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EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BABY MONITORS
With baby’s arrival imminent and the nursery attractively furnished, the
next consideration is your peace of mind and the safety of your baby. To
achieve both, a baby monitor ranks high on the list. A huge range is available
from around £30 for a basic monitor unit to £180 for an all singing and dancing monitor.
According to type of accommodation, and to some extent your lifestyle some
baby monitors will be more suitable than others. Running cost can be an important
consideration as some baby monitors are battery hungry and need recharging or
replacing after 6-7 hours. The baby monitor and parent units can take up to 4 AA
batteries each so rechargeable batteries are much more cost effective.
Unfortunately a number of monitors will not accept them. Those baby monitors with a
combined
mains and battery power source are the best alternative.
Some of the lower priced basic monitors incorporate many useful features
which include mains power and or batteries, a night light, sound sensitive
lights [which illuminate when baby cries] and a pager with a talkback feature
which enables you to comfort your baby without being in the room. Some include
up to three recorded lullabies and have a range of up to 250m enabling you to
relax and enjoy your garden.
Actual effective range should always be checked. Monitor manufacturers quoted
distances are based on clear line of sight and the distance will be lessoned
according to the thickness of walls and other obstructions. Some of the more
expensive models incorporate an out of range alarm.
Many baby monitors are restricted to two channels, which is OK, unless you live in
a densely populated area where there is a likelihood of other monitors close
by. These could cause regular interference on your monitor. Units with more channels are
available and well worth considering.
Other features, which are available in some of the more expensive baby monitors,
include: Remote controlled lullabies that can be activated if baby stirs,
although some babies may find these more irritating than soothing. A
monitor that allows you to record your own voice is more likely to be
comforting and effective.
Remote controlled night-lights giving a soft glow can also provide added
comfort.
At times when you are watching television or conversing with a group of
friends, sound sensitive lights are a well worth feature. As baby cries the
multi light display panel is activated. The louder baby cries the more lights
are illuminated.
Some baby monitors incorporate a low volume warning. If the volume is too low,
and your baby cries the unit will vibrate.
A Video baby monitor monitor is the most expensive to buy [around £120]. They have a
more limited range than audio only units but can still be effective up to
150m. They are also more costly to run because of lower battery life. You do
however have the added benefit of being able to see and hear your baby at all
times. The daylight screen shows colour images. The infra red night vision
shows the picture in black and white. Both picture and sound can be easily
adjusted. Many baby monitors include a lead, which enables you to connect the
monitor to a video/dvd recorder or you computer, allowing you to view much
larger pictures and record priceless moments of your baby awake and playing.
Many baby monitors can be wall mounted and are fully adjustable to enable you to
set it with your baby in full view of the camera. Additional cameras are
available for monitoring twins. Most video baby monitors can monitor up to 4 rooms.
Perhaps the most important thing for you to know is that none of them can
be totally relied upon for your baby’s safety. Any unit, however expensive,
can malfunction. They are nothing more than an aid to safety. Responsible
parent supervision is the most important and reliable aspect of your baby’s
safety and well-being. You should personally check your baby regularly.
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