Looking after your child is a blessing, but it can also be a source of worry for new parents. While parenthood is a fulfilling experience, it can be stressful, particularly during the early stages. Thankfully, in this contemporary world, parents can rely on various gadgets during this crucial time.
One such gadget is the baby monitor, which keeps track of your baby’s movements and environment. It is mainly helpful when you decide to step out of your baby’s room or nursery to cater to other responsibilities. There is a large variety of baby monitors in the market. You might come across analog and digital monitors, some with audio and others with both audio and video. But which one do you get? Fret not, for we’ve got you covered. This article will inform you about everything you need to consider when buying a baby monitor.
How Does It Work?
Most baby monitors consist of a transmitter unit- which transmits sound as radio waves, a microphone attached to the transmitter, and a receiver unit with a speaker attached- for the parent. Some provide two-way communication, allowing the parents to talk to their child over the receiver.
Why Do You Need a Baby Monitor?
Before we dive into what to look for, let’s answer the question: why bother? After reading this section, you will be able to decide if you need a monitor or not.
You Live in a Big House
If you plan on keeping the baby in your room or even the next room over, chances are you won’t need a baby monitor. But if you live in a large house with multiple stories, you will benefit from having a monitor.
If your baby’s nursery is on the top floor and your room is on the bottom, you won’t be able to hear your baby cry. In this scenario, a baby monitor becomes essential.
You might go to an isolated part of the house where you won’t hear noises from your baby; the baby monitor comes in handy to check up on your child from another room.
You Sleep Like the Dead
While most people say that parenthood changes your sleeping behaviors, you might not want to take any chances. If you think you’re a heavy sleeper who won’t be able to hear the baby cry out, then you can put the monitor near you. It will transmit the noises your baby makes. It will also give you the peace of mind and reassurance that a new parent regularly needs.
Your Family Wants Interaction
If you have a family that dotes on your child, they will express a desire to see your baby more often. In this case, you can connect your monitor with the Wi-Fi and give them access to the linked app. It will also help you keep an eye on your infant while running errands or are at work.
Things to Consider
Now that you’re aware of the how’s and why’s, we can talk about what you need to look for in a baby monitor. Here are three basic things you need to consider:
The Type of Monitor You Require
As mentioned above, there are several options available to parents. Caretakers generally decide on a model based on what they think is feasible as well as affordable. We’ll look into three types of monitors:
Audio Only
Audio monitors allow parents to hear their child when in separate rooms. It consists of a transmitter unit placed in the baby’s room and a receiver carried by the parent.
Audio and Motion Detection
Audio/motion detectors not only convey sounds to the parent but also detect the infant’s movements. It comes with a sensor pad placed under the baby’s mattress to perceive the infant’s breathing and motion.
Audio and Video
The audio/ video monitor grants parents visual and audial supervision over their baby. This model comes with a portable video camera and television monitor. The camera can be placed near the baby or mounted above the crib. Some models come with infrared technology to enable supervision in the dark.
The Range Provided
Depending on how far your baby’s room is from yours, you would want a monitor capable of transmitting longer ranges, ideally 900MHz or above. You don’t wish to sets that run at 49MHz as they interfere with cordless phones. However, 900MHz or more is less prone to interference and provides a better transmission range. Recently, audio-video monitors are offering a frequency of 2.4 GHz, which is the highest degree possible.
The Price
Price is perhaps one of the main factors to consider. You don’t want to go over your budget-having a baby is expensive in itself, nor do you want to get a cheap, useless model.
The cheapest set you can find will operate at 49MHz, which we have already covered is not ideal. As the transmission range increases, so does the price. While this may blow past your budget, it is better to invest in a good quality monitor set than settle on a cheap one. The pricey set is more likely to endure the years and might even help you with future babies.
High-quality sets will also provide you with more features like temperature control, night lights, talk-back, soothing music, and much more. These traits may help smoothen your parenting experience. Do your due diligence on the matter and find the set that provides you top-notch functionality without denting your wallet.
Some Advice
- Keep the monitor, cords, and adapters away from the child’s reach to prevent the risk of strangulation.
- Be wary of carrying the monitor near wet surfaces, especially in the kitchen or bathroom, as there is a risk of being electrocuted.
- A monitor is a useful tool, but don’t leave your baby untended for long, as it can’t possibly replace the love and attention.
Final Thought
A baby monitor can provide parents the assistance they need to look over their child, especially during chores or nighttime. They come in many forms, sizes, and prices, but buying the right model depends on what functions you require and how much you’re willing to spend. However, it doesn’t hurt to invest in a good quality model for your childcare needs. While the baby monitor is a helpful accessory, it can never come close to the attention and care a parent gives.