sorry in advance for another random question. As parenthood is impending we're trying to select a decent baby monitor. Any thoughts / recommendations on good video baby monitors? Is wireless or DECT a good option?
Seriously why do you want video??? A normal one is just the job. Dont get caught in paranoia serioisly. We only have a sound one and its enough.
get the cheapest Tomy one- they are fine.
We used a sound one for our first, haven't even bothered with that for number two. Unless you live in a mansion, you'll hear the crying :-).
We got the most basic Tomy and it's been faultless. We're in a big house and it works fine all over it. Also been fine in hotels.
Video will just spook you out too much. As will constant temp monitoring. If there's a problem, you'll hear it.
Don't listen to above - choose what gives YOU peace of mind. Not used a video one so can't comment on those but we have Angelcare heartbeat monitoring ones - they make my wife relax and sleep well and after what she went through I am happy that she has whatever makes her happiest.
We just used audio only, reckoned that if you had video, you may as well sit next to the cot and watch
baby will prob sleep in your room for first 3-6 months anyway
we got one (top range Tomy w night light and temperature but only cause it was same price new on ebay than basic model in boots) and have never used it as a monitor, only nightlight - which is v useful in middle of night when you need just enough light to check baby but not too much for baby to suddenly be wide awake
video one would only cause undue paranoia in my opinion, but good for a security camera to keep eye on the bikes in garage when you never use it for baby 😆
Just get a sound one and leave it at that! Unless baby is on another floor you will hear them crying.
We have a BT one which is apparently a best buy. Not sure how it compares to others but useful features are being able to turn the microphone sensitivity up and down as well as volume. Also has handy torch too, and room temp.
We tend to use ours when reub's is asleep and allows us to go out in the garden etc
Yeah we used one with our first for about 2 months then got sick of hearing the grunts and never used them again. Not a necessity just peace of mind of anxious first time parents.
Exactly - peace of mind for the parents is as important as any other consideration.
we have the basic Tomy sound one and an apnea mat, as our nipper hasn't been too well. TBH even after a few months i still get a kick out of sneaking upstairs and whispering devil voices through it when we have visitors.
We got the BT best buy one from E Bay for not a lot - excellent and does more than we've needed. Even the wife was happy with this and she had wanted video.
We didn't bother getting one, as everyone we know with kids said that they just make you worried.
Right now she is still in our room, and the amount of snuffling and wuffling she gets up to is amazing, I can see why people don't like them. If she is really awake and needing something, you can tell without a monitor - she is very determined ly not sleeping right now and I just clocked her at 87 decibels from a few cm away - it is a bit above what you'd need ear protectors for in a workplace.
Some babies are quieter mind, that might make a difference.
Re the snuffling type noises, that's why the BT one is good as you can alter the sensitivity so only full on crying sets the monitor off.
Tomy one has a sound monitor (louder noise equals more bars lit up), volume control and a night light. About £40.
One of the best items we bought and because we can shut the door to that part of the house, he can't hear us cooking/crashing about but we can hear him. Ideal.
funkydunc I'd second the Bt monitors as my good lady had twin boys in may and were prem so helps with all you have mentioned...can't see the point of video monitors to be honest! It's bloody hard work I'll tell ya!
I have just ordered the BT 150 monitor literally 5 mins ago as it is on sale at the BT shop. Been looking around a while now but not seen it drop below their current offer. We have been recommended it by my wifes brother. Still three months until our first born arrives so just getting things slowly.
+1 for not getting one, one thing babys are good at is getting attention ;-).
We have the BT 150 and really rate it - a great feature is the ability to record your own 'lullaby' (ours is just me going "shhh shhh") and play it VIA the handset - parenting-by-proxy!
DrP
Everyone's right.
Especially about the not listening to other people if it's going to upset you. If it's not working for you ignore those people who say it's the best (only) way.
If you want one get one.
Why do you want a video monitor?
Are you worried about cot death?
Do you want to be able to see why the baby is upset?
Will it work when it's actually dark?
We've got a basic Angelcare model that does the sound job. That's bad enough for stressing you out when they are upset.
FunkyDunc - Member
Re the snuffling type noises, that's why the BT one is good as you can alter the sensitivity so only full on crying sets the monitor off.
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Don't they all have sensitivity? At least every one we have looked at had.
All have a volume setting which is essentially the same. Still like having an army of badgers in the room though. If your turning it so low to drown out snuffling you aren't going to hear the breathing, which is kind of the point.
I never thought that the point of them was to hear breathing.
We were given a Tomy one when child 2 arrived, but he sounded like a suffocating pig all the time anyway so it never got used. Child 3 is now nearly 4 months old, and when he's put down in his cot we do use it, but only so we can hear if his big brother approaches the cot to 'help'.
We have a non-video one but will be getting a video one when JnrI #2 arrives in January next year.
We just want it so that we can see what the noise is before going in to check. JnrI #1 crashes around a lot and sometimes is just playing before going to sleep. Other times he's been "stuck" and needed re-arranging. Without the video we sometimes go in and disturb him rather than just leaving him to it. Our house has thick walls and we can't hear JnrI when he is upstairs and we are downstairs hence why we have a listener.
I never thought that the point of them was to hear breathing.
You can hear the little buggers do everything with ease, especially the crying.
My boss had a video one and one witht eh mat they lie on.
She said havign the video just made her watch constantly which wasnt so healthy and if the little un rolled off the matt the alarm went off thinking its heart had stoppped so that didnt help too much either.
We just used the standard Tomy one with temp /light. Did the job tho with your first you will probably develop "super hearing" for a while and leap up at the slightest noise 😀
Seems like a lifetime ago and ours is only 3 now. :S
They should make one that automatically turns the volume on the telly up as soon as the little attention whores start gurning.
My boss had a video one and one witht eh mat they lie on.
She said havign the video just made her watch constantly which wasnt so healthy and if the little un rolled off the matt the alarm went off thinking its heart had stoppped so that didnt help too much either.
We just used the standard Tomy one with temp /light. Did the job tho with your first you will probably develop "super hearing" for a while and leap up at the slightest noise
Seems like a lifetime ago and ours is only 3 now. :S
When our alarm goes off we just assume they have rolled off - I can understand how they could make a nervous person paranoid though. We get a warning beep 10 seconds before the alarm which resets if it detects movement - then we both pretend to be asleep so the other will have to go into their room to reset the alarm 🙂
We don't use baby monitors. Babies tend to cry loudly when something's wrong. With a monitor you'll just be jumping awake at every snuffle and cough. She got herself stuck a lot for a while, didn't need a monitor to hear that!
Having said that, we only used one a few times when she was asleep on the top floor and we were downstairs or outside - three storey house.
I remember when one of the mobile companies introduced free evening calls within their mobile network.
loads of parents were getting two phones, calling one from the other and then using them as baby listeners as there was no real range limit on them.
As above, if you think video/listener is for you then get one. My experience was that our two were old enough by the time they slept in their own rooms that we didn't need monitors and durign the evenign they made any demands they did have well enough know that other amplification was unnecessary.
Just sound for us... but we end up turning it off often enough now he's 10 months
All have a volume setting which is essentially the same. Still like having an army of badgers in the room though. If your turning it so low to drown out snuffling you aren't going to hear the breathing, which is kind of the point.
Yeah I know they have volume, but the ones we saw all had the sensitivity thing so it was totally silent until it was triggered by a sound. Not that I looked at many - I left it for my wife to choose what she wanted. Hopefully they will be going on Ebay soon...
Also - I do tend to agree with much that has been said above, but I still feel that if the OP wants the peace of mind of a video monitor he shouldn't be dissuaded. I think the needs of a parent are often overlooked when it comes to choosing things for baby.
[i]I think the needs of a parent are often overlooked when it comes to choosing things for baby.[/i]
I've always felt it was the other way round 😉
I think the needs of a parent are often overlooked when it comes to choosing things for baby.
Eh? Don't parents choose most things for their baby?!
Nah - the kids *generally* get everything. It's the parents who don't always think of themselves when choosing things - at the end of the day if something makes the parents' lives easier and less stressful, it is every bit as important as the child's wellbeing. After all, (relatively) relaxed and happy parents make for a nicer environment for everyone.
We just want it so that we can see what the noise is before going in to check. JnrI #1 crashes around a lot and sometimes is just playing before going to sleep. Other times he's been "stuck" and needed re-arranging. Without the video we sometimes go in and disturb him rather than just leaving him to it. Our house has thick walls and we can't hear JnrI when he is upstairs and we are downstairs hence why we have a listener.
exactly. we bought a cheap one from aldi - about £40 - and it does help see whether it's worth going in or not. Our eldest sleepwalks and stands up in the bed without making a sound before falling out, if she wakes up out of bed she can get really upset so being able to see her start lets us get upstairs and guide her back to bed with out waking the youngest up.
Eh? Don't parents choose most things for their baby?!
Which is why he said parents overlook themselves.
How do you overlook yourselves?
Especially with a monitor?
the whole point of the monitor is probably selfish for the parents.
They don't want the baby in the same room so then have to find an elaborate way of reassuring themselves that the kid's ok.
You can hear the little buggers do everything with ease, especially the crying...
Bit of an assumption about house layout/size/build there! Ours can be wailing his guts out, but when I turn the monitor to mute (much to the missus annoyance!) we really can't hear him if we're in the garden.....
Horses for courses...
DrP
They don't want the baby in the same room so then have to find an elaborate way of reassuring themselves that the kid's ok.
I disagree entirely - the baby should sleep alone as soon as possible so it is not reliant on the parents' presence to sleep.
Uh oh - internet forum + parenting opinions = trouble...
[i]the baby should sleep alone as soon as possible so it is not reliant on the parents' presence to sleep.[/i]
As I say, this is in the parents interests, not the babies. Primates traditionally sleep in family groups it's only ('first world') humans who insist on the little blighters being in a separate room for sleep within hours of birth.
We won't ever agree on this, though, I think...
