Baby Monitors: The Perfect Gift for New Parents

Once your baby arrives, you will not be able to stop looking at them. They are an amazing gift that will never cease to amaze you. Unfortunately, you also live in the “real world” and need to do more than stare at your baby while they sleep. Poking your head into the room,will never allow you to get anything done and you will probably end up waking them. It is important to monitor your baby. Even in a crib or bassinette, your baby can be at risk. They are not strong enough, or developed enough to prevent or react to potentially dangerous situations. Babies can become entrapped in bedding or clothing. They can spit up and then choke because they have not learned to turn their head. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death in children between one month and one year old.  This is one of the reasons you are afraid to take your eyes off them. This is why baby monitors are so popular with new parents.

American SIDS Institute
Non-profit organization fighting SIDS

US Government Site About SIDS
Very informative website

When my children were young, we used a baby monitor that a family member had loaned us. The unit was as basic as you can get. It consisted of the base unit which stayed in the nursery and a portable unit. The reception was often filled with static and not very sensitive to sounds within the nursery. It did allow us to eat, shower, do chores, and relax while monitoring our children. Units today have features that sound like they belong in a sci-fi movie. Basic units feature digital signals, hundreds of frequencies, 300’ range, and are Energy Start rated. Digital signals are preferred over analog because they offer more privacy. Baby monitors pick up sounds your baby makes, but it also broadcasts adult conversations and if your unit has video, it could also send that to nearby units that happen to be on the same frequency. This was a fairly common occurrence with older units. Units that automatically search hundreds of frequencies are more desirable because they help eliminate potential sources of interference such as cell phones, cordless phones, and certain appliances.

Deluxe baby monitors incorporate features can include cameras that broadcast to hand held units or even 7” high resolution color screens that tilt. Night vision is a common and desired option that allows you to see your baby even when the lights are off in their room. Another common feature is a talk back feature that allows two way conversation with your baby through the monitor units to help calm your baby. Some higher end units can even monitor temperature and humidity in the nursery, since environment can cause discomfort for your baby. Some units contain night lights that can play lullabies to help calm your baby if they happen to wake up. Philips DECT technology filters almost all interference in the signal allowing for crystal clear signals up to 1000 feet. This is important because it allows you to be outside, or even next door while they sleep. There are many companies that produce baby monitors including: Summer Infant, Graco, Fisher-Price, Philips, and Safety 1st. New parents will find that features are more important than manufacturer, however brand loyalty is common, even for me.