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Original poster

Using a baby monitor for 4 year old

31 replies

Crackthecrocodile · 27/04/2018 09:11

DC2 is due any time now.
I am still using a baby monitor (just for sound) during the night for 4 year old DC1 as our bedroom is a good stretch along the landing away from her room. If she wakes during the night ill I wouldnt be able to hear her vomiting, which has happened whilst shes asleep a few times. I also cant hear her shouting or crying if she has a nightmare.
I feel its a bit OTT to be using a baby monitor still for DC1 but Ive no idea what else to use?
I have been looking at a cheap monitor for her and the baby will have the one she is currently using (angelcare) but I'm beginning to think that the use of 2 monitors may be a bit much, plus I'm guessing there may be some interference. I'm not sure how to rectify the situation, does anyone else still use a monitor with an older child? Or has any other ideas? Moving her to a closer bedroom is not an option.

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BertieBotts · 27/04/2018 09:14

I stopped using mine when I felt that DC would come and find me if something was wrong. I think at 4 that is a reasonable expectation.

Pastaagain78 · 27/04/2018 09:16

I still use a monitor with an older child. We can’t hear him without it. I do admit I am anxious though. You can get monitors with two receivers and one base unit.

Thurlow · 27/04/2018 09:19

There's nothing overly wrong with using the monitor still. Some house layouts make it mote difficult to hear than others. I agree about looking for one that has two base units

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EffthisS · 27/04/2018 09:25

My oldest is nearly 4 and we still have a monitor. Just a cheap one now. It's more for when I haven't gone to bed yet but I do find it handy.
I don't think I'll stop for a while yet.

ProseccoPoppy · 27/04/2018 09:46

My kids are 2.5 years and one month. DC2 is in a crib in with us. I have two angelcare monitors both with the motion mat as it is the only thing that allows me to sleep ok (ongoing anxiety issue - I recognise this is probably paranoid). One is set to ch1 the other to ch6. No interference issues. I bought the second one second hand.

StarUtopia · 27/04/2018 09:51

We stopped with baby monitors at 2 with both of mine. Kids are capable of shouting or banging about making a noise is something is wrong. We do check on them regularly though, which I'm guessing if you have a monitor you don't do?

I'd personally suggest ditching the monitor and using it for the baby. It will still pick up sound from an adjacent room.

Why don't you just leave her (and your) bedroom door open when you go to bed and then you would be able to hear her in the night?

MCSpammer · 27/04/2018 10:01

Do what makes you feel comfortable, doesn't matter if others stopped using one at 2. No harm in still using one. I think we used ours up until about 6 yrs old. I still check on my 11yr old every night before I go to bed. It makes me feel content. Don't worry about what you 'should' be doing. Do what you want!

GrimSqueaker · 27/04/2018 10:40

I only took it out of the kids room when I redecorated recently and they're that sort of age. I know the eldest will come knock on the door for us if we don't hear the kids (I'm a light sleeper so generally do) and there are any problems now.

They have an Echo dot in their room though which I do occasionally use as an intercom if I want to hear what's going on up there. (They have it in their room as they've got one of those singalong microphones to murder Let it Go along to)

UnaOfStormhold · 27/04/2018 10:55

We still use a monitor at 3.5 because DS wakes a lot and it's much easier to resettle him if he hasn't had to get out of bed to get our attention. I can't see that changing any time soon.

Original poster
Crackthecrocodile · 27/04/2018 15:07

Leaving bedroom doors open at night is a fire hazard. We don't do this and won't.

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AveEldon · 27/04/2018 15:11

Are they fire doors then?
You may as well get a second monitor

Original poster
Crackthecrocodile · 27/04/2018 15:11

DC1 doesnt come to our room if unwell in the night, there have been several times where she has vomited in her sleep (like I said upthread) and one occasion whereby she became incredibly unwell and we hesrd her brrwthing was not right through the monitor (a good job we did) as she would never have gotten up yo wake us on this occasion either. I guess it all depends on your experience and the child. I dont think theres a one size fits all approach.

OP posts:
AveEldon · 27/04/2018 15:12

Is that because she can't open the doors?

DaisyDando · 27/04/2018 15:13

Won't your new baby be in the room with you for the first six months anyway?

ProseccoPoppy · 27/04/2018 15:49

Seriously op - just get a second monitor. I (on some level) know that my second one is overkill, especially as it is in my bedroom, but it is so so worth it for the peace of mind. Check out your local Facebook selling pages - my second hand one is in nice condition, one of the models with two receivers etc. and only cost me about £20. I will resell it (and my original monitor) when we are done - in the meantime I am happier and better rested.

BertieBotts · 27/04/2018 16:12

Is it a fire hazard? I would have thought in a house actually it would be better to have them open to hear the smoke alarm.

Original poster
Crackthecrocodile · 27/04/2018 16:22

There should be a smoke alarm positioned in/near each of your bedrooms Bertie, so not hearing a smoke alarm should not be a concern. Current advice states to have bedroom doors closed and smoke alarms aplenty! Id get more fitted if I were you.

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Original poster
Crackthecrocodile · 27/04/2018 16:24

Daisy: yes. But im hoping to spend atleast some evenings downstairs when he/she is sleeping!!! Hence the need for a monitor!

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Gunpowder · 27/04/2018 16:28

Apparently kids don’t wake up for smoke alarms.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/23/smoke-alarms-fail-wake-children-emergency-study-finds/amp/

Original poster
Crackthecrocodile · 27/04/2018 16:28

Some people are actually stupid. Before picking fault with the details...actually think things through for yourself.
Come on mumsnetters.
Im having to explain fire hazards and why I need a monitor for a baby rather than anything I've asked help for in my original post.
For a help and advice site, the amount of undue criticism and silly assumptions that goes on here is ridiculous.

OP posts:
yikesanotherbooboo · 27/04/2018 16:29

I think that one should do what makes you sleep easier so in your case I would get a second monitor.

SoyDora · 27/04/2018 16:32

Just get another monitor if you think you need one. What’s the issue?

Ubercornsdiscoball · 27/04/2018 16:38

I don’t think you should call people stupid.

You want another monitor so get one

BertieBotts · 27/04/2018 23:13

Um... you asked for other ideas!

I thought the fire safety discussion was an unrelated topic but an interesting tangent. That does tend to happen on MN and elsewhere.

We have smoke alarms in all communal hallways and all bedrooms as per local law (not in UK) - I've never heard this advice to close internal doors at night just in case. In fact if it makes it harder for a child to escape I'd definitely not close it. But it's fine - if you and she prefer to have the door closed, that's a preference totally aside from fire safety which increases the need for a baby monitor.

You asked if it was OTT/odd to have a monitor for a 4yo and people gave opinions. Just get a second monitor if you want one - this is really no big deal, people do it all the time.

DaisyDando · 28/04/2018 19:08

The NHS site says "For the first six months your baby should be in the same room as you when they're asleep, both day and night."