Do you really need a baby monitor?
Gone are the days of parents having to peek through a gap in the door to see what their baby is up to once she has been put to bed. Thanks to the invention of baby monitors - two-piece devices with a transmitter in the baby’s room and the receiver alongside the parent - you can watch every move courtesy of a high-definition camera, log in from anywhere (thanks to WiFi capability and mobile phone apps), and check there is movement through sensor pads. But what features are really necessary? And do you even need a baby monitor?
My answer is a resounding YES! A baby monitor is a wonderful tool, so long as you choose one with a camera. Put simply, there are two types of baby monitors on the market, the first is audio only and the second lets you see and hear baby through the addition of a camera alongside the microphone. However, the reality is that most people can easily hear their baby cry throughout their home without the use of a monitor, so purchasing a monitor that is audio only could be an unnecessary expense.
On the other hand, a baby monitor with a camera is a great tool as it allows you to see why baby is crying. Is it because she’s lost her dummy? Is she crying because she’s got a limb stuck through the sides of her cot and can’t get it out? Or is she standing up in her cot and needs to be laid back down? Is she actually silently playing in her bed for 20 minutes after she wakes up and you never knew?
Being able to see what is happening will determine the urgency of your next action. Do you need to attend to baby quickly because she’s got herself wedged into an uncomfortable position that she can’t get out of? Or can you leave her for a few minutes to allow her the chance to fall back to sleep herself?
My general advice to expectant parents is that a monitor with video as well as audio is a worthwhile purchase for the peace of mind that it provides. The designs and functions available across the baby monitor brands vary, as do the price tags, but I’d recommend looking for the following key features:
What To Look For
A temperature gauge. It’s important to keep baby’s room at a comfortable temperature, ideally around 18C. A monitor with a thermometer feature will take the guesswork out of knowing if baby is too hot or cold.
An infra-red or night-mode camera. This means you can see baby when her room is dark - no point in just looking at a black screen!
The range of the baby monitor. If you have a large house or plan to spend lots of time outside with other children, make sure that the transmission of the baby monitor is sufficient for your needs.
Cordless receiver. This means the receiver can be moved anywhere without having to stay plugged in.
Other features such as a zoom camera, WiFi capabilities and being able to talk back to baby through a microphone are all nice extras, but not necessities. There are some monitors that come with sensor pads that detect baby’s movements, even minute movements such as breathing, and will set off an alarm if no movement has been detected for more than 20 seconds. For some parents, if they are natural worriers or know that they sleep very deeply and are afraid they won’t hear baby in trouble, having a monitor with this feature is reassuring. However, for most parents, this is a luxury feature and not essential.
The most important thing to remember about baby monitors is they are there to help by keeping an eye on baby for you. They will alert you if your attention is required - so don’t sit there glued to the screen. Take the opportunity to have a shower, grab some lunch or even have a nap yourself.
