When your child feels unwell, the softest cough sounds louder, and each breath appears shorter than it is.
And while your little one might not be able to tell you what’s wrong, a reliable monitor like a pediatric pulse oximeter can help ease your anxiety, even just a little.
Blood oxygen saturation is an important vital sign that indicates whether your baby’s heart and lungs are properly functioning to deliver oxygen to the body.
And by keeping track of your child’s blood oxygen levels, a pulse oximeter eliminates the need to look for visual signs of distress.
So if you are a parent of a child five and under, this guide lists the best pediatric pulse oximeters and helps you understand:
- What is the best pediatric pulse oximeter based on your needs?
- How to use pediatric pulse oximeters
- Features that make a pulse oximeter pediatric appropriate
| ❗ Disclaimer: Over-the-counter paediatric pulse oximeters should only be used for general health checks and are not a replacement for medical check-ups in case of breathing difficulties and illness. |
Quick Comparison: Best Pediatric Pulse Oximeters
| Product | Key features | Price range | Availability |
| HealthTree Infant Handheld Pulse Oximeter | ✔️For infants and children ✔️Measures SpO2 and pulse rate ✔️LED display ✔️±1% error margin | $119 | Amazon |
| Vibeat Pulse Oximeter for Kids | ✔️For children (aged 2y and above) ✔️Measures SpO2 and pulse rate ✔️OLED display ✔️±2% error margin | $33 – $34 | Amazon, Walmart |
| Babytone Baby Sleep Sock Monitor | ✔️For infants and toddlers ✔️Measures SpO2 and pulse rate, humidity and motion ✔️Mobile app display | $99 – $139 | Amazon |
| CHOICEMMED Children Pedia Pulse Oximeter | ✔️For children (aged 2y and above) ✔️Measures SpO2 and pulse rate ✔️OLED display ✔️±2% error margin | $19 – $31 | Walgreens, Amazon |
Key Features to Look For
Pulse oximeters are non-invasive devices available in various designs and sizes, but when choosing one for your baby, be mindful of the following features:
👉 Size and fit: This is an important aspect of a pulse oximeter that can influence both accuracy and comfort.
The probes designed for paediatrics are significantly smaller than those of adult pulse oximeters. Therefore, if they are not wrapped snugly around your baby’s finger or foot, they will give false readings.
So, make sure you choose a pulse oximeter specifically designed and labelled for pediatric use.
It should be neither too tight to cause discomfort nor too loose that the sensor sits in the wrong position.
👉 Accuracy and reliability: You cannot trust a blood oxygen monitor that keeps beeping when your child’s oxygen levels fall within the normal range.
A reliable pulse oximeter should be able to produce accurate readings when your baby moves around, and it should have a smaller error margin.
👉 Connectivity and data: A high-quality pulse oximeter offers additional features such as app integration or Bluetooth connectivity.
This feature allows data syncing and provides access to trends within your baby’s blood oxygen levels.
While app integration is not essential for a pulse oximeter’s usability, it can make monitoring a more convenient experience.
If you wish to learn the usefulness of a pulse oximeter, take a look at: Understanding Pulse Oximeters: A Full Beginner Guide
Best Pediatric Pulse Oximeters
Deciding on a healthcare device can be challenging, especially when your child’s health is at stake.
But with our expert-backed recommendations rooted in safety and precision, you can confidently choose the best pediatric pulse oximeter for your child.
Our recommendations are grounded in:
- High device accuracy
- Age-appropriate designs for paediatrics that offer comfort.
- Options for both spot and continuous monitoring of oxygen saturation.
- Positive feedback from parents
1. HealthTree Infant Handheld Pulse Oximeter
When it comes to monitoring blood oxygen levels in infants, there are only two options available: wearable and handheld pulse oximeters.
Handheld blood oxygen monitors such as the HealthTree handheld pulse oximeter are an ideal choice if your baby requires occasional spot-checking.
The device comes with a fingertip probe for adults and a foot wrap for infants.
Before using the monitor, the appropriate probe should be connected to the main unit of the device, depending on the intended user.
Details:
Intended users: Infants and children
Device type: Handheld
Device dimensions: 8.78 x 6.73 x 2.72 inches
Battery type: Rechargeable lithium ion battery
Why We Like It:
- Provides higher SpO2 measurement accuracy with a ±1% error margin
- Audible and visual alarm alerts users if readings fall dangerously below safe levels
- Can be used to monitor pulse rate and SpO2 in infants, children and adults using age-appropriate probes
- The infant strap probe allows adjusting the probe according to the foot size
- Bluetooth-enabled data transfer allows storing and viewing data and graphic reports on the mobile app
- Rechargeability through USB-C charging
Drawbacks:
The monitor and baby probe are sold separately, making it an expensive option, and given its price point, the device is only suitable for spot checking rather than continuous monitoring.
User Feedback:
2. Vibeat Pulse Oximeter for Kids
If convenience and quick spot checking are your priorities, then this pediatric portable pulse oximeter is just what you need.
The Vibeat pulse oximeter is an affordable option for monitoring blood oxygen levels in children aged two and above.
While it may not be designed like a traditional fingertip pulse oximeter, its playful design makes your child feel less anxious while their SpO2 levels are monitored.
Details:
Intended users: Children aged 2-12 years
Device type: Fingertip
Device dimensions: 2.09 x 1.14 x 1.18 inches
Battery type: AAA batteries
Why We Like It:
- Soft silicone cushion pad offers comfort for smaller fingers
- Automatically powers off to conserve battery when the finger is removed
- Finger diameter of 7.6-11.2 mm perfectly fits children’s smaller fingers, maintaining accuracy
- Bright and high-contrast display makes it easy to read.
Drawbacks:
According to users, the device takes a while to record SpO2 readings and occasionally produces inconsistent readings caused by hand movement.
User Feedback:
3. CHOICEMMED Children Pedia Pulse Oximeter
This is another inexpensive yet reliable option that has made it to our list of the best pediatric pulse oximeters.
The ChoiceMMed children’s pulse oximeter gives accurate readings within a few seconds.
This model also stands out for being both accurate and easy to use in different settings due to its various display layouts.
With its durable build, child-friendly design and user-friendly interface, it’s a worthwhile investment if you want a quick SpO2 or pulse rate monitoring for your child.
Details:
Intended users: Children aged 2-12 years
Device type: Fingertip
Dimensions: 1.15 x 1.15 x 2 inches
Battery type: AAA batteries
Why We Like It:
- Offers 10 levels of brightness adjustment and four different display modes
- Features a quick one-button operation
- Delivers accurate readings even for small wiggly fingers
- Displays a low battery indicator
Drawbacks:
It does not have an audible alarm system to alert users if your child’s readings fall outside the normal SpO2 range, and lacks features like Bluetooth-enabled app connectivity.
User Feedback:
4. Babytone Baby Sleep Sock Monitor
The Babytone sleep sock monitor is for all anxious parents who want peace of mind without constantly checking their baby’s breathing.
This pediatric continuous pulse oximeter enables you to monitor your baby’s blood oxygen saturation, pulse rate, humidity and even motion.
The soft sock design also makes overnight monitoring comfortable for your baby without disturbing their sleep.
Although it is more expensive than most pediatric pulse oximeters, it offers good value for money if you need more than basic oxygen level monitoring, which is why we included it in our list of the best pediatric pulse oximeters.
Details:
Intended users: Infants
Device type: Wearable
Dimensions: 1.93 × 1.06 × 0.55 inches
Battery type: Rechargeable lithium-ion Polymer
Why We Like It:
- Continuous monitoring of blood oxygen levels and other health parameters through the night
- Smart mobile app notifications and alarm beeps if blood oxygen levels fall outside normal levels.
- Socks come in three different sizes with replaceable bands.
- Bluetooth-enabled mobile app monitoring of health parameters with unlimited data storage
Drawbacks:
Readings are only accessible through a dedicated device without a mobile app, which makes monitoring dependent on a stable Bluetooth connection. Users have also reported weak adhesive, which can cause the socks to become loose.
User Feedback
How to Use a Pediatric Pulse Oximeter
The method of using a pediatric pulse oximeter depends on the type of monitor.
Handheld pulse oximeters can be used for adults and children of all ages. These pediatric and adult pulse oximeters come with age-appropriate probes that are suitable for spot monitoring of blood oxygen levels.
To use a handheld pediatric pulse oximeter connect the pediatric probe to the main unit and turn the device on.
Wrap the probe around the feet of your baby, with the light-emitting sensor positioned under the little toe and the non-glowing sensor opposite to it. Once the band is secured, wait a few seconds for the readings to appear.
Pediatric finger pulse oximeters on the other hand, can be used by simply placing the clip over the finger for quick SpO2 monitoring.
Just make sure the sensor on the device fits your child’s finger for accurate readings.
FAQs
How to attach a pulse oximeter to a pediatric
To attach a pulse oximeter to a pediatric finger, make sure the finger is bare then gently place the clip in the correct position. For a foot probe, be sure to wrap it below the toe with the detector and sensor position opposite to each other.
How does a pediatric pulse oximeter for foot work?
A pediatric pulse oximeter worn on the foot shines light through the skin. The sensor detects how much light is absorbed by oxygen-rich blood, and the readings for SpO2 and pulse rate are calibrated.
Final Thoughts
One thing to keep in mind when buying pediatric pulse oximeters is that these devices do not provide hospital-grade accuracy.
However, many consumer-grade pulse oximeters can be helpful during an emergency, so choose a model that is accurate and reliable over an expensive device with unnecessary features.
And let’s be real – your baby cannot differentiate between an expensive and a cheap model, can they?