Baby Monitors

[bebebringingup]

Whats more important in your opinion- one where you can see your baby or one with a movement sensor? What did you have?

The really expensive ones include that my DH can see our baby when he's at work on his iPhone which is rather cool.

I've been looking at the Argos website and I am still at a loss.

I don't want to buy a rubbish one because if something happens, I'll never be able to forgive myself. I know it won't stop cot death or problems

The irrational first time mum

[ErmagerdANerknerm]

We had a bog standard 'comes on when there is a noise' monitor. DH wanted an all singing/dancing movement sensor one that can be watched on TV and phone but I know it'd have just made us even more neurotic first time parents who'd sit there watching it all night waiting for something to happen! Not even bothering to get one for the birth of this one until he is ready to be left to sleep in a room without us.

[PenguinsIsSleepDeprived]

What do you mean 'if something happens'. if you are prone to anxiety, I'd say a movement sensor. Otherwise I'd say a normal monitor. Just a noise monitor.

[callamia]

We don't have one at all. I am quite the neurotic about pretty much everything, but we kept DS in our room until he was 7 months, and when he wakes in the night I can hear him quite clearly from his room.

I know this isn't quite helpful, but I think if you plan to have your baby sleeping in your room for the first six or so months, then you may find that you don't really need a video or movement sensor- I've never wished I had either.

[bebebringingup]

'something' as in cot death or if the baby starts getting ill or something.

[bebebringingup]

I'd like to move baby into their own room as soon as possible.

[ColdTeaAgain]

Personally, I think these type of monitors are just another example of marketing aggressively exploiting parents anxiety. What you say in your post is exactly what they want you to think...in others words 'I need the best monitor otherwise something terrible could happen'.

We used the BT baby pacifier, admittedly was lured in by the extra functions (nightlights, music etc) which have hardly been used! But it is a really good monitor, can even hear her breathing sometimes. Low mute function is useful so it only comes on when she cries, otherwise I'd be awake every time she moved as I have bat ears!

[Lookslikeimstuckhere]

Movement sensor every time. Just stopped me having unnecessary anxiety! We had the Angelcare but not with video (although that would have been cool, they didn't do them when I had DS).

[PenguinsIsSleepDeprived]

What do you mean by 'as soon as possible'.

The current thinking behind keeping your baby in your room for six months is that hearing you breath helps them to remember to do so. No monitor will do that. It is, of course, your choice, but technology is not a direct replacement for your presence.

But if you need for some reason to move the baby out ASAP, I'd say a movement sensor. You can't watch a video whilst asleep.

[callamia]

You know the SIDS guidelines recommend having your baby sleeping near you for the first six months? The main reason is around your breathing helping them to regulate theirs. This seems better protection than any monitor.

Of course, babies who sleep in their own rooms from an early age are usually just fine, and many people say it helps them sleep better - I would have found it a nightmare dragging myself out of bed however many times a night though.

[GozerTheGozerian]

We have a movement sensor and it's been great. I liked the extra reassurance of knowing if anything did happen, like DS stopped breathing (unlikely) or somehow got out of bed (much more likely!), then I'd know about it straight away.

Never saw the point in a video one - they look like something out of Paranormal Activity for one, plus I thought if we needed to check on DS, we'd just stick our head round the door and actually look at him.

[bebebringingup]

I intend to put the baby in their own room as soon as I can but after that I'd like to be able to walk around our house in the evening or whilst they are asleep. I think the movement sensor is probably the better of the two...other than paying almost £200 for a baby monitor.

[LittleBearPad]

But you could save that money by keeping them in the same room as you as the SIDS guidelines say.

[bebebringingup]

Yes but after 7 months?

Or when I'm walking around my house or doing jobs and they are having a nap.

Gozer- I have just remembered paranormal activity! arrgghh!

[bebebringingup]

Just been reading the SIDs website, funny my mum always used to put me on my stomach with my head tilted, this was the 1980s though.

[LittleBearPad]

Right. After 6 months the SIDS risk drops considerably. Babies also start moving round their cots far more so are less likely to stay on thr movement mat sensors. In which case it will go off all the time.

We have a video monitor, it's handy because we can now see if she's sitting up in the morning. That's the point at which we admit we have to get up.

An audio one would be fine though too. I wouldn't bother with a movement one at that age.

[PenguinsIsSleepDeprived]

SIDs risk peaks at 4 months and declines sharply after the age they are recommended to be ok in their own room.

And, if you are non-smokers, etc, SIDs risk is very, very low.

Also, your baby may actually refuse to nap in the cot.

I think, TBH, you are maybe showing signs of anxiety. Is that normal for you, or do you maybe have a family history? For example, would you be stressed if the baby fell asleep in the pram and you parked the pram in the hall when you came home instead of moving into the cot with sensor?

[PenguinsIsSleepDeprived]

SIDS has declined massively since the 'back to sleep' campaign. Tummy sleeping (before they can roll -once they can roll onto their tummy, they are developmentally ready to stay there) is a big SIDS risk factor.

[LittleBearPad]

I'm a bit confused as to whether your baby has been born or not? And if they have been born how old they are.

[FidgetPie]

We used the angel care movement sensor for when they were in their cots (although coslept most of the time to maximise our sleep and so didn't use the monitor then).
We also kept her in our room for 6 months (actually she is still here now at 8 months!)

[SomeSunnySunday]

I did actually find that the movement sensor monitor which we bought for DC2, after DC1 had been very ill as a newborn and turned me into the World's Most Neurotic Mother, helped me to relax and sleep when he did (in a way that I hadn't been able to with DC1 - we just had a bog standard sound monitor). I don't think a video would have had the same effect, as I wouldn't have been able to see it when I was asleep!

[bebebringingup]

Yes I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder for which i am medicated but no, a baby sleeping in a pram in a hallway would not stress me out at all!

We don't smoke - kicked that one years ago thank goodness.

[bebebringingup]

No baby yet! Due in 6 weeks.

[Babycino81]

I was (she's only 11 months and still am) a first time neurotic mum. I got the angelcare sensor pad monitor thing and it has saved my sanity and stopped me being so paranoid despite knowing it won't prevent SIDS etc.

Now she's older, I am gutted that I don't have a video one where I can tell if she needs me in the room or of she's just stirring etc.

There are quite a few on the market that do both sensor pad and video so have a look as you may not benefit from the video one during the initial couple of months but once they start moving around etc it would be helpful.

[ladybirdandsnails]

I had movement (breathing ) as some one gave us one. Unless u live in a mansion none are really necessary

[ladybirdandsnails]

I do think video ones just fuel paranoia. Put baby to bed and relax