Purchasing baby monitors can sometimes offer peace of mind to certain parents, depending on several factors. If you have a large house and you tend to stay in a central area, when performing the majority of your tasks, it can help you cut down on trips to check on the baby. There are a variety of questions that new parents have about baby monitors, however.
What kind of baby monitors should I consider?
If you have neighbors nearby with babies, they might have these devices, too. You want to make sure your household sounds are only heard by you and some of these models broadcast on the same frequency, including those frequencies that are used by cordless phones. You will want to purchase digital baby monitors and not analogue ones, if this is the case. Consider your own wireless products because they can cause interference, if they operate on the same frequency.
Should I go with audio or video baby monitors?
If you have a large kitchen, where you might have a workspace, watch television and spend much of your time, a video model might be appropriate, since it can be located nearby. Another consideration about audio baby monitors is that if you are taking business phone calls, you might need to turn down the volume, rendering it useless.
What price range should I expect?
Most audio models will range in price from $20 to $200, while you can expect to pay $100 to $200 for the video monitors and wireless camera setups. The more you spend on your system, the more features you are likely to enjoy, but consider ease of use.
What are some of the major brands to look for?
Digital monitors are the top-rated choices and Philips offers one of the best at around $200, but Sony is another popular name in these electronics. You can find more affordable models made by Evenflo and Fisher-Price or Graco. Safety 1st, Summer Infant and The First Years are other models to look for.
What items may interfere with baby monitors?
As discussed, anything that transmits over radio frequency can interfere, but appliances, fluorescent lights, cell phones and cordless phones are the most common causes of static, buzzing and sounds that make it difficult to discern whether your baby is making sounds.
Do I really need to keep tabs on my sleeping baby and what if I move around my house?
Some parents can become glued to the video monitor and get little else done, while their baby is sleeping. If you are in close proximity to the baby’s room, when performing your other tasks, monitoring might not be a necessity and can give you some relaxation time. Other parents may opt for multiple receivers or parent units, located throughout the house or opt for belt-clip style receivers that can be worn. The strength of the transmitter can determine how far the signal will travel and this is a factor to consider.
These are just a few of the questions that new parents might have about baby monitors, but for some parents, they are another set of ears or eyes, depending on whether you choose audio or video models. The best rule of thumb is to consider your personal circumstances because some parents will use a playpen or a portable crib so they can perform other chores, while the baby is sleeping nearby. You can have more freedom and still have peace of mind, if you consider the benefits that these devices can offer, however.