To still use a monitor for a five year old?

[LapinDeBois]

The other day I got a very snarky comment about the fact that I still have a baby monitor for DS1, who is five (I also have one for his 2 year old brother). I know it probably sounds very precious (and I was always a touch PFB with him) but I have two arguments in my defence. First, he's quite an anxious little soul, and he doesn't like getting out of bed by himself (even in the mornings, let alone at night!). Two, I sleep up in a very well-soundproofed loft conversion, and I really can't hear what's happening downstairs. (A few months ago I forgot to turn the monitor on when he was ill and waking up at night, and the next morning he said 'where were you mummy, I shouted and shouted but you never came '.) I guess I could leave the doors open, but neither of the boys likes the door left open, plus I find it makes the bedrooms perishingly cold in the winter. So - I don't think IABU, though at the same time I realise that I won't be wanting a monitor for him when he's 15, and I'm not quite sure when (or how) to break the habit. Views, please?

I use a monitor for my 7 year old. He's not scared to get out of bed. I just like to know he's OK. It's on a very quiet setting so I can't hear every breath and snuffle, just the distressed noises. If he gets unwell or has a nightmare, I prefer to quietly get up and go to him, rather than wait for him to wake fully and clatter around coming to me, thereby waking my 3 year old.

We have one and I think we'll probably use it for a while yet (DD is 4)

We have a very well insulated (for sound) house plus DP is deaf, so can't hear her shouting, so we have one with lights on rather than one which makes a noise.

What lovely dc you have. If there's anything wrong with my dd, she'd be out of bed and bashing me on the head.

If it suits you, no harm in using it.

I have the opposite problem. I'm sure I have the hearing of a bat!! I hear every snuffle, every sound, every beep of a text/ machine. Everything!

I still use a monitor for dd who is 4.5. We live in a standard 3 bed semi. Didn't realise I was making a massive faux pas but then I love my sleep and it's useful to hear her start to grumble and deal with a toilet trip or replacing covers before DD fully wakes up.

Also useful for saying lights out when I am downstairs and cant be arsed to move. Suspect we will get rid of it when it breaks but until then its staying.

Also to add DD has never been a nightime wanderer and I prefer to keep it that way.

I suspect the people who think you're being neurotic are just refusing to accept how different the set-up of your house is. In my house I think it would be a bit neurotic to be using a monitor (we don't use one for our seven month old at night because if we leave both doors ajar you can even hear him breathing from our room if you listen carefully), but my house isn't your house! If you can't hear him shout you without it then I can completely see why it still feels necessary, and I very much doubt you'll still be using it at 15, whether or not you make any active effort to stop!

6 year old thread.....

Although it would be interesting to know if he still has the monitor in his room!

Oh so it is

Lol at 6yrs. Just read while thread withour even looking at start date

But

Have a monitor for my almost 2yr. It’s video and sound and I like being able to see her asleep when we are downstuara in evening and if she mutters or cries to check monitor before going up stairs

she usually self settles and guess if didn’t have montor I wouldnt hear her

But she’s 2

I prob would use for few more years - esp once out of cot and make sure she’s in bed 😂

Wow I didn't notice it was 6 years ago, I wonder if he still has it now he's 11. Please come update us Op.

All you are doing is feeding his anxiety. Sounds like you may be anxious too. Ditch the monitor. He can get out of bed if he needs you.

We still have a monitor for our almost 5 year old. You can't hear from his room if we are in the living room downstairs and like taketheribbon my little one can work up to puking in the night if congested. I prefer to catch that before it's vomit city all over the bed. I think as he gets old, certain respiratory problems clear up we'll get rid of it.

Can’t see the problem. Why is it ‘too old’ ? If they’re far away, still little and you cant hear them, seems obvious to me