when to stop using the angel care sensor mat

[piplypip]

Hi all,
I am addicted to the sense of security that our angel care monitor gives us and go to sleep every night listening to the beep beeping of the sensor pad. Our son (now just turned 2yrs) has been ill a lot as a baby and two or three times has set the alarm off with what we think has been sleep apnea when he has been ill and sleeping very deeply.
We are about to have a second child and I am wondering about whether to buy a second angel care monitor as I dont feel ready to take DS1 off his but just wondered if there are any other angel care fans out there and how long they waited before moving on.
Please dont post and tell me how rubbish the sensors are- we are quite anxious parents and whilst I know they are controversial, I dont think I would have slept at all for the first year if we hadnt had it.

I would just use your current one for baby 2. Is your DS still in a cot? I'm guessing pretty soon you will move him into a bed and that would seem like a good time to stop using it. In fact I'm not been sure it would work through a bed mattress would it?

Oh, in a horrid period in hospital with dd1 when she had suspected meningitis at 10days old (all fine), I remember loving the monitor that meant I could sleep guiltlessly. Bonkers, I know, but I do understand.

I would be worried about having a wire attached to a 2 year old's bed/cot as a strangulation risk? How do you manage this?

Other than that, just do what makes you happiest.

Well we have one and like you I love it, although turned the beep off ages ago but I like to see the thing moving back and forward. Our little one is only 18 months but I have no intention of stopping using it anytime soon. He's in a cot bed (still with the sides on) so will probably use it until he moves into a big bed and if we're lucky enough to have a second baby (before he goes in a big bed) then I'll buy a second monitor so they both have one. Also we've never had the alarm go off falsely so I wonder if people who think they're rubbish just don't have the sensitivity button up high enough. If it gives you peace of mind then stick with it and get a second one for the new bubs.

Thanks everyone for your messages. Our son is still quite young for his age and is still in a cot for the moment with the wire fed through the bottom. We are in the process of buying a toddler bed but don't expect him to show an interest in transferring for a few more months. I think when he does we will stop using it. But for now, I think we might need to buy a second monitor.

I'm the same and have no intention of retiring it any time soon. We've been using it with a cotbed with inner coil mattress since DS was 7mo (now 20 mo). It picks up the movement easily . The only prob is occasionally when DS is right up at the head of the bed, lying perpendicular to normal sleeping position, it'll sometimes go off, but this slight inconvenience far outweighs the worry I'd have otherwise. I don't have the beep, but regularly check the screen when waking in the night.

You have probably seen this already, but just in case it applies to your machines:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a1918743-to-tell-you-all-that-AngelCare-baby-monitors-have-been-recalled

Good grief whiteshoes, I hadn't seen that! Thanks.

I have the cord totally underneath the cotbed, then it runs along the wall and loops around behind a big drawers set where it's plugged in at the side between the corner wall and the drawers. Good to be aware though.

zoo if you ring angelcare uk they can send you a rigid cord tidy (for free) to keep the cords out of baby's way.

I loved it too...we stopped using it when ds moved into a big bed at 21 months... The first night I couldn't sleep! I still check on him breathing a few times a night

We used it until our oldest moved into a bed at 27 months old.

It is still in use for 2 year old 'baby' brother. He's in a toddler bed now so it's also a handy escape alarm in case he goes wandering at night

I'm a worrier so it helped a bit.

I loved mine and used it for all three dc. I stopped using it at 18 months with dd1, 2yrs with Ds and 1yr with dd2. It was after going on holiday when dd2 was 1yr and not being able to use the pad properly that I realised we didn't need to use it any more!

I too had the cord wrapped securely under the cot and couldn't be accessed by any child!

If I was you I'd stop using the monitor with dc1 and transfer it to your new baby.

I can imagine checking a few times a night too! In fact thats exactly what i have done when i've had to stay somewhere with a cot that wont take the sensor pad.
I'm still undecided what to do!

That last message was meant for andcake.
Thanks for replies - I think i might end up buying a second one!