Sleep Tracking Devices?

[Jules]

On TV shows, I’ve seen the hosts wearing bracelets and rings for tracking sleep. The users said good things, some are still wearing them regularly after a few months. Some of these things are rather expensive.

One ring was rated the highest. US$300 and it’s ordered online. For me, a bracelet would be better.

Does anyone use one?

 

[feywon]

And to what use do they or their health care provider put the info? Are they to learn if person is nodding off inappropriately? (dangerously if driving) i'm wondering how a ring or bracelet would know one is sleeping? What exactly is it measuring to draw that conclusion? My heart rate and BP and brain waves likely read the same when i'm meditating as when i'm sleeping except for REM sleep being absent.

 

[Nathan]

I use a Fitbit Versa 2 for tracking steps per day, heart rate and sleep. I have read that fitness trackers do a fairly decent job of measuring sleep cycles(Awake, Light sleep, REM, Deep sleep). I use it as a guide, so that I can modify my lifestyle to maximize the regenerative Deep Sleep periods.

 

[Wontactmyage]

I use an Apple Watch. I use it more for exercise but knowing my sleep helps to understand any interrupted sleeping.

 

[Capt Lightning]

Sounds like yet another solution in search of a problem.

 

[Jules]

I use an Apple Watch. I use it more for exercise but knowing my sleep helps to understand any interrupted sleeping.

My watch is a series 5. It didn’t originally track sleep. It seems like the updates do that now, so I’ll try it tonight.

Thanks for this tip.

I use it for steps and BPM. Newer models also show oxygen levels.

 

[HoneyNut]

On TV shows, I’ve seen the hosts wearing bracelets and rings for tracking sleep. ...
Does anyone use one?

I have a fitbit that tracks my sleep. There was a time that I checked that every day, but now that I'm retired I haven't checked it at all.

When I was working I would check it because I was trying to reach a sleeping goal of 6+ hours, which was really hard to do pre-covid, but easy once we were working from home during the pandemic.

The only thing I don't like about the sleep tracker is that it considers getting up to go to the bathroom during the night as 'awake' whereas to me as long as it is just a couple minutes I don't consider it as not-sleep.

 

[Jules]

Fitbits are reasonably priced so I should look at them. Do they differentiate the different types of sleep like REM, @HoneyNut?

Bathroom breaks would show me as awake quite often.

 

[Wontactmyage]

My watch is a series 5. It didn’t originally track sleep. It seems like the updates do that now, so I’ll try it tonight.

Thanks for this tip.

I use it for steps and BPM. Newer models also show oxygen levels.

I have a 6. Sleep reads on my iPhone under health.

 

[Wontactmyage]

I have a fitbit that tracks my sleep. There was a time that I checked that every day, but now that I'm retired I haven't checked it at all.

When I was working I would check it because I was trying to reach a sleeping goal of 6+ hours, which was really hard to do pre-covid, but easy once we were working from home during the pandemic.

The only thing I don't like about the sleep tracker is that it considers getting up to go to the bathroom during the night as 'awake' whereas to me as long as it is just a couple minutes I don't consider it as not-sleep.

I liked my Fitbit when I had it. My change to Apple Watch was just that it worked with my iPhone in data.

 

[Jules]

@Wontactmyage, I know you can use theatre mode to keep the phone light from turning on when you roll over. Have you ever had any worries about accidentally sending an emergency alert or activating text messages or phone calls. When I roll over I often have my hand compressed under the pillow.

Series 5 doesn’t seem to do any sleep tracking. I’m not ready to update yet.

 

[Wontactmyage]

I

@Wontactmyage, I know you can use theatre mode to keep the phone light from turning on when you roll over. Have you ever had any worries about accidentally sending an emergency alert or activating text messages or phone calls. When I roll over I often have my hand compressed under the pillow.

Series 5 doesn’t seem to do any sleep tracking. I’m not ready to update yet.

I put my watch in sleep mode at a set time at night and wakes up in the morning. The watch still tracks everything even in sleep mode.

 

[HoneyNut]

Do they differentiate the different types of sleep like REM, @HoneyNut?

Yes, it does as long as the fitbit doesn't slide out of position to the point of not being able to get heartrate. I wore out my band and bought a cheap knockoff that is annoyingly stiff so I wear it a bit too loose.