Recommend your baby monitor

4littlebears

I've got the car seat, bouncer, swing, and everything else I still had from our other kids. Now I just need a baby monitor (why don't those things last more than a couple years??), and pack n play (because ours is just a tad broken down from 3 kids). I have no problems getting a simple pack n play.

I'm on a mission for a baby monitor, this one I'm kinda picky about and I've never liked any I've had in the past. Qualifications: Less than $100, doesn't have to have video, must have little to no interference (white noise), and go a long range (we have a half an acre of property). 

Any recommendations??  Thanks!

mom2case

I think you can get a very basic one for $20.  I'm paranoid mom of the year though so I'll be getting a new video monitor (ours was bought used and is pretty poor quality) and probably using a Snuza monitor too.

winecastle14

I really love having a video monitor. Is it a necessity? No. It's really nice to have though. I can tell by looking at the monitor if DD is actually awake or just crying in her sleep. We have a Summer Infant video monitor. Ours broke (it was the display though) but was under warranty and they were great about shipping us a new one quickly.

ETA link: https://awaybabyessentials.com/item_205/Summer-Infant-Babytouch-Color-Video-Monitor.htm?gclid=CLzI06mBr8ACFYZzMgodkQwA9w

I have no idea what site this is from but this is the model we have.

4littlebears

I haven't been reading very good reviews on the Summer Infant monitors. There is one I'm looking at, but it has mixed reviews (they all do somewhat). That's kinda why I'm looking for people to recommend their specific monitors. But only if they're in love with them! lol

winecastle14

I know a few people that have the same model as us and have had no issues. Never had a different kind to compare, but it works great for us. I remember reading about the Motorola video monitor being good too.

BookitBoo

We bought a cheap audio-only monitor and it lasted approximately 26.789 seconds. Our cat thought it was fun to play with.

The Motorola video moniter we bought was awesome. I feel like we should have gotten it from the start. This is outside your price limit but there are other options like it in the store that don't cost as much if I recall correctly. Ours was ~$80

https://m.target.com/p/motorola-digital-2-8-video-baby-monitor-mbp33s/-/A-14086050?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14086050&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14086050&LID=9pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14086050&kpid=14086050&gclid=CObthIKGr8ACFZJr7AodewsA-Q

letsgox

We don't have a video monitor. We actually inherited our audio one from BIL. It's Fischer Price. I've never had an issue with it and it's over 4 years old.

4littlebears

ExcitedMama2 said:

I was just researching baby monitors on Amazon and came across what seems to be the most insane monitor ever:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K5UPQEK/ref=amb_link_424041682_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&pf_rd_r=159ZST17MTSH1S24X0RG&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1888455062&pf_rd_i=B0052QYLUM#cm_cr_dpwidget

Amazon is really pushing it...but if I'm reading it right, you'd have to have your kid sleeping in one of three onesies (do these people HAVE babies?) every night, and to get the next size up it is $30 for 3 more.  The 1 star review I think is probably the only "real" review of this thing.

That is certainly... different. lol

4littlebears

@BookitBoo, I was looking at the motarola. But yeah, out of my price range. I think they had a slightly cheaper version on Amazon.

KnitPixy

ExcitedMama2 said:

I was just researching baby monitors on Amazon and came across what seems to be the most insane monitor ever:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K5UPQEK/ref=amb_link_424041682_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&pf_rd_r=159ZST17MTSH1S24X0RG&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1888455062&pf_rd_i=B0052QYLUM#cm_cr_dpwidget

Amazon is really pushing it...but if I'm reading it right, you'd have to have your kid sleeping in one of three onesies (do these people HAVE babies?) every night, and to get the next size up it is $30 for 3 more.  The 1 star review I think is probably the only "real" review of this thing.

I saw this thing in the store the other day!  It's insane!  Mind you I saw the dog equivalent of it the last time we went to Pet's Mart... not sure which one is more out there!

DH is dead set on a baby monitor that he can access via wifi so he can check in on LO while he's at work.  I'm already coming up with pranks to pull on him with it

OP - can't really be of help as I'm still in the researching stage myself.  I'm leaning towards the Motorola at the moment though.

4littlebears

@KnitPixy just be careful with those wifi monitors! There have been people hacking into them and watching everything going on in people's homes. Even talking to their babies, trying to scare them and such.

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/man-hacks-monitor-screams-baby-girl-n91546

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KnitPixy

@4littlebears Main reason I keep trying to change his mind.  I understand why he wants one but the thought of it getting hacked scares the crap out of me.

MoreThanSparrows08

With my first two, I had a bare-bones audio only monitor, and it worked perfectly.  In fact, it's still in working order, more than 8 years since we bought it.  My grandmother currently uses it to keep an ear on her daughter, my mother, who is disabled and lives independently but still needs to have 24-hour "supervision" in case of falls, etc. 

I will likely go the same route this time.  No video, no movement, no breathing pattern, etc., and certainly no wi-fi connection.

Technology is good and all, but at some point, you have to wonder what's too much.  I think with the monitor from Amazon posted here is WAY too much! What we're doing with all the fancy technology is breeding hypochondriacs and people who are paranoid of letting their baby be a baby, or their toddler be a toddler, or their child be a child.  This monitor is not going to prevent SIDS.  It may alert you to the signs of it - baby skipping a breath here and there, lags in movement, etc., but technology is not error proof, and once you get used to hearing the little alarm go off about your baby not moving, and he/she is just fine every time you hear it and check, you'll quit listening to it.  Like The Boy Who Cried Wolf.  

With all this technology, I can't imagine what it was like for my grandparents to have to put their baby to bed in their own room upstairs when there was no such thing as a baby monitor!! How did any of these babies survive without 24/7/365 electronic monitoring and measuring and tracking and junk that we have now?  We are creating attachment issues for both child and parent.  It's getting ridiculous.

mom2case

ExcitedMama2 said:

I was just researching baby monitors on Amazon and came across what seems to be the most insane monitor ever:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K5UPQEK/ref=amb_link_424041682_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&pf_rd_r=159ZST17MTSH1S24X0RG&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1888455062&pf_rd_i=B0052QYLUM#cm_cr_dpwidget

Amazon is really pushing it...but if I'm reading it right, you'd have to have your kid sleeping in one of three onesies (do these people HAVE babies?) every night, and to get the next size up it is $30 for 3 more.  The 1 star review I think is probably the only "real" review of this thing.

@ExcitedMama2 I saw a similar one the other day but it doesn't require onesies.  https://www.owletcare.com/

Roxycc55

mom2case said:

ExcitedMama2 said:

I was just researching baby monitors on Amazon and came across what seems to be the most insane monitor ever:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K5UPQEK/ref=amb_link_424041682_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=hero-quick-promo&pf_rd_r=159ZST17MTSH1S24X0RG&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1888455062&pf_rd_i=B0052QYLUM#cm_cr_dpwidget

Amazon is really pushing it...but if I'm reading it right, you'd have to have your kid sleeping in one of three onesies (do these people HAVE babies?) every night, and to get the next size up it is $30 for 3 more.  The 1 star review I think is probably the only "real" review of this thing.

@ExcitedMama2 I saw a similar one the other day but it doesn't require onesies.  https://www.owletcare.com/


I want this one. But it's $250 ugh. Probably worth it for peace of mind with high anxiety issues.

mom2case

ExcitedMama2 said:

@roxycc55 Honestly, if you have high anxiety, I would recommend staying far away from monitors like these.  They will only make it worse!  I had the Angel monitor with my son, that was a little pad that went under the sheets and would alarm if baby stopped breathing/moving.  The thing went off when he'd move off of it, or for seemingly no reason.  I ended up standing right next to his crib one night watching him breathe, and I know he didn't stop breathing, and the stupid thing went off.  

Now, this was 6 years ago so this new monitor is probably more advanced, but it will drive you nuts or you'll start to worry about changes in heart rate/temperature that are probably just fine.  

The angelcare monitors are not nearly as high-tech and are known for giving false alarms.  I was fine with ours when DD was in the bassinet, but once she moved to her crib, it gave a false alarm 5 nights in a row.  That was it.  We stopped using our angelcare that night when DD was only 4 months old.  BUT these new monitors are a lot different.  They monitor the BABY, not the movement of the mattress.  False alarms are far less frequent.  Unfortunately, @roxycc55 and I both know the pain of losing a baby and are all too aware of how common SIDS is (due to being in social circles with other loss moms) so it's a much more real fear than it once was.  I don't know if I could handle the $250 price tag, but I also don't think I'd ever sleep without a breathing monitor hooked to my newborn.  

BookitBoo

We didn't think we wanted/needed a monitor after our audio one met an early end. We actually went a good length of time without one, but after the first time DS got his leg stuck in the slat we decided we needed a video monitor.

It made life a lot easier for us after that -- was he awake and fussing or just talking in his sleep?

FWIW, The Motorola monitor has a volume control so you can turn down the white noise and still hear when baby cries

4littlebears

mom2case said:

The angelcare monitors are not nearly as high-tech and are known for giving false alarms.  I was fine with ours when DD was in the bassinet, but once she moved to her crib, it gave a false alarm 5 nights in a row.  That was it.  We stopped using our angelcare that night when DD was only 4 months old.  BUT these new monitors are a lot different.  They monitor the BABY, not the movement of the mattress.  False alarms are far less frequent.  Unfortunately, @roxycc55 and I both know the pain of losing a baby and are all too aware of how common SIDS is (due to being in social circles with other loss moms) so it's a much more real fear than it once was.  I don't know if I could handle the $250 price tag, but I also don't think I'd ever sleep without a breathing monitor hooked to my newborn.   

I'm so sorry for your loss. I think this is a large part of the reason I have a hard time moving my kids from the bassinet or pack n play in my room to their cribs. I typically wait as long as possible. DH objected at first, but now he just lets me keep them as long as I need to. I've had miscarriages, so I get that fear that anything can and does happen. It carries into all parts of my life unfortunately. Prayers going out tonight for all moms who have had to say goodbye to their babies too soon.

Mrs_Bennett

We have a Motorola video monitor, and I love it. It has the option to turn off the video (and just use audio), and it's lasted for about two years of use and still functions well. It wasn't particularly expensive (maybe $85ish?), and I've never had a problem with interference unless the monitor is next to the receiver.

mom2case

@ExcitedMama2‌ I didn't take offense in the least! SIDS used to be a very distant fear to me and now that I'm surrounded by loss moms, I know how many lives are touched by it. It has turned me into paranoid mom of the century Too much information can be a bad thing which is why I am hesitant to spend $250 on that monitor. That being said, I'm very interested in the Snuza ones.

Roxycc55

mom2case said:

@ExcitedMama2‌ I didn't take offense in the least! SIDS used to be a very distant fear to me and now that I'm surrounded by loss moms, I know how many lives are touched by it. It has turned me into paranoid mom of the century Too much information can be a bad thing which is why I am hesitant to spend $250 on that monitor. That being said, I'm very interested in the Snuza ones.

Completely agree, and with what your first statement was @mom2case‌
And I didn't take offense either @ExcitedMama2‌ but I do know I'm far too paranoid to not have one.

@mom2case‌ what are the Snuza ones, I haven't heard of them!

tripletoe

Loved my angel care monitor. Yes we had a handful of false alarms, but once we figured out how to adjust the sensitivity of the sensor it was better. Once DD started moving too much and off the pad we just took out the pad and used it as a regular monitor. I know there are some models you can get two pads to cover the whole crib. 

peckmiranda

I love my Angel Care monitor. We only had one false alarm ever, and that was because DS had pulled himself up and was standing off the mattress. We cut a sheet of plywood to put between the mattress and the movement pad, though. I had a friend who had the exact same monitor as I did and she didn't do the plywood and had several false alarms. I took a long time putting DS in his crib at night (he slept in the Arm's Reach in our room until almost 1), but for naps and everything it definitely eased my mind. I was one of those totally stressed and anxious moms. 

mom2case

peckmiranda said:

I love my Angel Care monitor. We only had one false alarm ever, and that was because DS had pulled himself up and was standing off the mattress. We cut a sheet of plywood to put between the mattress and the movement pad, though. I had a friend who had the exact same monitor as I did and she didn't do the plywood and had several false alarms. I took a long time putting DS in his crib at night (he slept in the Arm's Reach in our room until almost 1), but for naps and everything it definitely eased my mind. I was one of those totally stressed and anxious moms. 

We did the plywood, adjusted the sensitivity, all of that!  Our DD scooted over to the far corner of her crib and slept in fetal position, jammed in the corner.  The sensor just couldn't feel movement with her so far away.  We couldn't move the sensor either because there was no telling which corner she'd choose.  :P

@roxycc55 This is the Snuza.  https://www.amazon.com/Snuza-ILSHER-Baby-Monitor-Hero/dp/B008OJ7C6Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1409079797&sr=8-1&keywords=snuza  It's about $100 and clips on the baby's diaper.  The purple tip rests on their stomach and moves when they breathe.  If the baby's stomach doesn't move for 15 seconds, it vibrates to try to rouse them.  If that doesn't work, it sets off an alarm so the parents know something is wrong.  What I like about it is it travels easily, can be worn in the swing, car, bouncer, wherever, and is very small.  The downside according to some of my friends is the batteries are very expensive.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they'll make a rechargeable one.