About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the movement and breathing monitor, which I purchased with my own money and used for about 2 years.

My take

The Owlet Dream Sock gave me peace of mind knowing my babies slept safely. It allowed me to get some restful sleep during the early days of parent anxiety.

About the product

• Model: 2020 Owlet Dream Sock
• Type: Movement and breathing monitor
• Intended age range: Newborn-18 months

Test conditions

• When I used the product: 2020-2021
• Child’s age range: Newborn-6 months for my first child and newborn-10 months for my second child.
• Where I used it: Two-story home, traveling
• Baby Sleep Habits: Restless sleeper, started sleeping on tummy early

How it performs

What I was looking for

When I purchased the Owlet Dream Sock, I was looking for peace of mind as a single parent of a child with special needs. I was exhausted and needed something to help alert me to any potential issues so I could get some sleep without worrying all night.

Why I chose this item

I chose to buy this item after a NICU nurse recommended it. It was the only affordable option on the market at the time that was also user-friendly. The only other option I considered was getting the full Owlet Dream Sock and video monitor system. But I chose to purchase a more budget-friendly video monitor in addition to the Dream Sock.

What I love about it

• Technology & Features: The Dream Sock connects to Wi-Fi and one’s local devices. I could check on my babies right from my phone, even from the backyard, while they were on the second-floor napping.
• Setup Ease: It is very easy to install and set up. The app walks one through how to set everything up and explains what each alert means.
• Ease of Use: The interface is very user-friendly. Not only can one see everything on their phone, but there is a “mini” guide that lists what the alert colors/sounds mean.
• Quality: The Dream Sock and base have a Bluetooth range of about 100 feet. If one is connected to Wi-Fi, they can receive alerts/updates to their phone from anywhere.
• Audiovisual Clarity: The data is pretty reliable until the baby is smart enough to figure out how to take the Dream Sock off.
• Battery Life: I could charge my sock battery every other night, but plugging it in daily gave me more peace of mind.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Other: My only negative is that most babies will figure out how to get the sock off at some point around 6-8 months. I had to have my babies nap in footed pajamas to stop them from taking it off. It is also hard to time the charging right between naps and overnights.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think the Owlet Dream Sock is worth the money solely for peace of mind. A similar option is the Sense-U Smart Baby Monitor, which a friend of mine found unreliable because it clips to clothes or diapers to track belly movement, versus the accurate O2 monitor on the Owlet Dream Sock. With SIDS numbers still on the rise even after Safe Sleep initiatives, it allows me to get some sleep instead of staying up all night checking to see if the baby is breathing.

Final verdict

I highly recommend this to any new parent or parent suffering from anxiety. My anxiety as a new parent was through the roof, but the Owlet Dream Sock gave me peace of mind knowing my babies were breathing and sleeping peacefully.