About baby monitor

[TheBabyWhisperer]

Our second video baby monitor just broke.
Our DS is just over 3 years old.

Everyone keeps telling me that we do not need a video monitor.

I know this is true but I have OCD & anxiety and I need to be able to see my child in the night.

How do other people with OCD or anxiety cope without a video monitor?

Aibu to buy another one or do I need to ‘get a grip’ as one of my family puts it

We don't have a gate at the top of the stairs either, stopped using gates completely at 2yrs 9months (we moved house, I didn't get happy with the screwdriver at that random moment!) it's been fine, I think if it helps you to think he can get into you if he wants think about ditching the gates.

You don’t need any gate for a three year old. Presumably he goes up and down the stairs fine during the day?

Would a non video monitor be a compromise?

My anxiety went through the roof after having the kids but I forced myself to go against my instincts in a lot of instances after doing let's of checking of what rational people would do!!

In your case, I think I would not get a monitor as you don't need it and he is growing up! You will hear him shout for you - kids are very loud when they want to be!

With the stair gate - we had same set up but my youngest could climb it by 4 so we left it unlocked. Theory being, she would have to stop to open it and that would wake her up enough to make the stairs!

At 3 you dont need a monitor surely as if a problem he get you. I only had a sound one as didnt see why you got a video one unless you very worried eg prem baby. However if it gives you piece of mind get another monitor.

I've still got a monitor for a 3 and a half year old, I don't think it's that bad.

I genuinely can't hear him at all from my bedroom, especially if it's windy outside. The rooms are at opposite ends of the (fairly wide) house and we both need to sleep with doors shut due to cats (baby in with me). He wakes up quite often so this is a well tested fact.

He also won't come through unless I tell him to on the monitor, or the sun is up on his gro clock.

If it gives you piece of mind, what's the harm?

What's the bad advice?

My youngest is 2.3, eldest is 3 and we don’t have a stair gate at the top of the stairs or on their bedroom doors. Haven’t used a monitor since around 12 months (I can always hear them!). I’m feeling like a very lax mother now...

The fact that he is becoming anxious about it not being there to me sounds like the best reason to not replace it - explain to him that because he is a big boy now he doesn’t need the light to watch him because he is sensible enough to shout Mummy if he needs anything.