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Apple and Google alums team up to create a wearable gadget new parents will love

Published Aug 7th, 2014 6:30PM EDT
BGR

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Sproutling is a new, interesting wearable device for babies that should help anxious moms and dads better monitor their newborn babies at all times. However, before you rush off to buy one, you should know that the Sproutling has to be worn all the time by your baby to deliver results. And just like other wearable devices, this tiny gadget wirelessly connects to the iPhone to display information about the newest addition to your family (Android support is coming in early 2015).

Developed by Apple and Google alums, the Sproutling Baby Monitor can monitor the heart rate of the baby and predict when the baby is most likely to wake up. Furthermore, the gadget tells parents whether the baby is sleeping on its back or on the tummy and whether it’s “calm, fussy or angry” when it wakes up.

The wearable device also measures noise, brightness and temperature levels in the room the baby is sleeping in.

When it comes to safety, “the smart sensor is encapsulated in medical-grade silicone, fully-sealed. It’s cleverly shaped to not be a choking hazard,” the company says. And the wearable device will fit the ankle of the baby even after he or she starts growing, as the company will offer users different band sizes.

Finally, the Sproutling charges wirelessly in its special cradle.

“Parents have been relying on baby monitors for over 75 years and in that time, they fundamentally haven’t changed at all,” Sproutling co-founder Chris Bruce said. “They continue to be a poor extension of parents’ eyes and ears and require constant attention to see if your baby is moving or making noise. As parents ourselves, we wanted something that could tell us how our baby was doing when they weren’t moving or making noise and when we were unable to pay full attention, like when showering or sleeping. We created the Sproutling Baby Monitor to be smarter and help parents be more effective–and we really hope our product will instill confidence in parents so they can grow happy families.”

The device is currently looking to raise $50,000 to become a commercial product, and can be pre-ordered at $249 ($50 off its future price) on the company’s website. The first batch of Sproutling Baby Monitors should ship in early 2015.

A video showing the gadget in action, and the full press release, follow below.

Apple and Google Alums Launch Pre-Order Campaign for Sproutling, the First Baby Monitor to Sense, Learn and Predict a Baby’s Behavior to Make A New Parent’s Life Just a Little Less Stressful

Every baby is as unique as a snowflake, now there’s finally a monitor that provides personalized insights around a child’s well-being to make parents feel more confident

SAN FRANCISCO – August 7, 2014 – From dirty diapers to messy clothes and uncertain sleeping patterns, being a first-time parent can feel like driving around without GPS and getting lost in unfamiliar territory. Wouldn’t it be great if today’s parents had a simple way to receive turn-by-turn navigation on their baby’s sleep habits and well-being? That’s why today, Sproutling is officially launching a pre-order campaign for its Sproutling Baby Monitor, the world’s smartest baby monitor, aimed at helping parents navigate this new adventure and better understand their baby’s well-being.

To see a video of how Sproutling works, visit: bit.ly/sproutlingvideo

Even though 130 million babies are born each year around the world–with four million newborns in the US alone–no two are alike. Sproutling created a smarter baby monitor that not only monitors more effectively, it’s the first in the world to learn and predict a baby’s unique sleep patterns, mood and room conditions to provide personalized insights.

The Sproutling Baby Monitor is comprised of three parts: a wearable band, a smart charger, and a mobile app. The monitor gathers 16 different measurements every second to help parents understand things like:
• If the baby’s heart rate is higher or lower than usual
• When the baby is most likely to wake up
• If the baby is sleeping on his/her back or rolling over on his/her tummy
• If the baby is calm, fussy or angry when he/she wakes up
• If it’s too bright or too loud in the room for the baby to sleep comfortably
• If it’s warmer or cooler than the baby’s ideal room temperature

With Sproutling, You Got This! Using these insights to make more informed decisions, Sproutling is giving parents peace of mind–and freeing up minutes or even an hour to finish a book, watch a second episode of Mad Men, or just sleep in a bit longer. In a new parent’s life, minutes are precious; understanding baby’s sleep patterns can make all the difference in both a parent’s and baby’s mood every morning.

Invented by a team of new parents and former engineers at Apple and Google, along with the help of child pediatric specialists and Ph.D scientists, Sproutling was designed to be safe for a baby and easy for parents to use. The band is made from medical-grade, hypoallergenic silicone that is manufactured without chemicals or toxins. It’s washing machine safe with a removable sensor.

To make it even more hassle-free for parents, Sproutling engineered a first-of-its-kind wireless charging–simply drop the wearable band into the charging bowl and let it power up wirelessly. The charging bowl doubles in utility, acting as the environmental sensor for the room. The app can even be shared with caregivers, like grandparents or the babysitter, so parents can keep an eye on things even when they aren’t at home.

“Parents have been relying on baby monitors for over 75 years and in that time, they fundamentally haven’t changed at all. They continue to be a poor extension of parents’ eyes and ears and require constant attention to see if your baby is moving or making noise. As parents ourselves, we wanted something that could tell us how our baby was doing when they weren’t moving or making noise and when we were unable to pay full attention, like when showering or sleeping,” said Sproutling co-founder Chris Bruce. “We created the Sproutling Baby Monitor to be smarter and help parents be more effective–and we really hope our product will instill confidence in parents so they can grow happy families.”

Sproutling launches its pre-order campaign today, and the company has set a pre-sales goal of $50,000 for its first batch of monitors that will ship in early 2015 to understand market fit. While the Sproutling Baby Monitor will retail for $299, early bird pricing starts at $249 while limited supplies last. To learn more and pre-order a Sproutling Baby Monitor, visit: http://www.sproutling.com.

About Sproutling
Sproutling is a family technology company that creates thoughtfully designed products to help parents be more effective. The company’s first product is the Sproutling Baby Monitor, a smarter baby monitor that senses, learns and predicts a baby’s sleep patterns and optimal sleep conditions. Founded in 2012, Sproutling is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. For more information, please visit: http://www.sproutling.com

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2007. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he closely follows the events in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming new movies and TV shows, or training to run his next marathon.