to the Owlet Dream Sock and is used for children aged 0-5+. However, it’s more expensive (at £379) and doesn’t offer data on blood oxygen content and heart rate.
Owlet FAQs
Why did the Owlet Dream Sock get discontinued?
In 2021, Owlet received a warning letter from the FDA. It said that the product was misclassified and should have been labelled as a medical device. (3)
In other words, the FDA said that Owlet was selling Dream Socks without authorization. (3)
Owlet stopped selling the Dream Sock to American consumers in 2021. However, the Dream Sock is available to buy in the UK.
The company has now launched two new FDA-approved products in the States – the Dream Sock and BabySat.
Can you still use the old Owlet Dream Sock?
At the moment, the Dream Sock 3 and Dream Sock Plus are available to buy in the UK. Both can pair with Owlet Cam 1 and 2 to send comprehensive readings to the free phone app.
US customers can purchase the Dream Sock and BabySat.
What is the difference between the Owlet Cam and the Cam 2?
The Owlet Cam 2 allows you to save video clips of your child and offers a smarter alert system with Cry Detection.
The Owlet Cam 2 can also measure your child’s sleep windows and plan their next nap time.
References
2. “How to reduce the risk of SIDS”, Ashley Zwirner – Owletbabycare
3.“Owlet stops selling baby-monitoring sock after FDA warning”, Chelsea Ritschel – The Independent
