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Pregnancy

Do we need a video baby monitor?

60 replies

Elland · 27/09/2016 15:24

What's your opinions on normal baby monitors vs video baby monitors?

If you've got a video one are they worth it or do you think you would have been fine with a normal one?

Does anyone have recommendations for both normal and video?

-----------

Hello!

We've noticed this thread is quite old and some of the product recommendations are a little out of date. We've spent weeks speaking to parents and testing out baby monitors. Read our baby monitor reviews for a list of the best products on the market.

Hope that helps!

MNHQ

OP posts:

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eurochick · 27/09/2016 15:26

I love it. When she whimpers we can see if she is properly awake or just shifting a bit.

fruityb · 27/09/2016 15:27

We've got one but as yet haven't used it lol. He's still in with us. But we really wanted one for peace of mind and so we can see if he needs us or whether he's just moving.

Littleelffriend · 27/09/2016 15:27

I thought it was a stupid idea but dp wanted one and he was paying. I love it now, very reassuring. Ours is Motorola.

MyBreadIsEggy · 27/09/2016 15:33

I've had one since Dd was about 7 months old. She's 17 months now and I still use it. It's great for when she's doing toddler gymnastics in her cot/trying to climb out, because she's learned recently to do that in silence so even if she's not making any noise, I can still see her bed time antics! We will be getting another one for DS's room when the time comes.

Yawnyawnallday · 27/09/2016 15:34

I didn't have one. I got to know her little noises from the audio monitor and if I was concerned I went to check. We only have a little house. Didn't think it necessary. Still don't.
I think it might have made me even more twitchy and paranoid.

MyBreadIsEggy · 27/09/2016 15:34

Mine is a Motorola one too, it has video, sound, thermometer and the option to speak to Dd from our end if we need to

ConvincingLiar · 27/09/2016 15:41

You don't need one, but they can be very useful. We have a small flat so can hear baby from the sofa but it's useful to be able to see if he's awake before going in as he often cries in his sleep. We have an internet based one but I've found the non internet one is useful as you could take it to a friend's/a hotel without too much hassle.

sianihedgehog · 27/09/2016 15:46

Tbh I barely even use our regular monitor. It's recommended to have the cot in your room at first, so I don't need it at night, and honestly I hear DS shouting if he wakes up from a nap and needs me even I'm downstairs.

I think the usefulness depends on the individual baby and on how you find yourself parenting, so I wouldn't bother buying it in advance.

0phelia · 27/09/2016 15:48

Never had one. We had cot in our bedroom for the first 9-10 months and our house is small. I think it's better to just listen out and check regularly.

Hamsolo · 27/09/2016 15:51

Not essential but we got one when my older daughter moved into her own room at 11 months, and if it breaks I'll replace it with another. The useful thing us you can see things you can't hear (she's climbing out of the cot again 😫)

PotteringAlong · 27/09/2016 15:53

No. The regular monitor was used infrequently too.

4yoniD · 27/09/2016 16:34

You don't need one but I loved watching dd sleep, and later watching her antics when she was meant to be asleep!

Wolfiefan · 27/09/2016 16:35

Never had a baby monitor. Unless you have a cavernous mansion you will soon hear when your baby wants to be fed.

Laineymc7 · 27/09/2016 16:37

I've got a video one and love it. I love seeing what my little one is up to in her cot. We use it every night and nap times. I bought the tommee tippee one when it was £90. Expensive but they are worth it. Get one.

Leapling · 27/09/2016 16:40

Please get one. I didn't have a monitor as in our small house I could easily hear crying. It's not crying you need to worry about, it's not crying. It may not have made any difference to me but it just might've.

ConvincingLiar · 27/09/2016 17:06

Leapling I'm so sorry for your loss Please try not to torture yourself with all the what ifs.

Artandco · 27/09/2016 17:10

I don't like them, it relies on them working and false safety. I would always just have a baby sleeping in my room until out of cot at 2-3 years.

Batteriesallgone · 27/09/2016 17:12

Love mine. Especially for naps. But agree that they shouldn't really be on their own day or night until at least over 6m (more like a year for mine...) so you could wait and see how you feel when the baby is here.

Palegreenstars · 27/09/2016 17:20

Agree with Siani it depends on the individual baby how useful it would be.

We bought the Motorola non video one which had great recommendations on Amazon and at 5 months is suiting us fine. It's only about £30 so we thought we'd start with that and then invest in a video one if we felt it necessary when she moves into nursery.

I've been told there are decent apps you can buy if you've got 2 iOS devices (iPad, iPhone etc) which converts them into baby monitor which could be a cheap option to see how useful video is.

TeaBelle · 27/09/2016 17:25

I wouldn't be without ours. Tbh, if you're an anxious parent then it doesn't really help in that sense ie the picture isn't that good that you can see if they are breathing. However as others have said, it allows you to see whether baby is fully awake or just whimpering in sleep, trying to climb out etc. Also, I disagree that you will definitely hear baby - we have a 4 bed house but not huge. With 2 doors shut I definitely wouldn't hear dd especially when I'm completely shattered. I also think it will be useful at the age she wants to play in her own room.

islandmummy · 27/09/2016 17:29

I really loved ours. Like others have said, it's not just so you hear them crying, it's a little window into how they act/what they get up to when you're not there (as their main focus of attention). Not necessary, but nice to have.

polkadotdelight · 27/09/2016 17:31

We love ours. Peace of mind and it helps to know if DS is just making noise in his sleep or trying to escape from his cot.

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sentia · 27/09/2016 17:35

We didn't because I wasn't confident it wouldn't be hacked.

Elland · 27/09/2016 17:37

Thanks for the advice everyone! We'll do as the majority suggest and get a video one but we'll wait until he goes in to his own room before buying!

OP posts:

Sausagema · 27/09/2016 18:54

We are planning on getting one, we live in a bungalow so probably don't NEED one but my partner works offshore so he wants one that you get an app for so he can watch the baby (or as I find more likely, us both having a meltdown ) when he's away. Baby will be with us day and night for at least 6 months but it's Def more a bonding thing for him. Can anyone recommend one that has an app to go with it that can be watched on Ipad/android?

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