Pampers introduce a line of smart nappies

A line of “smart diapers” (known more commonly in Australia as nappies) which will track a child’s urine output and sleep has been released by the Pampers brand. Known as Lumi, the line comes as a package with an app, baby monitor and 10-day supply of nappies. 

 

A similar concept was introduced by Huggies last year in Korea, allowing parents to be notified each time their child soils their nappy. 

 

The Lumi line has been released in the form of a waitlist ahead of its US launch in October this year. The nappies themselves contain an “activity” sensor, which secures to a “landing” on the front section of the child’s nappy. The sensor then works with a corresponding app to log the child’s urine output and identify patterns. Additional packs of Lumi nappies will be sold separately, however pricing has not been finalised.

 

The nappies fall into the broader “internet of things” category, which allows consumers and users to interact with online lists and categories, or manage aspects of day to day life, such as parking meters, or managing the need to order more milk. 

 

The variety of baby-related products that sit in the internet of things space has increased of late, encompassing connected onesies that double as sleep trackers and a robotic crib that’s supposed to help rock a baby to sleep.

 

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) facilities internationally have embraced the trend, such as the Ora Nursery in Dubai, or health checking robots in China. 

 

Those not in favour of innovations such as the Lumi range have cited concerns that the connection of internet of things products and young children could leave children exposed to issues relating to security and privacy. Any app that holds personal information could potentially expose that information either to hackers or to the app’s maker or its partners.

 

In response to the concerns, a Pampers spokesperson told CNN business that the account information will include a baby’s name, sex, date of birth and a 24-hour archive of video from the monitor, plus a profile photo if the parents choose to use one.

 

“I do want to re-iterate that we take privacy and security very seriously,” the spokesperson said. “Only Lumi by Pampers account holders with their valid credentials will be able to access their baby’s data on the Lumi app.”

 

Speaking with CNN Business, David Anderson, Senior Director at the Child Mind Institute, said that the product may be supportive for new parents, who are concerned about their child’s output, particularly when ill, could be useful for short periods of time, as could the sleep tracking feature. 

 

He did, however caution that when parents and carers have access to more data, it can exacerbate anxiety, with any devitation, however slight, from the norm, triggering concern. 

 

Echoing the value of parents coming to rely on themselves, and their relationship with their child, Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, president of the International Society for Infant Studies, told CNN Business; 

 

“I’m sure there will be even more digital products to analyze babies in the future, but the best thing you can do is cuddle, build a relationship and look in their eyes and see what they are trying to tell us — not what we are trying to tell them.”

To read the original coverage of this story, as produced by CNN Business, please see here. Information about the Lumi range is available here.