Finding the Best Wireless Video Baby Monitor
For some parents, hearing a baby’s gurgles or incoherent ramblings through an audio baby monitor system is enough to know that the baby is safe and sound, while hearing the screeches and the screams is enough to know the baby’s up and needs something, if not everything. Yet, especially for first-time parents, there’s always so much curiosity as to, “What is the baby doing in there? Is the baby up? Did we hear the first sounds of a half-cry? How long does it really take the baby to fall asleep in there? Did the baby sleep during nap-time today?” The wireless video baby monitor is an exciting device used to capture some of the baby’s unseen moments, without disrupting crucial sleep time.
When purchasing a wireless, video monitoring system, you’ll need to consider how you intend to use it first. Some 5″ to 7″ video baby monitors attach underneath cabinets in a more permanent way, while others can be propped up on any nightstand or countertop. Another category of receivers are the handheld varieties, allowing you the ability to roam freely, while watching your baby on a smaller 1.8″ screen. The actual baby monitor camera may be mounted to the wall, attached to the crib or affixed to a bookshelf. Can you pan, tilt, zoom or get a wide-angle view of the room with your camera? These are all options to consider, and it’s important to note that they do not come one standard way, across the board.
Another feature to consider for your wireless video baby monitor device is how many of each unit you’ll need. For instance, a standard baby monitor system will come with one camera and one screen. However, some systems offer an optional two-parent handheld unit, a video screen and a handheld unit, or multiple cameras for watching more than one room and baby at a time. For some people, a more advanced system might be the best fit.
There are many popular models of wireless video baby monitor systems to choose from. The MobiCam Color Video Baby Monitor ($117 at Amazon) offers night-vision, TV hookups, lightweight units and no cordless phone interference. The Safety 1st baby monitors ($186) have versatile crib/table/wall mount options, excellent resolution, zoom/pan and limited interference. Summer Infant video monitors ($105) come with large screens, color/night vision, audio-only mode and multi-room monitoring. Lastly, the Graco baby monitor, called the iMonitor, comes with a handheld unit, has great sound clarity and exports to TV.
Which is the Best Video Baby Monitor?
Video Baby Monitor Options
Have you heard other parents rave about the video baby monitor concept, but you’re not sure what it’s all about. Basically, a baby monitor with video capabilities lets you go about the house, doing your business, while your baby rests peacefully in the crib. It’s a great way to sneak a peek and put your mind at ease, without disturbing the baby’s slumber. Unlike a traditional audio monitor, the video infant monitor lets you see, not just hear, what’s going on in the other room. The video monitor may be a hand-held portable unit with a 1.8 to 2.5 inch screen, a 5 to 7 inch plug-in screen or a portable unit with a TV hookup.
The Philips DECT baby monitor is frequently listed as one of the “Top 10 Best Baby Monitors.” Using the latest state-of-the-art security technology, you can rest assured that your baby monitor system works free of interference. Not only can you hear crystal-clear clarity, but you can also talk back through the monitor to soothe your baby. Added special features make it easy for you to monitor the baby’s room temperature and remotely activate lullabies or a light show to help your baby sleep easier. The lightweight receiver comes with neck and belt clips for easy mobility. On the downside, this is also one of the more expensive monitors, retailing at $200.
The Summer Infant video baby monitor ($105) comes with a 7-inch corded video infant monitor, a hand-held audio unit that runs off 3 AAA batteries, a belt clip and a video camera for tabletop or wall mount. You’ll get color and night vision when you want to see what’s going on, but you’ll also have the option of running the monitor in audio-only mode as well. The sound quality is clear, with a wide volume range so you can hear everything. Cordless phones and microwaves do not interfere with this model and even visits to the basement or attic will receive good reception. There are also multi-room units for monitoring more than one child, which many parents like.
A third model to consider is the Digital Deluxe iMonitor Graco baby monitor ($89.99). This day and night, handheld video baby monitor lets you peek at your baby at any hour. By pushing a button, you can take a look on your 1.8-inch screen, no matter where you are in the house. Once you’re satisfied with the situation, you simply push the button again to turn the unit off. The 350-foot range even works outside in the yard and the 900 MHz technology ensures optimal sound clarity. You can use rechargeable batteries (for up to 10 hours) or plug it in, whichever you prefer. You can export pictures to your TV or plug-in headphones. The screen has power saver features, like automatic screen time-out and a convenient “power on” indicator to let you know when your unit is monitoring.
What is the Best Baby Monitor?
Before we can answer your Baby Monitor Question, you need to ask yourself the following questions!
Do you just want to be able to hear your baby? – If you only want sound from your baby monitor, then ether a analog or budget digital baby monitor will probably fit the job description.
Do you want to see your baby as well as hear? -If you would like to see your baby on a video screen as well as hear them, then you will be looking at a higher end digital baby monitor, this will ensure you get a better picture quality.
Do you want to be able to record video and sound from your baby? -Now, some digital video baby monitors give the option to be able to record the video and sound signals they transmit. This is a fantastic option for working parents who wish to monitor the quality of their baby’s child care. This latest option however, does come at a price, and you may also need a digital video recorder to make use of this extra functionality.
Once you have selected your required baby monitor needs, you will need to avoid getting ripped off buy retailers who have over stocked on an older and obsolete model, but will still try and convince you that it is just the baby monitor you are looking for. It is worth pointing out though, that this sales method is more of a brick and mortar sales technique rather than an internet shopping cart scam, as it is very easy to check for the latest digital baby monitors online.
What Should I Look for when Buying a Baby Monitor?
For some people, a baby monitor is a modern day lifesaver, making life less stressful by allowing parents to tap into their baby’s world at any moment, from any location.
There are a number of helpful features to look for in a modern baby monitor. Often, the louder the baby cries, the more lights flash. Also, video monitors can show a sleeping baby or a baby who is awake, eliminating the need for audio tracking, or, you can take full advantage of a digital video baby monitor and utilize all of its functions together.
Some wireless baby monitors come with more than one receiver, which is a good option for larger houses or two parents who are on-duty at the same time. There are currently two main types of baby monitor, they are called analog and digital.
Analog monitors are an older technology and operate on a frequency band like am and fm radios do, sending signals directly from the monitor to the receivers. Most of the best upto date baby monitors are digital, although they can cost a little more, but this is worth while as the sound quality is better and security features are greatly improved over the older analog monitors.
There are many different brands of baby monitor systems available today, with some of the most popular being Graco, Philips and Summer Infant. Similarly, the Summer Infant Secure Sounds ($50) offers a lot of privacy, without all the special features of the more expensive Philips baby monitors.
The high-tech Mobicam ($190) lets parents tape their video monitoring or watch the videos on the TV screen, which is great if parents want to check up on the child care quality of a nursery nanny or employee.
Summer Infant Monitor Review
The Summer Infant monitor products include the widest selection of digital monitors on the market. Parents can choose from the Baby’s Quiet Sounds Video Monitor, Day & Night Baby Video Monitor, Day & Night Color Flat Screen Video Monitor, Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor, Day & Night Color Flat Screen Video Monitor Set, Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor, Secure Sounds Digital Color Video Monitor w/ Remote Controlled Crib Soother, Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor or the Complete Coverage Color Video Monitor Set. These systems range from $119 to $298.
The Summer Infant Day & Night Color Flat Screen Video Monitoring System comes with a 7-inch, flat-screen LCD baby monitor that parents can watch for $199.99. An extra audio monitor unit with belt clip and added portability can also be purchased with the set for $219.99. Their high-quality, versatile video monitors can be mounted under a cabinet, placed on a nightstand or on a countertop. The baby monitor camera also comes with night vision, so parents can watch what’s going on, even in the dark. With the wall mount option, parents can choose which angle they prefer.
Parents who prefer a color picture plus portability may want to consider the “Handheld Color Video Monitor with 1.8-Inch Screen” for $142. This model is less costly than the ones with the large 7-inch LCD screens, which some people may find to be a bit much anyway. Yet it’s also more advanced than the least expensive Summer Infant monitor model, the 5-inch black and white screen model, because it offers color and greater mobility. At Amazon, 111/194 customers gave this product the top 5/5 rating. Another 40 consumers gave this product 4/5 stars. Those who loved this infant monitor said they liked the ability to go out to the hot tub or stay in bed and still see whether the baby was waking up or not. The compact receiver, the ability to connect the receiver to the TV, the crystal clear picture and the mobility are all things that consumer praised.
Some people may have trouble with the Summer Infant monitor products, depending on where they live. In places with tightly-packed homes or apartments that have radio, TV, wireless internet, cordless phones and other video infant monitors going all the time, there may be problems with static, interference or even security. A few of the monitors have been known to pick up neighbors’ cribs, when the same model was purchased. Consumers note that they liked the Summer Infant models better than the Safety 1st Baby monitors, the Fisher Price baby monitors and Mobi Cam baby monitors, although the Philips baby monitors may offer less interference and added security in bustling areas.