Caveat – we do agree that there are some situations where “smart technology” is important for some newborns who may have medical challenges where such technology does have a significant benefit from a health and safety standpoint. This is something that should be discussed with your family doctor or pediatrician.
In August, we discussed how Generation Z (Gen Z) is now entering parenthood and how their familiarity with technology could help bridge the technology gap between parents and children. (1) However, this tech-savvy generation is also more inclined to use technology to assist with parenting in today’s “onlife” world. Recently, a new parent reached out to us for our opinion on “smart cribs”.
As smart cribs become more popular, they appeal to busy parents seeking efficient, high-tech solutions for soothing and monitoring their babies. However, when it comes to using technology as a digital pacifier, we need to be careful – something we wrote about here (2) With features like automatic rocking, white noise, screens that will turn on to provide visual stimulation, cameras to remotely view your child, and mobile apps for monitoring sleep patterns, these cribs promise to help both babies and parents get better rest. However, there are important reasons to question if smart cribs are really the best choice for early childhood development. Here’s a closer look at why we believe they are not and why a hands-on approach is more desirable.
Infants learn about the world through interactions with their caregivers, especially during moments of need. When a smart crib responds to a baby’s cries with soothing motions, video, or sounds, it may unintentionally teach the baby to seek comfort from technology rather than from human connection.
For example, think of the moments when a baby cries in the middle of the night. In a traditional setting, a parent would respond, offering physical touch, gentle words, or a lullaby. These interactions help the baby feel safe, secure, and understood, reinforcing a bond with their caregiver. In a smart crib, however, the baby is often soothed by automated rocking, white noise, or visual stimulation instead of human presence. This could create a situation where, from a very young age, a child associates comfort with digital responses rather than a human touch.
When comfort and attachment are learned from technology rather than caregivers, research suggests it could impact a child’s future emotional development and relationships. Studies in child psychology highlight that secure attachment in early life is crucial for healthy emotional resilience and social relationships later on. (2) By letting a machine replace these moments of bonding, we risk teaching our children that human connection is optional or secondary to technology.
Using a smart crib could lead to dependency, where the child becomes so used to being soothed by the crib that they struggle in any environment that lacks similar technology. Consider the challenges that might arise if you take a family vacation, stay overnight at a relative’s home, or transition your child to daycare where you don’t have the smart crib with you.
Imagine a scenario where you’re traveling, and your baby can’t sleep without the smart crib’s familiar motions, visuals, or sounds. This could lead to increased stress for both the child and the parent, disrupting routines and making what should be enjoyable family outings more difficult. In a daycare setting, caregivers may not have the ability (or permission) to use such devices, leaving a baby who is used to automated soothing struggling to adapt.
Without a smart crib, babies who have developed a dependency on its functions may experience distress in new environments. Rather than helping them build resilience and adaptability, the smart crib could be limiting their ability to self-soothe or accept comfort from other caregivers, which is an important developmental milestone.
Most smart cribs are accompanied by apps that allow parents to track sleep patterns, movements, and sounds. While this can be useful for monitoring, it raises significant privacy concerns. These apps often collect sensitive data, from detailed sleep patterns to audio recordings of cries and other sounds. This data, including video of your child, could be stored on company servers or shared with third parties without parents realizing the full extent.
For example, consider how this data could be used for marketing purposes. Companies may analyze sleep and crying patterns to develop targeted ads or even sell data to third parties. This can lead to uncomfortable situations where parents and children are targeted with ads for sleep aids, parenting products, or even unrelated products that the algorithms believe might appeal to the family.
Another concern – there is a risk of data breaches, where private information about a baby’s routines and habits could be exposed or exploited. Many parents don’t fully realize the long-term implications of such data collection. In a world where personal data is increasingly valuable, introducing this level of monitoring at such an early age raises ethical and privacy concerns.
Remember, anything connected to the internet also has the potential to be hacked, including smart baby products. In a well-publicized case in 2020, a family discovered that their smart crib had been hacked where a person was able to access and control a smart crib remotely (3) With smart cribs that are connected to apps and Wi-Fi networks, there’s a similar risk. Hackers could potentially access sensitive data, control device functions, or even invade privacy by accessing any cameras or microphones. This is especially concerning when the device is in a child’s private sleeping space. While manufacturers may claim that their devices are secure, vulnerabilities in software or poor password protection can still leave families exposed. For parents, it’s crucial to carefully consider these privacy and security risks and take steps like using strong passwords, updating firmware regularly, and, if possible, choosing non-connected baby products to safeguard their family’s privacy.
An often-overlooked aspect of a smart crib is its potential to disrupt a baby’s ability to develop self-soothing skills. When a crib automatically responds to every cry with movement or sound, it can prevent the child from learning how to calm themselves. Self-soothing is a key developmental skill that enables children to manage their own emotions and cope with mild discomfort.
In traditional setups, caregivers can give their babies gentle opportunities to settle on their own when appropriate, offering comfort but not rushing in at every small sound or movement. Over time, babies learn to regulate their emotions and adapt, knowing their caregivers are there when needed. However, with a smart crib, every cry or movement could trigger an automated response, removing these learning opportunities and potentially leading to increased dependency on external comfort in the future.
Consider situations later in life where self-soothing is valuable, such as during transitions to preschool or kindergarten, where children may experience mild separation anxiety. Children who have learned self-soothing are generally better equipped to handle such transitions, as they have already developed the resilience to manage their emotions without immediate intervention.
Smart cribs, while convenient, may also inadvertently discourage parents from responding in person, relying instead on the technology to “handle it.” However, responding to a baby’s needs isn’t just about soothing them – it’s an opportunity to tune into their unique signals, strengthening the parent/child bond and building confidence in caregiving skills.
When parents rely on a smart crib, they may miss out on subtle cues about their baby’s temperament, preferences, and needs, which are best learned through direct interaction. For example, a parent might realize that their baby prefers to be rocked gently rather than bounced or that they calm down faster with a particular song. These small but important discoveries build parental intuition, which is a crucial part of parenting. Over time, this hands-on experience helps parents become more attuned and responsive to their child, enhancing bonding and building a deeper understanding of the child’s personality.
Smart cribs might seem like an attractive shortcut, but they risk creating a more detached parenting experience. When parents hand off soothing duties to a machine, they miss out on bonding moments that could be meaningful for both parent and child.
Lastly, any time you plug in an electronic device, especially around infants and young children, you increase the risk of electrical faults and, potentially, fire hazards. A couple in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, experienced a terrifying incident when a baby device in their crib overheated and almost caught fire – the event highlights a real and often overlooked danger of smart baby products. (4) Smart cribs and similar devices require continuous power to operate their features like rocking, vibration, and night lighting. Over time, wiring can degrade, batteries can overheat, and malfunctions can occur, especially if the product’s components aren’t regularly checked or if the crib is in use day and night. For parents considering smart cribs, it’s important to weigh these fire risks and ensure they are practicing good device safety, such as unplugging devices when not in use, following manufacturer safety guidelines, and avoiding over-reliance on devices that require constant power.
While smart cribs may seem like the ultimate solution for modern parenting, they come with significant potential downsides. During the early years, human connection, security, and trust-building interactions are critical to a child’s emotional health. Technology cannot replicate the depth of human presence, touch, and intuition that children require for healthy development.
By understanding the implications of smart cribs and similar technologies, parents can make more informed decisions. When it comes to soothing our little ones, a comforting voice, a gentle touch, and the presence of a caregiver are far more valuable than any automated solution. It’s through these interactions that children learn to feel secure, build resilience, and understand that real people are there to meet their needs.
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
Facts Not Fear, Facts Not Emotions, Enlighten Not Frighten, Know Tech Not No Tech
References:
1/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/gen-z-takes-the-helm-a-new-era-of-onlife-parenting-has-begun/
3/ https://www.wired.com/story/snoo-smart-bassinet-vulnerabilities-shaking-loud-noise/
