
The Lully Sleep Guardian was a small, Bluetooth-enabled electronic device that aimed to prevent night terrors in children by partially waking them from their sleep. The device was developed by Dr. Andy Rink, a physician, and Varun Boriah, an engineer, and was launched under their company Lully, which was backed by Y Combinator. The Sleep Guardian retailed for $199 and was available on Amazon. However, as of 2023, the product is no longer available on Amazon or being manufactured. The Lully Sleep Guardian was based on a standard technique for treating night terrors called scheduled awakening or anticipatory waking, where parents wake their child up just before they typically experience a night terror. While the device showed promising results in initial clinical trials, reducing night terrors by 80% on average, it is no longer available on the market.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To prevent children's night terrors |
| Working | Placed under the child's mattress, it uses gentle vibrations to rouse the child just before a night terror occurs, preventing them from entering deep sleep |
| Technology | Bluetooth-enabled, connects to a mobile app |
| Effectiveness | Reduced night terrors by 80% in a clinical trial at Stanford University; eliminated night terrors in some cases |
| Cost | $129 |
| Creators | Dr. Andy Rink and Varun Boriah |
| Availability | Discontinued, no longer available on Amazon or manufactured |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn

Lully Sleep Guardian is a non-invasive treatment for children's night terrors
The Lully Sleep Guardian is a non-invasive treatment for children's night terrors. It is a small, Bluetooth-enabled electronic device that is placed under a child's mattress. By connecting to a mobile app, the device learns a child's sleep patterns and can anticipate when a night terror will occur. Before the child enters a deep sleep, the system notifies the parent and prompts them to turn on the Sleep Guardian. The device then vibrates under the mattress for up to three minutes, causing the child to shift position without fully waking up. This process can help prevent night terrors and improve sleep for both the child and their parents.
The Lully Sleep Guardian was developed by Dr. Andy Rink, a physician with a family history of night terrors, and Varun Boriah, an engineer and former CEO of a blood-diagnostics company. Together, they created the device as fellows in the Stanford Biodesign Program and received financial backing from Y Combinator to produce it. The Lully system is based on a standard technique for treating night terrors called "scheduled awakening" or "anticipatory waking," where parents wake their child up just before they typically experience a night terror.
In a clinical trial at Stanford University, 15 subjects tested the Lully system over four weeks, and it was found to prevent 80% of night terrors in children ages two to nine. Most parents saw positive results in the first week. The Lully Sleep Guardian was available for purchase on Amazon for $129, but it is currently discontinued and no longer being manufactured. However, some parents may still find it useful to try the timing method manually or explore alternative solutions for their children's night terrors.
The Lully Sleep Guardian received positive reviews from parents who used it. One parent, Carol Lin, shared her experience with using Lully for her 2-year-old daughter Madelyn, who suffered from frequent night terrors. She found the device effective and appreciated that it was non-intrusive. Dr. Lisa Medalie, a pediatric sleep expert at the University of Chicago Medicine, also commented that the technology sounded promising, making it easier for parents to implement behavioral interventions for their children's sleep issues.
Shoulder Sleep: A Guide to Better Resting Positions
You may want to see also
Explore related products

It uses a standard technique called scheduled awakening
The Lully Sleep Guardian is a small Bluetooth-enabled electronic device that slides under a child's mattress and connects to a mobile app. It uses a standard technique called scheduled awakening to prevent night terrors. This technique has been successful in decreasing night wakings and shifting the wake-up time later. It has only been empirically tested with children between 6 months and 2.5 years, but it should theoretically apply to any age.
Scheduled awakening involves waking a child up slightly before they usually experience a night terror, so they can fall back asleep before entering the night terror stage of sleep. This approach works by disrupting the sleep cycle, so the child enters a new sleep cycle and sleeps through their usual wake-up time. With repetition, this can get them out of the habit of waking at that time. The Lully Sleep Guardian provides gentle vibrations to help start a more peaceful sleep cycle and can automatically turn off after three minutes or be turned off manually.
The Lully Sleep Guardian was developed by Rink, a physician, and Varun Boriah, an engineer and former CEO of a blood-diagnostics company. In 2014, they worked with Stanford University School of Medicine researchers who conducted a clinical study to test the effectiveness of the device. The team recruited 150 subjects suffering from night terrors and had them use the Sleep Guardian for four weeks. Results from the study found that, on average, night terrors were reduced by 80%, and in some cases, they were eliminated. The Lully Sleep Guardian retails for $129 and was available on Amazon. However, it is no longer being manufactured or sold on Amazon.
While the Lully Sleep Guardian has received positive reviews from parents who have found it effective in reducing their children's night terrors, it is important to note that the device may not work for all children. Some parents may also find it impractical, especially if they go to bed shortly after their child, as they would need to stay up later to activate the device. Additionally, the success of the scheduled awakening technique may depend on the child's age and the consistency of its application.
Morning Stretches: Benefits and Best Practices
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The device is placed under the child's mattress
The Lully Sleep Guardian is a small, hockey puck-shaped device that is placed under a child's mattress and connects to a mobile app via Bluetooth. The app asks parents a series of questions about their child's sleep patterns, and the device uses this information to learn the child's sleep habits and predict when they may experience a night terror. Before the child enters a deep sleep, when night terrors are more likely to occur, the device vibrates gently for up to three minutes, causing the child to shift position without fully waking up. This process is known as "scheduled awakening" or "anticipatory waking" and can help prevent night terrors.
The Lully Sleep Guardian was created by Dr. Andy Rink, a physician trained in general surgery, and Varun Boriah, an engineer and former CEO of a blood-diagnostics company. They developed the device as a solution for families struggling with night terrors, inspired by Rink's family history of night terrors. The product was backed financially by Y Combinator and retailed for $199, although some sources state $129. In a clinical trial at Stanford University, the device was tested on 15 subjects over four weeks, and the company reported an 80% reduction in night terrors for children ages two to nine. Most parents saw positive results in the first week.
The Lully Sleep Guardian received positive reviews from parents who used it, with some reporting that their child's night terrors stopped after using the device. However, as of 2023, the product is no longer available on Amazon and is no longer being manufactured. It is unclear why the product has been discontinued, but it may be due to the company's desire for future iterations of the device to automate the system, as stated by Dr. Rink. For those who are still interested in trying the Lully method, the Mayo Clinic recommends manually implementing the timing method, also known as "anticipatory waking." This involves waking the child about 15 minutes before they usually experience a night terror and having them stay awake for a few minutes before falling asleep again.
Guitar Guide: Sleeping with Sirens' Don't Fall Asleep Chords
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$18.99 $19.99

It retails for $129 and was available on Amazon
The Lully Sleep Guardian is a small electronic device that is placed under a child's mattress to prevent night terrors. It was developed by Dr Andy Rink, a physician trained in general surgery, and Varun Boriah, an engineer and former CEO of a blood-diagnostics company. The device works by learning a child's sleep patterns and rousing them with gentle vibrations just before a night terror occurs, preventing them from entering the deep sleep stage where night terrors occur. This technique is known as "scheduled awakening" or "anticipatory waking". Clinical trials at Stanford University found that the device prevented night terrors in 80% of cases, with some children's night terrors being eliminated altogether.
The Lully Sleep Guardian retailed for $129 and was available to purchase on Amazon. However, as of 2023, it is no longer available on Amazon or being manufactured. The Lully Sleep Guardian 2 was an updated version of the device that could automatically activate based on the child's sleep patterns, without requiring the parent to turn it on. It is unclear if this updated version was ever released or if it is still available to purchase.
The technology behind the Lully Sleep Guardian has been praised by sleep experts, who believe it could be a useful tool for parents dealing with their children's night terrors. Reviews from parents who have used the device are also positive, with many reporting that it helped to reduce or eliminate their children's night terrors. However, some parents found it impractical if their child went to bed much later than them, as the device requires the parent to be awake to activate it.
Hypnosis for Weight Loss: Does Sleep Hypnosis Work?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

The creators were a doctor and an engineer
The Lully Sleep Guardian was created by Dr. Andy Rink, a physician trained in general surgery, and Varun Boriah, an engineer and former CEO of a blood-diagnostics company. As fellows in the Stanford Biodesign Program, Rink and Boriah developed the Lully Sleep Guardian, a small Bluetooth-enabled electronic device that slides under a child's mattress. The device works by gently vibrating to rouse a child just before a night terror occurs, preventing them from entering the deep sleep stage where night terrors occur. This technique is known as "scheduled awakening" or "anticipatory waking," where parents wake their child slightly before a night terror typically occurs to prevent them from fully developing.
Rink was inspired to create the Lully Sleep Guardian due to his family history; his twin sister and nephew both suffered from night terrors. During his time as an Innovation Fellow in the Stanford Biodesign Program, he set out to find a solution for other families experiencing similar issues. With their combined expertise in medicine and engineering, Rink and Boriah developed the Lully Sleep Guardian as a non-invasive treatment for a common sleep problem in children.
The Lully Sleep Guardian was initially priced at $199 and could be purchased on Amazon. It required parents to answer questions about their child's sleep patterns through the Lully smartphone app. The device would then learn the child's sleep habits and predict when a night terror was likely to occur. Before the child entered deep sleep, the Lully system would notify the parent and prompt them to turn on the device. The vibrations from the device would cause the child to shift position without fully waking, thereby preventing night terrors.
Clinical trials at Stanford University supported the effectiveness of the Lully Sleep Guardian. The study involved 15 subjects who tested the device over four weeks, and the results showed an 80% reduction in night terrors for children ages two to nine. Most parents saw positive results in the first week. However, as of 2023, the Lully Sleep Guardian is no longer available on Amazon and is no longer being manufactured. Despite its discontinuation, the Lully blog continues to provide resources and information for parents seeking help with their children's night terrors.
Backpacking Sleeping Bag Care: Washing Tips
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Lully Sleep Guardian is a small, Bluetooth-enabled electronic device that is placed under a child's mattress to prevent night terrors.
The device uses gentle vibrations to rouse a child just before a night terror occurs, preventing them from entering the deep sleep stage associated with night terrors.
The Lully Sleep Guardian was developed by Dr. Andy Rink, a physician trained in general surgery, and Varun Boriah, an engineer and former CEO of a blood-diagnostics company.
No, the Lully Sleep Guardian is no longer available for purchase on Amazon and is no longer being manufactured. However, you may be able to purchase one secondhand.
In a clinical trial at Stanford University, the Lully Sleep Guardian prevented 80% of night terrors in children ages two to nine. Most parents saw positive results in the first week.











































