Are Safety Baby Monitors Really Necessary?

Choosing the best baby monitor involves several steps. First, consider a digital baby monitor to avoid eavesdropping from neighbors. Secondly, consider buying either an analog monitor that has a different frequency than your cordless phone or a highly rated digital monitor to avoid interference impeding your signal. Thirdly, look at safety baby monitors with a long range if you have a big house, so you will always stay within reach. Lastly, when you set up your monitor's camera or transmitter, be sure it's out of the baby's reach to prevent any unnecessary injuries.

When browsing for a baby monitor, the most important factor is clear reception. Muffled, fuzzy or screeching sounds will be distracting and difficult to discern from ambient sounds. With low-end wireless baby monitors, cordless telephone conversations may come through the channel or simple everyday appliances like microwaves may jumble the pictures or sounds. The best way to avoid interference is to purchase a quality baby infant monitor that has a similar range to your home size. If you buy one that is too large, it will be easier to pick up the neighbor's frequencies. Also, tests show that digital baby monitors have less trouble with interference than analog baby monitors, so that should be considered as well. If you do settle on an analog monitor, ensure that your cordless phone and monitor do not work off the same Gigahertz frequency and look for a model that offers at least two different channel selections.

There can be some problems with safety baby monitors from time to time, making them less safe for your child. Some digital monitors may be overly sensitive, signaling every little gurgle, roll-over or sound. After a while, it becomes a case of "the baby monitor who cried wolf," where you'll be so desensitized to the constant alarms that you might miss a real emergency. Also, many monitors do not have a very extensive range, which can make you think everything is quiet and lovely, when in reality, your baby is shrieking out of your range. Sometimes electronic devices like cordless phones and microwaves can also cause interference, making sounds muffled and distorted and leaving you to wonder, "Why did I buy this useless thing?"

In conclusion, safety baby monitors are non-essential, yet useful tools for new parents. Video baby monitors can show parents when the baby has awakened, so they know when to get the baby from the crib, without waiting for the warning screams. They can also reveal if the baby is caught up in the blankets, gnawing on the crib or in some other sort of precarious position. Parents can see if the family pets or their other children are bothering the baby in some way. For moms and dads worried about sleep apnea, breathing troubles or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, these systems can provide great peace of mind.