AI wants to help raise your baby. Scientists aren’t fully convinced

Every minute, 250 babies enter the world, and their sleep-deprived parents quickly discover a booming marketplace of high-tech solutions promising easier nights and safer days. From smart socks that monitor heart rates to AI-powered cribs, anxious new parents in the US and beyond are spending thousands on devices that often disappoint with poor battery life, subscription paywalls, and middle-of-the-night malfunctions. While some research shows promise—94 percent of parents using one smart monitor reported better sleep—experts urge caution. Dr. Helen Ball from Durham University's Infant Sleep Centre reminds parents that "all your baby wants and needs during the first year of life, is you." Many products create what Ball calls a "perceived need" that vanishes upon reflection, especially since most gadgets get used for only a few months before joining the landfill. The real challenge isn't finding the perfect app or sensor, but remembering that parental instinct remains more reliable than any algorithm.