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Owlet's smart baby sock is 20 percent off at Amazon for today only
Owlet's smart baby sock has dropped to $240, a hefty 20 percent off, as part of a one-day Amazon sale.
Nanit launches a Pro version of its smart baby monitor
It has a slimmer design, and a 1080p camera.
This AI smart crib gently bounces waking babies back to sleep
This smart crib can keep your child asleep for longer.
Owlet's new baby smart sock is finicky yet adorable (like my twins)
Owlet's redesigned infant monitor has a lot going for it (and a few flaws).
Bosch's electric stroller tech helps carry your baby uphill
It's not just grown-ups that might appreciate electrified transport. Bosch has unveiled an "eStroller" system that uses dual electric motors and sensors to not only reduce the effort involved in carting your young one around, but prevent the stroller from going in unexpected directions. It'll automatically study the road surface to help you push uphill, brake on the descent and keep it on track during lateral slopes. The technology will also bring the stroller to a halt if you lose control or battle fierce winds.
The best coding kits for children
If you want to try to get your kid into coding as young as possible, then Cubetto is the best place to start. It's appropriate for children as young as three -- which is largely because it strips the concept of programming down to its absolute basics. Oh, and there are no screens in sight. Cubetto is controlled entirely by putting colorful shapes in a wooden block that sends instructions to a smiley little robot. There are even Adventure Packs available that come with a play mat and a storybook to help put the core concepts in context. READ ON: The best educational coding kits for kids
The best streaming services for kids (that aren't YouTube)
Among the various choices, Cartoon Network is solid option for kid-friendly streaming. While you may need a cable subscription for complete access, there are some full episodes of nostalgia-inducing classics like Powerpuff Girls available as well as new hits like Teen Titans Go!, The Amazing World of Gumball and Steven Universe without a subscription-TV account. Plus, in addition to the Cartoon Network app, there's a truckload of other show- and character-specific apps too, which range from educational games to puzzlers, sticker packs, arcade and more. There are literally dozens of options on top of the main streaming app, so hopefully your older children won't get bored for a while. READ ON: The best alternatives to YouTube kids
How to buy tech for other people's kids (without annoying their parents)
Gift gifting for kids has gotten a lot more complicated over the past two decades or so. Gone are the days when you could just buy a doll or toy truck and know that it would be enjoyed by the child and fairly noncontroversial with the parents. A lot of that recent complication comes from how tech-heavy toys have gotten, from robot kits to drones to AR-enabled playsets. And that's before you even consider video games and consoles like Xbox or PlayStation. When it's your kid it's a little easier: After all, you should know what they like, what they'll take care of and what rules you've set for them. But what about your best friends' kids, your nieces and nephews or young cousins? While there's no silver bullet gift since every kid is different, there are some general guidelines you can follow when purchasing a tech gift for kids, one that won't have the other adults glaring at you or the kids tossing it to the side in favor of something shinier. READ ON: How to buy tech for other people's kids
How to track everything your baby does (and why you should)
When did your baby last eat -- and how much? Has her diaper been changed recently? And did she nap enough today? Knowing the answers to all these questions is essential for every new mom and dad. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to be a data-conscious parent today, including gadgets, apps and some decidedly old-school methods. READ ON: How to track everything your baby does
The baby gadgets you actually need (and what you can skip)
One of Engadget's resident dads on the tech new parents actually need (and what you can probably skip). READ ON: The best baby gadgets for new parents
Kid-friendly tech toys that won't make their parents hate you
Gifts don't always have to be toys or games to be appreciated. They can even be a little practical without your resorting to boring presents like (ugh) socks. If a kid really likes a particular video game, you can pick up some kind of branded decoration for their room, which they'll appreciate every time they go in there. If their game of choice is Overwatch, this adorable little mood light will look nice on a shelf next to all their Funko Pops (because every kid has Pops now) or next to their bed if they need a nightlight... even if they'd never admit it. READ ON: Kid-friendly gifts that won't make their parents hate you
Our favorite coding kits for kids
There's plenty of reason to get your kid into coding. The next question is how. We've scoured the internet (and a few brick-and-mortar stores) for some of the best toys and kits to take your children from curious toddler to preteen inventor. READ ON: The best coding kits for kids
Tools to help quantify your baby’s progress
The most straightforward way to keep track of your baby's data is the trusty spreadsheet. We recommend Google Sheets, since you can easily share it with your partner, and it has most of the features you'd want from a proper spreadsheet application. With the freedom of endless customizability comes complexity though. Now that there are plenty of baby-tracking apps out there, diving into spreadsheets is something we'd only recommend for serious stat-hounds. READ ON: Tools for tracking your child's progress
The gadgets we recommend for new parents
Rattlers are pretty basic, in that they make noise to get a baby's attention. But the SmartNoggin NogginStik goes a step further: It also lights up, which could help to snap your kid out of an epic freak-out session. It has a goofy face, something that helps little ones learn to recognize human faces. And it also has a ridged handle, which encourages motor development, as well as a mirror on the bottom. That variety means there's less of a chance your baby will get bored with it, and makes it essential for every diaper bag. READ ON: The best baby gadgets to buy for new parents
How tech does (and doesn't) help babies sleep
The truth is, technology probably does more to interrupt a child's sleep than help induce it Both exposure to screens and addictive routines can keep a kid awake. That said, certain gadgets, like a sleep clock, could help establish a healthy sleep cycle. READ ON: The dos and don'ts of helping your kid to sleep.
The parents of Engadget on the big (and often gimmicky) world of baby tech
Here at Engadget, we don't do Mother's Day gift guides. Nor Father's Day either. But as the site has grown up over the past 15 years, so has our staff. Whereas we used to just have one or two token parents on the team, we now have around half a dozen, each of whom has some strong opinions about where tech does (and doesn't) belong in child-rearing. In our not-Mother's Day guide launching today, our resident moms and dads sift through the sometimes-gimmicky world of parenting tech -- a growing class of products that promise to make kids safer, healthier and in some cases smarter. Throughout, the parents of Engadget weigh in on what to buy, and what to skip, and along the way make recommendations on things like kids' streaming services, STEM kits, techie sleep aids, tools for managing screen time and tips on how to raise a good internet citizen. And for those of you who don't have kids of your own but still know a few, we'll tell you how to buy tech toys for someone else's children without making enemies of their parents (nothing like a loud gadget to ruin a friendship!). Find our series here -- and yes, you should probably call your mom this weekend.
Sleepace has a sleep tracker for newborn babies
In the mind of any parent is the nagging worry about conditions like SIDS, but you can't be watching your rugrat 24/7. That's why there's been an explosion in devices that can monitor your newborn as they sleep and alert you if, for instance, it fails to detect breathing. Sleepace is joining the line this year with its new sensor, the Smart Sleep Sensor for Babies.
Tot Bot helps physically disabled toddlers explore
As any parent of a small child knows, toddlers want to explore. They want to look and touch (and sometimes even taste) everything. It's how they learn about the world. Unfortunately, kids with certain physical disabilities can't move about as easily. This difficulty can create a bit of a cognitive gap between them and other kids their age. The Tot Bot is a chair designed to give these children the increased mobility they need to investigate their surroundings thoroughly.
Ford's baby crib isn't a car, but it feels like one
When it comes to getting a baby to fall asleep, sometimes a car ride is the only thing that will do the trick. I know that all too well because that's the tactic my parents used when I was a tyke. Of course, cranking up the car driving around just to get your child to nap burns fuel, so Ford designers in Spain developed a baby crib that simulates the experience of a ride in the backseat.
AI can predict autism through babies' brain scans
Scientists know that the first signs of autism can appear in early childhood, but reliably predicting that at very young ages is difficult. A behavior questionnaire is a crapshoot at 12 months. However, artificial intelligence might just be the key to making an accurate call. University of North Carolina researchers have developed a deep learning algorithm that can predict autism in babies with a relatively high 81 percent accuracy and 88 percent sensitivity. The team trained the algorithm to recognize early hints of autism by feeding it brain scans and asking it to watch for three common factors: the brain's surface area, its volume and the child's gender (as boys are more likely to have autism). In tests, the AI could spot the telltale increase in surface area as early as 6 months, and a matching increase in volume as soon as 12 months -- it wasn't a surprise that most of these babies were formally diagnosed with autism at 2 years old.
