AC117: False Alarms

Firstly, we want to reassure you that if you are hearing the Alarm from your monitor it indicates that your monitor is working as it should - the Nursery Unit is not receiving any signals from the Sensor Pad to indicate movement is detected so the monitor is alarming. The monitor is set to alert you once it does not detect your baby's movement on the surface of their mattress for 20 seconds.

Angelcare Monitors monitor your baby’s movements on the surface of their mattress - whether this is the rise and fall of the chest or other subtle movements.

Young babies do have different sleeping/movement patterns compared to toddlers when sleeping and this is perfectly normal.

As baby grows, becomes more mobile in the crib coupled with extra layers, a wet nappy, lying on their sides, hunches and in a favourite corner of the crib - these can make it harder for the movement sensor pad to detect baby's movements.

In such instances, the sensitivity may need adjusting to allow for this. The Sensor Pad can detect movements over the whole of the surface of your baby’s mattress, from corner to corner if it is at the correct level. Additionally, it may be that the sensitivity has accidentally been changed in the settings. It's not a regular occurrence but it can happen. 

Sensor Pad False alarms may happen for several reasons:

• Nursery Unit has not been turned OFF after you have removed your baby from the crib
• Make sure there is no bedding between the mattress and the Sensor Pad
• Sensor Pad has not been placed under the mattress properly. If your cot does not have a solid, stationary, completely flat, firm surface including a spring or slat base, place a hardboard between the crib base and the Sensor Pad, to ensure correct operation. The hardboard support must measure at least 30 x 30 cm (12” x 12”) and 6 mm (1/4”) thick
• The sensitivity level may also need to be adjusted

Therefore, to establish whether your Sensor Pad is at the correct level for your baby's mattress carry out the “Four Corner Test”,  see below for information on how to do this.

Firstly, please check the level that the sensitivity is set to, this is done by following these steps:

On the back of the Nursery Unit set the sensitivity level to the middle option (level 2)

NOTE: Please follow the process below within 20 seconds after turning ON both units otherwise the movement alarm will sound

Switch the Nursery and Parent Unit ON

Now, with the Sensor Pad placed in the middle of the cot underneath the mattress: *Gently place your hand in the furthest corner of the mattress & and wait for 20 seconds

If the movement alarm (series of loud continuous beeps from the Parent & Nursery Unit) does not sound carry this out on the remaining corners

Remove your hand from the mattress and step away from the cot. The Sensor Pad is sensitive enough to detect your movement if you are touching the cot

**Due to the lack of movement, after 20 seconds the movement alarm (series of loud continuous beeps) will sound from the Parent & Nursery Unit

Step back to the cot and place your hand gently on the mattress, after a few seconds the alarm will cease as the Sensor Pad has detected your movement

*If the alarm sounds when you place your hand in any of the corners please adjust the sensitivity by turning it up to level 3 and repeat the Four Corner Test again

**If however the monitor does not alarm when you step away from the cot reduce the sensitivity down to level 1 and repeat the Four Corner Test, keep adjusting this until the alarm sounds ensuring that movement is still detected in all four corners.

If the Four Corner Test does not resolve your query

Have you tried replacing the CR3032 Lithium battery in the Sensor Pad - it is recommended that this is replaced approx every 4-6 months to prevent false alarms. Some batteries can have a shorter shelf life that others so always try replacing the battery.

This battery is available from online stores.

· Is your baby asleep when you go in to check?

If yes, this would indicate that your baby is in a deep sleep as the alarm has not woken the baby

· When you check on your baby does the alarm continue or does it cease on its own?

If the alarm ceases on its own this will be because the alarm has re-established your baby’s sleeping pattern. If the alarm does not cease on its own please let us know. 

· Does the alarm only happen at night?

If yes this is because your baby, as with adults, can go into a deeper sleep at night rather that when they nap during the day

· Is there a particular time that this is happening?

Babies have sleeping patterns when they go into deep sleeps and, because of this, the alarm can go off at certain times in the night

· Are you using additional sleep aids such a Sleepyhead, Cocoonababy etc.?

The more that you place between your baby and the Sensor Pad the harder it is for baby's movement

If you are using such products we recommend that you also carry out the Four Corner Test on the surface of the sleep aid to ensure that your baby's movements transfer down.

· What type of mattress are you using?

We know that the Sensor Pad will work effectively with a standard hypoallergenic, spring, coir (and spring/coir combined) mattress as these allow your baby’s movements to be transferred down on to the pad.

We also know that the Sensor Pad will NOT work with a Hollow Framed, Dual Sided, Memory Foam Mattress;

A Hollow Framed Mattress is mainly a US product. It is basically a number of poles that are fitted together with a tight cover fitted over this. As a result of there being nothing actually inside the mattress (hollow), no movement is transferred down to the Sensor Pad. Because of this the monitor may false alarm indicating that baby's movements are not being detected by the Sensor Pad.

A full Memory Foam or Dual-sided Memory Foam Mattress masks the movement of your baby on the surface of the mattress due to the density of the foam and baby's movements do not transfer down to the Sensor Pad. As a result, the monitor may false alarm indicating that baby's movement is not being detected by the Sensor Pad.