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Baby Monitor 101
Learn the basics of finding the right baby monitor.
When I had my first child, I was so scared of something going wrong. Therefore I decided to get a monitor to ease my fears. I know, I know. I shouldn't have been so nervous, but I was afraid of messing something up that would jeopardize my son. I bought 2 monitors: a Graco Audio Monitor, and an Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor. With these 2 monitors I learned the following:Size does matter! If you live in a smaller dwelling (less than 1,700 square feet), then any monitor will do. However, if you live in a bigger home a monitor with a BIGGER range works better.Can you hear me now? Most monitors operate on a 49MHz, 900MHz or 2.4GHz frequency. And so do other electronics. So because of this, there may be times when there is interference where you will hear static or even your neighbor’s conversation. That is why the new thing in baby monitors is digital monitors. These monitors scramble the signals to prevent eavesdropping and some interference. However, because this is new technology, be prepared to spend more on a digital monitor.Seeing is not always believing. Video monitors to me is not neccessary. However some moms may disagree. Sometimes we mothers will feel more at ease if they can see that their little one is ok. To each his own.Movement sensor monitors. These monitors are for parents that are worried about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), or have newborns with health concerns. I used a movement monitor after a friend of mine scared me about SIDS. This type of monitor REALLY put my mind at ease.I recommend considering the following before purchasing a baby monitor.Digital monitors are better than analog monitors. These monitors prevent eavesdropping and other interference.Two receivers make life easier. This is especially beneficial if you live in a two or more story home. That way you can have one monitor on the first floor and the other one on the second floor.Sound activated lights. If you have a vacuum on, you may not hear the monitor. Sound activated lights help you SEE when your little one is awake.I like rechargeable batteries I would sometimes forget to plug in the monitor right away. So I always had to replace the batteries. But rechargeable batteries can save you a few bucks. If the monitor that you like does not come with a rechargeable battery, then you can always buy NiMH rechargeable batteries separately.Check the frequency. You may want to consider the frequency of the monitor with other electronics in your home. For example, if your cordless phone is a 900 MHZ phone, you may want to buy a monitor that is on a different frequency.Don't throw away your receipt. Not all monitors work for all environments. So if you have a problem with your monitor and you have kept your receipt, you can return it and get one that may work better in your home.
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