All of your questions about baby monitors answered
Although you may want to be, you can’t always be by your baby’s side to watch over them. Daily life gets in the way as well as the importance of letting your child have independence as they develop. When you’re not with your baby, it can feel like you’re not protecting them and making sure they’re ok. This is where baby monitors come in. Even when you are away from them, you can see how they’re doing and if they need you.
Whether you’re a new parent or not, leaving your baby to sleep in their own room can be daunting and worrying. If you’re downstairs, how will you hear them if they cry? A baby monitor will detect any noise from your baby’s room and will notify you on the device.
We know parents have a lot of questions around baby monitors, especially how safe they are for your child. We will be answering some common questions that parents ask and will hopefully make you feel more at ease about leaving your little one to sleep.
As well as your questions, we will also highlight some of the best baby monitors throughout this article that we have come across to make choosing one a little easier.
Baby monitors work by transmitting the sounds by radio waves to the persona caring for the baby. Some baby monitors have a function where you can talk back to your baby through the monitor. To make it easier to understand, they work how walkie talkies work.
As technology as developed, we now have a choice of multiple different types of baby monitors. Not only can you hear them, you can also watch them on a screen to monitor their movements. It’s never been safer to leave your baby in their own room. With this technology, it can make you feel like you’re actually standing next to your baby.
Different types of baby monitor - camera and audio
With many different types to choose from, it can be hard to know which one will be best for you and your baby. We’ve explained each type of baby monitor to help you work out which one you’d like/need:
Audio monitors – The baby monitors allow you to only listen to the sounds of your baby as they sleep. These sounds can include crying and cooing. If there is some background noise in your baby’s room, most baby monitors can drown this out so you can hear your baby’s cries a lot clearer. Some of these monitors also light up when it detects sounds. This is great for parents with hearing impairments or if the monitor is across the room from you.
Digital baby monitors – This monitor does the same as an audio monitor but there is one big difference – sounds are encrypted. This means there is no risk of your baby’s sounds being picked up by other devices and is a much safer option. As well as this, you may find the sound is much better quality. As expected, these are slightly more expensive but are worth paying out on if you’re concerned about security.
Video monitors – This is where baby monitors really start to progress. As well as being able to hear your little one, you’ll also be able to see them on a small screen built into the receiver. Your baby monitor will include a small camera that you can place in your baby’s room to be able to see them when you’re not there. Of course, it has been taken into account that your baby doesn’t sleep with the lights on, so all baby monitors have a night vision function.
Wireless monitors – If you have a device in your home that the baby monitor can connect to, a wireless monitor can be perfect. Devices include phones, tablets or computers. Instead of having a receiver that comes with the baby monitor, you’ll be able to monitor your baby using your own device instead. This can work for both audios only and video monitors. Some monitors will also send your device notifications if movement is detected.
Movement detectors/monitors – These monitors work very different to the previous ones we have spoken about. Instead of having a device that listens or videos your baby, this monitor comes as a motion-sensitive pad. It can be put underneath your baby’s mattress and will let you know if no movement has been detected for over 20 seconds. These monitors have not been found to be as effective as others but can be good to use with either an audio or video monitor.
Do you need a baby monitor from birth?
For the first 6 months of your baby’s life, they will most likely be sleeping in your room in either a Moses basket or cot. For this reason, it’s pointless having a baby monitor as they’re already close to you. During this time, it’s unlikely that you will leave your baby alone long enough to need a baby monitor.
It becomes more essential to get a baby monitor after you have moved them into their own room. This sometimes can be slightly earlier or later for different parents. You may need a baby monitor if your room is far enough from your baby’s that you cannot hear them. However, if you’re close enough to their room, it’s your choice to decide whether you need one or not.
However, even if your baby’s room is right next to yours, it still might be useful having one. When you put your baby down for a nap and go downstairs, it’s unlikely that you’ll hear your baby cry. It would be handy to have one close to you to monitor them.
How close should a baby monitor be?
You should keep your baby’s monitor at least 3 feet away from them. By the time you start to use a baby monitor for your little one, they may be able to pull themselves up and stand in their cot. Therefore, it needs to be far away enough from them so there’s no risk of them grabbing it and potentially hurting themselves. As well as having the monitor far enough from your little one, there are some other things you should take into consideration when putting a monitor in their room:
Loose cords – Although you may keep the monitor far away from your little one, it doesn’t mean the cords are also far enough. Ensure that cords are hidden or covered to prevent your baby from grabbing them. There are also cordless monitors available to eliminate this risk.
Unstable surfaces – Your baby monitor should be on a flat, stable surface. Don’t risk trying to balance it in an awkward space, this could lead to it falling over. Although you may notice this if your monitor has video enabled, if you just have an audio monitor, you will not know it’s fallen off. This can drown out the noises of your little one crying.
Make sure you can hear them – There’s no point buying a baby monitor to just place it next to a window. Your monitor will pick up outside noise and may restrict how much of your baby you can hear. If needs to be close enough to your baby to hear them but not near any windows or air con units.
Angle the camera – If you have a video monitor, you need to make sure that you can actually see your baby. Position the camera so that your baby is in full view and you can see their movements clearly. Also make sure there are no items blocking the view of your baby like toys or furniture.
Having a baby monitor is an important item but you also need to check to see if you have a safe place to put it before you buy one. Don’t risk your baby getting hurt by putting it too close to them. Clear a space away from your child’s cot to set it up safely.
How long does a baby monitor last?
Baby monitors are made to last for years. You won’t need one for your little one for that amount of time but are great to use for other children in the future or to give away to someone else.
If we’re talking about how long they last each time you use them, it can range from 8-10 hours before they need charging again. Some monitors with cords won’t need charging as they receive a steady flow of power. However, receivers are made to be carried around with you and will need to be charged regularly. A great routine to get into can be charging it throughout the day when your baby wakes up. This will give you enough time to charge it up before your baby is put down for a nap or to go to bed.
Some monitors may use more power and therefore will need re-charging more often. These can include wi-fi or video monitors. It’s important to keep track of how well charged your monitor is. The last thing you want to happen is it running out of battery during the night.
Pros and cons of audio and camera baby monitors
With every product, there are pros and cons. It’s important to try and weigh out the cons against the pros as a baby monitor will definitely be something you need at some point. We’ve listed the most common pros and cons for you to take into consideration.
Pros:
More privacy – After having your baby in your room for the first 6 months, you may be desperate for a little bit of privacy. Having a baby monitor means you don’t always have to have your baby with you or be close to them. This can be very beneficial to couples who have just had their first baby. As well as your privacy, your baby also needs to learn to be away from you – especially during the night. It’s really positive to encourage them to sleep on their own.
Baby’s sleeping pattern – A monitor can help you observe how well your baby is sleeping during the night. If your baby is restless throughout the day, you can check to see how much sleep they’re actually getting. It can feel difficult to monitor your baby’s sleeping pattern without a device as you also may be feeling extremely tired.
Keep an eye on health issues – Baby monitors aren’t just useful to track sleep, they’re also handy for monitoring your baby if they have issues with their health. Babies with breathing problems need much more attention to make sure they are safe when sleeping. However, it’s difficult to sit by your baby all of the time when there are other things you have to do. A monitor will notify you of any noises coming from your baby that you can check up on.
Monitor bonding – if you have older children who are still only toddlers, you can set this monitor up to watch how they interact with them when you’re out of the room. Your child may think they’re playing with the baby but might be being a bit too rough. This is a great way to teach your child how to interact with your baby safely.
See what’s happening when you’re away – Having a baby doesn’t mean you have to stop everything you’re doing for the rest of your life. You still may have a career to succeed in or general errands to run. In this case, you may need to leave your baby with somebody else like a babysitter. You can use a video monitor to watch the babysitter with your little one. This can make you feel less stressed and will allow you to get on with what you need to do.
Watch moments back – Some monitors come with a recording feature which allows you to watch footage back. Although this is highly beneficial for checking your child’s sleeping pattern, it can also be great just for cute moments that you’ve missed. You can share these moments with friends and family or to show your child when they’re grown up.
Cons:
Internet connection – There are certain baby monitors that require an internet connection to work. If you have an unstable internet connection, this can pose a problem. It can lead to the monitor not working correctly and not notifying you when it needs to. If you know your connection is not so good, you can either sort this problem or find a baby monitor that doesn’t rely on an internet connection.
Sleep anxiety – Some parents, especially those who have just had their first baby, can experience sleep anxiety because of baby monitors. If your baby is fine and the monitor does not notify you, some parents can become worried that the monitor is actually not working. When in fact, your baby is sleeping just fine.
Too close – If your baby’s room is too close to yours, there’s no point in having a baby monitor. Don’t waste your money buying a baby monitor if you can already hear them when they cry.
Damage – There are things that can interrupt the use of a baby monitor. Whether it’s insufficient power supply or dead batteries, this can stop your monitor working when you really don’t want it to. Try and make use of this product only when you need to – preserve as much life as you can in it to last the time you need it for.
Disturbances – If you choose to go for a wireless monitor, you may experience disruptions to the signal. These disruptions can come from other wireless technology like your television, phone or tablet. You should keep your baby monitor far away from these items to avoid problems.
Expensive – Some monitors can be quite expensive and may not be suitable for certain parents. There are cheaper alternatives available but they may not include the features that you’d like.
Can a non-Wi-Fi baby monitor be hacked?
It’s been seen quite a lot where parents have had their Wi-Fi monitors hacked into. But, can a non-Wi-Fi monitor be hacked too? Although they are less accessible to hackers, it doesn’t mean they can’t get in.
Wi-fi monitors are easier to be hacked into because they’re connected to the internet. This makes them much more accessible. Usually, when you buy a Wi-fi monitor, you will need to take extra steps to secure the transmission and connection.
However, if your baby monitor isn’t connected to the Wi-Fi, how can it be hacked? Non-Wi-Fi monitors require a short distance between the device and hackers to be able to get in. This means that it’s much more likely for neighbours to accidentally catch onto the transmission. Although this may not be their fault, it’s still not safe for your baby.
We’ve got some handy tips on how to make your monitor more secure and less prone to hacking – Wi-Fi connected or not:
Keep the monitor updated – Regular updates are a great way of protecting your device from being hacked. Some monitors also come with an app which should also be regularly updated. If the manufacturer has not released an update for some time, it can be a bad sign and could put you at risk. Try and stay away from these brands.
Use a strong password – This applies for both your Wi-Fi password as well as the one you use for your baby monitor app. Make sure the passwords include lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Also, use a password that you don’t use anywhere else. This is because if you are hacked, the hacker won’t be able to use the password for other things such as your bank login.
Enable remote access – this means that you’ll only be able to connect to the device if you’re on the same Wi-Fi as it’s connected to. If you disable this, it opens up many risks. Some people like to see their baby on the camera when they are away from home. In this case, remote access should only be disabled temporarily.
Turn off the monitor when you’re not using it – This will eliminate any risk of being spied on when completing other activities.
When to stop using a baby monitor
If you put your baby into their own room at 6 months old, you’re going to want to use the baby monitor straight away – but how long for? It’s really down the parents on how long they’d like to use their baby monitor. It’s not doing your baby any harm but it’s also good not to continue relying on it as they get older.
Some babies can get into a sleep routine quite easily whereas others struggle. When your baby is still waking a lot throughout the night, you should keep your baby monitor on as you can track how much sleep they’re getting. However, if your little one is beginning to sleep through the whole night, you might start thinking about getting rid of it.
However, if your baby’s room is quite far from yours, you may want to keep it a little longer. This isn’t because of them waking up in the night, but it can help you identify when they wake up in the morning. If your little one is old enough to get up on their own, you may want to monitor what they’re doing in their room whilst you’re still lying in bed.
Normally, by around 2 years old, most parents have turned off the baby monitor. This doesn’t mean you should also do this. It’s important that you do what you’re comfortable with. Different circumstances can determine the actions you take throughout your little one’s development.
Don’t remove the baby monitor just because your friends and family tell you that you’ve been using it for too long. It’s important that you’re able to sleep comfortably before you remove the monitor. The last thing you want is to be worrying during the night.
We hope that we’ve answered some of your questions that you had about baby monitors. They are definitely an essential item as your baby develops if you struggle to hear them in your room. However, if they are close by to you – you shouldn’t waste your money on one.
