New Market: Baby Wearables Take Their First Steps at CES
January 5, 2015
Wearables with fitness and health applications dominated last year’s CES. This year, manufacturers looking for new market segments have targeted new parents, a digitally savvy demographic likely to be open to wearable solutions. At this week’s CES in Las Vegas, we expect to see an array of compelling new wearables for babies that track temperature, breathing, sleep positions, activity levels, and more. Early product announcements point to wearable patches and sensors, clip-on devices and smart clothing.
Blue Spark Technologies just introduced TempTraq, a wireless wearable Bluetooth-enabled thermometer that adheres to the baby as a soft patch. TempTraq monitors body temperature for 24 hours and sends temperature alerts to mobile devices. A patented flexible battery powers the patch; the accompanying iOS or Android app is free.
One caveat: the parent or caregiver must be within 40 feet of the wearable to review data and receive alerts; the data can also be emailed. The app will show current and older temperature data as a graph or tab. TempTraq is pending FDA premarket review and is not yet for sale.
MonDevices introduced the MonBaby monitor that can be clipped onto a child’s pajamas or clothing. The patented technology tracks breathing movement, activity level and sleep position, sending alerts via the MonBaby app to an iPhone or Android device. Measurements are done five times per second; the sensor is powered by a 3V coin-cell battery and provides five weeks of constant use. The antenna range is 200 feet.
MonBaby won the Wearable Technology prize in the Smart Clothing category at the 2014 Innovation World Cup in Munich, Germany. In development for two years, MonBaby is in the manufacturing stage and is expected to retail for $169.
The Baby Glgl smart bottle from French company Slow Control is a smart sleeve that holds the bottle and provides feedback on how to properly hold the bottle so the baby doesn’t swallow air, and alerts the adult if anything is clogging the bottle. Though not technically a wearable, Baby Glgl is more evidence that manufacturers are aiming new products at parents.
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