A new baby monitor company called Miku has just rolled out a new tool that helps parents track a baby's breathing and sleep patterns without physical contact.

The new tech, called Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor, pairs up the company's propriety tools with an 8-core Qualcomm processor and 1080p HD, in order to relay real-time information and analytics to caregivers. Parents can access information about their children's breathing patterns, sleep cycles and nursery conditions over time, the company said.

Since the tool is contact-free, babies can wear any outfit, and the tool can be used from age 0 to 12.

WHY IT MATTERS

We've seen a surge of tech companies innovating in the baby care space. Companies like Miku, pitch their products as ways to better keep tabs on babies.

Every year about 3,500 babies die from sudden unexpected infant deaths in the US, according to the CDC.

One of the most common SUIDs is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), where a baby dies in an unexplained way, typically while sleeping. Birth defects, low birth weight and respiratory infection are some common risk factors, according to the Mayo Clinic. Environmental factors such as sleep position and sharing a bed are also risks.

THE LARGER TREND

Miku has some competition in the space of smart baby monitors. Nanit, which also pledges to give parents insights about their kid's sleep, landed $25 million in Series C funding in February. However, unlike Miku, Nanit's system does include infant clothing called Breathing Wear.

As part of the Nanit system, its camera interprets the customized patterns on the baby’s clothing and can then relay breathing data to a parent's smartphone.

Another company in the space is Owlet Baby Care, the maker of connected infant-monitoring products targeted at consumers. Recently it announced its merger with special purpose acquisition company Sandbridge Acquisition Corporation earlier this month.

The combined company was valued at $1.07 billion, and plans to head to the New York Stock Exchange in Q2 2021.

ON THE RECORD

"At Miku, our approach to monitoring is contact-free. Our sensors become an extension of the parent, so it's like they're right there. Monitoring should be easy. No wearables, no charging, and no washing. This is what we call Modern Parenting," Colt Seman, Miku cofounder and CMO, said in a statement.