8 Tips for Finding the Best Baby Monitor

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by Ashley King

Baby monitors are a boon for busy parents. They not only allow more freedom of movement around the house, but also provide for the safety of your children even when you can't be right by their side. However, with the many different types of baby monitors available, new parents may find it difficult to choose which monitor is the most practical for their needs.

Some guidelines to help parents pick the ideal baby monitor are given below. These apply to audio and video, analogue and digital monitors.

1. You should ensure that sound is perfectly clear, with minimal static or disturbance. This is the basic factor that will help you keep - well, not an eye, but an ear! - on your child's activities. Reception should be of the best quality.

2. One way in which you can keep an eye on your child while you are working is to have a baby monitor that comes with a compact and portable receiver that can be comfortably carried around. Many modern baby monitors are equipped with ultra small receivers.

3. Another useful feature of a baby monitor is a clip you can attach to your belt, making it easy to carry the monitor around conveniently. If this is your intention, test it properly to make sure the reception is good everywhere in the house and that the device can handle rough usage every day.

4. Some baby monitors also have flashing light alarms which activate when sound is received. These are great for moments when you are distracted by other loud sounds - perhaps your mixer or lawn mower is runner, or maybe the TV is on.

5. A low battery indicator will warn you in plenty of time before the battery runs out. If the battery on your receiver is dead and you don't notice, you'll have a sense of false security, and your child could be in danger.

6. It's also important that you pick the correct range or bandwidth. A large area will need a broad range, whereas a monitor used in an apartment or small house would need less, particularly if the device is going to be near many mobile phones or other devices which transmit and receive signals.

7. Are you considering a wireless monitor? You should know that you might have problems with the signal of such a device. If the people you live next door to own a device like yours, there may be interference - you may even hear what is going on in their baby's room! Your signal may also get disturbed by cordless phones, so go in for a model with anti-disturbance features or extra security during use.

8. The combination of sound and visual monitoring in a video baby monitor is also possible nowadays due to technological innovations. However, even though the video option does seem like a great idea, it isn't possible or practical to sit and stare at the screen constantly. Consequently, excellent sound quality should not be sacrificed for supplementary features.

Remember that the best baby monitors may not always be the most expensive ones. The most important thing is that the model you choose is suitable for your requirements, as well as being tough enough to survive everyday use. Of course, the most important features are the ones that enable you to keep your baby safe.

About the Author:

Ashley King is editor of the Family Section at i-KnowHow | Information for Life, where you'll also find ideas and tips for hobbies, home and garden, personal finance, technology basics and much more.

Brand New 100 authentic HERMES Baby Blanket Cashmere And Wool
US $606.45

Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Orginal in Black color
US $17.00

Baby Einstein Large Diaper Tote Bag Brown
US $9.99

ALL STARS baby bedding denim and red gingham sports nine pieces BOY EUC
US $37.95