On the latest HomeKit Insider Podcast episode, Siobhan Adcock from Consumer Reports joins to talk about smart baby tech, plus we get into the new Sonos CEO, humidifiers, and more.
Siobhan Adcock from is this week's guest host who serves as Director of Content Development in the baby category at Consumer Reports. The nonprofit tests several types of smart devices, including their safety, security, and privacy.
As noted in our last podcast featuring Consumer Reports, AppleInsider has a storied history with the publication, that originated in 2017.
Several years later, and after a tour of the Consumer Reports' facilities, we're on amicable terms and spend this episode diving into smart baby tech, including how it integrates — or doesn't integrate — into the smart home.
The full interview is transcribed below and edited for clarity.
In the news this week, Sonos appointed a permanent CEO. Board member and interim CEO Tom Conrad will officially be keeping the role after an exhaustive search.
Conrad has been working on help regain consumer trust over the last year and the audio company says it has an impressive lineup of new hardware coming down the line.
SwitchBot announced a new update coming to its smart humidifier. It will now support Matter natively over Wi-Fi and won't require a SwitchBot hub to operate.
With no good options on the market, we spend some time eating up a smart dehumidifier. Using an Eve Energy plug and some room sensors, we walk through how to automate a dumb dehumidifier in Matter and Apple Home.
Finally, we go hands-on with the Journey LOC8 Versa wallet. This is a Napa leather Find My-enabled MagSafe wallet that holds 5 cards and also has a money clip.
Links from the HomeKit Insider podcast
- Get 25% off Consumer Reports
- Aeocky dehumidifier
- Sonos permanent CEO
- SwitchBot humidifier
- Journey Loc8 Versa wallet
Interview with Siobhan Adcockfrom Consumer Reports
Andrew O'Hara: So, Siobhan Adcock from Consumer Reports. We previously had Dan, who is fantastic.
Siobhan is the Director of Content Development in the baby category for Consumer Reports, which I'm very excited about.
As many people listening know, we just had our second little one— little Ellie. She's a little over three weeks old now. Stuff in the baby space changes both very fast and very slowly.
I'm excited to catch up. Let's talk about all things baby tech. I know we're diving into a niche topic on a niche show, but I hope there are enough folks out there who are just as into this.
Before we get into the actual gear, tell me a little about you. How'd you get into baby tech and Consumer Reports? Then we'll dive into the gear.
Siobhan Adcock: Thanks so much for having me, first of all— and congratulations to you. You are in it, right? Those first few weeks feel like every day is an apocalypse. It's a tough stretch.
I got into the baby space because I find babies and toddlers fascinating. They're like aliens among us. The neurological and sensory development in those early weeks and months is really interesting— more mysterious and cool than the wildest thriller.
There's some interesting technology starting to develop that could unlock a lot of that mystery. So, from a deeply nerdy, geeky level, I'm really into that.
My job is to work with our testing teams at Consumer Reports to create content from our independent testing of baby products— car seats, strollers, baby monitors, diapers, and more.
I also work with our policy, safety, and advocacy experts on investigative reporting to make the world a safer, better, and fairer place for babies and their grown-ups.
When you look at the baby gear space, like you said, it's developing really fast and really slow. A lot of the pain points remain the same— sleep, feeding, and understanding what these little humans need when they can't talk yet.
Parents also face huge challenges. We work like we don't parent and parent like we don't work. And then we try to solve the same problems with better gear. A lot of smart baby gear is attempting to tackle these issues in creative ways.
It's kind of like "Dinosaur Train" — why did it take so long to combine dinosaurs and trains? The same goes for combining a car seat and night light or bassinet and white noise machine.
Many innovations just make sense once they exist. And now we're finally starting to see those combinations happen.
Andrew: Yes, 100%. And it's funny to hear my parents or in-laws say, "Back in our day" Everyone's got stories about boiling bottles and heating milk. Things have changed so much.
I love things like the Ember bottle. They took smart mug technology and made something that's genuinely useful. I can just take formula and an empty bottle, press a button, and I've got warm milk wherever we are.
It's so smart.
So what's new in the space? Give me the big picture. What trends or innovations are exciting right now?
Siobhan Adcock: The ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas is where we check out new products. One of the biggest trends is multi-stage gear. Cribs and bassinets that evolve into toddler beds or full-size beds. Parents need products that stretch further.
We're also seeing more predictive and interpretive technology. Smart bassinets that respond to baby's cries. New products like Motorola's PIPA and Maxi-Cosi's Starling use AI to interpret sleep cues and crying patterns.
These tools help parents get a better night's sleep. But I always remind parents: no device can know your baby like you do. Your baby is one of a kind. Trust your instincts.
Still, many of these products are helpful. They come with apps to help you track sleep and decode cries— like hungry, wet, or tired. In those early weeks, even a little help is appreciated.
Andrew: Yes, and it seems like the smart gear is finally useful. A few years ago, it felt like everything just had Bluetooth for no reason.
I remember trying to find a monitor that did both RF and Wi-Fi— it was impossible. I wanted a local screen and app access. Now, thankfully, some monitors offer both.
Why has it taken so long for smart home features to be included in baby gear?
Siobhan Adcock: Great question. First, the window of usefulness for baby gear is short. A smart bassinet is only used for 4-5 months. So, companies hesitate to put major investment into tech for such a short time span.
Second, cost. Baby gear is already expensive, and most families are trying to stretch their dollars. Companies don't want to price people out by making everything ultra high-tech.
Also, innovation in baby gear tends to lag behind general consumer tech. We get the polished features later, and they're usually simplified versions of what exists elsewhere.
Andrew: That lines up. I also think more dads are getting into baby tech. Guys like Quinn from Snazzy Labs are excited about the same stuff I am.
And moms are getting more comfortable with tech too. We use our phones for everything— appointments, orders, reminders— so it makes sense that baby tools would be integrated there too.
Andrew: Let's talk about products. We used the SNOO for both kids. At first, I had no idea what it was. Then we used it and absolutely loved it.
The rocking was a little intense at first, but after checking online, we realized it was normal. Ellie is sleeping great in it now.
Also, didn't realize the swaddle has arm holes for later use. Rookie mistake with Harrison!
Siobhan Adcock: The SNOO is hugely popular. It was one of the earliest smart bassinets. We've tested it for safety, ease of use, and more. It scored very well overall.
A few notes: don't crank the white noise volume too high— it can exceed safe levels. And some experts caution against swaddles that restrict movement too much. But otherwise, it's an excellent product.
Also worth noting— they now offer SNOO rentals. And they recently moved to a subscription model: after around nine months, some premium features require a paid subscription.
Andrew: That brings us to Cradlewise. We bought it for Harrison and loved it. It transitions from bassinet to crib and even includes a baby monitor and white noise machine.
ecently, they added a subscription too. I'm still learning what features are included. Cloud storage makes sense— most smart cameras charge for that. AI is also expensive to run.
What I appreciated is that they didn't remove any features from the original product. Everything still works. The subscription adds more but doesn't take away.
Siobhan Adcock: That's the key— adding value without removing what customers already had. Subscriptions are probably going to become the norm as these products get more advanced.
Cradlewise is beautifully designed. It did well in our lab tests. We had some minor bouncing calibration issues, but their customer service was excellent.
Andrew: And I liked that it keeps getting better over time with new features.
Speaking of smart tech— let's talk privacy. I really want a baby cam with HomeKit Secure Video. Apple's system is private, local, and requires no extra subscription fees.
I saw a new camera at CES from TP-Link's TAPO line. It supports HomeKit and uses AI to detect things like rolling over or covered faces. That's exactly what I want.
But how do we know it's safe to send baby data to the cloud? What should parents be looking out for?
Siobhan Adcock: At Consumer Reports, we evaluate baby monitors using the same privacy and security standards as home security cameras.
We look at how data is handled on the device and by the company's privacy policy. Unfortunately, even well-rated devices often get low marks for data handling— like 2 out of 5.
For most families, we recommend local-only video monitors. You lose remote access, but video quality is good enough to see if your baby's eyes are open or if they're breathing.
Some devices offer dual-mode: local and remote access. If you go that route, use a strong password, enable two-factor authentication, and keep firmware up to date.
Andrew: I love checking in on Cradlewise when I travel. And yeah, I want data— but it does feel creepy sometimes.
We had the Owlet sock with Harrison. It was reassuring when we remembered to use it— but often we forgot, since it had to go under his onesie and was tricky to manage.
Siobhan Adcock: Totally. I'll never tell a parent not to use something that gives them comfort. But no device replaces your instincts. You know your baby best.
Just keep in mind: all that tech costs money, and privacy is a real consideration. If you can avoid five apps telling you your baby is breathing, you'll save money— and maybe stress.
Andrew: Yes! That's why I want a HomeKit cam. It keeps everything local and private. And later, it can become a regular security cam. Why don't more companies do this?
As we wrap up— any fun baby tech products you recommend I check out?
Siobhan Adcock: At the expo, we focused on safety. For example, we looked at nursing pillows and car seats that meet the latest safety standards.
On the tech side, the Motorola PIPA monitor stood out. And there's a low-tech innovation: a glass bottle from Chicco that's encased in silicone— unbreakable and plastic-free.
Andrew: Very cool. That's why I love asking you— you know when tech makes sense, and when it doesn't. I'll definitely check those out.
Siobhan Adcock: Thank you! And congratulations again on your growing family.
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