As a new parent, you may be wondering, “Are safety baby monitors really necessary?” In the 1950s, baby monitor reviews claimed that “These gadgets can enable mom to do all the cooking and cleaning, without worrying about the baby” and called them “the nannies of the future!” The early monitor systems involved a baby transmitter and a parent receiver, with audio signals transmitting every cry, gurgle and baby talk. Modern digital monitors have cameras that allow parents to see every move, yet are cameras essential or just a parent pacifier? Really, the answer depends upon the individual, but here are some things to consider if you do breakdown and buy one.
When browsing for a baby monitor, the most important factor is clear reception. Muffled, fuzzy or screeching sounds will be distracting and difficult to discern from ambient sounds. This is a tip I learned from our St Louis Daycare center. With low-end wireless baby monitors, cordless telephone conversations may come through the channel or simple everyday appliances like microwaves may jumble the pictures or sounds. The best way to avoid interference is to purchase a quality baby infant monitor that has a similar range to your home size. If you buy one that is too large, it will be easier to pick up the neighbor’s frequencies. Also, tests show that digital baby monitors have less trouble with interference than analog baby monitors, so that should be considered as well. If you do settle on an analog monitor, ensure that your cordless phone and monitor do not work off the same Gigahertz frequency and look for a model that offers at least two different channel selections.
There can be some problems with safety baby monitors from time to time, making them less safe for your child. Some digital monitors may be overly sensitive, signaling every little gurgle, roll-over or sound. After a while, it becomes a case of “the baby monitor who cried wolf,” where you’ll be so desensitized to the constant alarms that you might miss a real emergency. Also, many monitors do not have a very extensive range, which can make you think everything is quiet and lovely, when in reality, your baby is shrieking out of your range. Sometimes electronic devices like cordless phones and microwaves can also cause interference, making sounds muffled and distorted and leaving you to wonder, “Why did I buy this useless thing?”
There are many safety baby monitors to choose from, but here are a few top picks. The Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor 1.8 (9.99) offers good quality images for a fair price, although the screen is a bit small. The BébéSounds Angelcare Movement Sensor/Sound Monitor (9) comes with two parent units and a mattress sensor pad to detect movements, although false alarms are possible with this model. The Philips DECT baby monitor (9.99) is lightweight and has zero interference, although it’s a little bit pricey. The Ultra-Clear Graco baby monitor (.99) offers excellent quality for the price, although it does not come with video capabilities and it may have a bit of static in some households. As you can see, there are many models in many different price ranges.