A weekend at the grandparents', a holiday cottage or a hotel: you may want to take your Owlet along. The Dream Sock is designed for use in the home, though, and the European instructions for use say several things about Wi-Fi, power and use on the move.
What to pack
- The base station and sensor of the Dream Sock, with the fabric socks in the size your baby wears now.
- The USB power cable and USB plug supplied with the Dream Sock.
- Your phone with the Owlet Dream app, and the Wi-Fi password for where you are staying.
- If you travel with a Dream Sight, bring the adapter supplied with the camera too.
The instructions warn that accessories and cables other than those specified for the Dream Sock may result in inaccurate readings, reduced performance or injury. The Dream Sight instructions are stricter: use only the supplied adapter, and no extension leads.
Planning the battery
A new sensor lasts up to 16 hours. After 20 minutes on the base station you already have 8 hours. Owlet recommends charging the sensor at least once a day when using the Dream Sock, and placing it on the base station when you are not monitoring.
The base station where you are staying
When travelling too, put the base station somewhere safe: keep the base station and cord at least 1 metre away from the cot and out of your baby's reach to reduce cord strangulation hazards. Always keep the base station in audible range.
Wi-Fi where you are staying
The Dream Sock needs a Wi-Fi network to communicate with the app and Owlet's servers. The base station works on 2.4 GHz, with WPA2 or similar encryption. Most home routers that run at 5 GHz also run at 2.4 GHz: choose that connection when connecting.
- At the grandparents' or the babysitter's: the Dream Sock can remember several Wi-Fi networks. You add a new network in the app, via Account, My Owlet Devices and Change Wi-Fi (according to the instructions).
- At a hotel or airport: networks that require you to log in through a browser page do not work. That includes many public networks in hotels and airports. The instructions also advise against connecting through free public Wi-Fi.
- The Dream Sight works on 2.4 or 5 GHz and needs at least 2 Mbps.
For live readings in the app and remote access you need internet. The instructions call the base station the primary source of notifications. According to Owlet's European help centre, while the base station is glowing green, it will notify you when the readings leave the preset ranges, even if the app or Wi-Fi is down. If the base station cannot connect to the app within 120 seconds of starting up, it sounds a medium priority technical alarm. What the base station colours mean is covered in our article on Dream Sock notifications. The sensor and base station talk to each other over Bluetooth. In most cases they only need to be in the same house, within about 30 metres.
In the car and on the move
The Dream Sock is designed for use in the home. The instructions state that it is not designed for use in moving vehicles. According to the instructions, also stop using the Dream Sock if your baby is moving or is in a device that is moving them, such as a swing or vehicle. Kind en Gezin, the Flemish child and family agency, advises keeping time in a car seat to the journey itself and always keeping an eye on your baby.
- Do not transport or store the system in direct sunlight, a garage, an attic or a hot car: it can be damaged.
- Use it within the conditions in the instructions: between 5 and 40 °C, at 15 to 90% non-condensing humidity, and up to 3,000 metres altitude.
- The instructions say you only switch the sensor off for cleaning or storage.
The instructions say nothing about use on an aeroplane.
Sleeping somewhere else
When your baby is not sleeping in their own safe cot, for example when visiting or travelling, Kind en Gezin asks for extra supervision. According to Kind en Gezin, a travel cot does not need an extra mattress: follow the manufacturer's instructions. Also check that the instructions mention the standard EN 716. Look, listen and feel, says Kind en Gezin. A baby monitor or camera can help. It does not replace your senses. The rest of the advice is in our safe sleep checklist.
What the Dream Sock is for
The Dream Sock is intended for routine home monitoring of healthy babies. Its notifications help you decide whether to seek medical advice. They do not replace a diagnosis or treatment by a doctor. More practical questions? See our FAQ.