Baby monitors have been a nursery staple for years. Over the decades, they have helped put anxious parents’ minds at rest. They’re electronically controlled devices that monitor your baby while he/she sleeps. Baby monitors help parents watch their babies even if they’re in a separate room. The devices utilize audio-visual methods to keep track of your baby; this sound and movement baby monitor, for example, can be used to remotely listen for noises and sense movements made by your baby.
The transmitter device incorporates a microphone that is placed in your baby’s room and a receiver with speakers that you keep by your side. Basically, baby monitors make it possible to listen in on or see your baby as you do other things in the proximity of your house. Newer technology enables you to watch your baby even if you’re miles away.
What Factors Should I Consider When Buying A Baby Monitor?
Before you decide on the type of baby monitor that you’re going to get, there are a couple of questions that you need to ask yourself. These will help you figure out the monitor that best suits your lifestyle.
- Do I just want sound or visuals too?
Are you happy using audio monitors or would you also like to see your baby? Audio monitors may provide all the reassurance you need but monitors that give you picture and sound are much better.
Video monitors are growing in popularity. They use a baby-cam to stream footage to a receiver that features an LCD screen. There are some advanced models that allow you to zoom and others that have infrared technology that helps you view your baby at night.
Video monitors are quite pricey compared to sound monitors.
- Analog or digital?
Analog baby monitors are considerably cheaper than digital monitors but they’re more prone to interference from cordless phones and wireless networks. Theoretically, analog monitors also present a risk of privacy as they can easily be tapped into.
Digital monitors are quickly gaining popularity due to the fact that they can offer longer range signals, clearer reception with less interference, and enhanced privacy.
- How much room do I have available?
Baby monitors come in different shapes and sizes. The amount of space you have available determines the monitor’s positioning.
Decide in advance if you would like to mount it on the wall or place it on a stand next to the baby before you pick out a specific model.
- Plug-in or battery operated?
These days, most monitors come with both options. The base usually has non-rechargeable batteries while the receiver has rechargeable batteries. Find a monitor that does not burn through the batteries very quickly.
- What’s the frequency of your baby monitor?
Different baby monitors come in different frequencies. Ensure that you get a monitor that has the same frequency as your cordless phone or wireless network. Otherwise, there will always be some interference.
Monitors that operate across a Wi-Fi network are accessible via Skype so you can view your baby even after you have left the house using your smartphone or laptop.
Lastly, you need to check that your system is encrypted so that you have total privacy.
Different Types of Baby Monitors
There is an array of baby monitoring devices that are available on the market. Most of the brands provide the most common characteristics in baby monitoring. While there isn’t a very wide spectrum to choose from, there are some significant differences among the different types of baby monitors.
The monitors are designed to serve the same purpose but they work in a completely different way. The most important thing is choosing the right baby monitor that works best for you. The main categories of baby monitors are:
- Baby Sound Monitors
These are the oldest and most commonly used baby monitors. Sound monitors have a transmitter that picks up sounds coming from the baby’s nursery and transmits the audio to the receiver. This notifies the parent whenever the baby wakes up from a nap or in the middle of the night for feeding.
Sound monitors have the least number of features and are usually the cheapest. Although there are different types of sound monitors on the market, they all work on the same principle.
2. Baby Video Monitors
Seeing how the baby is doing gives parent extra relief and comfort. Video monitors consist of a camera and a microphone that transmit images and sound to a screen on the receiver. The display may either be colored or black and white.
In some models, the displays are portable while in other designs they have to be fixed in one place. The video quality depends on the screen’s resolution.
These baby monitors are quite complicated and are also the most expensive.
3. Baby Motion Monitors
These monitors are not very common. They’re designed for premature babies or those with health issues. They have a sensor that is placed inside the baby’s crib. Advanced models can transmit sound as well.
Motion monitors alert you if the baby doesn’t move for a specified amount of time.
