Do you want to know whether you should get a baby monitor? This is something that parents often wonder about. After all, first-time parents don’t really have much experience (if any) with babies, so they might not know what they need.
Baby monitors come in various forms. Some are designed for monitoring only one child at a time, while others allow multiple children to be monitored simultaneously, such as a baby monitor for twins. They also differ in terms of features such as audio quality, camera quality, range, battery life, and price.
Baby monitors are great tools for keeping track of your little ones. In fact, they can even help you sleep better at night. If you’re thinking about buying a new baby monitor, read our best baby monitor guide to choosing the most appropriate one for your household and circumstances.
Why You May Not Need One
Baby monitors can be helpful when babies cry or if you want to know what they are up to in their nursery. However, there are other ways to do this, particularly if you are living in a smaller home and you are always in earshot of your baby.
You could also use your smartphone to set yourself a reminder periodically to check in on your baby when it is having a nap. Maybe you want to check on them every 10-15 mins, an alarm or timer on your phone can remind you of that.
If your newborn baby is sleeping in a crib in your room, you may not feel it is necessary to have a baby monitor. Of course, you don’t always go to bed at the same time as your baby does, so if you want peace of mind and want to know what they are up to when you are not in bed, then you might consider a baby monitor.
As we mentioned before, if you live in a single storey home or even a flat (apartment) and you are never going to be that far from baby’s room, then you may consider a baby monitor obsolete since you can hear everything anyway.
Benefits of A Baby Monitor
Baby monitors are useful when you’re trying to get some sleep. You want to know what your child is doing without having to go into their room and possibly wake them up. Using a baby monitor allows you to stay aware of your child without disturbing them.
A monitor will help you hear everything your baby does. You might even get more rest while listening to your baby, or at least know that when you fall asleep, should baby wake up and start crying, you’ll be the first to know, which can be incredibly comforting.
There are several things to consider when looking for a baby monitor. The first thing to look for is sound quality. Make sure it’s clear enough to hear every noise your baby makes. Look for high-quality speakers and microphones. Also, make sure the unit has a long range. Most models will work from across multiple rooms, but you still want to be able to hear your baby clearly if you are at the other end of the house and long range baby monitors are ideal for this.
You can’t always see what your baby is doing. That’s why you need a baby monitor with video! With a baby monitor that has a video camera, you can keep tabs on your baby no matter where he or she happens to be. You can check on your sleeping baby, listen to your infant crying, and perhaps even hear/watch them play!
Video And Audio Baby Monitors
If you’re wondering which type of baby monitor you should buy, you’ve got options. There are two main categories: video monitors and audio monitors. Both have their benefits and drawbacks. Not to throw too much confusion into the mix, but there are also heart rate monitors too! Here’s a brief overview of each category.
The most popular type of baby monitor is the video monitor variety since so many parents, understandably, want to see what their baby is up to. These units provide video coverage of what’s going on in the nursery. Parents can view the feed on a screen connected to the camera. Video monitors are usually more expensive than audio monitors because they offer more functionality and the technology is more expensive. They also take a little more set-up and installation but once done; they are easy to use.
Audio baby monitors don’t provide images of your baby as video monitors do. Instead, they play sounds through a speaker, so parents can hear what’s happening in the nursery. Audio monitors are less expensive than video monitors, but they won’t give you the same level of comfort as seeing your baby.
Video monitors are more sophisticated than audio monitors. They allow you to see exactly what’s going on in your baby’s room. This feature comes in handy if you’re worried about something happening to your little one.
Video monitors are great for monitoring multiple rooms at once. If you have twins, triplets, or more children, then you’ll appreciate being able to monitor all of them simultaneously if you purchase a wireless baby monitor package with multiple cameras. Most come with one, some come with two, and others allow you to add more cameras.
Most video monitors come with a nightlight. It’s useful to have a light in the nursery at night since it helps parents find their way around the room.
Some video monitors include a remote control. This lets you turn the monitor on or off remotely. You can do this from another part of the house if your baby wakes up during the night.
Some video monitors include alarms that go off if there’s any activity. This could mean that your baby needs attention or that someone else has entered the room.
When you think of baby monitors, you probably think of Wi-Fi-enabled ones. However, these aren’t necessarily the only option, and some people believe that Wi-Fi signals can interfere with a baby’s sleep.
There are many different types of cameras available. Some use night vision technology, while others use LED near-infrared light. Infrared cameras pick up heat, not light. So, they’re better for observing movement rather than watching your child’s face.
Important Things To Remember About Baby Monitors
Some baby monitors can be quite expensive, but they’re definitely worth the money. You get a lot of features and benefits from them. On the other hand, there are several baby monitors that are really quite affordable, even those with cameras, so it pays to shop around and look at various options and prices.
A video baby monitor is great if you’re living alone because it allows you to see what’s going on in your child’s room while you’re resting in bed and don’t have the benefit of a spouse or partner to help you. On the other hand, if both parents are available and you are not that worried about seeing your baby in their room, then you might be to use an audio system instead.
Another thing to consider is that if you travel for work and have a reliable family member or nanny looking after your baby in your absence, then a baby monitor with a video camera may be more of a necessity than you think. When you’re away from home, you want to know that everything is okay when you’re not there. A baby video monitor you can view from your smartphone can make all the difference.
You probably don’t need a baby monitor if you live with multiple people that are able to help. In fact, some parents say that having a baby monitor can make things worse when more than two people in the home are caring for the baby.
If you’re looking for a baby monitor, you should consider how important security is to you. Some parents worry that others will be able to listen in to their conversations over the baby monitor; essentially, they worry that baby monitors can be hacked. Others worry that their kids will accidentally press buttons on the monitor, and something will go wrong or break.
When you’re choosing a baby monitor, keep these points in mind:
- Make sure that the battery life lasts longer than 24 hours – most run for several days/weeks or months.
- Look for a model that has two-way talk. That means that you can talk to your baby.
- Choose a camera that has high resolution so that you can clearly see your baby.
- Consider whether you want a sound-activated or motion-activated alarm.
- Check out the range of motion. Does the monitor offer panning? Zooming? If so, does it cover an adequate area?
- Look for a product that offers both wired and wireless options.
- Find one that has a nightlight. Nightlights make it easier to navigate in the dark.
- If you want to monitor your baby while you are outside, consider a long range monitor.
Summary
Baby monitors are important devices for parents who wish to stay connected with their babies while they sleep. There are many different types of baby monitors available today, so don’t be afraid to really shop around and see what’s out there.
Most parents also prefer to use a device that allows them to see what is going on inside their child’s room without getting out of bed or leaving the kitchen, lounge, or garden. This type of device is a video baby monitor that provides total peace of mind over an audio-only device, but you should buy what works best for your personal circumstances.