Does the Sleep Robot Really Work?

On a previous post I mentioned the Somnox Sleep Robot as a good sleep aid device for seniors. Somnox, created by a Dutch start-up, is the very first robot in the world designed to improve the quality of a person’s sleep. It’s basically smart pillow, but in order to explain it better, it’s a breathable natural fabric, soft, huggable relaxation sleep aid that uses advanced technology to help you relax and fall asleep.

But does the Sleep Robot work for seniors? Yes. It’s a must have item for seniors suffering from insomnia and other sleep disorders. When spooning the Sleep Robot, seniors will be soothed to sleep, tickling the senses to relax body and mind. With a perk that it’s also good for lonely seniors who miss someone to hug at night. 

The first Robot in the Bedroom

As said previously, the Somnox is the first Sleep Robot in the world, precisely designed to help people have a better night sleep.

But considering the bedroom is our most intimate private space, and robots are mostly considered as cold, mechanical, impersonal creations, why did the founders risked with the idea of people bringing a robot into their beds?

Co-founder Julian Jagtenberg explained in an interview that they believe in soft robotics which, according to him, it’s a “totally different kind of category within the robotics theme. It’s about robotics that you can cuddle, that you can touch that you can interact with that are not dangerous. It’s relatively new and we think that it’s inevitable they will enter our households and our daily life and in our case we are even making sure that you will go to bed with the robots”.

When we think about it, it makes sense.

How Does the Sleep Robot Work?

It utilizes breathing regulation to help people to fall asleep easier by slowing down your breathing, focusing your attention and playing soothing sounds. Additionally, it can function as an external point to focus your thoughts on, with sounds (such as a guided meditation or a heartbeat) that are used to help you fall asleep and will turn off as soon as you are asleep. For it to work, you have to set your preferences in the app on your phone where you are able to personalize the breathing rate.

By feeling the Sleep Robot breath, it subconsciously influences people’s own breathing rhythm. Thus, it makes it much easier for people to reach a meditative state of mind, making people able to sleep faster.

By synchronizing people’s breathing rhythm to that of the Sleep Robot, people will be able to reach a steady and slower breathing rhythm. This deep breathing is one of the best ways to lower stress in people’s body, because it will send a message to your brain with the command to relax your body. By relaxing people’s body, people are able to sleep longer.  

By having these features combined, people are able to have a great night sleep, which will make them feel good again. Therefore, people are able to wake up refreshed.

The Good and the bad reviews of the Sleep Robot

Positive aspects of the Sleep Robot

There are many reviews out there about the Sleep Robot, most of them are positive:

Sleep faster, longer and waking up refreshed: As the Sleep Robot adds promote, the device really helps users to sleep faster and longer, as well as waking up refreshed next day. Many users claim falling asleep faster within a half an hour, sleeping longer, and waking up refreshed. In addition to that, some affirm that if they wake up during the night, they fall back sleep in no time.

Energy boost: Other reviews point out to the final results, such as feeling more energetic and having a better life.

Great for lonely seniors: There is also the extra perk of helping lonely seniors, by having something to hug at night. Surely hugging the Sleep Robot is nothing compared with cuddling with a pet or a person, it’s really not a contest. Furthermore, if you have a living, breathing sleep partner that lets you snuggle them, that is infinitely more satisfying.

Negative aspect of the Sleep Robot

But, because it’s a revolutionary device that just got into the market a couple of years ago, some users pointed out some details that could be improved:

Automatic breathing: The first remark is that it should be a way to sense the user breathing and adjust itself to it, instead of all the way around. Sometimes it can be difficult for the user to adjust his/her breathing to the Sleep Robot. Despite different breathing settings some users could not keep up with the rhythm.

Hard structure: Another remark is about the hard and structured shape of the Sleep Robot. Some users feel that since the Sleep Robot is actually a pillow, it should be softer.  I even read a review where someone said that the Sleep Robot is “like a pillow that’s somehow managed to get a six pack abs at the gym”.

Audio bad quality: Also, the speaker and the audio quality in general, could be improved as well.

Great only for “singles”: Last but not least, this Sleep Robot works only if you sleep alone and you have the bed only for yourself, otherwise, apart from taking some place on the bed, can be really distracting to other people or pets that share the bed with you.

Conclusion

After checking the Sleep Robot out and reading a lot of reviews of other users – some of them seniors that have been using the device – we arrived to the conclusion that the Somnox is definitely a good purchase, if you are willing to invest some money to sleep better. By using this device, seniors will be soothed to sleep, while relaxing both body and mind and having something to hug in plus. It’s the whole package!

Related Questions:

Why is so Important for Seniors to Have a Good Night Sleep?

Sleep well is extremely important to seniors because it allows your body to repair itself and refreshes your immune system, which in turn helps to prevent disease. It also helps to improve concentration and prevent memory loss. Studies suggest that many older adults sleep seven hours or less, which might be compromising our health to some degree. If you are sleeping five to six hours per night, there is a higher risk of hypertension or developing coronary disease.

Why do Seniors Suffer from Insomnia or Other Sleep Disorders so Often?

As we get older, most of us will experience changes in our body that affect how we sleep. Along with these physical changes, similarly changes to our sleep patterns occurs as consequences in the normal aging process. In addition to that, some elder people experiences psychiatric disorders and physiological problems that can also affect the quantity and quality of sleep. All these changes become more and more pronounced and they will be also influenced by chronic illness or the side effects of prescription medication. As a result, as we get older our sleep patterns changes including disturbed sleep and waking up tired every morning are relative common.

How to Create a Great Sleep Environment?

Another recommendation that may be helpful for seniors to battle insomnia is to increase exposure to bright light during the day and to avoid exposure to this light during the night. For that, you need a good sleep environment.

The environment where you sleep is one very important aspect for a better rest that still needs more attention. A great environment is essential to sleep better.

In fact, we statistically spend or more time in our beds and bedrooms as we do anywhere else. 1/3 of your life is spent in a bedroom sleeping but all too often, people overlook the importance of what a bedroom actually means in getting great sleep. Improving sleep environment can have lasting benefits to other aspects of your life.

What You Can Do to Improve Your Sleep Environment?

• Clean out all the clutter
• Keep your room dark
• Maintain your room cool
• Make your room comfortable
• The right kind of noise

Recommended for you:

• Cool Smart Gadgets for Seniors in the Bedroom
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• Best Sleep Aid Devices for Seniors