3rd Trimester
audio vs. video baby monitors
We got an audio monitor at our baby shower (the one we registered for) a few weeks ago. DH had a work baby shower, and everyone pitched in and got us a really nice video monitor. We could certainly return the audio monitor and keep the video. Or, return the video and get our breast pump or something else more expensive. Are there any real advantages to video over audio (obviously you can SEE the baby), but I feel like there's not much that you would see on the monitor but not hear on an audio that would make you check on LO. I mean, if there's any question, you're going to check anyways, right?
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Re: audio vs. video baby monitors
Piper, 4/10/10
Connor, 3/16/15
Morgan, EDD 9/22/16
i swear by my video monitor with my first.....still use it and he'll be two in a few weeks....and we bought a second one for our baby due any day.....
i take it wherever we go- vacay, grandparents, ect....
amazing....
peace of mind and a huge help with sleep training bc i can see what he's doing, how he's crying, the position he's in etc....
I have to admit...I LOVE the video monitors. For me it gives me a piece of mind sometimes just looking at the screan and staring at them sleeping. It also comes in handy when they get a little older so you can see what they do in their crib and if they are manipulating for you or really need you.
IMO: I would keep it!
Seeing the other responses to this....trust the 2nd time moms!!! I thought a video monitor was a complete waste of $200 until I had a baby. Almost every mom I know has one and loves it.
ETA: I would actually post this on 3-6 month if you want a really good poll of what moms think. A lot of 0-3 month olds are still in the parent's room and the video monitor, IMO, was best once he was older and moving around more at night annd able to put himself back to sleep. When they are really little, you'll want to go to them, no matter what. It's after that newborn phase that the video becomes super helpful.
Ditto
I agree. We use a video monitor with DS and I am so glad we have one! It is very, very helpful to be able to see them!
I would definitely keep the video monitor. It provides a peace of mind which is amazing, to me.
I babysat my friend's nephews with her once and they had a video monitor. They were older (1 and 2) and if they made a noise, we could check whether they were awake, fussing, or just making noises while they were sleeping. That was when I knew I wanted a video monitor if I ever had kids.
From my experience with being a nanny, the video monitor is priceless. The children I looked after woke up every time I went to check on them during their nap so the video monitor saved us all a bunch of screaming.
My DH likes it because when we're not using it for baby he can use it to watch tv in the bathroom.
We need to keep the nursery door closed because of the cat. I'm hoping the video will satisfy my need to 'check' without opening the door and waking LO.
They can be more tempermental than audio only though.
I went with a audio monitor because that is more practical for us. They never had the video monitors when DD was born, we survived without them, and so we decided we didn't need one now. I can understand maybe having one when they get a little older though.
All in all it depends on what is most practical for you, and your family.
Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Calorie Counter
"><a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"><img border="0" src="http://tickers.myfitnesspal.com/ticker/show/825/1820/8251820.png" /></a><p style="text-align:center;width:420px;"><small>Created by MyFitnessPal - Free <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com">Calorie Counter</a></small></p>We LOVE having a video monitor. DD can be a loud sleeper, but it's impossible to tell without looking at her if she's awake or asleep. I can't tell you how many trips it has saved us into her room (thus allowing everyone more sleep) by having a video monitor.
ETA: I have to kind of chuckle at the first time parents who say they will just go in the room for a peak. Doing so will often wake your sleeping child.
LOL, this would totally convince my DH on why we need one!
I'm going to suggest you buy the pump instead and return the video. You get to know your child's every cry, whine, fuss, etc... just by audio alone. You're not going to mistake a fussy, just trying to get settled whine with a full-blown I'm ready to be fed cry. I'm a little obsessive to begin with so not having it was probably better for me. But if you feel it gives you piece of mind go for it.
Like most of the 2+ moms, I LOVE the video monitor. We still use it for DD. It wasn't as necessary in the beginning, but now it's awesome. DD will cry out in her sleep and now I can look to see if she's dreaming or if she's actually needing something.
We're definitely getting a second video monitor for this little guy.
I remember dealing with my little brother during the night - we always had a decently loud house, because people believed that if the baby couldn't sleep through normal conversation, that he'd be a fussy sleeper. Based on that, and quite a bit of advice from friends with kids, we'll be sleeping with his door open, I will hope he gets used to background noise and not wake up if someone peeks a head in. Of course, we'll see how it goes, but I've heard MANY moms say this works out well overall.
Some babies are better sleepers than others. PERIOD. Just like some adults sleep through anything and others hear a pin drop. My son has been exposed to all kinds of noise as an infant and the bottomline is that he is a light sleeper (just like his father). Trust me, when you finally get a 1 year old settled down for a nap, you won't want to risk even the slightest thing waking them up. At some point newborn infants who sleep through anything turn into perceptive little toddlers who hear everything!
Another vote for video from a 2nd time mom.
I guess I have a different perspective, having grown up in NYC - I think being able to sleep through noise is an aquired thing. I can sleep through almost anything, since I grew up having to sleep through the garbage trucks squealing by, taxi cabs, police cars, and the el train. DH moved in with me at some point, and though it took him a few months (he was from the suburbs) he eventually could sleep through them too - same with babies that I've seen. They HAVE to, otherwise no one would be able to ever have a rested kid in NYC, lol (trust me, closing doors and windows do NOT help with that sort of noise).
We live in a 1 level, 2 bedroom 800sq foot condo. So yes, our place is small. Still we LOVE our video monitor. We can easily hear our son without it and for that reason we never even leave it on. However, it is great for "checking" in on him and not having to run in there at every sound. When he was a younger we always went in when he cried, but now he sometimes wakes up, lets out a quick cry and goes back to sleep. With that it is nice to look at the monitor, see he is fine and go back to bed. I agree with previous posts that it is more useful as they get older.
Everyone I know who has one loves it and friends who didn't get one did so after their baby was born.
I personally LOVE the video monitor, especially as a first time mom... I was so paranoid the first few weeks/months, any little fuss would make me want to know what's going on? Is he stuck? Is he OK? Can I let him fuss a bit? Or do I need to grab him NOW? It especially helped as we were trying to let him sleep through the night. Is he really in trouble? Or can I let him cry for 3 minutes (or 5 minutes...) before I go get him? My favorite model is one that pans around and zooms. The baby is so small, you never put them in the same place... so you can always find him without going in to adjust the camera. Here it is:
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Handheld-Monitor-Screen/dp/B001NAATW0/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=baby-products&qid=1267806586&sr=8-7
You can also read my in-depth review of the model here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1A1I5HEUGX0KN/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview
Congrats!!! and good luck!
AngelCare. It is a movement and sound monitor. Great in SIDs awareness. If your baby quits moving (heart or breath) for 15-20 seconds, alarms go off and you will hear it no matter what room in your house...I'd venture to say it might even jump start your babies heart or breathing too.
Love the audio! Right now I am without it because the ac adapter is broken and they are sending me a new one but I think it is really great! I do think that audio is probably sufficient but for our little one the video is helpful. He is a pretty good self soother so if I wait a few minutes he'll usually put himself back to sleep. With the audio, I'm more likely to go in and check on him in which case he sees me and thinks it's time to get up.
The video is also good for when they start rolling over - then you know that you need to go in and flip them over (even if they aren't crying).
Just my two cents - but, i would definitely keep the video monitor!
As a second time Mom who had an Angel Care monitor before I can say I am SO happy with my video monitor. I too got one from my work baby shower and tried it out in my 2 yo daughters room before the baby came. We put it across the room way up high so we could see her whole room and loved it so much we bought a second camera and put it in the baby's room so we could watch them both. I would constantly get up through the night with my first only to find out she was still asleep. As she got older the video monitor would have been great to check in on her before going in to see if she was still in bed or up to mischief (taking her diaper off and using the poop as finger paint). It helps teach them to soothe themselves as well since you can see they are fine and don't have to go in right away. Now with my daughter being 2, I can watch her while she's playing in her room during the day and yell at her to get back in bed at night.
I have other Mom friends that all say the next time they're getting a video monitor. Perhaps it's because as a first time Mom you have so much to buy that you don't think it's necessary but if you get one for free DON'T TAKE IT BACK!
We have a Summer Infant Video Monitor that a sweet, sweet family friend splurged on for us when we had our now almost 2 year old. At first, it was just fun to be able to see the baby sleep, but now, I couldn't live with out it. When DD wakes up from her nap, sometimes she is content to play for an extra couple of minutes. I can watch her (and laugh at her) to make sure she is OK and get a little more done on what ever project I am working on.
At this age, once they see you, nap time/quiet time is over. You can't just sneak in anymore and peek on them to see what they are into. For our next one due in September, the only thing I would change (if we can scrounge up the money) is to get a digital version. It sort of freaks me out because a neighbor a few houses down has the same monitor and we can see her baby in several locations around the house. I hate to think someone may be listening to or watching my baby... just weird!!