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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Do you need a baby monitor?

31 replies

Babysealion · 18/11/2013 14:20

We live in a 2 bed fairly small flat. We're planning on keeping baby in moses basket in living room (which is also an open plan kitchen and dining area) and the cot in our bedroom.
He will probably be in a room with at least one of us at all times and our bedroom is right across the landing from the living room - when I'm in bed on a night I can hear DP watching television if he stays up later than me, etc.
Is it absolutely necessary that we get on? Obviously we will if they're always needed - but I'd hate to waste money on something only to bring the baby home and realise we can hear everything regardless anyway.

---------------------

Hello!

We've got some helpful advice on audio, video and sensor pad monitors in our baby monitors buyer's guide which might be useful.

If you do decide having a baby monitor is the right choice, take a look at our reviews to find the right one for your family.

Hope that helps! MNHQ

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loopylouu · 18/11/2013 14:23

We live in a very small flat, so no, we won't be having a monitor. You can hear everything in this place! Same as your set up - she'll be in a moses basket in the living room for naps in the day, cot in the bedroom at night.

That was the same set up I had with my ds, had a monitor but never used it as I was either in the same room or could hear him snuffling away anyway.

Original poster

Babysealion · 18/11/2013 14:26

DP is adamant that we absolutely need one - someone at work told me not to bother with one as she also lived in a small flat when she had her baby and said she didn't even need her monitor on as she could hear absolutely everything that went on.

OP posts:

xfilefan · 18/11/2013 14:27

we dont have a monitor -live in a one bedroom house and can hear the baby fine without one. We do plan to move to somewhere with a room for him eventually though and will get one then I expect.

mumbaisapphire · 18/11/2013 14:28

I have a 6 month old and we live in a 2 bed flat (all on one level). She slept in our bedroom for the first 6 months and during the early part of the evening she slept in her bassinet (in our room). We were gifted a monitor by work colleagues who were insistent we needed one, even though I thought we wouldn't. We used it a bit for the first few weeks, but then stopped because we could hear just as well by leaving the bedroom door open. The only time we have ever used it is when we go to stay over at friends and relatives and she is sleeping upstairs. She is now in her own room and we don't use it. Our walls are quite thin and we hear her when she cries.
Totally up to you, I think you might want to see how you get on once the baby is here before you go and buy anything. I reckon a cheap one for travelling has it's uses, but not essential for day to day use if you live in a flat.

IcouldstillbeJoseph · 18/11/2013 14:28

I live in a 4 bed house but the walls are so thin I wish I hadn't bothered with a monitor. Completely pointless. If I'm worried about hearing anything (like if one DC poorly) then I leave our door open - can even hear farting. TMI?!

loopylouu · 18/11/2013 14:28

I think some people feel safer with one. Also, with a first baby, it's one of the 'must haves'. Thats why I bought one when I was pregnant with ds. I even had it on when he was in a bedside cot right next to me! Madness!

I would get one if I lived in two story house and I was planning on leaving the baby upstairs for naps, but in my flat, you could hear a knat fart from one end to the other, so it would be pointless!

Casmama · 18/11/2013 14:29

I have a similar set up to you and didn't use one.

However, I do have a friend who used a sensor mat for her baby (think an alarm sounds if they aren't breathing but also when they roll off the mat) and wasn't quite prepared to stop using it when the child was three and she had her second so ended up buying another one! Do whatever you are both comfortable with.

PartPixie · 18/11/2013 14:30

We were in a flat when dd was born and we had same set up as you at first and didn't use a monitor. However, you might want to think about what happens when baby grows out of their basket and goes to bed in the cot before you do. Also, would you want one to take with you if baby is sleeping and you want a bath or shower. I'm not saying you will need one and probably wouldn't buy one before baby is born but you can always decide to get one later on if you wanted one

Peacenquiet2 · 18/11/2013 14:31

I had one purely because when my dcs were upstairs and i was down you could'nt hear them untill they had got so upset they were hysterical! My friend on the other hand who only had a small flat never bothered as she could hear everything from all rooms.
I did,nt use the monitor from one bedroom to another as it would have annoyed the hell out of me all night so i just had bubs in with me till 6 months then kept half an ear open once they moved into the other bedrooms. Ile do same this time with dc3.
If i were you i would'nt bother at all.

CrispyFB · 18/11/2013 16:07

We bought one and never really used it. All ours have been velcro babies so they've been in the same room as us until long past the point when a monitor is needed.

A lot depends on your parenting methodology, the baby, your house, how things turn out etc etc. If the money is important, wait until baby is here and order one next day delivery if you feel you need it. You may well not.

Thurlow · 18/11/2013 16:13

I think they are useful as the baby gets a little older and they aren't in the room with one of you 24/7 - as other posters say, you might go into the shower while they are napping in another room, and it's easier to hear them on a monitor. Also some babies don't like sharing a room with you, lights and telly, so you might find you move them into another room in the evening for a few hours. Babies do have a remarkable way of not wanting to do what or be like you you imagine

I like it because even if I can hear the baby crying from other rooms, I couldn't hear them coughing etc, whereas I could over the monitor.

But it's probably not something you need to buy beforehand.

CuteLittleToes · 18/11/2013 16:17

We have two level house, and didn't bother getting one. You can always get one after the baby arrives if you feel you need one.

I would apply that for anything you are not sure about - see how you get on and get it if you feel you could do with one.

Sammi1986 · 18/11/2013 16:24

I've got one, but from having my niece live with me for 4 months I know I can't hear crying. I also have the angelcare as I'm terrified of SIDS, (I've not even given birth yet!)
But from a noise point of view, in your situation I wouldn't bother. If the DP is insistent, have a look for 2nd hand so you don't waste money xx

whatsagoodusername · 18/11/2013 16:30

We had one and never bothered with it after the first week or two as we could hear DS1 crying before we heard it on the monitor (slight delay).

Go into the bedroom and talk to DP in the living room. If he can hear you talking, you don't need one. If he insists, get one off eBay.

Plus, if you have iPhones or similar gadgets, there are lots of apps that do it really well for free. We have one that works off wifi and another that will phone you if there is noise for a certain period of time.

Mattissy · 18/11/2013 16:30

4 bed house but I never close doors so never switched ours on for either child.

baggyoldcow · 18/11/2013 17:56

I never had one (4 bed bungalow / 2-storey house) but my sister (4 storey-house) needed them. Hers was very handy as you could switch on a lullaby when the baby was crying and it did help to send them back to sleep without her always having to go up to the top of the house!

MrsCakesPremonition · 18/11/2013 18:00

You don't need one before the baby arrives. For the first few weeks, one or other of you are going to be physically attached to the baby pretty much round the clock.
Take your time and get a monitor as and when it becomes necessary.

ProphetOfDoom · 18/11/2013 18:07

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SaucyJack · 18/11/2013 18:12

I won't bother either. When they're tiny enough for you to need to hear them, they'll be down the side of your bed anyway.

Past a certain point it really isn't necessary or desirable to have to hear every single bloody whinge they make, and if they really do need you, they'll be more than capable of making themselves known.

Original poster

Babysealion · 18/11/2013 18:13

Thanks everyone, going to show DP this thread when he gets home from work. I've got a bouncy chair and just assumed I'd either sit the baby in that or his car seat in the bathroom while I had a shower - my mum says she used to do this with me and my sister.
Like a lot of you have suggested, think I will hold off buying one as it's just an extra expense really and I can always get one on next day delivery if we decide we need one when the baby's here.

OP posts:

princesscupcakemummyb · 18/11/2013 18:50

no i wouldnt get one i lived in a 1 bed flat when i had my first baby and you could hear if baby woke the flat was small i now live in a 3 bed house with 3 children & still didnt get a monitor as my baby is never left in another room without me at the moment

cogitosum · 18/11/2013 18:53

I don't have one as ds is with me constantly. Current guidelines are that they should be with you for all naps and sleeps until they are 6 months so it's not really necessary.

Our house is tiny but I'm staying with my parents at the moment for about 4 weeks and I still haven't needed one.

cogitosum · 18/11/2013 18:55

I'm hoping to get one around Christmas time though when ds is 5 months plus as I'd like to start being able to put him in his room for naps when we move back to our own house when he's 6 months as he currently sleeps in the sling during the day and next to me at night.

stinkingbishop · 18/11/2013 19:00

If he wants one, you may as well get one. Would mean you can go to other people's houses where the set up will be different. And also - apologies to anyone whose DPs have amazing hearing - but whilst I can always hear the DCs, he seems to be able to zone out. Especially when asleep. Whereas the beep of the monitor will wake him up. Unless you're planning on never going out for two years!!

Anothermrssmith · 18/11/2013 19:05

I live in a 2 bed flat and going to get one but to be honest we go fairly regularly to stay with my mum and she has a pretty big house im not convinced I would hear crying in so its more for when we're away than using at home,also just going to buy one on eBay rather than spend a fortune on a brand spanking new one.

That said though,I may get one with a sensor that goes off if baby stops breathing and if I do I'll probably use that at home as well, even though I'll hear the baby cry no problem.

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