What’s the Snuza Pico Designed To Do And Not To Do?

It's impossible to build everything into every single device. It would make them unmanageably large, not to mention prohibitively expensive. When we design a new device, we try to think about what would be useful for the parent and comfortable for the baby. We try to figure out what can be sacrificed to make it safe or easy to use."

As such, every device will have pros and cons, dos and don'ts, haves and have nots. Today, we're going to look at the details of the Snuza Pico.

What does the Snuza Pico do?

In its simplest form, the Snuza Pico is an abdominal breathing movement monitor. In addition, it also monitors your baby's skin temperature and detects falls. All the information it monitors and tracks are sent to an app on a connected smartphone.

What is the Snuza Pico not designed to do?

It isn't a medical device. It is designed to assist parents in monitoring their baby, by detecting even the smallest of abdominal movements. Its vibrate and alarm functions are designed to provide an early warning system for parents. They aren't intended to diagnose or treat any diseases.

Isn't it dangerous to have electronics so close to my baby?

We're aware of concerns surrounding the transmission of information. In order to transmit information in the safest way possible, we chose BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to pulse information from the Pico device to your smartphone.

However, that limits the working range of the device, and thick or very dense walls can interfere with the signal. BLE is also not compatible with all smartphones. To see whether your phone is compatible, check out this list.

What causes false alarms?

False alarms are the worst, we get it! It terrifies you and, if you're really unlucky, wakes your baby. We work hard to reduce the incidence of false alarms, but they do happen sometimes. Here's how to reduce the chances:

• Always fit the Pico correctly and snugly against your baby's tummy.
• The alarm will sound if the Pico loses contact with baby's skin. During feeding times, tummy time or when changing your baby's nappy or clothing, just Pause the device (using the power button or the app).

Is there any reason it wouldn't pick up a cessation of breathing movement?

There are a few instances where using the Pico might not be helpful. Since the Pico monitors movement, if your baby is moving then any cessation in breathing might not be detectable.

As such, we warn caregivers not to rely on the Pico in the following situations:

• When using a pram, baby carrier, rocker, aeroplane, or in the car seat. The external movement will be detected, producing a false positive for movement.
• When co-sleeping or bed-sharing. The movement of the other occupants of the bed will also produce a false positive.

We're confident that, if used correctly, the Snuza Pico is reliable in detecting any cessation of breathing movement. You can learn more about the Snuza Pico"in this blogpost, too. If you're concerned or have any questions about the device or how it functions, please feel free to get in contact with us."

Sources:

1. Snuza Pico: https://www.snuza.com/baby-monitors/movement-monitors/snuza-pico/
2. Snuza Pico Manual (English): https://www.snuza.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Eng_Pico-PPM00003.pdf