We’re delighted to welcome Kerri Bullock to Mums and Me, as she tells us about different types of Baby Monitors available in the market. Kerri is the founder of online baby monitor store, BabyMonitorsOnline.
One very useful safety item a parent owns is a baby monitor. Baby monitors can be important for a number of reasons, but the first and most important reason parents need baby monitors is to ensure their child is safe when they are out of sight. When it comes to choosing a baby monitor for their new baby, parents have three main choices: Audio monitors, video monitors, and breathing monitors. There is no simple answer when it comes to choosing which baby monitor is right for which family, which is why it is imperative parents know the difference between each so that they can make an educated, informed decision.
Audio Baby Monitors
There are a number of different baby monitors on the market, and the audio monitor is one of the most well-known. The base unit is placed in your baby’s room close to your baby but well out of their reach. The secondary unit is usually portable (depending on which model you choose) and its purpose is to stick close to the parents at all times. When the baby is in his or her crib, parents turn on the monitor. From the parent unit they can hear their baby when he or she cries, fusses, or makes any noises. This allows parents to know if their child is awake, struggling to fall asleep, or if there is a disturbance in the baby’s room. Audio monitors vary in their range; some transmit audio for up to around 300m while others do not work well when taken too far from the baby’s room. To ensure that the child can always be heard, it is wise for parents to choose an audio monitor that has a long range. Additionally, the portable unit should come with a good battery life, for when it is not plugged in.
Video Baby Monitors
The purpose of a video monitor is simple; to allow parents to see and hear their child when he or she is sleeping in the nursery. Much like a regular audio monitor, the video monitor has a base (baby) unit and a parent unit. The base unit is equipped with a camera that transits images of the baby to the parent unit so that parents can see if their child is comfortable, in the correct sleeping position, and they can hear their baby over the audio portion of the monitor.
Baby Breathing Monitors
This monitor has the ability to detect a child’s breathing. Based on the rise and fall of the baby’s rib cage and chest, this monitor alerts parents if baby’s breathing were to stop. An alarm goes off to alert the parents so that they have time to rush to their baby’s side and potentially save the baby’s life. This monitor usually comes with a sensor mat and an alarm unit, but some models consist of a small device which clips onto baby’s clothing instead. It is imperative that parents always make sure the monitor has a good level of battery to maintain optimal performance. Other baby monitors do not measure a child’s breath, and it is not always possible for parents to hear that their child has stopped breathing on a typical audio or video monitor. Please always remember however, that a baby monitor is not a medical device, its purpose is solely to help you out.
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