Do I Really Need A Baby Monitor for My Upcoming Baby

Being a new parent can be a scary and overwhelming time, and if you are like most parents, you will want to make sure you have everything ready before your little one’s arrival.

The list of things to buy before the baby arrives can seem long, and ever-changing.

You know you need the basics: Diapers, a crib, clothes, and car seat…

Chances are if you have started a baby registry, there is some type of baby monitor on there. Did you know there are five main types of monitors on the market right now?

How do you know which model to choose, if one at all?

Do I Really Need a Baby Monitor?

This really depends on what your living situation is like in your home, and what you plan on using the baby monitor for. Here are a few points to consider:

Where Will My Baby Sleep?

If your baby will be sleeping in the same room as you, then you can probably skip a baby monitor for now. If your home has bedrooms that are quite close together, then you may be able to skip this item as well.

If you have a large home, or your bedrooms are on different floors or will be putting your baby down for naps during the day in a separate part of your home, then it may be a good piece of mind item to have.

Will I Use It For Anything Else?

If you have other children, baby monitors can be a big help. It will allow you to take your other children outside, or play in a different part of the home while the baby sleeps, and still have that piece of mind that you will hear and be able to tend to your baby when they need.

Some baby monitors double as security cameras as well, so this is also something to keep in mind if you travel often, or are away from home for periods of time.

Select models also come with lights that turn on when your baby is making noise if you have the sound turned down. This is a great feature for parents that work at home.

Are You A Deep Sleeper?

If you are a deep sleeper and your baby is sleeping in another room, then you may want a baby monitor to ensure that you hear your baby at night. Most of them have different volume settings, and you can turn it up to wake you.

Just a note though, that babies are loud in general. They grunt, groan, sneeze, wiggle, and whine. If every little noise is affecting your sleep and waking you up, then a baby monitor may do more harm than good.

Types of Baby Monitors

Baby monitors have come to a long way over the years from the static screeching noisemakers that they once were.

There are five different types of baby monitors on the market right now:

• Audio
• Audio/Video
• WiFi Camera (No Receiver)
• WiFi Camera (With Receiver)
• Range of Motion

Audio

Designed with a base, which you would leave in baby’s room and a receiver that you would carry with you. It is designed to just pick up noises and transmit them to you.

Some of the newer models on the market have a two-way radio system that allows you to talk to your baby without entering the room.

Audio/Video

An audio/video combination is a great way to have options in monitoring your baby. This is a great option if you don’t want to have the sound on all the time, or if you are doing some sleep training and can monitor your baby by video to see if they are just stirring or actually need to be tended to.

Most of these options also offer the two-way radio system so that you can talk to your baby without entering the room. They also offer different options such as night vision, and a wider camera view split screens for twins or multiple room monitoring.

WiFi Camera (No Receiver) Baby monitors that connects to iPhone

With a WiFi camera with no receiver, you would essentially only be purchasing the camera. Your smartphone then becomes the receiver. To do this you would need to download the appropriate app to get it working properly.

The camera quality on these models is quite good, and most can record, and be saved to the cloud.

There is an option with these cameras to send notifications of movement straight to your phone as if you were getting a text message.

WiFi Camera (With Receiver)- Best baby monitor with camera

This camera option has all the qualities of the model above, except it comes along with a receiver, giving you the option to use your phone less and reduce wear and tear on it.

Range of Motion-Baby sense monitor

This is the final type of monitor on the list. The range of motion monitors monitors your baby’s movement with either a censored pad placed under the mattress in the crib, or attached to the foot of your baby.

The monitor will alert you of any sudden movements and major activity.

The wearable baby monitors are not recommended for use after your baby can roll over, and are only to be used in the newborn stage.

Final Thoughts

As you can see there are a number of things to consider when you are debating on whether or not you really need a baby monitor.

Remember:

You do NOT need a baby monitor if you have your baby sleeping in the same room as you, or if you live in a smaller home such as an apartment or condo.

You DO need a baby monitor if you have a larger home with more than one level, you are moving baby to her own room, or you have other children that you will be taking care of while your baby is sleeping.

There are a number of baby monitors on the market, and they can range anywhere from around $50 up to several hundreds of dollars. Decide what your budget is, and stay within the limits.

Upon purchase, check that your chosen retailer has a return policy so that you can exchange it for another model if the one you have chosen doesn’t work with your home setting.

Make sure to do your research before you purchase a baby monitor, and ensure that you read the instructions thoroughly to make sure you are using the product safely around your baby. We have selected the best baby monitors, you can find them here.