Let's talk long range baby monitors - PLEASE

[loopyapp]

Ok MN I need help.

I have a 15 month old mummy addict and I know I'm only making him worse and enabling him.

When he was born I excused having him have all his sleep downstairs where I was and then in my bed when I go up by saying frequent breastfeeding and 2 flights of stairs would've been stupid.

Then as he's gotten older I've made noise about not trusting a monitor to reach from the top floor of our old 3 storey terraced to the lounge (my bedroom is at the front and the lounge is the rear reception room for context so quite a distance.)

But now at 15 months his sleep habits are appalling and I'm slowly coming unravelled. I won't go into it all as that's not the point of this post but I need to get him sleeping in a bed, with an actual bed time routine etc or before I know it I'm going to have an utterly feral toddler.

I cant move him into other rooms, all occupied by much older siblings that will not appreciate the coming weeks while I try to implement some super gentle sleep training.

I have gone through Amazon 353966800000 times and read ALL the reviews but I am just unable to pick a damn monitor.

Help me please

It HAS to be super long range. No glitching every 10 mins because it's too far apart.

That's my only demand.

Thanks in advance!

A webcam might be better - one that connects to your home wifi, then you can view it on an app on your phone no matter where you are. Have a look at the Wansview one on Amazon.

Thank you!! I bought one a while ago to monitor my 6 year old at night aa he has epilepsy and was having night seizures but it rotates.round to the source of any sound or movement .. I mean ANY and I can't turn it off so it's useless but I'll have a look at this thanks

BT 6000, works in my PIL house with loft conversion from top floor to living room downstairs. No problems 😊

@shadesofcool

BT 6000, works in my PIL house with loft conversion from top floor to living room downstairs. No problems 😊

Ahh I looked at that - thank you!!

He’s a baby still so don’t be too hard on yourself or him that you’re wanting to be close at all times. It’s natural and healthy. So don’t go the other way in pushing him into “independence” too hard or you will make him cling all the more. Security builds security. Closeness gives infants the ability to separate safely and happily at their own pace. Infant in terms of attachment is 0-3 years

We also have the BT6000 in our 3 storey Victorian house with no problems. Toddler bedroom is in the attic and we can just about still get connection from the back garden.

@Isadora2007

He’s a baby still so don’t be too hard on yourself or him that you’re wanting to be close at all times. It’s natural and healthy. So don’t go the other way in pushing him into “independence” too hard or you will make him cling all the more. Security builds security. Closeness gives infants the ability to separate safely and happily at their own pace. Infant in terms of attachment is 0-3 years

Thank you - I really needed to hear this .. I have always followed an attachment parenting method but this is the first time as a single parent and it feels much more overwhelming.

He really is super independent during the day and despite being a lockdown baby, hes very sociable. I know this is down to be him being secure in his bond with me and I would be loathed to ruin that.

I just feel worried that hes never slept in his own bed hah!! He's either been in my arms, a pack and play within arms reach or my bed with me hah.

@Ihaveoflate

We also have the BT6000 in our 3 storey Victorian house with no problems. Toddler bedroom is in the attic and we can just about still get connection from the back garden.

Brilliant I'll get that ordered :)

Your language troubles me: 'mummy addict' and enabling a 15 month old. It is so normal for a.child of that age to want to be with a parent at night. You are not enabling him, you are building a secure attachment.that will give him a lifelong foundation for good mental health.

@BraveBraveMouse

Your language troubles me: 'mummy addict' and enabling a 15 month old. It is so normal for a.child of that age to want to be with a parent at night. You are not enabling him, you are building a secure attachment.that will give him a lifelong foundation for good mental health.

I guess I just doubt myself after reading a few posts on here about children that a super independent around sleep etc.

He is really independent during the day but anything to do with sleep is just really rigidly all about me. With all the others they would sleep with and for their dad, this time as I'm on my own he will only settle in my arms nursing and I worry I'm doing him a disservice as a lot of what I've read on here suggests he must learn that he can fall asleep independently :(

I don't have advice on a monitor (we have a Kodak, it's a bit rubbish!) but if he's getting good sleep, and it's not too much for you, then I'd say carry on as you are. He's young, and sounds like an independent little chap who likes sleeping near his mummy!

But, if he's not sleeping well because of his need to sleep on/near you, or it's affecting your sleep and wellbeing, then do something about it. I'd let my 18 month old sleep in my bed every night if she slept well, but she doesn't, she wriggles and wakes and is restless, so she sleeps in her cot in her room.

Good luck on the monitor hunt, I had similar issues choosing one.

@BirdIsland

I don't have advice on a monitor (we have a Kodak, it's a bit rubbish!) but if he's getting good sleep, and it's not too much for you, then I'd say carry on as you are. He's young, and sounds like an independent little chap who likes sleeping near his mummy!

But, if he's not sleeping well because of his need to sleep on/near you, or it's affecting your sleep and wellbeing, then do something about it. I'd let my 18 month old sleep in my bed every night if she slept well, but she doesn't, she wriggles and wakes and is restless, so she sleeps in her cot in her room.

Good luck on the monitor hunt, I had similar issues choosing one.

You are absolutely right. He's very content with our current set up. He wakes a few times but nurses back to sleep in minutes.

Another vote for the BT6000 - we like it so much we bought a second reconditioned one off eBay for half the price to use at my parents and it seems brand new to me, even had the cellophane on the box. So that might be worth a look.

@linerforlife

Another vote for the BT6000 - we like it so much we bought a second reconditioned one off eBay for half the price to use at my parents and it seems brand new to me, even had the cellophane on the box. So that might be worth a look.

Ooo thank you for your input xx

We use a Nest camera. We figured that once DD (or any future kids) were old enough for it not to be needed, we could repurpose the camera as home security instead.

It's completely normal for a 15 month old to wake up at night and want you, only you. You are not doing anything wrong and it won't make him feral if you keep doing that. Especially if you've recently had a relationship break up the security is probably really reassuring for him. (But even if not - it is completely within the realms of normal, and perfectly healthy.)

Don't worry, they absolutely get there on their own. Both of my kids have at about age 2 / 2.5 - it doesn't matter. As long as you're coping and getting enough sleep, and he's getting enough sleep which it sounds like he is. It makes much more sense to settle him in your own bed if that's easy and working than to traipse up and down flights of stairs. They do sleep through when they are ready - or they become utter bed hogs - and then it makes sense to move them. Not before, IME. I tried with my second putting him in his own room at 1yo, it made absolutely no difference! He still didn't sleep through until he was 2.5 just like DS1. He has just stopped breastfeeding to sleep at nearly 3 - DS1 was a little bit older but I was nudging DS2 to stop because I was a bit fed up with it.

We have a third hand Angelcare monitor which does really well - no idea what the range is, but it's lasted, and a "Watch & Care" (which I suspect is an amazon no-brand) which is rubbish and bleeps constantly because it's supposedly out of range.

I have the smart version of the BT 6000 and it's great. The app links to the camera from anywhere you have internet connection, I've checked on her sleeping while I've been out of the house miles away. The picture on the app is much clearer than the monitor, you can take photos and record video from the app and you don't have to worry about charging the monitor all the time. The night vision is very good too, though it means that the camera always gives off some light but I find that helpful at night, it's almost like a very low level night light. Plus it had a built in temperature gauge so we always know what temp the bedroom is. If you look at the review on Mumsnet there's a discount code to buy it through the BT shop, which was the cheapest I've seen it.

The Mumsnet link is here: www.mumsnet.com/reviews/baby-monitors/bt-smart-baby-monitor

And that leads you to the BT shop with discount here: shop.bt.com/products/bt-smart-baby-monitor-with-2-8-inch-screen-096031-F1RZ.html?ReferrerID=XK09&utm_source=mumsnet&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=baby+monitor+oct19&utm_content=XK09&referrerid=ZA00&utm_source=awin&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_content=ZA00&awc=3043_1612531364_773a687868e44c46a144d343fea0d8a1