Product Spotlight 1/22: Baby Monitors

Re: Product Spotlight 1/22: Baby Monitors

• elizabethrn87 member

  January 2018

  Oh good ! Been waiting for this one. 
  
  My question is is dual monitors- what do you recommend? I wish I could just have to separate ones but H says the connections will get messed up. 

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• ckmb_1250 member

  January 2018

  Had anyone tried an Owlet smart sock? Worth it?

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• wildtot member

  January 2018

  We got the Nest with DS and i like it for the most part but recently I’ve been having connectivity issues. So i am thinking of getting the Levana Shailo into the mix for dependability. Cost us about 150-200. The new one is 100.
  
  @ckmb_knottie we got the owlet but didn’t really use it much. We had a few fails alarms due to connection in our old apartment. DS having it on. We’ll try it again with this one. Cost us about 200-300 can’t remember.
  
  High tech is not always better let me tell ya that!

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• SmashJam member

  January 2018

  @wildtot DH insisted on setting up his own wifi camera system with DS, and for #2 we bought the Nest, which is being used elsewhere, but will likely be put in with the baby this time around! I want to convince DH for a regular monitor but dunno if he'll bite.
  
  

  • Favorite [baby monitor]: Not fave, just waht we have: the Nest
  • Link/picture:
  • Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $150-200?
  • What you like about it: It can be used for something else later.
  • What you don't like about it, if anything: In order to hear what is going on, or see, you have to open the app. So when baby moves, or cries, you see the alert in your email, and then you check your email and open to see what is going on. I would prefer to have one where I can see a picture of the baby all the time, and not have to open an app on my phone in the middle of the night.
  • Is there a [baby monitor] you don't have but are considering? Why?: Literally any other dual video monitor, so I can have one in DS's room. Can't wait to see what people suggest.
  • Is there a [baby monitor] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: 
  • Additional thoughts on [baby monitors]?: 

  
  
  

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• cseley321 member

  January 2018

  • Favorite [baby monitor]: motorolla, don't remember the model number but it came with one parent unit
  • Link/picture:
  • Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
  • What you like about it: pretty clear at night, does everything I need it to
  • What you don't like about it, if anything: the camera doesnt swivel down. Now that we had to move the monitor to a higher area for my toddler, I can't get a clear field of vision of the floor
  • Is there a [baby monitor] you don't have but are considering? Why?: going to find one that pans around better
  • Is there a [baby monitor] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: i didn't hate it, but I had to return the angelcare video monitor because it had issues where the breathing sensor would set off multiple false alarms every night. Also it did not have a parent unit and had to go through your phone which is AWFUL. I loved the monitor other than that, but I was better off getting the audio/breathing monitor for angelcare and the motorolla for video and audio
  • Additional thoughts on [baby monitors]?: get an angelcare audio/breathing monitor if you are paranoid about sids. It helped me sleep so much better at night.

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• michelle_bird member

  January 2018

  • Favorite [baby monitor]: We LOVE our Infant Optix DX8.  In fact, one of my best friends had their first around the same time as us and went through 2 other monitors before getting the same one.  We plan to add a 2nd camera unit - according to the Amazon reviews, it will then cycle through which it displays.
  • Link/picture: https://smile.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-DXR-8-Monitor-Interchangeable/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1516632726&sr=8-3&keywords=infant+optix+dxr-8+monitor
  • Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $165
  • What you like about it: Very rarely had interference problems, except if my friend and I tried to put our 2 right next to each other. Worked as far as the pool when we went on vacay (from 2nd story suites), which was awesome at nap time one day. Great picture. AMAZING customer service - we broke ours once and they replaced the unit for free.  They also sent us troubleshooting tips for why ours would sometimes interfere with each others. Interchangeable lenses for close up, wide angle and normal view, in addition to a 1x or 2x zoom on the camera unit itself. Once DD is in a toddler bed we plan to use the wide angle lens to view her entire room.
  • What you don't like about it, if anything:  The interference when side by side was annoying, but we learned to keep them at least 3 feet apart and it was fine.  I wish there was a "mute for 20 minutes" feature for sleep training and/or random night wake ups. I sometimes muted her planning to watch the light along the side but then fell back asleep, would wake up 45 minutes later to find her still upset and feel guilty. 
  • Is there a [baby monitor] you don't have but are considering? Why?: Nope, we're definitely just adding a camera.
  • Is there a [baby monitor] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: Nope, my BIL/SIL had the older Infant Optix model, so we knew we wanted this one.
  • Additional thoughts on [baby monitors]?: There's a sweet carrying case for this one that you definitely want if you plan to travel with baby.  We also bought a cheap audio-only monitor for quick day trips to grandparents houses during nap times (2 story houses). 

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• morethanamama member

  January 2018

  For those considering an Owlet, they accept FSA and HSA cards to pay for it! I heard about the false positives but we might still get it since DH's company contributes to our HSA.
  I'm most likely going to go with the Infant Optics monitor, it is so highly rated across the board and very reasonable in price. We might add a Nest but haven't decided on that yet.

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• ckmb_1250 member

  January 2018

  For those of you who like Infant Optics, does it clip to the side of a crib or does it have to sit on a table?

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• michelle_bird member

  January 2018 edited January 2018

  Same friend had an Owlet.  They also had lots of problems with false alarms that caused her even more anxiety than without so they stopped using it.
  
  RE: Infant Optix, It does not clip to the side of the crib - it either sit on a table/shelf or has a nail hole (like a picture frame would) in the bottom.  I put a nail in the wall above her crib and have it hanging there - eventually DH says he will run the power through the wall so that the power cord isn't going up the wall, but we'll see when "eventually" happens.

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• noideawhatshesdoing member

  January 2018

  Does anyone have just an audio only monitor they like? I love the idea of a camera, we're worried that is likely to trigger DH's OCD and he'll be glued to the dang thing 24/7. He doesn't have a smart phone for pretty much the same reason.
  

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• elizabethrn87 member

  January 2018

  Am I crazy for still wanting a camera from r my 4 year old? We still use it currently. We talk through it. Give her permission to get up and get a drink or go to the bathroom etc. 

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• michelle_bird member

  January 2018

  I don't think you're crazy at all @elizabethrn87 !  Im' sure I'll still be using ours then too!
  

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• noideawhatshesdoing member

  January 2018

  @elizabethrn87 I don't think you're crazy either. My brother still uses his for his 5 year old, and for the same reasons you mentioned. Also because the kid is known for not sleeping and getting up and playing and then jumping back into bed when she hears someone coming so they went back to using the monitor. Bro has to make sure his kiddo is getting enough rest, he only has her 2 days a week and if she's tired/cranky at all when she goes back to her mom's, there is hell to pay.
  

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• comealongponds member

  January 2018

  • Favorite [baby monitor]: Nest Cam

  
  

  • Link/picture: https://www.amazon.com/Nest-Security-Camera-Matters-Anywhere/dp/B00WBJGUA2/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1516731958&sr=1-3&keywords=nest+camera+indoor

  
  

  • Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.): $200

  
  

  • What you like about it: WiFi enabled, super clear picture, real time alerts and video storage

  
  

  • What you don't like about it, if anything: nothing!

  
  

  • Is there a [baby monitor] you don't have but are considering? Why?: Nope! Planning on getting a second cam for the new baby. 

  
  

  • Is there a [baby monitor] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?: Summer Split Screen 2.0 - the parent unit broke within a couple months, so the company replaced the whole system since we had the original.  The replacement broke just as quickly. 

  
  

  • Additional thoughts on [baby monitors]?: I initially considered an Owlet but I know it would just heighten my anxiety and I don’t trust them to make a reasonable difference (plus I’d be worried it might give a false sense of security). If they were regulated, I’d almost certainly get one because I would have much more trust in it!

  run along Pond...2015/12/10
  
  

  

  

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• zande2016 member

  January 2018

  We have a Summer Infant video monitor that works fine, the video quality isn't great but it gets the job done. We will likely buy a new/better quality one for this baby, with a second camera, as opposed to adding a second camera to the mediocre summer infant one. We also have the Angel Sense motion detecting monitor. We never used the audio with it, and still used our video monitor at the same time, but basically just used the Angel Sense for the peace of mind. It has a motion sensor that goes under the mattress and an alarm that goes off if baby stops breathing. We never had any false alarms with it and it gave me some peace of mind after we moved him to his own room. Before that when he was in our room I never felt the need for it. I am on the fence about whether we will use it again because the wires that go under the crib have me a little paranoid. 
  
  
  Sorry for lack of formatting! On mobile. 
  
  

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