Baby breathing – why breathing movement is so crucial

Breathing is one of the most important vital functions—and in humans, it is controlled by the brain, more specifically by the respiratory center in the brainstem. There, specialized nerve cells work automatically and continuously adjust the breathing rate to the body's needs—for example, during sleep, crying, fever, or physical activity.

However, in babies, especially in the first few months of life, this system is not yet fully developed. This can affect the way babies breathe—and how stable this vital process is.

The breathing movement in babies

In newborns, breathing occurs almost exclusively through the diaphragm muscle because the intercostal muscles are still weak.
That means:

• Breathing is clearly visible in the chest and abdomen.
• Babies breathe significantly faster than adults – about 30–50 breaths per minute (adults: 12–20).
• Breathing movements are often irregular: there are small pauses, short fluttering or shallow breaths – this is usually normal, but can be worrying.

In rare cases (e.g. in premature babies or with an immature respiratory center) , true breathing pauses (apneas) can occur, in which the chest no longer rises - i.e. there is no longer any breathing movement.

Why SpO₂ measurement is not sufficient here

Pulse oximeters (SpO₂ meters) measure how much oxygen is bound in the blood – but not whether the baby is breathing at all.
And that's exactly where the problem lies: the oxygen content in the blood only drops with a delay, after breathing has already stopped.

• In babies, critical apnea cannot be recognized immediately.
• SpO₂ sensors are sensitive to movement, cold, or poor circulation in the foot and arm – a common problem, especially in babies.

Therefore, SpO₂ values ​​are not a reliable early warning in case of respiratory arrest.

Why MARY by sticklett relies on breath movement

MARY by sticklett measures the delicate breathing movements directly on the baby’s chest – where they physiologically occur.
This is crucial because:

• If no breathing movement is detected for a certain period of time, the system detects a possible risk.
• Parents are immediately warned via the app – even before the oxygen level in the blood drops.
• In addition, MARY also measures body temperature – important because overheating is a known risk factor for SIDS.

This form of close-to-body, motion-sensitive monitoring is non-invasive, works reliably even while sleeping, and gives parents what they need most: security – without the stress of monitoring.