Product Spotlight: Baby Monitors

elle-0409 · May 2019

What baby monitors do people have? What functionalities of your baby monitors do you use? Just audio-visual or do you also play lullabies or talk to your babies? And in a larger sense, what were your guidelines and recommendations for choosing one? Range? Image quality? The attraction of WiFi-enabled apps on your phone? Connection security? Would or did you choose the same one for a second baby and beyond? Please share!

Cass005 · May 2019

We currently use the Amazon Cloud Cam. So far it's been the best camera ever. We had a motorola and it was awful. The battery never stayed charged and the sound went so fast. My friends had gotten a motorola but the next model up (more fancy) and they had to replace it within the first year. I'm definitely glad we changed to the cloud camera, its amazing. It's wifi enabled, and we can chat through it as well with our Amazon Dots an Show.

cmbt2 · May 2019

We have a summer infant side by side, the old version. I’m very anti wifi monitors because there’s been to many instances of people having strangers hack them despite locking it down. I needed a monitor that would scan between multiple rooms.

We had a sound only monitor until DS1 was 18m. After too many nights going “WHAT is he doing in there??” I got a cheap video monitor and then upgraded to this one when DS2 came along. I like it enough. There’s reports of issues if the monitors are in the same room or on the same wall, but we don’t have that situation

SLou24 · May 2019

We use a Nest cam in her room and I couldn't love it more. I can log in when we're out to see if she's gone to sleep for the babysitter or whatever, and the video quality is very high. We ALSO have an audio-only, so that I can hear her during nap time and overnight, so that I don't always have to have the Nest app running on my phone. The one we have is a V-tech, and is shaped like a little owl. It's pretty basic but great, and has really good range!

I know some people don't have video monitors at all but I would go absolutely insane without being able to see her, at least to check in every once in a while.

Edit to add: Also, as far as talking to baby through the monitor, we've only tried it once and it scared the living daylights out of her!

kindbytealikat · May 2019

For DS I just did and old school sound monitor and it was okay with one. I decided I wanted video with my next. I got a steal of a deal on Black Friday for one with two cameras and one hand set. My only other thing was I wanted to avoid any Bluetooth because I’m super paranoid about hackers. Picture in spoiler.

alinic916 · May 2019

We're looking at the summer infant glimpse. Last time we went with the cheapest one that had decent reviews. It's sufficient. I don't think they make it anymore. I think it's summer infant. We still use it. I'll have to look into that amazon one you mentioned @Cass005.

Does anyone have/plan to have a monitor anywhere else in the house? Last time DD1 was at the neighor's for her first 1.5 yrs so we didn't feel the need but this one's probably going to be alone with a sitter in our home for 1-1.5 years. It makes me more nervous. Thinking of getting a monitor, nest or something, to have in the living room too.

Cass005 · May 2019

@alinic916 We have a camera in the nursery, facing our back door and outside. They work as security cameras too so we figured why not get extra.

jcbh2018 · May 2019

We use the Anglecare Monitor. It’s also Anti- WiFi.
I like that it has a temperature sensor, night vision, and a “talk back” option. You can also mount it on a wall or set it on a dresser.

grapeskittles4lyfe · May 2019

We have the philips avent, but without video. I'd like @SLou24 's setup with baby #3 but our house is so small I think we'll just leave the girls without a monitor and move our existing one to the nursery corner in the master bedroom (MB is on the third floor and main living area on the first).

steminist · May 2019

We have this one and are happy with it. Audio and video, which is nice to peek in to see if DS is actually awake, or just restless. It monitors the temp in his room, which I really like, too. It can play music and has a walkie-talkie feature, but we don't really use those. We're going to probably get a second camera for this baby, since it supports two (maybe more?). Battery life is pretty good, and we have been taking it with us on lots of long trips over the past 2.5 years with no issues.
Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera HB24 Night Vision Temperature Monitoring 2 Way Talkback System White

Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera HB24 Night Vision Temperature Monitoring 2 Way Talkback System White

Amazon link in spoiler:

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-HB24-Temperature-Monitoring-Talkback/dp/B01CZUD4R8/ref=pd_day0_c_75_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01CZUD4R8&pd_rd_r=71e0e737-702b-11e9-8500-7b430b359b4b&pd_rd_w=D6nMV&pd_rd_wg=wZGck&pf_rd_p=fda7cfe5-3364-4578-ae5e-ac4ab3645932&pf_rd_r=6PTCBPJ1D0131NW9V19S&refRID=6PTCBPJ1D0131NW9V19S&th=1

longhairdntcare · May 2019

We have the Arlo baby (mostly because we have the Arlo security cams so this just works with the rest of our system) and then I keep the Vtech audio only on my nightstand.

I like the Arlo because it is also a nightlight and plays music. Plus it monitors the temp and air quality and alerts us if they fall outside certain ranges. You can also set it up to automatically record if there is motion/audio, which is great.

cluckymama · May 2019

I have the Motorola and it does suck that the battery runs down super fast but I just kept ours plugged in all the time. But we got a second camera to attach to the monitor and it was easy to connect so that was nice!

stephanie123456 · May 2019

Just throwing in my own experience here. We just got a regular sound monitor for DS almost 5 years ago and it still works... Sometimes I wish we had a video monitor because he giggles at night but I'm also a little paranoid about what I would see ...

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/e8/ni1jup5521ld.jpg

cmbt2 · May 2019

@stephanie123456 he’s probably doing DS1’s favorite pre-bed activity of “play penis” 😂😂🤦🏼‍♀️

mrsinterweb · May 2019

Late to contribute (I was on vaca when this went up), but we have the Infant Optix monitor. It's a best seller on Amazon with tons of reviews. It was a bit spendy compared to others, but when we decided to purchase our monitor, baby was already like two months old and I didn't have the energy to wade through reviews and do a bunch of research as we were very sleep deprived, so just went with what looked like the best option. We've been happy with it. Nearly three years later now we still use it nightly and take it with us when we travel. We have had to order replacement batteries from time to time, but I'm pretty sure that's fairly normal.

andrawrmeda2 · May 2019

I have several, gifts and product testing. We had a safety first one, I suggest if you get that, get the one with the lights. Ours didn't have it and while it was loud, I would have loved the visual. We also have a summer infant sounds monitor and a summer infant Baby Babble Band. The band I don't recommend. I bought it cause we spend a lot of time at the neighbors at night and out in the garage. It was on sale and sounded awesome. Nope, it doesn't stay charged, it vibrates at the slightest noise(supposed to vibrate at baby's cries or movement) and the base doesn't hold the band well. It's also hard to navigate the settings.
I have a VTech camera without a separate visual, you have to download the app. It was amazing until I started having an issue connecting it to my wifi. When we switched it refused to respond. I haven't tried again recently but want it set back up cause I love it. The app works great on my Google Pixel, has clear visual and audio, you can record on a cloud(have to pay for this though 👎) or a micro SD card, can set up multiple different views and just click on them for it to move, can speak THROUGH it(freaked my kids out with that, my bad😂) and it has a great night vision view! I love it. Just gotta get it reconnected now!

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