Which baby monitor is the best choice?

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sleeping baby is monitored through a baby monitor

The first time your baby sleeps in a different room than you takes some getting used to. Ideally, you want to keep an eye on him at all times. A baby monitor (also known as a baby monitor) can offer a solution. But there are so many different devices on the market that your head will spin when you see all those options. Which baby monitor is the best choice? We answer frequently asked questions from (future) parents about baby monitors.


How does a baby monitor work?

A baby monitor consists of two devices that are connected to each other: a baby station (transmitter) that you place in the nursery and a parent station (receiver) that you keep with you. As soon as your baby makes a sound or moves, you will hear this through the loudspeaker of the parent station. Depending on the type of baby monitor you buy, you can also see your child through a screen and see how warm it is in the bedroom.

Which baby monitor do I choose?

The options of different baby monitors are diverse. In the Netherlands, the best-known brands of baby monitors are Alecto, Luvion, Motorola and Philips Avent. Which you choose and which one is best depends largely on your preferences and your budget.

Not sure exactly what you're looking for, or can't see the wood for the trees? Below you will find an overview of the most important functions.


Baby monitor with camera or without?

Perhaps the most important choice you have to make is whether you buy a baby monitor with a camera or without a camera. This of course affects the price.

An advantage of a baby monitor with a camera is that you can keep a better eye on your child. This way you can immediately see what's going on if you hear some crying, without having to go to his room every time. This is not only calmer for you, but also for your baby. Are you not going to use the baby monitor every day, but only when you are going to stay or are on vacation, for example? Then a baby monitor without a camera is often sufficient.

If you opt for a video baby monitor, you can choose from different screen sizes and whether the baby monitor displays a color image or black and white image. What you choose here mainly depends on how much you want to spend on it.

Link

How the baby station and the parent station are connected to each other differs per baby monitor. The best-known connection types are digital (DECT; Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) and WiFi. Here are the pros and cons per connection type.

Power supply

A practical matter that you should pay attention to when buying a baby monitor is the power supply. Some are rechargeable, others only work on mains power or batteries. Often the baby station is plugged into the wall socket, which doesn't matter because it usually stays in the same place anyway.

It is more important how the parent station functions, since you want it to be easy to move, for example if you want to sit in the garden. In addition, a rechargeable parent station is more economical in the long run than a battery-operated device.

Sound

We understand four things by sound:

  • talk-back function. Do you want to calm your child down by talking or singing to him from a distance? Then you can opt for a baby monitor with a microphone.
  • Sound activation & cry volume. The baby monitor switches on as soon as it detects sound. In addition, baby monitors with a camera and baby monitors without a camera usually have a volume indicator, where you can see at a glance whether and how loudly your baby is crying .
  • Volume control. Some baby monitors have a button where you can turn the volume up and down. For example, if you can still hear your little one from another room and you only want to see him, you can mute the device . Or just the opposite: are you going out for dinner with friends and is it noisy in the living room while your baby is sleeping upstairs ? Then it is nice if you can turn up the volume.
  • lullabies. Some children fall asleep more peacefully through music, but become restless if you stay in the room. Baby monitors that play lullabies can help with this.

Expandable & tiltable

Are you expecting twins ? Do you want to start a second one in a few years? Or do you want to keep an eye on your child from different angles? Then it is useful to look at baby monitors that are expandable. For example, you have baby monitors where you can connect multiple cameras (baby stations) to a parent station.

Most baby monitors have a camera that tilts and rotates, so you can set the right angle to have a good view of the baby's bed. Baby monitors in a higher price range can sometimes be rotated remotely via the parent station, but it works just as well to rotate it manually.

Before purchasing the baby monitor, check the best place to put it or hang it. The mounting system can also differ per device.

Night function

If your baby sleeps in another room, you also want to be able to hear him at night if he cries or is restless. Fortunately, most baby monitors with a camera have a night function, with night lighting and/or a night light. Some have an infrared camera for better visibility at night, but often night lighting is enough.

Temperature measurement

You can purchase a room thermometer separately, but it is very useful if it is already in your baby monitor. The accuracy of the built-in thermometer depends on its quality.

baby monitor Luvion

How much does a baby monitor cost?

The costs obviously depend on how many functions the baby monitor has and which brand you choose. For example, you already have a baby monitor from 25 euros, but the price can rise to 300 euros. In addition, video baby monitors are often more expensive than sound baby monitors. An average video baby monitor costs about 150 euros. If you keep a budget in mind in advance and determine which features are important to you, you can make it as expensive as you want.

Tips for using a baby monitor

Using a baby monitor is not complicated, but these tips from young mothers based on their experiences may help you further:

  • Use the VOX function. Do you have a baby monitor with camera and do you want the battery not to run out quickly? Some baby monitors have a VOX function (VOX stands for Voice Operated Transmitter), where the screen only lights up when sound or movement is detected. This way you can immediately see if your baby wakes up if there is something wrong, even if you have turned off the sound.
  • Keep out of reach. Watch out for grabbing hands near the baby monitor. Your child will probably be interested in all the beautiful buttons, but you don't want all the settings to have suddenly changed.
  • Secure your internet connection. Does your baby monitor work via an internet connection? Then make sure that your WiFi network is secured and that you choose a password that is strong and unique. This way you prevent it from being hacked and that strange people can watch it undesirably.
  • Keep your distance in mind. Make sure that you do not keep or place the baby station and the parent station too close to each other. This can cause noise in baby monitors that are digitally connected.
  • Use the talkback function sparingly. Be careful using the talkback function, if your baby monitor has it. Some babies can be frightened if they suddenly hear your voice, while they can't see you. If you want to use the function, it can help to try it out first when you are sitting together in his bedroom or playing .

Alternatives to baby monitors

There are alternatives to baby monitors on the market. Whether they are a better option depends on your personal preferences.

Smartphone baby monitors

Smartphone baby monitors are modern video baby monitors without a parent station. Instead of the parent station, you use the accompanying app on your smartphone or tablet to keep an eye on your child. Smartphone baby monitors are fairly new and in full development, so the quality can vary greatly.

The price is quite on the high side; usually you lose between 100 and 300 euros. Smartphone baby monitors do have a greater range with WiFi, but a disadvantage is that you are dependent on your internet connection.

Baby Monitor Apps

Keeping an eye on your baby via an app is a cheaper alternative than purchasing a baby monitor. After all, you only lose a few euros by buying an app, which means that the costs for the layette are lower.

A disadvantage is that you need two smartphones or two tablets and you have to give up one as long as it is used in the nursery as a baby station. You also depend on the quality of your internet connection. In addition, always make sure that you use a secure connection with a strong password.

IP cameras

Some people use an IP camera (Internet Protocol camera) as a baby monitor. This camera is intended as a security camera in and around the house, but it can also be used as a baby monitor. IP cameras are usually as expensive as baby monitors, but have several options, such as a tilting camera.

In addition, the image is often better than with video baby monitors. A disadvantage is that IP cameras do not have functions that are useful for parents, such as lullabies and a thermometer.

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2Comments

  1. Whether the monitor is audio only or audio/video, make sure it has a clear view of your child with no blind spots where your baby could exit the frame. If it supports video, watch the live feed while setting up the camera so you can find the best position.

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  2. Very informative and great content

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