not to want to be ripped off any longer when it comes to baby stuff?

[HomeIsWhereTheGinIs]

I am a huge fan of the free market. And I support capitalism. But I am so fed up with being ripped off by baby monitors. I've bought two so far, an iBaby and a Luvion. The Luvion has amazing definition...but my Victorian walls have proved too much for it and it is failing to stay in range between the sitting room and the nursery. The iBaby is just awful. Rubbish definition, limited range, jerky fuzzy picture and it loses the camera all the time. All I want, ALL I want, is a video monitor that will work in my completely standard three bedroom Victorian house.

There should be a standard test to tell you how strong the signal is. Am I alone in this? AIBU to hate that these companies put out such rubbish products (and to hope, secretly that one of you is going to help me out by saying you had the same problem and that you know which one I should buy next)?

Why not just buy a cheap bog standard monitor ? You really don't need to see the baby , or talk to it via a snazzy expensive useless one !

Yep second that, we've had a cheapo tomy one that spammed all the kids, still works a dream

They usually do tell you estimated range according to walls/ how many levels in house. I don't see the problem

We brought the bt one for this reason as live in a flat at top of Victorian 5 story house. It reaches from flat to roof terrace and down to ground floor if needed.

We specifically looked for one that could do this as it said on the box/ in description

The BT video monitor works a treat in my old house, very thick walls and over 4 storeys. Failing that, use a webcam and check it via your phone?

I am agreeing with waltons and I am usually. We had a tommy bog standard monster for dd, 8 years ago and I sometimes still use it now for childminding and it's fine. You don't need to be able to see baby to know if she is upset and needs you surely?

They tell you the range. The 3g ones, if you have a terrible signal in your house, then of course it will be the same with the monitor.
Then there's reviews on line from users.

We've got an angel sounds monitor which I love... It works perfectly in our house no matter where we have the handset and our house is pretty big...

Buy off the internet and send it back if you are not satisfied with the performance. Are there any that work over wifi? I have used an app that worked as a baby monitor over wifi and 2 iPhones when I have been abroad/ staying with friends in the past - not sure if there is a cheap equivalent?

Trapper the iBaby is supposed to work over wifi but it's useless. We use the iPad and my phone to view and the picture is terrible.

I've never seen a baby monitor that mentions the number of floors in a house that it'll cover but I'll have a look online. Two people happy with the BT one - anyone have a particular model they can recommend please?

As for not needing the video - we don't need it, of course. But I like having it. I'm just frustrated that £260 later I still don't have one that works!

Highly recommend Withings - also works as a house monitor. We got ours from the Apple Store... and downloaded the apps.

We had the same problem, old cottage with thick stone walls.

The BT one is great (I think it's the 1000 model?). We've got 2 cameras on ours and it can even reach over our courtyard into another part of the building. Can't recommend it enough (well done to DH for doing some research )

I had the angelcare one and it was brilliant. Really good sound. Can have breathing sensor, but it's detachable.

We have a Summer one and it works even through the basement. :)

Why not just buy a cheap bog standard monitor ? You really don't need to see the baby , or talk to it via a snazzy expensive useless one !

Technically you don't need anymore than diapers, a few bodysuits, and a bottle for a baby. Some things are just nice to have. How many nice, but pointless items do you have?

What about trying plug in wifi extenders to get a better signal.

I really like my Samsung video one - good range & clear picture. We got it in the Mothercare January sale for about £80.

The angelcare one is excellent - travels 300m I think?

Keep your eyes on Amazon, price can come right down to between £40 -£60 and the RRP is £110.

I had a super duper expensive one (can't remember the name now) that was abload of crap. My son had to wear a breathing monitor for over a year and the expensive monitor couldn't pick up the sound of the alarm when my son stopped breathing!

I went and got a cheapie £20 tomy and it was perfect.

Another recommendation for the angelcare monitor here. We also have thick walls but the aggregate seems to work fine, even from the garage at the end of our long garden. It works over radio so can work on 8 diff channels. The one I have doesn't have video monitoring but it does have a sensor pad to monitor babies breathing.

Another recommendation for wifi extenders. Surely the problem is your wifi rather than the monitors . I buy them from Amazon and buy ones from the TPLink range. BT often have similar on sale.