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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not bother with a baby monitor?

27 replies

Twilightinnovember · 19/11/2023 21:26

This obviously isn’t a big deal, I’m just wondering. We bought a monitor when expecting first baby, but he was in with me for the first six months and after that I found the monitor really disruptive as if he woke up his cries would echo on it. I never didn’t wake up to him so just stopped using it. We now have another baby and the monitor is still gathering dust. I accept it may just be a crap monitor but interested if anyone else didn’t bother with one!

OP posts:
Maryamlouise · 19/11/2023 21:37

Didn't bother. Slept in with them most of the time for about 9 months to a year as was easier anyway because breastfeeding in the night and meant my partner could sleep more. Bedrooms were adjacent and never not heard them even if not in the same room. Maybe I would if big house and not on the same floor but otherwise can't see the point

Halllooo · 19/11/2023 21:40

Never bothered. Those ones with cameras are really creepy too! Our house isn’t so giant that we could hear a baby cry…

mindutopia · 19/11/2023 21:40

We mostly only used ours when we were downstairs or out in the garden. They were mostly in with us or we’d hear them. It sounds like you have a shit one though.

Christmaste · 19/11/2023 21:41

Yanbu but I always did just incase they started puking in their sleep and choked. Unlikely but dc1 was sick a lot.

SpringboksSocks · 19/11/2023 21:42

I never used one with either of mine.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 19/11/2023 21:43

We stopped when we found our 6 month old
sitting up in the cot playing with the monitor cord!

Reallyontherocks · 19/11/2023 21:44

We don't have one although our DC was in our room until he was about 1

haribosmarties · 19/11/2023 21:50

I've never used one with any of mine. They were in with me for 6 months and then after that if they cried I'd go in and deal with it. I did not need to be alert to every tiny movement and whimper. I'm a light sleeper as it is. Would be a living nightmare for both baby and I.
I can see maybe if you were a very heavy sleeper you might need one.
But tbh my kids rooms weren't even on the same floor as mine and ld still wake up if they started crying. I sleep with silicone earplugs and I often still wake up coz my son has woken up and gone to the loo a floor down.
No need for baby monitors.

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 19/11/2023 21:51

We just use ours for the video as when baby would cry i can see what they are doing to then judge if i need to go in or if they will re-settle themself

yikesanotherbooboo · 19/11/2023 22:09

We used one with DC 1 ; the staying in with parents until 6 month's recommendation wasn't around then and we lived in a very rambling rented property. We also went away a lot and would use it in unfamiliar houses. Didn't bother once we moved into not a flat and never used it with other DC .

Mydustymonstera · 19/11/2023 22:12

In small flat: no didn’t miss having one. When we went away i certainly did wish I had one!

110APiccadilly · 19/11/2023 22:15

I didn't have one for DD1 as I always heard her no problem. I did need one for DD2 once she started going up for naps in the cot rather than napping in the living room, as I couldn't always hear her over DD1 playing. But if you can hear them, you don't need a monitor IMO.

VikingLady · 19/11/2023 22:17

We lived in a really tall, narrow house so we needed one to head DD from two floors down.

lanthanum · 19/11/2023 22:19

I didn't bother - if DD sniffled it woke me up but not her, even in different rooms - so it didn't seem likely that I would fail to wake up for anything more significant.

Saggypants · 19/11/2023 22:20

I didn't use one when they were sleeping in the room with me but I found it useful for naps. Especially being able to hear those early grizzles and get them back down for another sleep cycle before it escalated into full blown yelling!

HaveALaff · 19/11/2023 22:20

No ... But then again I have a 7 mo and toddler in bed with me right now. 😭🤦‍♀️

DNLove · 19/11/2023 22:22

I felt far more reassured with having monitor with sensor mat. First it was mat and audio, second I reused the mat and got a camera monitor.
Found the camera great for when they were shuffling and I wanted to see if they were just mooching without having to go in and wake them further.

Whiskerson · 19/11/2023 22:27

Never bothered - house not big enough to warrant it, did the (at least) "6 months in parents room" thing, and I figured at least if they're crying they're OK for a mo... I was more worried when they were too quiet, and would listen intently until louder breathing returned!

Artwhatttt · 19/11/2023 22:32

We don’t use one in the main house. But we have a large extension which is attached but you can’t hear anything at all from the original house when you are in there so we have one in which transmits his room.

Bearbookagainandagain · 19/11/2023 22:35

Youcancallmeirrelevant · 19/11/2023 21:51

We just use ours for the video as when baby would cry i can see what they are doing to then judge if i need to go in or if they will re-settle themself

Same for us. We still use it for our 2yo, but rarely for the baby

PinkPlantCase · 19/11/2023 22:38

We only had one for if we stayed away or wanted to be in garden. Our house was small enough that we’d hear DC if they woke up.

OdeToBarney · 19/11/2023 22:48

Christmaste · 19/11/2023 21:41

Yanbu but I always did just incase they started puking in their sleep and choked. Unlikely but dc1 was sick a lot.

Same.

Switchasaurous · 19/11/2023 22:50

How do you know that you always woke up when you didn't have a monitor? How could you possibly know?

UnfortunateTypo · 19/11/2023 23:15

I’m still annoyed at myself for spending £80 20 years ago on one. We lived in a 2 up, 2 down Victorian cottage. I could hear her cry from the other end of the street, the next room was not a problem! I was very much in PFT baby mode 😁

MaryMary6589 · 19/11/2023 23:26

We didn't have one. 3 bed semi, can hear him from downstairs if he wakes up. Was in the same room as me for all day and night sleep until 7 months.