If you’re in the market for a baby monitor…either for you or for a friend, you’re in for a surprise. There are so many choices today, it’s overwhelming. How do you know which one is the best one for your needs…or that of your friend’s? It’s enough to make your head spin.
The first thing to do is to take a deep breath. 🙂 Remember, there was a day before baby monitors even existed and mothers were still able to successfully care for their children. So any monitor available today is a help over no monitor.
I say this out of my own experience. I agonized over which monitor to choose, the one that would suit my needs the very best. And after buying a baby monitor with a nice video screen to watch my baby, I found I often would forget to take the monitor with me when I went downstairs. Nonetheless, I was still able to hear my kids’ cries just fine.
Today, there are a lot more options, in fact, I searched Walmart.com and found over 400 baby monitors! Ugh! To help make the process a little easier, we have put together this baby monitor guide to help you make an more informed choice as to what to look for in a baby monitor to accommodate your anticipated needs.
Types of Baby Monitors
There are four main types of baby monitors:
VTech Safe&Sound DM221-2 DECT 6.0 Digital Audio Baby Monitor with Vibrating Sound Alert $49.98 at Walmart.com
1. Audio – allows you to audibly hear your baby and noises s/he makes. Audio monitors work great. They allow you to hear your baby and visibly show you their volume too through lights, which is very helpful when you’re having a conversation with someone so you can see at a glance when baby may need you.
Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor Deluxe AC401-2P $85 at Walmart.com
2. Audio with Sensor – comes with a pad you put under your baby’s sheets. If the baby doesn’t move for a period of time, you are alerted with an alarm. These monitors were created to help people worried about SIDS- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. SIDS affected 39.7 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2013. Fortunately, this number has been steady decreasing.
Levana Jena Digital Baby Video Monitor with 8 Hour Rechargeable Battery and Talk to Baby Intercom $79.99 at Walmart.com
3. Video – allows you to use the monitor’s receiver to visibly see and hear your baby from another room. What mom doesn’t LOVE to see her baby sleep? Video is great for watching your baby play quietly in their crib too. Be careful though, watching your little one is habit forming and can easily distract you from the chores you were hoping to get done while your baby sleeps! Though not absolutely necessary, video is a great way to peek in on the baby without having to open the door.
The Belkin NetCam sells for $119.96 at Walmart.com and can be seen from your phone app
4. WiFi – gives you the added benefit of checking in on your baby via an app at a further distance – either from the backyard, a restaurant, or your office.
Top Features
There are many features available on today’s baby monitors. Here are some top considerations to take into account…
Analog/Digital – Analog signals are cheaper, but the quality is not as good and your privacy can be jeopardized. Digital signals convert sound into data so others cannot listen in
Two-way Communication – gives you the ability for you to speak or sing to your baby, allowing him/her to hear you
Plays Lullabies – you can play lullabies to sooth your baby
Sound-Activated Lights – allows you to turn down the volume while you vacuum or have a conversation and still see if your baby is crying through the intensity of the lights on the monitor
Multiple Transmitters – a limited number of baby monitors have multiple transmitters, so you can monitor 2 or more kids’ rooms at once
Multiple Receivers – some baby monitors offer more than one receiver so you can have one upstairs and one downstairs, for example
Out-of-Range Indicator – to let you know you have stepped out of range from seeing/hearing your baby
Low Battery Indicator – important so you can change batteries before they run out and you don’t realize it
Belt Clip – allows you to attach a baby monitor to your waistband so you can keep it with you as you go throughout the house
WiFI/Internet based – a limited amount of “baby monitors” give you access to also watch your baby from your phone or tablet…even when away from the house while someone else is watching the baby. Most Internet-based video cameras are not “true” baby monitors and are more surveillance cameras.
Rechargeable Batteries – look for receivers that are rechargeable and come with a charging station so you don’t need a wired AC connection or need to replace batteries frequently
Vocabulary
Here are some helpful terms to know about monitors…
Why Not Just A Camera and Phone?
SmartCam HD Pro $170.32 at Walmart.com
A Mom’s Perspective
Our top recommendations would be to buy a digital baby monitor with sound activated lights and two-way communication.
If you’re ultra concerned about privacy, then purchase a DECT monitor. The size of your house is important when choosing the range. We recommend a range of 800 feet+. A stronger signal can get through more walls.
A video camera is not necessary, but greatly enhances the experience and helps comfort moms in knowing baby is alright. It is also beneficial in helping you to assess whether you need to go in and help your baby or watch him/her self-sooth him/herself. Without a video monitor, you can only gather clues through assessing sounds.
If you work and a caregiver takes care of your baby, the best option would be a WiFi camera to keep tabs on baby from your phone. It’s not the best option for home because your phone/tablet will eventually shut off and you won’t have an always-on monitor.
You can find any of these cameras at Walmart.com and many baby monitors are in Walmart stores as well. If you’re having a baby, Walmart now offers a baby registry in stores and online. If you see something you like while in the store, you can use the Walmart app to scan it into your baby registry.
Your friends and family likewise can use the Walmart app (iOS and Android) and search for your name to buy things off your registry in-store. After they buy it, they can scan their receipt and the item matching your registry will automatically be taken on the list to reduce duplicate gifts.
Walmart has an expansive supply of baby monitors, furniture, clothing, feeding, and other items to make enjoying and caring for your baby easier.
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