In Depth Baby Product Reviews Led by a Pediatrician

Babysense 7 Review

Straightforward option with two sensor pads but no parent device or adjustable sensor sensitivity
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babysense 7 movement monitor review
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Babysense
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team  ⋅  Feb 6, 2023
62
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 7
  • Expected Reliability - 25% 8.2
  • Set-up - 20% 6.4
  • Ease of Use - 20% 6.3
  • Monitoring Cababilities - 20% 5.5
  • Alerts - 15% 3.3

The Skinny

The BabySense 7 is a simple, mattress-style monitor from our best baby movement monitor with two sensor pads and a nursery unit. This no-nonsense monitor has an easy setup and runs on AA batteries to limit potentially dangerous cords and increase the locations where you can use it. We like the two-sensor pad design that provides full crib coverage, allowing use until your baby is about one year old with potentially fewer false alarms. While we like having a parent device and the adjustable sensitivity found in the competition, we still think the BabySense is a quality, reliable option, especially for parents who may find the setup and user interface of the more complex competitor somewhat daunting.
REASONS TO BUY
Alarm and lights
2 sensor pads
No cords
REASONS TO AVOID
Nursery alarm
No parent unit
No sensitivity adjustment
Editor's Note: This Babysense monitor was re-tested compared to the new competition in our movement monitor review update completed on February 6, 2022.

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Babysense 7
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Price $130 List
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Pros Alarm and lights, 2 sensor pads, no cordsPortable, simple, vibration stimulus, no EMFBudget-friendly, portable, app-connectivity and alarmAlert color-coded base station, decent reliability, WiFi connectivity, parent unit alerts, positioning informationPortable, wearable, fewer false alarms, vibration rousing feature
Cons Nursery alarm, no parent unit, no sensitivity adjustmentNo parent unit, harder to attach, shorter battery lifeBluetooth limited range, short battery life, requires a smartphoneRange issues, some false alarms, requires a smartphone, only pairs to one phoneLoud nursery-only alarm, hard to attach to sleeping baby, only monitors one thing
Bottom Line Straightforward option with two sensor pads but no parent device or adjustable sensor sensitivityReliable clip-style wearable with a unique vibration stimulus and portable designA simple option that only requires a sensor and a smartphone that works fairly well despite a shorter battery lifeA button wearable that is a WiFi connection and pairs with your smart device and base station, but only pairs with one phonePortable simplicity and vibration rousing make it an interesting option that is often on sale
Rating Categories Babysense 7 Snuza Hero SE Monbaby Smart Butto... Sense-U Baby v3 Levana Oma Sense
Expected Reliability (25%)
8.2
8.7
5.9
7.3
8.1
Set-up (20%)
6.4
9.3
8.2
7.3
9.2
Ease of Use (20%)
6.3
8.8
8.3
7.8
8.3
Monitoring Cababilities (20%)
5.5
5.8
7.5
6.8
5.8
Alerts (15%)
3.3
6.6
7.3
7.9
4.1
Specs Babysense 7 Snuza Hero SE Monbaby Smart Butto... Sense-U Baby v3 Levana Oma Sense
Sensor Type Sensor Pad Wearable Wearable Wearable Wearable
Parent Unit No No Smartphone Smartphone No
Monitoring Type Movement Movement Movement, Position, Activity Movement, Position, Activity Movement
EMF (at baby) 1.1 No increase above ambient 2.5 2.5 .2 (lower than ambient)
Recommended Age 0-12mo Not Listed Not Listed roll-over alarm is for babies up to 6 months 0-6mo
Adjustable Sensitivity No No No No No
Wireless Mobility Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Baby Alert Yes Yes No No Yes
Warranty 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year

Our Analysis and Test Results

BabySense is a Hisense Ltd company. Hisense, founded in Isreal in 1991, is an award-winning medical device company that was the first to sell no-touch motion sensor technology in 1992. Hisense has subsidiaries and distributors in 35 countries, and BabySense monitors are used in hospitals and homes worldwide.

Performance Comparison



babysense 7 movement monitor review - the babysense 7 had fewer false alarms thanks in part to the dual...
The BabySense 7 had fewer false alarms thanks in part to the dual sensor pads.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Expected Reliability


The Babysense 7 is a sensor pad or "non-contact" movement monitor with two sensor pads. Using two pads under the crib mattress can potentially cover the space of a standard crib, which could translate to fewer false alarms than monitors with only one pad. This issue is especially true once babies start to move, as they can roll or creep too far away for a single sensor to monitor them adequately. However, false alarms can still happen due to interference from anything in the baby's room that can cause vibrations, like heaters, mobiles, air filters, or noisemakers. As a result, parents should avoid placing these kinds of items near the crib.

The Babysense 7 earned one of the higher expected reliability ratings in the group. While it lacks a sensitivity adjustment to help weed out ambient vibrations that could result in poor functioning, using two sensor pads theoretically increases the unit's accuracy no matter where the baby is located on the mattress. We did not experience any false alarms during testing nor read of any in our research.

babysense 7 movement monitor review - an example of babysense 7 sensor pads placed on flat and hard wooden...
An example of Babysense 7 sensor pads placed on flat and hard wooden slats on top of wired mattress support. This is an important step to ensure proper functioning of the unit.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Set Up


Setting up the Babysense 7 requires placing the sensor pads under the mattress and assuring the cords are safely out of the baby's reach to prevent a strangulation hazard. This monitor requires a rigid surface under the mattress, and the company suggests a minimum of 3/8 inch plywood and a simple solution if your crib doesn't come with a hard surface. The Angelcare company sells a wooden board for their monitors that should work equally well for the BabySense if you aren't handy or don't own a saw. The BabySense comes with two sensor pads to place under the mattress and a nursery unit that clips to the crib side. The unit runs on 4AA batteries, so there is nothing to plug in or pose a safety risk for strangulation. The Nursery unit has an on/off button, and the unit faces outward so parents can see the alarm lights should they go off.

Mattress Selection
The Babysense 7 requires a rigid surface with a minimum of 3/8 inch thickness (like plywood or similar) for the sensors to rest on under the mattress. The monitor won't work with certain mattresses, including memory foam, thick straw, or hollow-core mattress types.

babysense 7 movement monitor review - with only a single button, the babysense couldn't be easier for the...
With only a single button, the BabySense couldn't be easier for the technologically challenged or parents who don't want to hassle with menus and settings.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use


This monitor is pretty straightforward, with a simple plug-and-play design that doesn't have awkward or confusing buttons or menus to mess with. It is also more manageable in the long run than a wearable because there is nothing to attach to a squirming baby. The only thing parents need to remember is to turn the monitor off before taking the baby from the bed and turn it on after they put the baby down to sleep to avoid false alarms.

babysense 7 movement monitor review - the babysense 7 comes with two sensor pads that can cover more area...
The BabySense 7 comes with two sensor pads that can cover more area than the single pad offered with the Angelcare AC403.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Babysense 7 is easier to transport than other mattress pad options as it doesn't need to be plugged in and has minimal wires. This monitor operates on 4 AA batteries that last 6-8 months under normal use, so you don't need electricity or a bulky charging station. While it has multiple parts, each part is on the small side and lightweight enough for easy transport. However, the BabySense needs a rigid surface under the mattress, often unavailable in hotels or travel cribs, so while it is easy to stow, it may not work with every sleeping surface you encounter on travel.

babysense 7 movement monitor review - the sensor pad for the babysense 7 only monitors the movement of...
The sensor pad for the Babysense 7 only monitors the movement of your little one and nothing else.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Monitoring Capabilities


The BabySense7 only monitors movement that indicates continued breathing. It does not have a parent unit or transmit sound or video. Several competitors that monitor movement indicative of breathing also include things like temperature or position monitoring.

babysense 7 movement monitor review - the alarm on the babysense 7 is an in-nursery alarm designed to be...
The alarm on the Babysense 7 is an in-nursery alarm designed to be loud enough to rouse a deeply sleeping baby who may have a lapse in regular movement that indicates breathing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Alerts


The alarm on this monitor is in-nursery and loud. While we didn't experience any false alarms, you want to turn the monitor off before you take your baby out of the crib to avoid startling alarm activity when the crib is empty. We also think parents should consider pairing this kind of monitor with a video or sound option to help ensure they can hear it from anywhere away from the nursery.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF)


During our tests for EMF, the Babysense 7 EMF (Volts/meter) reading was 1.1. This measurement is significantly lower than the other mattress pad sensor we tested. However, some of the wearables did not emit any EMF during testing. The amount you feel comfortable with is up to you, but the amount emitted by the Babysense was not excessive, in our opinion, compared to other products.

Should You Buy the Babysense 7?


If you are looking for a mattress pad sensor-style movement monitor, this is our choice. While it doesn't have the sound monitor ability of some of the competition nor the video capabilities, it is still a potential choice if you want a sensor pad-style monitor. This monitor is easy to set up, perfect to pair with a sound option, and has two sensor pads for better coverage and reliability.

What Other Movement Monitor Should You Consider?


A wearable monitor might be a better fit if you want something more portable or compatible with a wider variety of mattress types. The Snuza Hero SE attaches to the baby's diaper and makes an in-nursery alarm when they sense movement hasn't occurred in a set period. It also has a vibration-rousing feature to help avoid startling false alarms. If you want even more information, such as your baby's position or WiFi capabilities and an outside nursery alert, we like the Sense-U Baby v3. If you want all the monitoring functionality of a video, sound, and movement monitor, our favorite is the Nanit Pro Complete Set Monitoring System. While it has a significantly higher price than the competition, it does everything and can likely be the last monitor you need to buy.

Manufacturer Video



Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team
 

Honest, objective reviews. Led by a Pediatrician.

BabyGearLab was founded by a Pediatrician Mom with a mission to provide a reliable, independent, source of information to new parents. Our experts have tested thousands of baby and kids products to share key performance, health, and safety findings. We spend tens of thousands of dollars crash testing car seats to inform our ratings. And, we combine our review work with gobs of expert parenting advice. To assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing by people who care.

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