DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
November 2018 Moms
offtoneverland
member
Product Spotlight Series: Baby Monitors (5/13)
offtoneverland
member
I'm starting this thread early today because I'm 2 weeks behind on the product spotlight schedule. Whoops! Sorry!
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This is a place for FTMs to ask questions and S+TMs to share the wealth of knowledge they've accumulated on baby products. Each week we'll spotlight a new category of product to help streamline and make it easier to refer back. This week it's.... baby monitors!
Please use the prompts below to try to share as much relevant info as you can in a format that is easy for those reading to absorb/respond to. If you'd like to recommend/ask questions about more than one product, please copy/paste the prompts as needed. 
For S+TMs:
- Any lifestyle factors that could influence your picks:
- Favorite [baby monitor]:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- What you like about it:
- What you don't like about it, if anything:
- Is there a [baby monitor] you don't have but are considering? Why?:
- Is there a [baby monitor] you've tried that you absolutely hate? Why?:
- Additional thoughts on [baby monitors]?:
For FTMs
- [Baby monitor] you're interested in:
- Link/picture:
- Cost (either actual dollar amount, or just $, $$, $$$, etc.):
- Any questions about it/them for S+TMs?:
To view past Product Spotlights or view the upcoming schedule, click this link.
(Also just a reminder that if anyone wants to revive old threads to ask questions as we get further along and it becomes more likely everyone is doing further research, please feel free!)
*TW*
Me: 31 | DH: 33
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
Re: Product Spotlight Series: Baby Monitors (5/13)
Before we had DD, I didn't really think we'd need a video monitor. I thought sound only would be just fine, but I was so glad we had the video monitor. It really helped with peace of mind being able to see the baby sleeping or rolling around, and know they were completely safe. Without the video, I probably would have had to peek in her room all the time to make sure she was okay, and I wouldn't want to risk waking her up.
Random fact about baby monitors that took me and MH months to figure out--they interfere with your wifi! I spent so many nights after DD was born trying to figure out why Netflix would no longer work or kept lagging. We finally figured out it was because of our monitor! I'm not tech savvy, so I don't know ways to fix it, but once DD was asleep, I would turn the monitor off, then just turn it on occasionally for a few seconds at a time to check on her, then turn it back off. That way it didn't interrupt my TV shows.
DD1: 8/2014
TTC #2: 6/2017
BFP 8/3/2017 | CP 8/4
BFP 10/16/2017 | CP 10/21
BFP 12/18/2017 | CP 12/28
BFP 2/15/2018 | EDD: November 2nd | It's a girl!
DD2: 10/2018
We'll probably use the same monitor with the new baby and then I'm tempted to just get some non-baby, wifi enabled cameras and install them in the rooms and just use them with my phone. I'm thinking it's probably a cheaper option than a video baby monitor but I haven't done a lot of research yet.
We had to get a new one because DS put the monitor into DH's water while I was at work. We needed a new camera for baby #2 anyway. Like PP above, we didn't want a wifi one to avoid worrying about being hacked. Our old handheld used to say out of range when it got close to other electronics which was annoying, but this one doesn't seem to do that (and my friend who has the same one doesn't have any problem with hers either) so I wonder if my first was a little faulty? I definitely recommend video over just sound.
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
One feature available on many monitors that is nice to have is the remote pan/tilt/zoom. You will be able to move the camera remotely if you can't see what your little sneak is up to!
Bought a cheap Le Fun ($45) one off amazon. No monitor, I just use my phone or Ipad. It's lasted about a year and still going strong. I have 2 actually, one in the living room so I can peek at him while I am working. I can move it around, I can talk to them, record (although it gets stuck a lot on record). I think you can even put a SIM card in it and record continuously if you were using it for like home monitoring. Not sure since I don't use that feature.
Anyway the only bad thing is sometimes it gets stuck. Which is not a huge deal for me since I use a regular sound only monitor at night. I love it.
Dx: PCOS
DS1 born 11/2014
DS2 born 11/2018
3 previous losses
Rainbow baby due 12/2021 - Team Green
Check out this item at Target https://www.target.com/p/motorola-5-video-baby-monitor-with-two-cameras-mbp50-g2/-/A-52855675
The one we have is 3 years old, this is the newer version, but I love it. Motorola, 2 cameras, I can view one at a time, and switch back and forth either manually, or it’ll automatically switch back and forth every few seconds. Or, you can do a split screen and see both at the same time. I can play music from it, speak to them through it. Works great.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078WR6HRM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_hTCLBbZTBH0SE
DH’s brother and his wife had a baby a little over a year ago and they used the older model on this monitor and love it. I’ll actually get it this week and get to play around with it and set it up. It has a lot of nice features like night vision and 2 way audio.