Baby Safety Monitors…

We all want to keep our baby safe and sound, but we can’t watch them every minute of the day. So what do we do when they are out of our sight?

When my children were infants we would sneak into their room often and take a peak in the crib to be sure they were okay. Parents today can rely on monitors now for that peace of mind.

It’s especially convenient if you have a two story house or your child’s room is a distance from the rest of your living area. As technology has improved, so have the monitors. They can not only transmit sounds but some can also sense movement. Some monitors even allow you to check the temperature in the nursery or your baby’s temperature while they sleep. While some monitors show a visual picture of what’s going on in your child’s room.

The purpose of a good baby monitor is to let you to move around the house and even the back yard while allowing you to keep tabs by listening or viewing your baby. Baby monitors consist of a transmitter to be plugged in close to your baby (but not in the crib) and a receiver (or two) for the parent(s) that can plug in or be carried with you wherever you may go within a defined distance from the transmitter.

Lots of parents like a monitor with two receivers. This will allow you to charge one while you’re using the other, or have one for dad and the other for mom.

A digital monitor will minimize the interference from other wireless items in your house (as well as your neighbor’s house) and give you clearer reception than an analog.

If you buy an analog unit, choose a monitor that operates on a different frequency than the phone (2.4 GHz) or other gadgets in your home.  The signal of your neighbor’s baby monitor can be picked up if it’s in close enough range. This also works the other way around, so always be aware of your conversations when your monitor is on

Most monitors will receive a signal as far away as 400-600 feet. When trying to decide on what bandwidth is best for you, first consider where you live. If you live in the country a wider bandwidth (up to 90MHZ) is great for better clarity. If you live in the city where there is a lot of interference such as cell phones, other baby monitors, portable phones, cement walls etc, a lower bandwidth (40MHZ) may be a better option.

Keep the box and your receipt in the event that you can’t get clear reception in your home and need to return it.

Some additional features to look for are:
• An indicator that lets you know if your battery is running low.
• A built in rechargeable battery. Plug your monitor in as much as possible. These devices will go through batteries in about 8-10 hours.
• A wireless unit that requires no battery at all.
• Volume control.
• An out of range indicator comes in handy lets you know when you’ve gone as far as you can go.
• A multi room monitor that can be used for more than 1 child. This can not only work for twins, but also for an older and younger child.
• A belt clip for the receiver to make it more convenient when you want to be mobile.
• A parent unit finder always comes in handy, in the event that you can’t remember where you last placed it.
• A light to alert you if there is a noise coming from your baby’s room while you’re watching TV, vacuuming or doing something that prohibits you from hearing. The louder the baby cries the more the light will light up.
• An intercom feature that lets you respond to your baby by talking or playing lullabies.
• The walkie-talkie feature enables you to talk to the other parent if you have two receivers.
• A sensor that alerts you if, after 20 seconds, there has been no breathing movement in the baby’s crib. Movement monitors can give you a false sense of security, so check on your baby too.
• A TV monitor that lets you not only hear your baby but watch your baby as well. Some can also be used to send pictures and videos to friends and relatives over the internet.
• Night vision cameras and LCD monitors so you can see your baby even when it’s dark. This gives you added comfort knowing exactly how your baby is doing at night.
• Some monitors will let you add more cameras or a webcam so the system works through out the house.

Here are a few of the better rated models:

1. Philips SCD 589 Monitor which runs about $200, has lots of neat features and operates on 1.9GHZ frequency band which will not pick up interference. In fact Philips guarantees it! Consumer Reports gave this digital rechargeable monitor a great rating.

2. Graco iMonitor which is costs approximately $90 with two parent units, has less bells and whistles. This digital monitor has been rated fairly well by Consumer Reports, except for the life of the rechargeable battery. There is also a $60 version with only one parent unit.

3. Graco Ultra Clear which costs approximately $30, is an analog monitor with two receivers. It has a rechargeable battery and if you aren’t bothered by occasional static or interference, this 49MHz monitor gets very positive reviews.

4. Sony Babycall analog monitors have finally come down in price. They make a 9 channel non-rechargeable monitor for $40 and a 27 channel rechargeable version for $50. The result is less interference for less $$$. This monitor also has an out of range feature.

5. Fisher Price has gotten into the monitor biz big time with eight different models. The Sounds ‘N Lights analog monitor which runs about $20 with a single receiver and $30 with a double, gets good reviews. The Private Connection which is also analog costs $35 has an 850 feet range and received a fairly good rating from Consumer Reports.

6. Safety First has some static and clicking issues, but all and all received the best rating from Consumer Reports on an audio video monitor. It will set you back about $200.

7. The AngelCare monitor which costs approximately $80 features a sensor pad to place underneath your baby to detect the slightest of movements. If there has not been movement in 20 seconds, an alarm will sound. This monitor is especially useful to parents of preemies, children with health problems and any parent worried about SIDS.

Regardless of which monitor you choose remember to always follow the manufactures instructions. Never put a baby monitor directly in your baby’s crib or where your baby can reach it. The cord can get wrapped around their neck.

Hopefully, this great invention will make parenting just a little bit easier.