Some people would say that baby monitors are pretty redundant, arguing that: “we never used to use them years ago” or “the baby is usually in the next room anyway”. However, these reasons cease to be good arguments when you compare them with the amount of accidents and tragedies associated with babies who are left unmonitored. If we have the technology then we simply must use it. Baby monitors are incredibly important, and the mere fact that you are reading this article is evidence enough to suggest that you feel the same way.
The most important reasons to get a baby monitor are:
- Safety and peace of mind. Having a monitor will allow you to know what’s going on in the baby’s room whenever you need to and wherever you are in or around your home. It’s not always about safety alone either; sometimes it’s more to do with your own peace of mind.
- Sleep. It is essential that parents get enough rest. If you haven’t had adequate sleep then you will be little to no use at all when the baby wakes up. Sleep deprivation causes irritability and depression. Having a monitor will allow you to go to a different room and get some well deserved, quality rest.
- Space and time. If you are able to clear a little space for yourself amid the sometimes chaotic environment a baby creates, it will be invaluable. Having space from your baby to do other things whenever possible is equally as important as sleep to keep you mentally healthy; if you have a portable monitor then you can go wherever you like in the house to put your feet up and relax.
Which baby monitor is best?
There are baby monitors for virtually every circumstance these days and they all work as well as each other. It’s really up to you and your budget to choose the one that suits the best. Gone are the days when all you could get to monitor your baby was a simple audio monitor; and although these are very useful in their own right, cost effective and still in use today, there are many others to choose from too:
- Digital video monitors
- DECT audio monitors
- Multiple camera monitors
- Night vision monitors
- Webcam monitors
- Long distance and hotel monitors
- Breathing effort monitors
- Talkback monitors
And there are many, many more. Without going into too much detail about each individual baby monitor, you can see from just this short list that there is indeed a monitor for everyone.
The very best way to decide which baby monitor is best for you and your baby is to think carefully about the environment in which you live and work. If you have a large home then a baby monitor is almost certainly a necessity. Also, if you perhaps have a home where you spend a lot of time in the garden for example, you needn’t stay indoors because your baby is sleeping, you simply need to invest in a mobile baby monitor that works outdoors and you can take anywhere you like.
Only when you have a good idea of the type of baby monitor you’re looking for is it time to go shopping; this will prevent you having to trawl through pages of products on the internet or march up and down your local store trying to decide which one is best.
We can help you make the right choice to suit your needs; read our handy Baby Monitors Buying Guide for an introduction to all the different types of monitors and features available.
