Why we made it
Each year, thousands of infants die unexpectedly during sleep, with reasons including suffocation, stomach-down positioning, overheating, and others. These tragedies often occur quietly and without warning.
We set out to build something that gives parents peace of mind during the most vulnerable hours of infancy.
What it does
BB Belt is a SIDS-risk-aware smart monitoring system that acts as a co-pilot for safe infant sleep. Rather than only reacting to crying, it continuously watches for environmental and positional risk factors known to contribute to sleep-related infant harm.
It monitors:
Position & Suffocation Risk Detects prone (stomach-down) orientation or face-down positioning that may increase suffocation risk during sleep.
Environment & Overheating Risk Tracks temperature and humidity to identify overheating or unsafe nursery conditions.
Distress & Movement Patterns Identifies abnormal or heavy movement patterns that may indicate discomfort, entanglement, or unsafe sleep states.
Crying Detection Differentiates distress cries from ambient noise to alert caregivers only when intervention may be needed.
When risk factors or concerning symptoms appear together, BB Belt alerts caregivers immediately.
How we built it
As engineering students, we integrated a variety of hardware components into a singular ecosystem. We utilized accelerometers for motion tracking, DHT sensors for climate monitoring, and high-sensitivity sound modules for cry detection. These are linked to an arduino and esp32 processing units that handle real-time data, ensuring that alerts reach a parent’s device with minimal latency.
Challenges we ran into
The primary technical hurdle was filtering out "noise." Teaching a sensor to distinguish between a baby simply rolling over and an actual fall required significant calibration. Similarly, ensuring the air quality sensor didn't trigger false alarms from everyday scents like perfume or cleaning supplies was a major debugging task. We quickly learned that in the world of IoT, precision is everything.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are particularly proud of creating a stable bridge between hardware and software. Successfully implementing an algorithm that can accurately identify a cry amidst background noise was a huge win for the team.
What we learned
Beyond the technical rigors of sensor drift and data management, this project taught us the importance of User Experience (UX). We learned that for a parent at 4:00 AM, simplicity is key. A successful monitor doesn't just need to collect data; it needs to communicate that data clearly and reliably under pressure.
What's next for Baby Belt
Our next steps include implementing a more compact and comfortable solution that can be worn by the baby; machine learning to track and predict sleep patterns, as well as an automated "lullaby mode" triggered by specific sound frequencies. By the time this year's Valentine’s Day babies arrive in November, we want Baby Belt to be the gold standard for nursery safety.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.