bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Meng Jing

Parenting is hard. In my case, that sentiment rings especially true when I try putting my four-month-old infant son to sleep at night.
He literally wakes up every 30 minutes during bedtime, which means the three adults at home – my mother, my husband and I – take turns to cradle this 9kg boy, hum lullabies or help walk him around so he can fall asleep.
We have tried different tricks, including using various types of pacifiers, bathing him before bedtime, playing him various kinds of relaxing music and even letting him cry to sleep.
But whenever we tried to put him back to bed as he appeared to doze off, he would then wail and make all sorts of noises to get us back to attention.
Tired and sleepless, I decided to turn to technology for help like any new mum in the 21st century would do.

My research online led me to discover the existence of baby sleep coaching apps, such as Nod, Huckleberry and Hatch Baby. All of these are designed to monitor a baby’s sleep pattern and employ artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to offer users individualised, real-time recommendations.
Having written about recent advances in AI, my hopes were high about finding a suitable hi-tech solution to help resolve my baby’s bedtime issues.
I remember the Chinese master of the abstract strategy board game, Go, saying in 2016 that no computer could ever outplay him. A year later, Go master Ke Jie was in tears after AlphaGo, the computer program developed by Alphabet’s DeepMind Technologies, beat him in three straight matches.
Nod, the app I chose to use, uses machine learning technology to track and analyse a baby’s sleeping and feeding activity. Machine learning, a branch of AI, provides systems the ability to use data and algorithms to improve performance on a specific task.
The importance of sleep for children’s ability to learn and remember, and how to correct bad sleep patterns
After downloading the app on my smartphone, I proudly declared: “I found a cure! We are saved!”
My mother, who is in her 60s, was not impressed. “How can an app be helpful?” she asked. “Every baby is different!”
Her reaction did not dampen my confidence because I did my homework. The Nod app was not only one of the finalists in the “Best of Baby Tech Awards” at this year’s CES trade show in Las Vegas, its premium edition, which I subscribed to for 35 yuan (US$5) a month, includes priority support, advanced insights and graphs, and daily recommendations validated by paediatric sleep experts.
To start, I entered some basic information in the app, such as my baby’s name, birthday and gender. Each day for the past two weeks, I routinely logged in the duration of my son’s sleep and the difficulty of putting him to bed on a sliding scale of 11 grades – from happy baby face to crying baby face. The app also allowed me to write in more details, such as that instance when my son bit me first before falling asleep.
Parents take notice: connected baby kit takes guesswork out of raising little ones
For several days, there was no feedback from Nod based on the data I provided. All I received was an automated notice: “We will send you the next recommendation when we are ready.”
That prompted me to feed more data to the app in the hopes the system would get a clearer picture of my son’s sleeping problem. So I also entered my son’s feeding time.
The Nod app asks detailed information. Was I bottle feeding or breastfeeding? Was it the left breast or right breast? How long? You need to record timing down to the second.
It also asks the exact amount of milk consumed in ounces, which is a unit of measurement that is not used on the mainland. So I have to convert my data from millilitres to ounces every time when entering that data. Babies at my son’s age need to be fed six or more times each day, so that means plenty of data to record.
Artificial intelligence makes itself at home, and learns to take care of our needs
So the truth finally dawned on me. This app, which is supposed to help alleviate the stress I have from rearing a child, has made things more stressful. The task of recording accurate data from my child’s sleeping and feeding activities to the Nod app has been tedious not only for me, but also to my mother who takes cares of my son during the day when I am at work. We have become more sleep-deprived than before because of all the data that needs to be logged in the app.
Still, I was not ready to give up on AI until I received the first recommendation from Nod a few days ago. It said I needed to reduce night time feeding of my son, which appeared more like a suggestion than a real solution. So weeks after I started using the Nod app, I feel like I am back to square one.
Things are not all that bad though. Since we have been keeping close tabs on my son’s sleep time and writing down plenty of notes, we found that he falls asleep faster at night after being more active during the day, such as kicking toys around, and spending some quality nap time.


The Nod app, which illustrates in several charts my son’s sleep patterns, estimated that he had an average of 13 hours and 20 minutes of sleep in seven days. That improved from the average of 13 hours and 3 minutes during the first week using the app. Those numbers, however, still fell short of the population average of 13 hours and 40 minutes.
So I bragged to my mother about the data and the progress we had made using Nod. She sneered, saying that was not achieved by technology but by maternal instinct.
Although I will not admit my mother is right, I will probably cancel my premium Nod subscription and go with the app’s free version. I can still use it as a fancy digital diary for my baby’s data.


Bedtime battles: how I turned to AI so my baby could get a good night’s sleep

There are now a range of artificial intelligence-powered apps to monitor a baby’s sleep pattern and offer parents individualised, real-time recommendations to help a child sleep at night. Photo: Alamy

Baby sleep coaching app Nod Premium uses machine-learning technology to evaluate parents' bedtime routines for baby, then creates a plan to optimise a child's sleep experience. Photo: Handout

Tech

Innovation

Infant rearing in the 21st century needs a combination of hi-tech tools and good old maternal instinct
