Video Monitors - opinions of

susanmosley · February 2011

Please state your opinions on video monitors.

Stacyc625 · February 2011

Hearing my kids is enough for me.

No need for a video.

MrsBalletStar05 · February 2011

We don't even have a regular monitor?

My SIL is obsessed and will watch and watch and watch the thing forever and not fall asleep. Well, not sure if she still does or not. Her kid is 3. I know she was at least watching it not too long ago.

Sammysu · February 2011

We only used a regular monitor if I had to run to the laundry room while one of the kids was sleeping. I think a video monitor would make me overly compulsive and nervous.

susanmosley · February 2011

Anyone think the constant radiation is a valid concern?

babypuplove · February 2011

We bought a double video monitor when DD#2 came along, and we are so glad we did. DH thought the idea was ridiculous, until we actually got one, and now he loves it. We can relax in the family room downstairs while the girls are sleeping upstairs, and can easily check on them with the push of a button.

We just had a regular monitor when DD#1 was a baby, and it was fine, but it really is so much more convenient to have the video function. I think it's one of those things that you don't really miss until you've experienced it. Kind of like a smart phone. I had a plain old flip phone, and was perfectly content, until we bought our Droids last year, and now I couldn't imagine not having GPS or internet on the go! Whatever would I do without it?!? LOL

spunkyprincessmande · February 2011

For the most part I think they're pointless. Being able to hear my LO is enough.

But there have been a couple times when my LO was struggling with taking naps and I could hear him breathing heavily and I wanted to know if he was sleeping or awake, but knew that if I went in his room and he was asleep I would probably wake him (he's a pretty light sleeper). At that point, I wished I had a video monitor so I could see, but since I didn't I just waited it out a few minutes and he put himself back to sleep so it all worked out!

babypuplove · February 2011

susanmosley:
Anyone think the constant radiation is a valid concern?

LOL. No. That doesn't really make sense, as the camera is a tiny little half inch circle on the wall about five feet away from each crib. No radiation involved, as far as I know. And this is coming from someone who won't stand near the microwave.

MrsBalletStar05 · February 2011

susanmosley:
Anyone think the constant radiation is a valid concern?

Who says this? Where? If I tell my SIL this, and that radiation is bad, she might finally stop the video monitor. She believes everything she's told. Indifferent

Hope*Always · February 2011

I used one with DS but in hindsight it was silly. For DD, I didn't use a monitor at all. I could hear her just fine.

lms_bride · February 2011

I don't have one but have heard good things. Like babypuplove said, you don't know that you'll love it until you have one. We have a regular audio monitor and it works just fine. Our friends have a video monitor and took it to Tahoe when we all rented a house together. They said it's kind of addicting because you're constantly checking to see what you can see. So I guess there are pro's and con's but the people that I know that I have it, love it. I think it's just more of a necessity versus nice-to-have thing.

mirpete · February 2011

I was/am fine with an audio monitor for an infant. I agree w/PP about video monitors becoming an obsession. I knew someone just like that too. However, I've been thinking about getting one as I contemplate moving DS into a "big boy" bedroom and bed. I think it might make it easier to tell him to get back into bed without going in there every time.

Any recommendations of a brand for those who have liked video monitors?

susanmosley · February 2011

babypuplove:
No radiation involved, as far as I know.

I'm not really supporting the radiation argument. I don't know.

But without a doubt there is radiation emitted from digital baby monitor, and there are people/scientists out there who are concerned about the risks of constant electro magnetic energy emitted towards a baby's undeveloped nervous system for 12 hours at a time when a baby is sleeping. This isn't just me being a total wackadoodle. In the next breath, I know that "everything causes cancer these days" and blah blah blah and that the amount of radiation from a monitor is just a small percentage in addition to all that surrounds us everyday that we can do nothing about.

stargazermama · February 2011

Love, love, love my video monitor! Like the above poster said, its something you don't realize you want/need/love until you have one. We have a double one for each of our children. I barely even look at it anymore, but its so nice to be able to take a peek whenever I want to, particularly when they are sick or having trouble sleeping.

DevonPow · February 2011

I loved ours. Loved, loved, loved. DS was an awful (and noisy) sleeper, and we could easily check in and see if we really needed to go in, etc. He was in his own room at 4 weeks, so it also just gave a bit more peace of mind at first. We used it until 6 months ago, now we just use a regular one (our rooms are on different floors, so we can't hear him otherwise. Although, now he is fine coming up to our room when he needs so something, so we will probably ditch it soon)

EnglishMajor03 · February 2011

Stacyc625:
Hearing my kids is enough for me.

No need for a video.

This.

Kitten80 · February 2011

When we were expecting #1 we looked at them - for about 5 seconds. We figured it was "dumb" to spend that much money...we figured a normal monitor was more than enough.

We are now looking at video monitors Another before baby, I "knew" it all moment (thus the title of my blog)...DS is a super light sleeper so we can NEVER go in to check on him. It would have been nice to be able to see him - and there are times when he is crying or whining and it is hard to tell if he is standing up (thus will NOT go back to sleep until we come in) or is just fussing in his sleep/half awake state laying down (will most likely go back to sleep)...it would be nice to be able to see. And lately, I have heard what I believe is jumping in his crib and would love to see.

I was worried about it being addictive, but I think after the first few "awww, look at that" moments, it will be like the normal monitor - I use it if I really need it and otherwise just rely on my keen sense of hearing and mommy radar.

eaglesfan700 · February 2011

EnglishMajor03:
Stacyc625:
Hearing my kids is enough for me.

No need for a video.
This.

Ditto. For me personally, I knew that it would just make me obsessive, crazy and lead to less sleep

MamatoJackson · February 2011

Can't remember if it was Dateline or which news show but apparently the signal from the video monitors can be picked up on some back-up cameras in cars.

That was enough for me to decide that hearing our babies is definitely enough!

Dochas · February 2011

I love having it. I like to be able to see if he's really up, or just up and going back to sleep in a minute. I also feel better working out in the basement and in the spring I'll be out in the yard. I also like to be able to see if his swaddle blanket is covering his face.

funchicken · February 2011

We had to upgrade our monitor anyway because our analog one got so much interference it was unusable, so we sprung for a digital video monitor. I LOVE it. It really helped us with some of DD's sleep issues when she was younger.

I don't really get the radiation argument. The camera is way on the other side of the room. It's not like it's mounted at the head of her bed.

Notwifezilla7 · February 2011

We don't have any monitors.

susanmosley · February 2011

Notwifezilla7:
We don't have any monitors.

Neither do we.

HarrietNJMommy · February 2011

I have 3 kids. Never used a video monitor. I survived! LOL!

What I can tell you is back when I had B, there were limited choices and the video monitors at the time didn't work well in 2-story homes. They have come a long way.

mandymack · February 2011

spunkyprincessmande:
For the most part I think they're pointless. Being able to hear my LO is enough.
But there have been a couple times when my LO was struggling with taking naps and I could hear him breathing heavily and I wanted to know if he was sleeping or awake, but knew that if I went in his room and he was asleep I would probably wake him (he's a pretty light sleeper). At that point, I wished I had a video monitor so I could see, but since I didn't I just waited it out a few minutes and he put himself back to sleep so it all worked out!

This plus a million other struggles (ex: when Emily learned to stand and would cry/fuss, when she tried crawling out of her crib and got her leg stuck TWICE, was teething and just restless, was fighting her naps, etc.) is why we got a video monitor 3 years ago. It was just so much more convenient to click on the monitor and SEE that she was safe/OK and her fussing didn't warrant a trip into her room, which was really important when we were sleep-training her.

Yes, it's easy to just take a peak into her room anytime we wanted to check on her... a video monitor wasn't necessary but boy, were we happy to have it when she would fuss/cry/drop something in the middle of the night!

Brina Bean · February 2011

I could see into a neighbors nursery through the video monitor I had set-up in my boys' playroom. That creeped me out and I put them(back) up for sale on Craigslist the very next day. I feel hearing them is good enough, and they are on a separate floor from our room.

JenJar · February 2011

I love mine, and will be getting another for the new baby. It was especially helpful when we went through CIO, and again when we moved him to a twin bed.

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