Here’s the next-generation baby monitor—The smart baby wristband
Innovative device created by Dr. Rula Sharqi promises round-the-clock monitoring and emergency alerts for infants.
Courtesy of Dr. Rula Sharqi
In a groundbreaking development poised to revolutionize infant healthcare, Dr. Rula Sharqi, an electronics engineer and lecturer at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, has co-developed a revolutionary smart baby wristband to replace traditional baby monitors. This innovative device, which can monitor vital signs and send alerts in real time, promises to alleviate the challenges parents face when caring for sick infants.
The idea for the smart wristband, known as LittleGard, was born from Dr. Sharqi’s personal experience in 2018. As a single mother, she spent sleepless nights caring for her two-year-old son Joseph, who was suffering from a fever. The frequent trips to and from Joseph’s room to check his temperature left Dr. Sharqi drained and exhausted. She realized the critical need for a device that could monitor a baby’s vital signs and alert parents automatically if any readings became concerning.
Dr. Rula Sharqi, an electronics engineer and lecturer at Heriot-Watt University Dubai.
“A baby’s fever often worsens at night because everyone’s body temperature naturally rises in the evening,” explains Dr. Sharqi. “This circadian rhythm causes temperatures to peak in the late afternoon and evening, making nighttime monitoring particularly important. It was through my own experience that I conceived the idea for a device capable of notifying me via text message when my child’s temperature had risen beyond or below a safe level.”
Dr. Sharqi, in collaboration with Nakhul Kalaivanan, a fourth-year robotics engineering student, has spent the last 12 months developing the LittleGard wristband. This state-of-the-art device employs advanced nanosensors to monitor body temperature, oxygen levels, and pulse rate. What sets LittleGard apart from similar products is its ability to send monitoring alerts directly to parents, caregivers, medical professionals, and even emergency services.
The wristband is designed to be both comfortable and reliable. Made from a rubber material similar to that used in Apple watches, it ensures accurate readings by being securely fixed to a baby’s skin. It is wireless and powered by a rechargeable battery with an impressive six-month lifespan between charges.
When vital readings breach a safe limit, an email or text is automatically sent to parents via an app, explained Kalaivanan. There is also the option to alert a family doctor, ensuring real-time information is available to health authorities if medical attention is required. “It’s also a safe option as the device is battery-powered and won’t overheat. We have used advanced sensors incorporated into our design, and have built-in safeguards so that a message can always be sent in the event WiFi temporarily drops,” he said.
Dr. Sharqi and Kalaivanan have successfully built a working prototype and are now seeking an industry partner to bring their invention to market. Remarkably, they are offering their work for free to a company with the capability and passion to develop the product further.
“We really believe in this product and its potential to save lives,” says Dr. Sharqi. “Uncontrolled fevers account for the highest number of fatalities in infants, so it’s a very serious problem. That’s why we are happy to give away our work to a company that can bring this to market.”
