Owlet Class Action Says Baby Smart Socks Issue False Alarms

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A baby “smart sock,” Owlet, that purportedly monitors a baby’s oxygen level and heart rate and warns parents if things are off malfunctions, according to a new class action lawsuit.

Lead plaintiffs Amanda Ruiz and Marisela Arreola allege in their Owlet class action lawsuit that the smart sock issues false alarms and, more alarmingly, fails to issue a warning when a baby’s oxygen levels are low.

Ruiz says she purchased the second version of the smart sock, but stopped using it after getting two false alarms – red alerts that indicate a serious problem. Ruiz says she called 911 on each of these occasions, but medical professionals found that her child was within normal ranges.

“The Smart Sock gives false alarms and causes parents to rush their babies to the hospital, believing them to be grievously ill,” allege the mothers in their Owlet class action lawsuit. “Owlet has had knowledge about this defect and has referred to it as ‘false alarm fatigue.’”

Arreola says the Owlet Smart Sock 1 failed to warn her on three occasions that her daughter’s oxygen levels were dangerously low. Arreola claims that she discovered her child was turning purple, a sign of low oxygen, but the Owlet monitor failed to provide any warnings.

“Conversely, the Smart Sock also regularly fails to detect abnormal oxygen levels and heart rates–the exact purpose for which it was designed and advertised,” alleges the Owlet Smart Sock class action lawsuit. “Owlet failed to disclose this material information to consumers prior to sale and actively concealed its knowledge of these defects to the purchasing public.”

Owlet release the first device, the Smart Sock 1 in October 2015, according to the Owlet class action. The device works by monitoring the vital signs through pulse oximetry technology. It is worn as a sock on the baby’s foot while sleeping.

At $299 each, the Owlet Smart Sock provides no visual or audio capabilities, notes the Owlet class action lawsuit. Instead, parents must also purchase traditional baby monitors as well.

The product comes in three sizes to fit newborns through 18-month-old toddlers. The product reportedly made millions by “luring” young parents into believing it would help keep their babies safe.

Owlet touts its device as providing parents “peace of mind” regarding their infant’s health, but the Owlet class action lawsuit alleges that the pricey product does not work as advertised.

“The Owlet Smart Sock’s high sales volume can arguably be equally attributed to the information it advertises as well as the information it does not disclose to consumers; i.e., the Smart Sock’s frequent and unnerving false alarms, inaccurate readings, and complete failure to detect and alert to abnormal oxygen levels and heart rates, the exact purpose for which it was designed and advertised,” contends the Owlet class action lawsuit.

In the face of consumer complaints of broken sleep due to false alarms and other device failures, Owlet doubled down, making up false standards and proclaiming that it had conducted “extensive product safety testing,” allege the plaintiffs.

The Owlet class action lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased either versions of the Smart Sock, along with California subclasses.

The plaintiffs are represented by Mark A. Ozzello, Tarek H. Zohdy, Cody R. Padgett, and Trisha K. Monesi of Capstone Law APC.

The Owlet Smart Sock Class Action Lawsuit is Ruiz, et al. v. Owlet Baby Care Inc., Case No. 5:19-cv-00182-DDP-SP, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.