Intro and baby monitor Q

eyelovemascara · December 2010

Hi ladies!

I've been a lurker for awhile but thought I should introduce myself finally. I don't kow if I'm having boys or girls or both yet, just know that I've got 2 strong heartbeats! And this is my first pregnancy so hubby and I are *clueless* about most things involving babies.

So my question is whether or not you use a baby monitor. I've heard different things. My best friend says NO because you can't stop looking at it and then whenever it makes noise it wakes you up and you feel the need to go to baby. Another friend says YES get the video monitor to see what they are doing. I can see both points of view, but I don't know if I should just skip it (because we are on such a tight budget while hubby is in grad school) and assume that if they need me they'll cry loud enough and I'll hear it? Or is this me being ignorant?

What do you moms of twins think? Nay or yay?

keg · December 2010

First of all, congrats and welcome to this board! It's a great group here with lots of helpful info, so feel free to ask away.

In terms of a monitor, we just got a basic audio monitor because I didn't see the need for a video monitor when they were babies. That being said, we recently got a video monitor and it's incredibly useful now that I have toddlers. When they were babies, it wasn't a big deal to go in and check on them. However, once they get older, if you do go in and they aren't asleep, it definitely makes life more complicated. Heck, just yesterday, I realized that they were both naked from the waist down when they were supposed to be taking a nap. If i didn't have a video monitor, I likely wouldn't have gone in (because I know they weren't asleep), and I may have had a bigger mess on my hands. :-) If I knew what I do now, I would have gotten a video monitor from the beginning.

Leigh71 · December 2010

Congratulations!

and... i say yes on a monitor. Register for it and let someone else get it for you. Wink

My son is 12...and I had a video monitor (Summer brand) with him even way back then. and the monitor still works! when the twins came along we also registered for a newer Summer monitor, because we needed additional cameras with it. we love it. It's the summer infant Slim monitor. comes in silver or pink, and you can add .../have up to 4 cameras on it. so we have 1 upstairs in the nursery, and 1 downstairs in the family room... and we plan to get a 3rd camera soon. The girls sometimes nap in different places and its nice to scan between the 2 cameras.

misswendyk · December 2010

I too was wondering the same.. Another silly question are there any monitors that come with 2 cameras or do you have to buy 2separate monitors for twins.

mbjmaybebaby · December 2010

First of all CONGRATS!!

We have this monitor and LOVE it. We have two cameras and can switch back and forth to see all the babies. I have learned to sleep through their little grunts and groans and it's so nice to be able to turn on the video and see what they're doing and turn in off to sleep and just have the sound. Honestly, their room is right across the hall from ours and we get into such a deep sleep (from lack of sleep) that I don't know if we'd hear them right away if we didn't have the monitor right next to our head. If you don't want to get a video monitor we also have a cheapo one from Walmart that was $15 that works fine too.

mbjmaybebaby · December 2010

misswendyk:
I too was wondering the same.. Another silly question are there any monitors that come with 2 cameras or do you have to buy 2separate monitors for twins.

We had to buy an additional camera

blondek8 · December 2010

You'll likely get a few different opinons regarding monitors. You and your H just need to figure out what works for you guys. For myself and DH, we didn't want and still don't want a video monitor or one of the Angelcare monitors. We have a basic (but very clear, zero static!) audio monitor. We turn the volume all the way down so we can't hear every little breath, stretch, moan and groan the boys make. We only hear them when they start to fuss/whine. That's just our preference.

ProwdMommy · December 2010

misswendyk:
I too was wondering the same.. Another silly question are there any monitors that come with 2 cameras or do you have to buy 2separate monitors for twins.

You can buy a monitor that pans the room. We have one that is made by Summer. I def. recommend a video monitor because as they reach the age of about 5 mos. or so and you have to go in to check on them, you can disturb them is they are not asleep already.

leslie13510 · December 2010

blondek8:

You'll likely get a few different opinons regarding monitors. You and your H just need to figure out what works for you guys. For myself and DH, we didn't want and still don't want a video monitor or one of the Angelcare monitors. We have a basic (but very clear, zero static!) audio monitor. We turn the volume all the way down so we can't hear every little breath, stretch, moan and groan the boys make. We only hear them when they start to fuss/whine. That's just our preference.

This was us too. We stopped using the monitor completely around the time we moved to a one-story house (15 months?), and before that, starting around 9-10 months, we were only using it if we were downstairs while they were in bed. I've never felt the need for a video monitor. 99% of the time I can tell exactly what is going on just by standing outside their door and listening for 10 seconds. Even if I do need to go in because one is crying or to see what is going on, it's pretty rare that I wake the other one up, and when that does happen, it takes them maybe 2 minutes to go back to sleep. It's not a big deal for us.

Everyone is different though.

Chickandtaco · December 2010

I had the Angel Care Monitor for my son and I LOOOOOVED it! It monitors baby's breathing and will alert you if baby stops breathing for any reason. It gave me the peace of mind to relax and lay down at night instead of constantly getting up when he'd make weird noises to make sure he was still breathing! I already have a 2nd one on my list for the twins and someone asked me what I really wanted, so I KNOW they are getting it for me for sure! (yay!). I did also buy a cheap one at Walmart, under $20 for times when he was napping in another part of the house (not his crib) or if we go to someones house or on vacation. The cheaper ones are more noisy but they work. The Angel Care monitor has an option to turn the sound down, and if baby cries the sound cranks up, so you don't hear all the little sounds as much! I stopped using the monitor alltogether shortly after he turned a year old, by I didn't worry about him at night and I could always hear him (he's got a great set of lungs) if he did wake up!

keg · December 2010

keg:

First of all, congrats and welcome to this board! It's a great group here with lots of helpful info, so feel free to ask away.

In terms of a monitor, we just got a basic audio monitor because I didn't see the need for a video monitor when they were babies. That being said, we recently got a video monitor and it's incredibly useful now that I have toddlers. When they were babies, it wasn't a big deal to go in and check on them. However, once they get older, if you do go in and they aren't asleep, it definitely makes life more complicated. Heck, just yesterday, I realized that they were both naked from the waist down when they were supposed to be taking a nap. If i didn't have a video monitor, I likely wouldn't have gone in (because I know they weren't asleep), and I may have had a bigger mess on my hands. :-) If I knew what I do now, I would have gotten a video monitor from the beginning.

This is the monitor we have. It came with two cameras and you can add two additional cameras if you need them.

Haven1 · December 2010

Yes, totally get a monitor! I was fine with just the regular audio one, but some people love the video one.

I'd also recommend working out "monitor duty" with your DH if possible. When they were little, he'd takes the monitor with him in the living room from when I go to bed until 3. Then he brought it to my side of the bed where I'm on duty until they wake up. That way we both got solid sleep for at least part of the night.

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