EDITOR’S NOTE
The Miku Pro is the updated version of the Miku Smart Baby Monitor. It’s got a bigger and more light-sensitive camera than the original and also better and faster information processors. Nanit has also updated their Smart Baby Monitor with a Nanit Pro version, that doesn’t seem to have any major differences other than a few software updates. We’ve also got the most recent Owlet Monitor Duo reviewed in this article.
The Miku Smart Baby Monitor vs. the Owlet, which is better depends on your needs. Both fully functional monitoring systems with apps, and the ability to monitor your baby, the function differently. With a few impressive features make the Miku Smart Monitor stand out as a little more impressive because it can monitor breathing and movement. However, the Owlet monitors oxygen levels.
Find out all of the differences and decided which smart monitor system is best for your baby and needs.
The Miku Smart Baby Monitor
Miku Tracks Breathing and Movement
The Miku Smart Baby Monitor offers a way to track your baby’s breathing and movement all from your smartphone. What’s special about the Miku, is it monitors your baby without wearables on your baby’s food or under them while they sleep. Below we will discuss the other baby monitors with the ability to monitor a baby’s movement and breathing and how they compare to the Miku.
First, let’s take a more in-depth look at the Miku Smart Baby Monitor.
Miku Camera
With the Miku, you get a camera to hang on the wall and provide a birdseye view of your baby in realtime. Add the app to your phone and monitor your baby from anywhere. You will be able to hear and see them as they sleep.
The camera provides HD video and sound from a 5 MP camera. You can share and download unlimited HD videoes and photos right from your smartphone!
Mounting the monitor takes a little work as there are several pieces needed to attach it to the wall. One key benefit is the cord covers that keep the cord in place and far away from your baby’s hands. What’s great is the set comes with everything to install, including a leveler and other necessary tools.
Breathing and Movement Monitoring
As for monitoring your baby, the device monitors without touching your baby. That’s right! Everything you need to monitor your baby is built into the camera instead of two devices, one of which you need to attach to your baby.
No contact with your baby means no small parts to fall off, no parts to wash, and no discomfort for your baby. Instead, the camera monitors anyone under the camera and tracks their breathing in beats and movements too. You can even track your baby’s movements to watch for sleep patterns.
Sounds
Another great feature of the Miku Smart Monitor is the ability to play custom sleep sounds and lullabies on the Miku’s built-in dual Ole Wolff speakers. If you want, you even have the option to create a music playlist for your baby too.
Also, the Miku Smart Monitor has two-way talk so you can talk to your baby from another room right from your handheld phone.
The App
The Miku app allows you to track and see your baby in full-color right from your smartphone or tablet. Download the app on an Apple phone or to any other phone from the Google Play Store. Like with all apps, you will need to create an account before you can start monitoring to allow the ability to record your information.
When the app detects that your baby is not breathing, it will send you an alert within several seconds. The alert is harsh enough to get your attention to go check on your baby to make sure they are safe.
Technical Aspects
Using the smart app, you can monitor breathing, sleeping, temperature, and humidity settings all from your phone. Even if you don’t have an internet connection, you can monitor your baby.
You can also track and graph the baby’s sleep habits with the vast amounts of information available on the app. Honestly, most parents don’t even need this much information, but it’s all right there at your fingertips. You can also record or take pictures of your baby while sleeping without risking waking them up.
What you will really love about the device is the built-in safety using modern crypto security. No one will be able to sneak a peek at your sleeping infant unless you want them to see the baby. With massive safety measures in the camera, you can know your baby is safe from hackers.
The camera also comes with a massive processor to manage all of these features. It also has night vision with high-power infrared LEDs to view your baby without blinding them with light.
Other Factors
The best part of this monitor is the lack of hidden fees, such as for a subscription to the app or any other fees. You don’t even need batteries!
Concerns About the Miku
Camera Movement
As of right now, the camera on the Mike Smart Monitor does not move around. It only provides an aerial view of the baby crib and your baby. However, this isn’t really a necessity as your baby will stay in the crib.
If you are worried about others entering your baby’s room, then you may need to find a camera that can move around from a distance. Moreover, the camera doesn’t always offer crystal clear vision but overall provides more than enough to monitor your baby’s sleep.
Other Issues
Some customers experienced normal tech issues such as sporadic technical issues, as all tech tends to be glitchy at first. Others had problems with the camera working on Android devices. The high price tends to turn off a lot of customers, although it does offer a lot and still costs less than a smartphone while working to protect your baby.
The Owlet Dream Duo – Smart Sock Monitor & Camera
Like the Miku, the Owlet Dream Duo both monitors your baby with a camera hooked up to an app on your phone and monitors your baby’s breathing and movement. The main difference is, the Owlet requires a wearable device to monitor your baby.
However, the wearable price tracks your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels, while the Miku does not measure your baby’s oxygen levels. This may be a key factor for many parents, especially babies with asthma-like symptoms.
Mind you, to track the heart rate and oxygen levels; you need to put a Smart Sock on your baby to collect the information via Bluetooth while the Miku monitor uses WiFi. Either way, you need a smart device to use both of the monitor systems.
The biggest issue with the Owlet is the sock because, as your baby ages, they may be able to pull the sock off. Moreover, it may become uncomfortable, and it’s hard to put a sock or cover over the wearable item. Also, the device does not play music and lacks the number of functions available, like recording on the Miku Monitor.
Finally, the Owlet has a similar camera but fewer safety measures built-in. However, you do get two-way audio, 130-degree wide-angle lens, room-temperature sensor, and live heart monitoring with alerts. The cost is comparable to the Miku, and it can grow with your baby if you don’t mind spending money to get larger socks as the baby grows.
The Miku vs. Nanit Plus
With the Nanit Plus, you can save some money but lose some functionality. It tracks and analyzes your baby’s sleep pattern and allows you to capture precious moments. You can even watch your baby breathe but with a wearable device, and this isn’t a sock, but a fabric swaddling blanket.
The Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor is more a monitor and moment catcher than an alert system to track your baby’s breathing and movement. You do not get heart rate, beats per minute, or oxygen levels.
However, you do get a camera with a stand or wall connect with an aerial view of your baby’s crib and an app. Unless your baby has reported health issues, this should be more than sufficient to meet most parents’ needs. Moreover, it offers an app to monitor and track, two-way audio, realtime motion and sound, and you can monitor the room temperature.
It does offer more safety features than the Owlet but not quite to the encryption level of the Miku Smart Monitor. Furthermore, it does not offer the option of creating playlists or playing music or sounds for your baby.
The Miku vs. AngelCare
The most affordable monitoring system available is the Angelcare 3-in-1 Baby Monitor as it’s about half the price of the Miku. Choose this option if you don’t want to use your smartphone and would rather a dedicated monitor. Instead of the camera tracking your baby like with the Miku, you place a sensor pad under the baby’s mattress.
While the device isn’t quite a wearable, it will notify you if your baby stops moving for more than 20 seconds. Moreover, you do not get any of the recording or storing of information like you would get on your phone. However, it does come with two-way talk, wireless detection, full-color touchscreen, temperature control, and volume control.
You cannot use this item to lull your baby to sleep with music, nor can you check on the baby when you are out of the home, and someone else is watching the baby. What you can do is save money and get a functional in-home monitoring system.
FAQs About Miku vs. Owlet
Do I need all the functions on these baby monitors?
Most parents do not need a fancy baby monitor, but the technology is available and can provide life-altering peace of mind. Why not take advantage of all the benefits of technology?
Also, parents who have lost a baby in the past or have a baby with health issues may find they can rest better with technology, helping to track their infant and keep them alerted in breathing stops.
Another great feature of a monitor on your smartphone is you can check in on your baby when out and someone else is watching the baby.
Can I use the monitor for other purposes as my baby grows?
Yes. A smart monitor is a sound investment. You can use it to monitor a toddler during their nap, keep it for future children, or use it for home monitoring even if you don’t use it to track your baby’s movements. Again, you can use it long term for children with health issues that require monitoring.
Conclusion
If you want peace of mind while your baby sleeps, the Miku Smart Monitor is a smart bet because of the thoughtful use of technology. No other baby monitoring system on the market offers as many features, including breathing and sleep monitoring, tracking, high-quality equipment, customizable music, and even photos. The technology still has a few kinks the company needs to work on, but they are on the right path to give parents more control over their baby’s sleep.
