Security of children is of utmost important to parents. Parents want their babies to be safe while traveling in a car, while sleeping, while playing and even while feeding them. One of the major safety issues is monitoring children while they sleep or play in their cots. Unattended children are prone to falling from the bed or the cot and getting hurt. At night it is very important for parents to keep checking the baby to see if the child needs to be feed. It is very difficult for parents to monitor the babies manually while doing house hold chores and at nights. Though safety of the baby is an important aspect but the house hold work has to be done, guests have to be welcome and parents also need sleep.
As every aspect of our lives is being impacted by technological innovations there has been technical advancement in this field also. The result was baby monitors. A baby monitor is a device which has a receiver and radio transmitter system. These are use to listen to the sounds. The transmitter is kept near the baby (it has a mike). The receiver is kept near the parent or the care taker. The receiver has a speaker. Many monitors allow bi directional communication. This feature comes handy when a parent who is away from the other parent taking care of the child has to communicate. Video baby monitors have also been developed. In this, the care taker is able to even see the baby along with hearing the baby’s voice. Thought video monitors are expensive, they are able to make the parents more confident and comfortable regarding the safety of the baby. Parents get confused when they plan to purchase a baby monitor as there are lots of options available. The reason for making this shopping guide is to make you aware of 10 Baby Monitors. We have given the price, USP as well as the pros and cons of each baby monitor. This will enable you to choose a monitor for your baby judiciously.
1. Philips Avent SCD510 DECT Digital Baby Monitor
Price: $89.54
Description: The SCD510 technology gives a safe and sound connection among the baby’s and parent’s monitor units. It also assures the monitor to be totally free of interference from any other electronic device nearby. The reception sensitivity of the microphone can be adjusted. It is capable to scan 120 channels ensuring no disruption.
This feature is very beneficial for homes where there a lot of electronics like cordless phones, mobiles, wireless networks, remote control of television or microwave ovens.
The monitor also comes equipped with the talk-back feature. This enables the care take to talk to the baby or the parent near the baby. It allows talking in the vicinity of 1000 ft. The baby monitor has rechargeable batteries and the batteries have a long life.
The monitor gives a low-battery warning so that the user changes them on time. It also has the feature of sensitivity control. This feature enables the user to adjust the monitor as per the noise of the surrounding, for example the noise of the air conditioner. During the night the devise emits soft glow light which is very soothing and does not disturb the baby. The units of the parents are clean (have small cords so there is no mess of chords)
USP
1. The monitor also comes equipped with the talk-back feature. This enables the care take to talk to the baby or the parent near the baby.
2. It allows talking in the vicinity of 1000 ft.
Pros and Cons
1. It is interference free
2. Sensitive to ambiance noise
3. It has the feature of an intercom
4. Temperature can also be monitored through the monitor
5. The parent receiver can be clipped to the cloths, thus making it more potable
6. The drawbacks are that the monitor is expensive and the battery life is less
2. Evenflo Whisper Connect Pro 900mhz Nursery Monitor
Price: $49.99
Description: The Evenflo Whisper Connect Pro 900MHz Nursery Monitor is very portable and enables you to carry the receiver with you. There is a blinking feature which gets activated when you go outside the range of the monitor and you get to know it. It is equipped with two-channel operation of 900 Mhz. This decreases interference and static to minimum and permit you to even here the breathing of the baby. The Monitor has a two-way feature like a walkie-talkie. This allows the parent to talk to the children. It gives a range of 650 feet, thus parents are able to move freely in the house.
USP
1. It has a two way talking system like that of walkie-talkie
2. There is a blinking feature which gets activated when you go outside the range of the monitor and you get to know it.
Pros and Cons
1. Affordable
2. Attractive
3. Easy to use
4. It is portable
5. Provides range of 650 feet
6. Provides 2 frequencies
7. Its units are rechargeable
8. Few drawbacks are that it often gets static and to correct it, it has to be switched off and then switched on
3. Fisher Price Private Connection with Dual Monitors
Price: $69.99
Description: The best feature of Fisher Price Private Connection with Dual Monitors is that it comes with 20 channels. This ensures that the talk between you and your child will be private, as the 20 channels will make it impossible for some other receiver to pick on your frequency. There are sound lights on the receiver as well as the transmitter side. This enables the parents to see the activities of the baby also from any place in the house. This monitor gives you a flawless connection and wide range (800 feet).
The monitor comes equipped with rechargeable batteries thus enables you to save money.
USP
1. Connection is secure as the machine operates on 10 channels
2. A wide range is provided by 900 MHz
3. Money is saved as the machine uses rechargeable batteries
4. The power chords used in the machine are of improved technology and they conserve a lot of energy.
Pros and Cons
1. The signals are clear
2. The monitor has good range – 800 feet
3. It is a simple and user friendly device and anyone can use it easily
4. Few of the drawbacks are that its battery life is poor. It become static and at times transmission is poor
4. MobiCam Ultra
Price: $199.95
Description: MobiCam Ultra is a portable and compact baby monitor. It provides multi features. It allows the camera to be easily moved. It can be easily shifted to any place in the house. It gives a good range of 300 feet. It comes equipped with handheld cameras. These cameras are wireless thus are portable. The monitor has a wide screen so that you can see clearly. Provides clips which can be attached to the cloths. The monitor provides night vision up to 25 inches . More cameras and monitors can be added
USP
1. Night vision is provided and can see up to 25 inches
2. More cameras and monitors can be added
Pros and Cons
1. Gives good picture
2. Drawback is that it becomes static
5. Fisher Price Sounds ‘N Lights
Price: $74.99
Description: The tag line of Fisher Price Sounds ‘N Lights can be hear and see your baby call. It is apt for mothers who cannot be satisfied by just hearing the baby but also want to see them. This monitor comes equipped with cameras which enable you to see your baby. There are also 2 receivers provided. It also has a night light feature which allows you to see the baby clearly when you peak in the nursery. The connection is clear as it provide 2 channels. The range provided is up to 400 feet. To save energy it has power chord which save energy. The receivers are not bulky so are easily portable. There is a clip which can be attached to the belt or your cloths.
USP
1. The monitor provides option of hear and see your baby
2. It is equipped with energy-saving power cord. This chord does not draw energy on the off mode.
Pros and Cons
1. You can hear as well as see the baby
2. Energy efficient chords
3. The drawbacks are that it has static and is at times difficult to turn on
6. Graco imonitor Multi-Child Digital Baby Monitor
Price : $70
Description: Graco has developed the Graco iMonitor Multi-Child Digital Baby Monitor which enables parents to monitor 2 children simultaneously. This monitor is very apt to suit the multitasking parents of today’s world. It gives you a feeling of having more than 2 eyes and to watch 2 children at the same time. The monitor provides a set of 2 units for parents and 2 for children. The 2 children’s sounds are differentiated by the dual color sound lights provided on the parent unit. It provides a very wide range of up to 2000 feet. To make it portable it comes with a clip which can be attached to the cloths. The signals are strong and secure as the iMonitor™ Multi-Child Digital Baby Monitor employs digital technology.
USP
1. The signals are strong and secure as the iMonitor™ Multi-Child Digital Baby Monitor employs digital technology
2. Enables parents to monitor 2 children simultaneously.
Pros and Cons
1. Provides wide range of 2000 feet
2. Two children can be monitored simultaneously
7. Sony NTM-900 900MHz BabyCall System!
Price: $99.95
Description: The Sony BabyCall has analog 900 MHZ, thus it possible that there will be interference from other electronics. But as it provides 27 channels you have the option to select the one which works the best. To reduce the irritation caused by the background noise the Sony BabyCall baby monitor comes equipped with Voice Activation Mode. This mode enables the monitor to be silent till the baby makes some noise.
USP
1. 27 channels
2. The monitor’s receiver has a cover which is water resistant.
3. Batteries are rechargeable
Pros and Cons
1. Caters to the sensitivity of noise
2. Has a good battery life
3. Quality of sound is good and clear
4. Provides 27 channels
5. Drawbacks are that the units of the parent at times beeps extremely and there is lot of interference
8. Summer Infant: Baby’s Quiet Sounds Video Monitor
Price: $75.00
Description: The best part of Baby’s Quiet sounds Video Monitor is that it enables the parents to be able to see and hear the baby from any place in the home. The background noise is filtered by the monitor on its own. It comes equipped with infra-red LEDs. These LEDs allow the parents to be able to see the baby even in the night.
USP
1. The background noise is filtered by the monitor on its own.
2. The infra-red LEDs allow the parents to be able to see the baby even in the night.
Pros and Cons
1. It is portable
2. Baby can be seen at night also
3. Removes the background sound automatically
9. Graco imonitor Vibe
Price: $59.99
Description: Graco imonitor Vibe employs the Features vibe technology. This technology has the feature of adjustable vibration, which enables you to even feel the baby. There is assured no interference as the monitor employs 100% digital technology. The sound is crystal clear. The range is up to 2000 feet. The batteries are rechargeable and thus inexpensive option. Is portable as the parent units are very compact and also has a clip which can be put on the cloths.
USP
1. Has movement sensor
2. The imonitor employs the feature of vibe technology
Pros and Cons
1. It is portable
2. Sound is crystal clear and devoid of any interruption
3. Drawback is that the battery gets discharged after some use
10. Summer Infant 2.4GHz Digital Monitor
Price: $53.99
Description: In Summer Infant 2.4GHz Digital Monitor there is the feature of auto-channel scanning. This makes it able to select the best channel on its own. The interference is removed by the 2.4 GHz digital technology. Range is up to 600 feet. Parents Unit is equipped features like out of range indicator, volume control, belt clip and low battery indicator
USP
1. There is the feature of auto-channel scanning. This makes it able to select the best channel on its own.
2. The interference is removed by the 2.4 GHz digital technology.
Pros and Cons
1. In a noisy room the lights of the receiver turns very bright
2. Comes with a belt clip so is portable
4. Drawbacks are that even when the volume is reduced the background noise comes very loud
