In partnership with HALO.
As a new parent, it’s hard not to worry while your baby is sleeping, but checking on them every 5 minutes isn’t ideal for anyone. It often results in poor sleep for you, and the risk of disturbing them – that’s where baby movement monitors come in. Baby sleep and movement monitors have become essential tools for providing peace of mind to parents, and I had heard a lot about two popular brands as I geared up to become a first-time parent. Owlet’s Dream Sock seemed to be a well-known and trusted brand in my parenting circle, and it’s lately been compared to the new SleepSure smart monitor from HALO. In the spirit of a good old-fashioned TQE throwdown, I tried them both out to see how they stack up. Below, dive into my findings on their design, features, technology, and price.
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Product Design
HALO SleepSure: When it comes to design, HALO SleepSure’s soft fabric band stands out because it’s so easy to place on your baby. It wraps easily and securely around the baby's calf to ensure a comfortable fit, plus it reduces the likelihood of the device getting kicked off during sleep.
Owlet Dream Sock: On the other hand, Owlet Dream Sock is a fabric sock that needs to be wrapped precisely around the baby's foot, which can be challenging (especially with those wiggly little legs!). Additionally, while the lullaby that plays during placement is sweet in theory, I could honestly live without it.
Unique Features
HALO SleepSure: This product measures heart rate, skin temperature, rollover, and movement, which provide me with a holistic view of my little's sleep patterns and overall well-being. I found SleepSure's skin temperature and rollover measurements to be particularly beneficial for monitoring my son’s temperature (which can be difficult to get right thanks to things like changing seasons and drafty houses) and tracking rolling over (a particularly anxiety-inducing milestone for me!). Additionally, its on-the-go mode is a total gamechanger. It allows me to keep tabs on my little one even when I’m focusing on something else (like when he’s in the backseat while I’m driving or in the stroller while we’re on a walk – especially on a super warm or cool day!). It’s a huge relief to know that he’s comfortable as we move through both the day and night, and SleepSure is the only smart baby monitor I’ve found with this feature.
Owlet Dream Sock: Dream Sock, on the other hand, measures heart rate, average oxygen level, movement, and wakings at night. When my son has been sick, I’ve been grateful to be able to check his average oxygen levels from the Dream Sock, and I also appreciate the waking tracking as we’ve made modifications to his routine. One caveat here, though, is that the Owlet app only updates this information every 10 minutes with his average numbers, and I wish I could receive this information more quickly and accurately as the current setup feels slightly delayed.
Customization
HALO SleepSure: Here’s where HALO really shines. This device allows parents to customize the alerts they receive based on their baby's age, milestones, and preferences. It almost feels like HALO helps translate how my baby’s feeling – and a huge win is that the product will essentially grow with him until he can more accurately convey his needs to me himself.
Owlet Dream Sock: Owlet’s Dream Sock, on the other hand, does not offer customization options. It only has one alert available – from there, you’ll have to open the app and take a look at all of your baby’s measures to figure out what’s going on. One area in which the Dream Sock does feel more customized is in its look – it’s available in several fun colors and prints, whereas SleepSure is only available in one style.
Technology
HALO SleepSure: In parenting circles, HALO is known for creating user-friendly products, and SleepSure definitely follows suit. The onboarding process is quick and straightforward, and the accompanying app is easy to navigate (and I don’t claim to be particularly tech-savvy for the record). Setting up the device and pairing it with Wi-Fi was honestly a breeze.
Owlet Dream Sock: This one was a bit more challenging to pair and set up. The app isn’t quite as streamlined, so while I did eventually get it sorted, it was more of a headache for me.
Price
HALO SleepSure: Both of these products are definitely an investment, but investing in peace of mind is pretty priceless when it comes to your baby. SleepSure costs $249.99, which felt like a bit of a steal considering the customizable alerts mean that SleepSure continues to be helpful as he grows.
Owlet Dream Sock: The Dream Sock is slightly more expensive at $299.99. While it’s definitely a great product, after using both, I feel that its higher price is a result of brand recognition versus supreme product features.
While both are great products, HALO’s SleepSure blew me away with its customization, long battery life, on-the-go-mode, and ease-of-wear. I’ve actually convinced several friends to add it as an item to their baby registry as I know peace of mind is the greatest gift a new parent can receive. SleepSure has offered me that on multiple nights, and I couldn’t be more grateful!
