Baby Respirtory Monitors

helphelphelphelp

Has anyone used one of these monitors that clips on to the nappy? I would like to buy one of these but the thing that worries me is that it is a sealed unit and has to be sent back to the manufacturer for battery replacement and this takes a couple of weeks, leaving the baby unmonitored. It also states that the batte will last up to one year for 'normal' use. What is normal as I would use this 24/7. I would be grateful if anyone could let me have their comments on this product.

Thanks

notlongnow_2

Is there a medical reason as to you wanting to use one of these moniters or just for peace of mind?

I personally have never used one and wouldnt consider using one. It just seems a little..er...cant think of the word....OTT?? maybe thats a little strong but cant think of one more appropriate.

My honest feelings as a mother is that they are a waste of money if there is no diagnosed medical need as the chances of something horrible happening are very slim and I think people may tend to rely on these things too much and become paranoid.

Also, if the alarm sounds, would you know what to do? Maybe a resus course would be something for you to think about too.

Obviously it is each persons personal choice but mine would be to pass on this purchase.

Js_Other_Half

notlongnow wrote: »

Also, if the alarm sounds, would you know what to do? Maybe a resus course would be something for you to think about too.
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The model the OP is talking about vibrates agains the child's skin when s/he hasn't been breathing for 30 secs or so? if that doesn't start the child breathing then the alarm goes off.

I did think seriously about one of these when we had DS, however cot death is very rare in families where the child is full term with no health issues, there is no smoking around the child and the child sleeps in the same bedroom for 6 months.

jog

A friend of mine uses one, as her newborn son had some episodes of stopping breathing and had to be resusitated so it has given them huge peace of mind.

She says it is very good, and is well worth getting it in their situation, however I agree that you shouldn't need it unless there are medical reasons.

The other thing is that the risk of cot death decreases dramatically as the baby gets bigger and I believe is very rare in babies over 1 year old, so presumibally by the time the battery needs replacing a lot of people would have stopped using it.

There is a lot of good info on the following web site: https://www.fsid.org.uk

If you look on the FAQ section there is a bit about the alarms.

Jog

Savvy_Sue

This is a long time ago, but my friend's eldest did once stop breathing, and it was only 'by chance' that she went to wake him. No reason for it was ever found, but she was given a monitor for him, one which stuck to his chest with sticky pads, for use when he was sleeping rather than 24/7.

When she had nos. 2 and 3, she refused to leave hospital before they'd supplied a monitor for new baby.

So if there's a reason for needing it, it's worth asking if the hospital will supply one.

helphelphelphelp

Yes, it may be OTT but unfortunately after losing my 9 month old son I dont feel I will be able to relax with this baby. And my son's illness first manifested by him stopping breathing when we were out in the car one day. This baby has been tested for my son's condition and the results were clear, but his loss is still too recent for me to be able to be rational.

Was reall just trying to find out about battery life span for these units as I know it is something I am definitely going to have to do.

Thanks

jog

Have you disscussed it with the Paeds at the hospital, as given the history they may be willing to provide you with a minitor and therefore replace / lend you another one when it needs new batteries.

Good Luck

Jog

jog

Just another thought, you could try ringing the maker of the monitor and talk to them about battery life and ask if they might be able to either exchange it or loan another unit while yours is having the batteries changed. 2 weeks does seem to be a long time without it.

Jog

Savvy_Sue

Completely understandable, but talk to your midwife and see if she will support you having one on loan from the hospital. Or she should know about other loan schemes or have ideas for where you could borrow one to cover when the battery needs changing.

sunnth

Several years ago my ds's both stopped breathing within hours of each other (twins)and the midwife found the first blue in the cot and the second in my arms in the hospital with the first. the hospital wouldn't provide them with monitors as they thought they had found the cause (flu) and treated it so after a few days in intensive care I was told not to worry too much. They were 3 weeks old at the time. I phoned one of the charities in floods of tears - they loaned me two monitors for as long as I needed them - the sort that have sticky pads to attach to the chest - they wore these constantly for nine months and they saved their lives on several more occasions as they repeated stopped breathing due to reflux. I can barely remember that time but I now have two happy, healthy 7 year olds.

What I'm trying to say is have you tried one of the cot death charities as they loaned me monitors free of charge and we just gave them a donation we could afford.

natalie1974

jog wrote: »

Have you disscussed it with the Paeds at the hospital, as given the history they may be willing to provide you with a minitor and therefore replace / lend you another one when it needs new batteries.

Good Luck

Jog

I agree , given the history I am sure Paeds would be willing to lend you a monitor .