Comments on: Baby Gear: Baby Monitors

By: ldw4mlo

ldw4mlo — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:17:59 +0000

We have the sound only by The First Years.

It came/comes in handy during nap time, I can wander with the monitor, outside and in. At night it didn’t matter because her room is next to ours so we always hear her.

I found it was most useful when we went from co sleeping to her staying in her room all night. We showed her how we could even hear her whisper for us. So we would always be there if she needed us. We did come and comfort drills. She still likes the drills from time to time. And after 2 1/2 years she sleeps peacefully in her room all night. Secure we can hear her.

By: feelingthejoy

feelingthejoy — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:26:44 +0000

I have the same monitor as your cousin and I love it.

I definitely recommend the video (not just audio) option. My DD does not make a sound when she wakes up. She sits and plays. I have tried to teach her to call out to me for a year and half now with no success.

I carry that monitor around with me and I can see her stirring. I usually get upstairs before she opens her eyes.

Since I’m single, I have to leave the room when she’s sleeping. I get up at 4 or 5am and take a shower, clean the house, pack her breakfast, pack up the car, etc. And I carry that handheld device everywhere I go (except the shower – i leave it on the counter – LOL).

By: mom23boys

mom23boys — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:54:07 +0000

I also had the summer infant one from years ago and was not impressed with the static on the video screen. Eventually I dropped the little tv and used it as a sound monitor- but the static was bad and i gave up.

I want to mention a monitor that I had- which may not be appropriate for an older child, but maybe for one with health issues or young babies. When my middle son was born- I bought an Angel Care Sleep monitor. It had a sensor pad and it would sound an alarm if movement was not detected in a certain amount of time- thus alerting a parent to a possible breathing issue- whether it be suffocation or health issue. It had the ability to be set on different sensitivities- so you could so so to your liking. Even when the baby was fast asleep and gently breathing- it could detect the movement- but when my son would roll to the side and push himself against the side of the crib or bumper- it would alert me that he may need to be repositioned and I would check on him. Some of my friends said this monitor would cause them panic attacks. For me- it was peace of mind. It did send me into a panis two times when he rolled to the side of the crib- but I also liked that so I could get him away from the bumper and railing. Just another option. I am pretty sure they still make them. :)

By: sammarshall

sammarshall — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:05:48 +0000

We use a summer baby video monitor and I have been really happy with it. I’m not sure about static because we never use it at night (kids slept with us until 3 and 5, now they sleep together and baby is with us, we gate the hallway so they are limited to our room and theirs at night).

During the day I put the 3 year old and baby in our bed together and our 5 year old lays down to read. With the video monitor I can jog on the treadmill, work in the garden, etc and watch to see when someone is up and getting out of bed. We tried a sound only monitor but discovered our kids could silently get out of bed…

By: PIJill

PIJill — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:08:23 +0000

For those of us who live in older homes without air conditioning and who rely on steam heat and window air units, I cannot recommend enough getting a monitor that has a thermometer in it – it has been a livesaver in terms of knowing if the room is too hot or too cold at night and during naps.

By: chinamom2008

chinamom2008 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:56:24 +0000

I have the Graco, but not for multi-kids. I keep the monitor downstairs with me, while she naps upstairs during the day. At night, my room is right across the hall, so the monitor was actually keeping me awake because I was hearing everything twice as loud! I don’t do that now…I sleep much better! DD is a great sleeper!

By: HoosierBaby

HoosierBaby — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:41:41 +0000

We bought the Summer Infant video monitor when we came home in 2007. It does get very staticy, but it’s been worth it. Our daughter was opposite of most recent adoptees. She would not sleep if we were in the room with her, and was also a light sleeper who woke at the slightest sound. I couldn’t go into her room to check on her for months. That video monitor saved my sanity. We still use it though I don’t carry it around all the time like I used to do. I just use it now to check on her if I hear unusual sounds coming from her room.

By: RumorQueen

RumorQueen — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:33:01 +0000

I’ve added some options at the bottom of the original post for those of you who need to monitor more than one room.

By: RumorQueen

RumorQueen — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:59:46 +0000

zhaonuer – I went to bed when my kids went to bed. Once they were asleep I either turned on the lamp and read, or turned on the TV and watched it at a low volume. There is no way either of them would have gone to bed alone, without either RK or I there with them.

Even now, I go upstairs and go to bed when they go to bed. They won’t go upstairs to their rooms and actually fall asleep unless someone else is upstairs with them. RK stays downstairs and cleans the kitchen while I take them up and get them ready for bed and get them tucked in.

By: zhaonuer

zhaonuer — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:47:12 +0000

DS has always slept well in his own room and cries as soon as he wants us to come, so we just have a sound monitor. I do not remember what kind it is, but it is nice in that we can bring it outside to garden or walk to the car in the parking lot and it still works. I would think even if they are sleeping in your bed, you might want a monitor since presumably they go to be well before you? Our townhouse is tiny and laid out with all the bedrooms on one floor with doors facing one tiny hall so we do not need a monitor at night – we just hear him. When DS is awake he is never alone.

I never thought about getting a monitor that would listen to two rooms simultaneously – that would be useful once #2 comes home.