babymonitors - yes or no?

[trixymalixy]

Was just looking for some other opinions on whether to buy a baby monitor or not.

My SIL has never used one, lives in quite a big house and thinks that if the baby wakes up you are going to hear it anyway and that people she knows who have them end up going up to check on the baby at every little noise and waking them up anyway.

Another friend swears by them, but I have to say that I have noticed that at every little noise one of them goes to check on the baby.

As these are the only 2 opinions I have heard on the matter , I was just looking for some others, thanks.

We use one, just a simple cheap one, no motion sensors etc just noises. We certainly don't leap up at the first noise ds makes... tend to listen to see if the crying sounds like it will turn back into sleeping (hurray!) or if he is really actually awake (bother!)...
We only use it at night when we are asleep, otherwise rely on our ears!

We have one and still use it (DD 18 mo). Recently she was ill with a sick bug and a couple of times she was sick in the night. I definately wouldn't have heard her being sick (her room is down a long corridor) if I didn't have the monitor. We have a cat so leaving our bedroom doors open is not an option for us as I don't like the cat in her/our room. Maybe if we could do this then I may not have bothered with one.

I personally have found the monitor a godsend and would not be without one. I certainly don't check on her at every noise as she often settles herself quite quickly if she wakes up.

I am sure you will get some that say don't bother. IMHO I think it's a personal opinion thing.

Have one, never used it.

But we do live in a very small flat.

Always use one, but don't go running into DS until it hits the red and most times it's obvious it's his sleep sounds and not him waking up and getting upset

Also used one with both dss and found it very very useful. We wouldn't have heard them crying from upstairs if the bedroom door was shut.

I think they are useful once you get used to identifying what's just random sleep noise and what is your child awake or needing you.

Useful when travelling or going to stay with friends/relatives, where you dont know the house and how far away they'll be.

Never had one, never wanted one. There's nowhere in our house where you could't hear a crying baby, also thought it would make me more paranoid & I checked enough as it was!

I think they are the scourge of the earth

Honestly, I think they are one of the reasons babies do not sleep well - parents respond to every sqeak.

I love mine because otherwise I don't hear BabyDragon - I started using it in the summer soI could laze in the garden whist she was asleep in the bedroom! However, I don't respond to every squeak, I use to to gauge whether I need to go in or not.

you can set them to 'silent' as it were and if lights up red, you know they are screaming and need you !

i know people who walk around with them glued to their ears. listening to every huff & squeak....

you don;t have to do that!

I bought one and never used it, despite living in a big house and having 3 kids. Maybe wait and see whether you want it when the baby's arrived (I guess it hasn't yet) so as not to waste money.

I had one & found that I could relax because if I heard a noise I could see if it was DS or not straight away. Especially when we were out in the garden in the summer - there were so many other baby like noises! i also found I slept much better with it - and God knows you need you sleep. I don't use it any more apart from when we have babysitters.

The general concensus seems to be to get one, but be sensible about it and not get up to check every little noise.

I hadn't thought about being able to use one out in the garden, that's a good idea. And also when in strange houses.

thanks everybody!

A couple more questions. Any recommendations for which one to get? What about the sensor pads are they a bit of a waste of money?

I got a cheapy one - Tomy Walkabout Classic - think it cost around £25. The parent unit can take batteries as well as plug in so I can take it into the garden with me. The reception's really good although it does pick up the neighbour's baby sometimes but it has two channels if that's a real problem. TBH I don't think you really need all those sensor gizmos unless there's a medical reason.

I found having the monitor made me less likely to keep checking plus I liked hearing all the cute noises she used to make when she woke up - lots of dadas and oohs! She's two now so don't really use it unless she's ill...

We still occasionally use one if DD (3.5) is ill - I don't have our end turned on, but if I wake in the night and wonder how she is, I can flick it on to check she's still breathing / if she's coughing etc. Beats getting out of bed, but then I am lazy!