Baby Monitors

Do I need a baby monitor? I am not sure if I need one I dont know how loud the babies cries will be. I am in a single story home not a huge home but big enough with a yard and patio. Is there a special monitor for twins? Is it worth the video monitor or will a sound one due? Has anyone seen those angel care movement ones are those any good or overpriced? I dont know any tips would help im in a nesting frenzie must get nursery ready must have everything LOL. Thank you ladies.

 

I don't know either! I think in a quiet house you'd probably hear cries, but maybe not over TV or, say, the dishwasher running, etc? I definitely don't think video monitors are necessary, or the "movement" ones either, but I'm pretty practical, I think. I did find a monitor that can have two separate "bases" - which I'm thinking about so I can have one in the nursery, and then one on the first floor/den which is where we spend the day. I dunno, though, it's all so confusing!!

 

I think it depends on how big your house is, and how heavy you sleep. I never got one, and I'm quite happy with that decision. It would have been a torture device for alight sleeper like me :blink:

 

I was looking at purchasing two, and after reading the reviews on Babies R Us on this baby monitor...It's a "no-brainer" for me.

All it took for me was to read from a few people that the alarm went off and they saw that thier baby wasn't breathing....I was instantly sold.

www.angelcare-monitor.com

 

So you're planning to buy two of these things and attach one to each baby?? Call me crazy but that sounds like overkill, but without two separate monitors, the motion sensor features of this thing would be totally useless with two babies. One baby may be breathing and moving, which the motion sensors will pick up on, but there could be a problem with the other baby that you wouldnt necessarily know about because the other baby is activating the sensors.

I dont know, its been quite awhile since I dealt with baby monitors but I seem to remember even 15 years ago when my brothers were babies that you can hear babies breathing pretty well on monitors without needing motions sensors, alarms and cameras. I'm guessing that they are even better nowadays, so a good standard monitor would probably be more than adequate (and give you some comfort), especially in a house that isn't that big.

 

Correct...I will have 2 seperate baby monitors. Each child will have thier own crib(not a co-sleeper, bassinet or pack n play) in our room(never in the same crib) when they are born and their own baby monitor. It is not attached to the child, the motion sensor is placed underneath the mattress and if there is no detected movement(moving, heartbeat, breathing, etc.) for 20 seconds the alarm goes off.

Like I said...only had to read a few of the stories on the "reviews" section to be sold(Like the one where the alarm went off, their baby was not breathing, they blew in it's face and it started breathing again, then their Dr. saying that this purchase saved thier childs life)...and at only a bit over 100 bucks a pop...I'd have to say that it is hardly an overkill...more like money well spent. Not sure I can put an "overkill" or "price" on a childs life, with SIDS being such a scary thing.

It's amazing what they have on the market now, based on what they had 15 years ago...

Monitor -

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2970307

 

LOL!! I hear ya, Pit. I know you's an anxious daddy. Your house is going to be filled to the brim with every baby gizmo and gadget on the market and thats completely fine. Nothing wrong with that!!

Keep in mind though that these baby people are made of pretty strong stuff. True story: I slept in a top bunk bed with my 17 year old mom when I was a baby (no crib, bassinet nor pack n play for me) and I have been told that I rolled out a time or two. And one of my bros dropped my other bro on his head (marble kitchen floor) when he was like 8 months old and 16 years later, he still seems to be alright . . . only time will tell . . . . :rofl:

 

Oh yeah...don't get me wrong. I may be(no...I am pretty sure I am...HA) to "most over-protective daddy to be", but I do know how durable babies are and for the most part nothing will hardly ever go wrong. My Mom had a home daycare for 20 years while I was living at home and currently has a 12 kid home dayvare, so if you can name it, I have pretty much seen it and either helped deal with it, or seen how it was dealt with.

I guess if there is something that I know is on the market that can help prevent something...I'm gonna buy it. Will I ever need it? Probably not, but if for some reason I do. I will have it.

Yes...I am for sure OCD about things. My Baby Registry is bumped against Consumers Report before I even THINK about getting it. Another reason I am putting both of them in a Full Sized Crib when they are born. I researched and found out that Cribs are the ONLY item that has to meet certain safety requirements. Co-Sleepers, Pack n Play, Bassinets, etc. do not. Does this mean they are "Death Traps"? Nope...but in buying a full sized crib, I can ensure that it does meet the current safety requirements.

Of course I'm not going to buy every "Bell and Whistle" item I see on the market...but I don't see how anyone could go wrong with this product after reading these...but that's just me.

Last night about 1:34am our baby boy was asleep and stopped breathing at 20 seconds the alarm system went off. My wife and I rushed into the nursery to find our two month old son not breathing. After my wife blew in his face and was calling his name he finally gasp for his breath and started crying. My wife took him to the doctor this morning and the doctor said that the Angelcare Monitor that I as a over-protective first time father purchased probably saved his life!

This is the best monitor, all monitors should be like it. The motion sensor is fabulous. As long as it is set up properly and the baby keeps some part of their body on it, it works perfectly. I have been able to sleep soundly and without worry because I know it will alarm if he stops breathing. He has set it off twice, the first time at a month old and I had to shake him a little to get him to breath. I believe it saved his life that night. This is the best baby product you can have. I even travel with it.

This monitor saved my daughter's life. She almost suffocated herself in the crib bumper when the monitor's alarm went off. We were able to make it to her in time, and nothing major happened. I can not even bare to think of what could have happened if the alarm had not went off. My husband and I are so thankful that we decided to purchase this monitor instead of one of the cheaper ones. I will recommend this product to everyone I know! (I also recommend not having a bumper now.)

 

I had a monitor with DS...our first baby, so I registered for every gadget in the store. We lived in a one story home...and while I had it plugged in and charged up...never used it. You could hear him just fine w/o using a monitor. (And no, I did not use it at night...babies are NOT quiet sleepers and had I used it at night near our bed, DH and I would have never gotten any sleep!).

I still have the monitor now, but it may actually come in handy because we have since moved to a two story house and the girls' room will be the one all the way at the back. It's just a standard monitor. No video, movement...just basic walkie/talkie kind of things. If I were you, I would wait and see...being in a one story, my guess is that you won't need a monitor, but if you do you can always have someone run out and buy one (or order one online)...that way, you don't spend the money if you don't have to!

 

Hey Pitbullzz, My kids are one and they survived although I do understand the over protectiveness.

Seriously, as the PP said, babies are very loud sleepers. I slept in the room with them for the first 5 months, and it was he**. The only time I would consider a breathing or movement monitor is if I had an extreme preemie or baby with apnea or some other health problem.

One piece of advice I'd give to new parents when it comes to these kinds of things--is that these companies are very aggressive at marketing and they often play off of people's deepest fears to sell their products. I always keep that in the back of my head when buying baby related items.

 

Yeah...I guess it is just something that comes down to Personal Preference.

I am sure there are 1,000's of babies that survived just fine without any sort of baby montior.

While babies can be loud sleepers, my DW and I are very heavy sleepers. I work around Jet Engines all day, so my hearing isn't what it used to be.

I guess my only point in all of this is I would much rather have a piece of equipment to sell later on that have then to possibly have something go wrong and think back..."Man...if I just would have gotten one of those...maybe my child would still be here".

The really sad part is, I had just gotten back from Lunch over here(Iraq) and I was discussing this with the table of guys I was sitting with. I didn't know it, but one of the guys I was sitting with, just had a 2 month old pass away from SIDS in the middle of the night. He didn't even know a product like this existed (one that monitors movement, breathing, noise, heartbeat, etc). I had no clue he just lost a child and felt bad to even be discussing it. You know what his response was..."He said I would be a Freaking(not that word) Idiot!!!" if I didn't purchase that item.

So...while it is easy for you guys to tell your sucess stories about having a regualr montior, not having one, etc. I thnk that is great, but hearing a stroy told by someone who didn't have one and wishes they could turn back the clock is just a TAD more stronger than the other stories.

Oh yes...I have to get on the DW all the time with the things. She wants anything "bright and shiney"...I have to talk her down on many things, and just go with things that are practical and actually useful. This I feel is one of those.

I think that is very good advice. Companies do do a lot of "marketing based off of people's fears". You have to be aware of what you are looking at.

 

...and trust me...I am BY FAR trying to be morbid, but I am sure anyone else that has dealt with the horrible issue of SIDS would tell you the same thing. I think you would be pretty hard fought to find a couple to say...Naw...you don't need a monitor like that...

But...it is also true that you can do all the preparring, safety, etc you can think of. That still doesn't mean something wont or can't go wrong.

 

I have a smaller ranch house but when I put the girls in their room (after sleeping in our room for about 12 weeks...) we put a noise machine in there. It really helped them sleep but it muffled their crying so I always used a monitor.

By the way....I loved having my girls in the same crib until 4 months!! The NICU nurses totally recommended it!

 

Pit, I think you should buy whatever makes you feel comfortable that your children are safe. I would only say, however that unfortunate incidents like SIDS are not always preventible, even with technology.

 

Oh Fo Sho...definately not trying to get into a deabate about "What I feel" a parent should have...like I made sure I stated earlier...It all comes down to Personal Preference...

And again...you are 100% correct. SIDS is not always preventable...even with technology, but if for some
reason one of my child's heart stops beating, or they stop breathing while they are sleeping, at least I will know "when" that happens,
not wishing there was a way I could have known instead.

 

I had the angel care with my DD (who is now 2) Although I did appreciate the sense of security that it gave me, it also made me live in parinoia lol. I was running back and forth from the nursery every time that thing beeped and almost anything electrical would cause interferiance and cause it to go off. I'm still in the mind frame of better to be safe than sorry but might be looking at going a different route with the twins.

 

I agree with sparkle get whatever suits your personal preference. Just watch out for clever marketing. Truthfully, once they get hear, you'll be so caught up in the day to day struggles and the sleep deprivation you'll use whatever you need. You'll find that some things sounded wonderful and actually are and other things sound good, but are a total waste.

I still want a refund on those baby carriers--totally didn't fit my lifestyle or parenting style. It's really hard to know what will be handy and what won't until you are in the moment, and what's useful for one person is useless for another.

 

Yeah, I heard certain things could set it off, but just like you...better to be safe than sorry. We shouldn't be too bad in that area as far as "outside electrical stuff" causing it to go off, just whatever is in the house. We are pretty much isolated out in the woods.

Our spare bedrooms(one that we will turn into a nursery) are on the complete other side of the house, so we decided to keep them in seperate cribs in our room for a few months until we decide to put them in the nursery. We are lucky to ba able to have the room in our room for 2 full size cribs, and have each crib with it's own monitor. If not...we would probably HAVE to go a different route.

 

You talking like the baby carriers you wear? Not a good choice huh?

 

I have to completely agree with this. One of my nephews died at 7 months from SIDS and my sister had this product. So not only did he die from SIDS at a much later date than the norm, but a product to help prevent it, failed.

 

Yeah...pretty much the bottom line, is nothing is Full-Proof and there isn't a product out there that can guarentee 100% safety. Like everyone says. I guess it comes down to personal preference...and what makes that person feel safe. It is definatley easy to stress out about certain things, worry, etc...but that's just what we do sometimes. I mean my sister and I didn't have a baby monitor when we were born either...and we turned out just fine. Not sure that is a reason for ME not to get one.

I am 34 and have NEVER been in a car accident, but I am still buying 2 carseats(and not just because it is the law). Now are there people who have kids who themselves have never had an accident with their kids in the car? Yep. Are Car Seats "guarenteed" to protect your baby 100% in a crash? Nope. You can put a twist like that on pretty much any saftey product. But we still buy them

 

I have 2 monitors since my two are in separate rooms. DS is using a cheapie one from his big sister and DD has the Fisher Price Lights and Sounds that we got for the twins shower. I have them on different channels and they work great. I still have them in their rooms now, at 3.5 years old. I need it for bedtime. I would not hear them while I was sleeping without them. I can't imagine not getting a monitor. ardon:

 

Oh...thanks for reminding me. We have one of each on the way as well. When DID you move them to seperate rooms? My DW and I were discussing that one yesterday.