Is using CCTV camera system/ baby monitor safe? Strategies to toddler+ new born

[andersonsophie89]

Hi

Ive got a toddler and another one on the way. I did get a baby monitor for my first child, but it was too much hassle taking the monitor everywhere I went with the baby, epecially when you need two hands to hold the baby and then have one hand holding a bottle. So I just ended up not using it. Ideally I needed a few baby monitors but all going to one to receiver, so I can put one in each room. I then came across Maplins and BnQ and saw a wirelsss CCTV camera but its too expensive, 2 wireless cameras with 1 monitor was like £280. I then search the net and found which is better value for money.

www.tradexguru.com/wholesale-cctv-security/wholesale-wireless-cctv-cameras/etronic-outdoor-digital-wireless-signal-4-x-cctv-camera-surveillance-system-with-4-quad-channel-sd-card-record-dvr-and-7-inch-lcd-screen.html

For cheaper and with all 4 cameras and picked it up locally instead of getting it sent from Hong Kong. So I am trilled to bits. I have contacted the company and they said they have ran out because of easter, but will be getting somemore in at the end of week. So I was going to buy this system this weekend, but thought it would be good idea to get suggestions of other items which would work before before I do so. I also want to know for a definate answer if it is safe to use or not.

I remember reading ages back that you shouldnt put wireless devices like wifi box/mobile phones etc.. in the same room as your child. As radiation levels is not safe. But we can buy baby monitors legally from the shop. Im not technically minded or anything, so sorry if this sounds dumb. But Ive asked a few mothers already and both have given me mixed views. It would be really great for me to use two cameras to monitors my children and the other two as security monitors. So that I can keep an eye on my toddler who is playing in the garden, while putting the other one to sleep or doing housework. Although I dont want to expose my children to radiation levels, because it is convenient. As you can see I am in a bit of a dilemma, and going online to research isnt giving me definate answer. I dont know anyone who works in this field to get definate answer.

Also as I didnt really give a chance to use to use my last baby monitor properly and have sold it locally on fb. I dont have anything to play with to compare featurs. Or know of any problems.

Any suggestions/ comments on my dilemma or review on the items/strategy your using now to cope two a energtic one and a new born, it will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[PlinkyPlonker]

I would worry that the CCTV in the garden would not give enough detail or you would have to watch constantly - only takes a second for a toddler to put something in their mouth they shouldn't / or get into some sort of mischief.

I find my toddler will only last a few minutes before he comes to seek me out if I go into a different room anyway.

I have no idea about radiation but traditional baby monitors use radio waves and the video versions will mostly be wifi l.

[Allthegoodusernamesaretaken]

I wouldn't use one, no. Not for the reason you mentioned but because anything connected to the internet can be hacked and anyone could watch the live feed that the camera is picking up, they would also be able to hear and speak to you if your system has audio.

There have been quite a few stories in the news about this recently and I would feel very violated if it happened to me or my baby.

The software these things use are very basic and easy to hack, initially I wasn't too concerned but DH works in IT and he says it is ridiculously easy. I am sure the risk is minimal but it isn't one I'm willing to take.

[andersonsophie89]

Thanks PlinkyPlonker, for your comment. I didnt think about the camera having a limit on the range. Yeh, my toddler is the same, she will come in and out to see what Im doing, and then go back to becoming an explorer.

As for Allthegoodusernamesaretaken, yeh I did see that article where the couple in the USA who had their baby monitor hacked and they can hear the hacker telling the baby to wake up. this is why I went for this one that cannot go online. So I am not worried about hackers.


With the comment of "baby monitors use radio waves and the video versions will mostly be wifi". my last baby monitor had a camera, so that must have been wifi. And is there any difference/how much of the difference in terms of radiation between radio waves compared to wifi. Also at what distance should you keep traditional baby monitors without camera away from the baby, in order to be considered safe?