What features to look for in a baby monitor?
There are a multitude of safety-related baby purchases you may consider when expecting your little one with a baby monitor at the top of many parents lists. Advances in modern technology mean that many of these baby monitors now feature an array of clever components which can be overwhelming to the average parent or technophobe.
At Natural Baby Shower we want to help simplify the information behind the technology and identify the different features to look out for when purchasing the right baby monitor for your family and lifestyle.
Safety
For Baby Safety Month, it seems only fitting to start with why baby monitors have become a nursery essential for parents and how to ensure they are operating successfully and safely.
The premise of a baby monitor is to function with user operation which is why you will want to establish what features will benefit both you and your baby. You will also want to think of the practicalities around mounting and operating a baby monitor such as;
- Securing the wires out of reach and out of sight from your little one
- Making sure the camera is out of reach (especially if mounting to a crib)
- Keeping away from water or humidifiers
In addition to these basic safety tips, there are a range of different monitors on the market that come with a wealth of added safety features. If you want your baby monitor to have an unlimited range you may consider a WIFI-based monitor or you are more focused on sleep safety, there are sensor-based monitors to record heart rates and oxygen levels. Read on to discover the selection of different features to look out for…
1. High Quality video resolution
Gone are the days of grainy, outdated baby monitor displays. Many new models of baby monitors now use a display similar to your smartphone and other consumer electronics, so these HD video baby monitors tend to have very nice colour contrast and high resolution.
Watching your little one in high definition is so much more enjoyable than watching them on a distorted screen with poor quality. This is a feature that you won’t want to pass up.
The Babymoov YOO-Feel Monitor is a great quality example as it has a high quality night vision, adjustable camera and a receiver with 3.5" high-quality digital screen. The YOO-Feel's interface is very intuitive and enables you to navigate naturally through the menu using the touchscreen. You can easily activate the night light, a lullaby or the Talk Back function. The YOO-Feel includes a double visual and audible alarm as well as a x2 zoom too!
2. Night Vision
Your little one will sleep a lot, especially in their first few months and - hopefully - most of that will be throughout the night. Night vision is therefore a very important feature to look out for however, it’s important to keep in mind that night vision doesn’t use colour so the picture may be a little worse than the quality during the day.
3. Two-way communication
A two-way audio intercom feature allows you to talk to your baby - whether to sing a lullaby or to soothe them back to sleep. Not only are you able to hear if your baby cries, but this feature also allows you to communicate with your S.O without shouting up the stairs or hallway.
The Babymoov Premium Care Monitor offers a number of useful features, with a range of 1400m, you’ll never be out of reach from baby. The handy 2-way walkie-talkie feature allows you to communicate with baby via the monitor, without having to go into the nursery every time.
4. Music + Lullabies
A monitor that plays music or lullabies is a nice added touch if you want to be able to soothe your little one without needing to be in the room or tired of singing to your baby. Music can help children fall asleep and sets a predictable naptime routine. You should be able to play your child’s favourite songs through a modern baby monitor.
5. Low wave emissions
It is a concern that there is evidence that babies are more sensitive electromagnetic waves because their brain - which is still developing - absorbs 60% more waves than the brain of an adult.
With this in mind, in 2008 Babymoov was the first brand to take this issue into account the issue of waves in designing their baby monitors and apply the precautionary approach. As Babymoov use analogue technology rather than DECT baby monitors, their baby monitors perform emission power levels far below the 10mW standard set for baby monitor technology - 1.25mW.
The Babymoov Simply Care Monitor features this technology with low-emission power level to ensure baby’s health. It provides 2 channels, 2 alarms: visual and acoustic and a batteries level indicator.
6. Monitor adjustment
If your little one is quite the wriggler during naptime you may find your camera needs to be moved regularly or tilted to get a better view. If this is the case, making your way back to the nursery can be a bit of an inconvenience which is why a monitor adjustment is very helpful feature.
With a click of a button or swipe of a screen you are able to move the monitor up/down, left/right to get the best image of your baby. Some even feature a wide angle lens so you can see the whole room as well your little one, perfect to monitor the security of your home or maybe even a mischievous pet too!
7. Mobile App Access
Although some WI-FI baby monitors have parent units, many monitor your little one using a smartphone or tablet via a compatible app. While a parent unit on traditional baby monitors will only work in the house and maybe as far as the garden, a smart WI-FI monitor isn't limited by signal range and can work wherever you are as long as you have decent signal which means if you're missing your little one you can check in when you’re at work or away from home.
The award-winning Owlet Sock Monitor goes beyond the capabilities of many other baby monitor to tell you the things that really matter, when it really matters. Using Owlet’s app, you can receive notifications + stream real-time heart rate + oxygen levels on your phone whilst your baby sleeps.
8. Adequate range
The range of a baby monitor indicates how far you can travel with the parent unit and still receive a good signal. A good baby monitor allows you to be able to move the parent unit more than 80 metres away from the baby (or nursery) unit without losing the signal.
9. Temperature indicator
Your home’s thermostat typically won’t measure the temperature in each room of your house, meaning that if doors are closed, the temperature can vary between rooms. A baby monitor can be a handy way to keep tabs on the temperature and adjust as necessary.
The Babymoov YOO-travel not only features a 2.4" screen, a double audible and visual alarm, VOX mode, a x2 zoom, the Talk Back function on the YOO-Travel is very comprehensive. Featuring a temperature indicator and night light, the YOO-Travel is a fantastic monitor that contributes to your overall baby's well-being.
10. Motion sensors
A good example of a baby monitor with heart rate monitoring is the Owlet Smart Sock that can track heart rate and blood oxygenation levels, and stream that information to an app on your smartphone. Of course, don't be too confident because these devices are not hospital- or laboratory-grade monitoring systems, so keep that in mind.
Bluebell Smart monitor goes above and beyond to monitor your baby's breathing, temperature, crying, movement, sleep and more. You'll get real-time vibration alerts to your Parent wristband and Mobile app, 24/7, even without Wi-Fi (you can use it outside the house).
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