Video baby monitors - are they worth the money?

[BigHotMama]

Am thinking of getting one but needed to hear some recommendations before I splash my cash and find they are useless! Have tried looking on MN for a review but only have reviews on the normal monitors.

[brimfull]

Don't see the need really,overkill surely?

How much are they?

[ProfYaffle]

My cousin had the kind that plugged into the tv (ie, didn't have it's own monitor) she said it was useless as it sensed when the baby moved and turned the tv off to show you a picture of the baby. Very annoying in the middle of Corrie!

[Bobley]

We have just got one!! It was my husband who wanted one as we live in a 3 story house so he says it will be nicer just to look at what the baby is doing rather than climb up all the stairs!!

My mother in law got it for us from Ebay, brand new for only £28, normal RRP is £79.99! They are selling loads of them. It has its own screen instead of using it through the TV which I think would be a total pain in the arse!

It is only black and white though but I don't really see why we would need colour!

Its called "Security Monitor Set" and its has features like See in the dark and it has audio as well so you can hear when the baby cries.

For £28 you can't go wrong and if you think its crap you haven't wasted loads of money.

(Its on ebay right now, its number 3 on the list under Baby monitors)

[jazzyp]

We have one like Bobley describes. It's great for checking on the LO if they are grumbling to see if you need to go in or not. Also, I love having a look at her sleeping before I go to sleep at night!

[Laura032004]

We've got a similar one to Bobley too - think it was £40 from Woolies. It was a lifesaver when doing CC, because we could see that a lot of the time he was almost crying in his sleep, rather than going in and fully waking him up.

[BigHotMama]

Thanks for replies ladies, think I may get one off ebay or woolies, as the ones been looking at are over £100 and I live on a ground floor apartment so probably not really needed.

[Jo2006]

We got one of the shopping channel bid-up, cost £26 including P&P. We haven't used it yet (only 19wk pgnt) but we had a play! Night vision isn't brill but better than trudging upstairs for nothing.

[BigHotMama]

Thats not bad though for the money? I think I'm being lazy, we live on aground floor apartment and have no stairs so the baby will be in the next room? Not sure if I need a monitor at all? I'll only end up watching the baby all night instead of important soaps lol. Thanks for info.

[purpleturtle]

BHM - you won't get far enough from your baby to need one in a flat - honest! We've never had one, as we've lived in terraced houses where you're never very far away, and both babies were noisy!

Why don't you wait till baby arrives and then buy one if you feel you need it? To begin with, your little one probably won't be out of your sight anyway.

[BigHotMama]

Cheers PurpleT, I think its more the idea of having one that excited me but I'll save my money and buy something we really need. Maybe if we were to move into a 2 storey house it would be essential.

[Chiiicken]

Hi, if any of you our HD are technical, why not set up a webcam instead? If you already have this kit (camera and pc at home) then you wouldn't need to fork out for the camera monitors! We looked at them when my husband syggested using our webcam instead.... plus he can see dd napping during the day at work!
L x