To not use a baby monitor... ever?

[MustardScreams]

Dd is 2.5 and I have never used a monitor for her. Obviously when she was tiny she slept with me downstairs and then in my room. But since moving into hers I’ve never had one. Even when staying in my parents much larger house (I have a 2 bed terrace) and in the garden I just popped inside to check on her.

I’ve seen that parents are still using them at 7(!!!) am I in the minority?! Did everyone use a monitor and I’m just a slack mother?! Yikes.

Used one up to maybe 1 year.

My child is 19 months and I always use a monitor (when he was tiny he was in with me). I like the security it gives me and I don't have to go and check on him, I can just look at the video. I find it much easier.
A good few of my friends don't use them though so I wouldn't say you're in the minority really.

No, we never had one. Both of mine cried loud enough for me to hear them! We do live in a very small house though.

I never used one either, with either of mine. And they never slept in my room

Yes you are the only sane mother currently in existence. Sensible, salt of the earth. Your children will be so much more well adjusted compared to their peers. They are so fortunate.

That’s what you want to hear, right?

I used one until my Son was capable of coming to me when he was upset/scared/feeling poorly because my hearing is bad and I couldn’t hear him crying from downstairs.

I still use one and ds is 3!

I used one but my baby always slept in their own room in a separate floor. Think I stopped when they moved to a bed and could get up in their own (around twoish). Can’t believe people are using it for older children! You have to respect a child’s privacy, even at 7.

@Snuffalo

We still use one at 2 due to vomiting in the night. Much easier if you can get in quickly.

@Snuffalo no, I wanted to hear if anyone else was slacking off as I have been. I don’t for one second assume that I’m sane and the perfect mother, and I don’t think that I put down any other way of parenting.

You’re being a bit weird.

We still use one for our 4.5yr old which I often think is a bit odd. Especially as we don’t have a particularly big home. But she will occasionally sleep talk and sleep walk so it’s good to have so that I can wake up if I need to help her back to bed.

I wouldn't feel comfortable without a video monitor. I will keep using ours for a while yet and ds will be 4 in September

Never used one

Nope. I've got two children and I've never used one. Weve always lived in large old, 3 storey houses as well! But ive always heard if they've cried... I am a very light sleeper though.

I used one until mine were big enough to get out of bed (2 ish) and I've only ever lived in small houses. Don't trust my ears and often had doors shut to keep living room sounds out of bedrooms

Had one but didn't really use it.

It was handy for listening to the radio in the kitchen while sitting in the garden though.

I used one with my first for anxious pfb is she still breathing purposes even when in my room. Am yet to do this for neglected 2nd born despite bronchiolitis at 4 weeks because 1) the git preferred to sleep on me until about 12 weeks for so and 2) DH was despatched to the spare room to intercept dear pfb so it is much easier to hear breathing happening and know it's the baby...

Monitor came into its own once DD got older and was in her own room - so I could spy to see if muttering was sleepy - ignore or wide awake - go and calm, as going in to sleepy muttering led to terminal awareness...

Never needed one, babies in our room until 6-12 months. After that they were loud enough that we would hear them

Nope never used one. Co slept to 2 years and then they were both on normal beds and able to get out of bed and come and get me if they wanted me.

Up to you, isn't it?

I have the best of all possible worlds, as I wouldn't have bothered for myself and never use it if it's just me, but my DP is a worrier so we have one.

Thus I can legitimately pretend to be super-chill mother, without ever having tested the limits of my chill-ness very far.

(I do notice, though, that if you don't use them you get to be very good at listening out.)

I never had one

Oh and especially for one of mine, who after sleeping beautifully on their back decided that after a terrible bout of bronchiolitis at one month old, would only sleep on their front. That was the only time I bought a breathing monitor and it was worth it's weight in gold.

We never used a baby monitor. I think when DC1 first moved into their own room we were too tired to work out how to use the one we'd been given! Then realised we could always hear them and didn't need one. If they had had any major health issues it might have been a bit different though.

I didn't have one for DS as we were in a small flat, then bought one for DD but convinced myself the radio waves (?) were keeping her awake as she never seemed to sleep when it was turned on... so gave it away.