Video Monitor vs. Audio Monitor

Sbrown721 · March 2016

After hearing horror stories of people hacking into baby video monitors, I was convinced that I would be purchasing a simple audio monitor for my LO. However, there are SO MANY benefits to having a video monitor. I do not want a monitor that is linked to our cell phones because I feel like I would just stare at it the whole time I was away and it would be hard to detach (it also feels like spying)! I also do not want one that connects to wifi because I think that is why people are able to hack into these systems. Any experience or words of wisdom?!

beachmama14 · March 2016

We have a Motorola video moniter. It doesn't connect to our wifi or our phone. I think it's the MP33 model? Something 33. I love it and it is still going strong 15 months later! I couldn't imagine only having audio. I know the whole hacking thing is freaky. I guess I don't see the point in it? Haha like someone is gonna go thru all this trouble to watch my baby nap? As long as they don't come take my baby or touch her, I just don't have time to worry about all the "what ifs". It's very helpful to me, so the pros outweigh the cons.

Steephers123 · March 2016

I think the Motorola video monitor is the one my DH wants to get this time around. We had just audio with DD (still use it) and we're switching to video with this LO. I thought I'd be fine with just audio but I can't tell you how many times I've snuck in her room to make sure she's okay since I can't hear anything on the monitor! And we have squeaky old wood floors, so not going that route this time around.

drmh22 · March 2016

We have a summer infant monitor that connects to wifi and our phones. There are 3 separate security features/passwords one would have to get through in order to get into it, including scanning the qr code at the bottom of the camera itself. I feel secure with it and it is so helpful to be able to see them...especially when you're sleep training/they get older...you can see if they are just whining vs have their foot stuck, etc.

ElcaB · March 2016

When I was a nanny, I was comfortable with the audio monitor.

I'm not going to lie, one thing that freaks me out about video monitors is that there always seems to be a scene in a horror movie where some paranormal activity occurs via baby monitor. NO THANKS. This is probably the biggest reason why I will opt for audio. (I know, this is completely irrational.)

JenR6 · March 2016

My DD is 3 and I could not live without my video monitor. I joke that Im going to keep it in her room until she is 18! We just have the Motorola one with no wifi capabilities and I feel safe with it.

camichael84 · March 2016

We have a Motorola video monitor with no wifi or cell phone hookup. I was the mom that was constantly checking to make sure the baby was still breathing. She stayed in our room in a PnP until she was 5 months. When she moved to her room, I was only able to relax knowing I could look over in the night at her monitor. I'd still end up in her bedroom occasionally to check, but nothing like it would have been if we'd gone audio only. Now that she's almost 18 months, it's nice for when she's restless in the night to check if she's really awake or just readjusting.

I'm with @beachmama14 on people hacking in to see in your monitor. It just seems like a lot of work just to watch my kid sleep. And audio monitors can still get the sound picked up. Or pick up random cell phone calls... that happened to me babysitting once.

@elcab I get the horror movie thing. Sometimes I'll be looking at my daughter's monitor and think, "God, I feel like I'm expecting a ghost to float by any second."

kosmo86 · March 2016

FTM here, so I am generally clueless but have spent some time early today researching it.
The link below is great and she really explains when a video may or may not be needed. Also has some baby vitals monitors that kind of interests me.

https://www.lucieslist.com/baby-registry-basics/sleeping/#baby-monitors

Not sure what we will decide yet but the baby's room will only be separated from our room but a living room which is not very big so a video monitor might be overkill.

TheTamedShrew · March 2016

Steephers123 said:

I think the Motorola video monitor is the one my DH wants to get this time around. We had just audio with DD (still use it) and we're switching to video with this LO. I thought I'd be fine with just audio but I can't tell you how many times I've snuck in her room to make sure she's okay since I can't hear anything on the monitor! And we have squeaky old wood floors, so not going that route this time around.

All of this.
We ended up buying a Foscam for like $70 because I couldn't handle not being able to check on her anymore. Definitely prefer video.

marajay6 · March 2016

We have a Foscam video monitor (no wifi/cell phone connection) and I like having video of instead of just audio. We didn't do any research before buying; we went with the Foscam based on a recommendation from one of DH's friends. He is a bit of an A/V geek and had researched them before having his child.

The video screen pops on when there is noise. The monitor we have is incredibly sensitive - to an annoying degree. A large truck driving by will trigger it.

I need to research, but I think I can buy a 2nd camera and link it to the monitor I already have.

madmyluv · March 2016

With my second daughter I bout a video monitor and loved it. It really helped when I was transitioning her to her crib in her own room. It helped me not worry every second of the night. However, it did go out on me around the 9th month. Not sure if it was the brand I got ( I think it was called summer something). Other then all the pros the only con was when I first started using it, it would freak me out some times as if I saw a ghost walk by lol it was sort of creepy but I got used to it. I would definitely recommend getting a video monitor though

Themaritimemama · March 2016

drmh22 said:

We have a summer infant monitor that connects to wifi and our phones. There are 3 separate security features/passwords one would have to get through in order to get into it, including scanning the qr code at the bottom of the camera itself. I feel secure with it and it is so helpful to be able to see them...especially when you're sleep training/they get older...you can see if they are just whining vs have their foot stuck, etc.

We have the same and I loooove it. I bought it when my 3rd was around a year, and I don't know how I survived without it. My husband can't even get into the monitor on his phone, so I'm confident with the level of security that no one else would be able to.

Kerrib1986 · March 2016

Love our video monitor! Ours has 2 way talk and a night light option so if my daughter wakes up in the middle
of the night I just flip on the night light so she can easily find a soother. The 2 way talk helps now that she's a bit older too- sometimes all it takes is telling her to get a soother and lay down in order to get her back to sleep.
ETA- it does not connect to wifi

RedMar · March 2016

Yes definitely video monitor with no wifi. We recently bought one (vtech) from sams club for only $99 because our Lorex one completely crapped out on us. Hoping they'll still have one when I go back bc id like to grab another for this LO.

PSUBecky23 · March 2016

I'm cheap and went with audio and it worked just fine for us.

0SeaMonkey0 · March 2016

I don't know how we'd live without our video monitor. It's so helpful to be able to hear a noise and look to see if baby is fully awake or still lying down and trying to go back to sleep. I also find te thermometer incredibly useful. We check it every night before we go to bed.

I I have the Motorola video monitor and it did break once but the company was so awesome about replacing it. Keep your receipt!! My only complaint about it is that the sound is on all the time. I've seen some sound only monitors where the speakers only turn on if a noise is detected. The Motorola monitor makes a constant "white noise" type sound if it's turned up past the very lowest setting which I found really annoying to sleep next to for the first few months.

chavezrd2 · March 2016

What model Motorola?

homebird · March 2016

We've had both. I prefer the video only when they're older and can start trying to climb out of their crib, haha. Otherwise it didn't really matter to me.

mamajen10414 · March 2016

@ElcaB haha I'm SO glad I'm not the only one who thought about that! We have just the cheap audio and I'm perfectly fine with it! No ghosts and less money!

backoffunicorn · March 2016

I had a Motorola that broke once it was out of warranty. In all honesty, this time I'll probably get an audio only and here's my reasoning. The light coming from the video would keep me up longer in the MOTN then I needed to be. There were times I'd look at it over and over when I should've been sleeping. I'll probably order a summer infant since they're having a 50% off sale this week.

AnnaS930 · March 2016

Video, 100% my son makes a lot of noise and moves around in his sleep. I can just pop an eye open and see if he's really awake or just moving. We have a Levana keira or something like that and will get a second camera (can have up to 4 on split screen).a video monitor is a must for me.

Sporty1216 · March 2016

I have a Samsung video monitor and love it! We didn't get it until lo was almost 1 and I wish we had done so sooner. And, actually, we started with the Motorola but it broke within a few months. Then we were back to audio and I started going nuts. Target actually took the broken Motorola back after all that time and I bought the Samsung they have. I've been thrilled with it. I like that it has a pan/tilt option on the camera.

sarahg8r · March 2016

We had the Motorola video monitor but it stopped working a couple months ago. Since then we've been using audio only...although it's definitely sufficient, I would not have felt comfortable when DS was younger (he's 19m now).

When he finally started sleeping better, it was a big relief to be able to look at him and make sure he was ok when he was sleeping later than usual. Also, when he was sick and coughing or something, it was nice to be able to look and see if he was still sleeping or up and feeling bad.

I am am definitely going to get a dual video monitor when #2 arrives.

miam4 · March 2016

beachmama14 said:

We have a Motorola video monitor. It doesn't connect to our wifi or our phone. I think it's the MP33 model? Something 33.

I have the same one... and with baby #2 on the way I am only getting the additional camera so I will have both cameras on only one device to check

Sbrown721 I know what you are talking about being afraid of people checking the camera. It happens if a hacker can get into your camera that is on internet. I saw this weirdo that police got him, because he would check the baby of the neighbor and talk to the baby using his computer. That was before having DD and thats why I decided to get this camera. No internet, and I still can see my child.

The camera monitor you can press and turn off the monitor and only have the audio.

linzandjer11 · March 2016

We just got an audio one. There were a handful of times when I would have liked to peek in without opening the door, but overall we were happy with it. We hardly used it because our house isn't super huge.

tklemp1 · March 2016

I have the Motorola video monitor as well and wouldn't go without it. My LO is 20 months and we still use it. We may even keep using it when #2 gets here and just get a second monitor so we can see both.

RedMar · March 2016

I know this was discussed a while ago, but we just dealt with a situation where I was so glad we had a video monitor (non wifi). DS was sick and had these coughing fits. He let out a loud cough and he ended up throwing up due to the phlegm. I'm not sure I would've known this if it wasn't for me me seeing it happen because he was coughing so consistently to begin with. We ended up having to change him and all the bedding. I would've felt awful if he'd slept in dried puke. TW- Also one of my biggest fears is puking and then suffocating

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Prof=Mom · March 2016

It's been a few years since we had DS but the video monitor was awesome. It helped differentiate between the gillion different coos and cries and kept us from sprinting to his room every 5 secs. Didn't have a wifi feature so didn't have that worry. But I did take cute pictures of him sleeping with my cell phone.

SuperFudge00 · March 2016

We have summer infant video/phone app/wifi. Like PP said, there are hoops of security and I feel comfortable with it. I also love the app feature despite not really using it when away from home. If the monitor dies I have my phone. The app also has additional features the monitor doesn't and I just caught the cutest pic of DH rocking DS to sleep that I couldn't get on the monitor.

my con for this particular monitor is that the base camera stopped connecting to the wifi when we got a new router and needed replacement and the monitor broke and needed replacement. Both covered under the one year warranty, but I'd hate to have to buy these parts or a new monitor after one year.

Sbrown721 · March 2016

We registered for the Motorola video monitor that was recommended on this thread

KimmySchmidt · March 2016

We have a foscam home security camera that we use. These are the kinds you hear about people hacking into. They're not especially user friendly to set up, so when you hear about people hacking them, it's usually because people couldn't figure out how to password protect it.

Ours is password protected and we haven't had any problem.

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