Considerations Prior to Buying a Baby Monitor

Monitoring your baby has changed a lot over the years. When my daughter was born, baby monitors were really only being used to monitor babies in hospitals and other medical settings. But today's versatile and feature packed monitors allow you to move around your house or even in your yard and still be able to listen and even see your baby. Monitors can alert you to a crying baby, a baby who needs your help or just allow you the simple pleasure of watching your baby sleep.

With the number of features and increased level of complexity found in the newest monitors, I thought it would be helpful to new parents to consider the following;

Quality of Sound

The most important feature of any baby monitoring system is the quality of the sound or video that the system delivers. One factor in determining reception quality is observing distance guidelines. So make sure that you review these guidelines prior to purchasing a monitoring system to insure that it will work for your house or apartment. Most modern monitors can work well for the average family. Some houses will have problems with interference and in theses cases you may need to use a higher power transmitter and receiver baby monitoring system.

It also helps if the monitoring system has multiple transmit channels, this minimizes interference problems. And some monitors have a feature that allow you to know when the receiver is getting a good signal.

Portability

How portability is the monitor that you want or put another way how portability of a monitor do you need. Must come with a base that usually plugs into the wall. Some receivers also can be plugged in or are portable and use battries. If you need to be able to move the monitoring equipment form room to room than portability should be high on your list of features. There are also monitoring systems designed for use in cars (please photos below).

The number of monitors

Multiple monitors allows you to have more than one receiver. Maybe both mom and dad, who are in different locations, will monitor the baby. If this is a feature that you would like, then multiple monitors is the way to go. This feature can also allow one receiver to be re-charged while a second back up is being used. And in the case where one receiver is lost, another is on hand.

Visual Monitors

It is said that, "Seeing is believing." Well there are monitoring systems that give you the ability to watch your baby as well as hear her. The price of these systems is also coming down. The most interesting systems allow for video to be monitored via webcast. This is a nice feature for family members who are away from baby, and can allow grandparents and other distant family members to also view that baby.

Transmit and receive features

One new feature found on some monitors is a walkie talkie feature. This allows you the ability to talk to your baby via the monitoring equipment, or send music. Parents are able to calm their babies while walking toward them. And for toddlers and babies old enough to talk, you can use this equipment to have a conversation with your baby. Some parents report using this kind of equipment to calm their waking baby back to sleep.

Other miscellaneous features

Baby monitoring equipment is getting more capable all the time. Many new features are not only practical but are fun for you and your baby. New monitors have features that include, remote controls, rechargeable batteries, notifications for baby movement, calming vibrations, and musical features. These new features make the latest monitors useful tools that parents can use to care for their babies.

Examples;


Grow with Me Intercom Monitor 900MHz by Safety 1st


FirstSounds Movement Sensor with Sound Monitor by Bebe Sounds


Monitor and intercom
Reliable and state of the art nursery monitor to help you monitor your baby.


Ultraclear monitor
Monitor with light and sounds to keep a close check on your little one


Child View TV/Video Monitor
2.4 GHz child view monitor & television in one


Nursery Monitor
49 MHz crystal clear monitor includes two channes to help reduce outside interference


Two-Way Nursery Monitor


Automobile Video Monitor
Whether you're running errands keeping up with carpool or just toting the little ones to playdates and practices you can now keep an eye on everything going on in the backseat of the car without turning around! This cool car monitor is easy to mount and has an adjustable camera head for the best angle no matter where they sit. Other great features include: Nighttime LEDs allow for day or nighttime monitoring. Uses 12V power outlet and comes with 25 feet of cable to hardwire the camera and monitor.


Crib CD Player with Nightlight
Mellow music and soft lighting are soothing ways to help baby fall asleep. This great gadget takes care of both in one convenient nursery must-have! The soft-glow crib light makes checking on baby easy and discreet and the CD player is key for lulling your little one off to dreamland. Both features have an auto shutoff to keep from waking baby and to save batteries. The CD player volume is designed for baby's sensitive ears and controls allow you to repeat favorite tunes - great for teaching them.