Why the Owlet Dream Sock Didn’t Work for Us (And What Actually Helped Our Baby Sleep)
Before our baby was born, I did what most first-time tech-savvy parents do: I Googled every possible gadget that could make parenting easier or safer. And this one sock kept popping up. So I decided to do a Owlet Dream Sock honest review.
A soft, sock-like monitor that tracks your baby’s heart rate, oxygen levels, and sleep patterns while they sleep — all sent in real-time to your phone. It sounded like peace of mind in a box.
We bought it without hesitation. The promise of being able to know that our baby was okay while we slept? Worth the steep price tag, we thought.
But after using it for several weeks — through newborn nights, sleep regressions, and everything in between — we returned it.
So here is our our Owlet Dream Sock HONEST review.
What We Liked (At First)
Let’s be fair: The setup process was easy, the sock fit snugly, and the companion app was slick-looking. The charging base was well-designed, and the hardware felt premium.
For the first couple of nights, we were totally hooked. Seeing live vitals on our phones made us feel like we were doing everything we could to keep our baby safe.
But then reality set in.
The Problems Started Piling Up
1. Inconsistent Readings and False Alarms
Within a week, we had our first “false alarm.” The app buzzed in the middle of the night with a low oxygen warning — we jumped out of bed, panicked — only to find our baby sleeping peacefully.
After checking forums, we found this is very common. Even Owlet admits that the sock can lose contact if it slips slightly or isn’t fitted just right. That happened more than once.
Instead of peace of mind, it gave us more anxiety.
2. Not FDA-Approved for Medical Use
This might sound nitpicky, but once you start having false alarms, you start reading the fine print. Owlet makes it very clear: the Dream Sock is not a medical device. It’s not meant to diagnose or treat anything — just to give general wellness indicators.
If something really serious happens, you can’t actually rely on it.
We realized we had paid for the illusion of safety — not actual safety.
3. Sleep Tracking Was… Meh
The sleep tracking dashboard in the app promised to show us sleep quality, patterns, and total hours. But we quickly noticed it wasn’t accurate — especially for naps or early morning wakeups.
It often missed wakeups or claimed our baby was asleep when they were clearly fussing. It didn’t help us improve sleep at all.
At that point, we were using a separate app and a notepad to log real sleep — which kind of defeats the purpose.
4. It Became a Chore
Putting on the sock every night (and recharging it every day) became a daily friction point. When you’re barely sleeping and juggling bottles, diapers, and white noise machines, this small extra step feels huge.
If the sock was a little damp from a bath, it wouldn’t read correctly. If we didn’t get the placement perfect, it gave an error.
The mental load was just too much.
The Final Straw
One night, after a particularly rough bedtime, the sock gave us another oxygen warning. We rushed in. Baby was fine. Again.
We stared at each other and just said: “Let’s return it.”
Not because we didn’t care. But because the anxiety it caused outweighed the benefits.
We weren’t sleeping better. We were sleeping worse.
What Actually Helped: A Simple Sleep Setup
So this turned into a negative Owlet Dream Sock honest review. But here’s the honest truth: the thing that really helped our baby sleep better — and helped us feel calmer — wasn’t a smart sock.
It was a combination of good sleep hygiene, a solid bedtime routine, and two very underrated tools:
The Hatch Rest Night Light + Sound Machine
$89.99
We tap a button from our phone and boom — “The Sleep Spell” begins. It cues our baby that it’s bedtime, and she visibly relaxes.
It’s affordable, reliable, and something we still use daily.
VTech RM7766HD – A Local Video Baby Monitor (No Subscription Needed)
$209.95
We replaced the Owlet app with a VTech RM7766HD monitor. No Wi-Fi. No cloud. Just a direct connection.
It doesn’t give us heart rate data — but it does let us see and hear our baby instantly without lag or app crashes. And honestly, that’s enough. It has:
Who Is the Owlet Really For?
If you have a baby with specific health needs — like premature birth or a diagnosed condition — the Dream Sock might be worth exploring with medical supervision. For everyone else?
It’s a luxury item that creates the illusion of safety while adding complexity and stress.
Final Thoughts: Owlet Dream Sock Honest Review
The Owlet Dream Sock isn’t evil. It’s not a scam. It’s just not the miracle device it’s made out to be — especially for tired, anxious, first-time parents who are already on edge.
For us, it ended up being a $300+ experiment in false reassurance.
What actually helped? A bedtime routine we could rely on. A sound machine that set the mood. A monitor that just worked.
Sometimes smart parenting means choosing less tech, not more.
Shop the Alternatives We Recommend:
👉 Hatch Rest Sound Machine on Amazon
👉 VTech RM7766HD Monitor on Amazon
Did you like this Owlet Dream Sock Honest Review? Check out other products we regretted buying. Or check out the products we like the most.
