The sheer number of options are overwhelming! Let us and our friends at reviews.com guide you!
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Finding a baby monitor can be overwhelming. The baby industry is out of control. There are so many monitors to choose from that include so many features it can make your head spin. Parents can follow a few tips to find the best baby monitor for their needs that will offer the best security and peace of mind as well. For extra help in finding just the right baby monitor and other items check out the super helpful reviews.com - they do the research and heavy lifting and give you their picks (with rationale) in a clear and concise way.
What to look for:
Microphone Sensitivity
A feature that many parents look for in a baby monitor is the sensitivity of the microphone. Some mics pick up on every sound no matter how minor and others only pick up the loudest noises. The best monitors have a microphone that will pick up on the sounds that parents need to hear while blocking out some of the background noise.
Video Capability
Most modern baby monitors have a screen on them that shows a video of the baby or an audio display of the noises that the baby makes. Some monitors have both types of displays. While video capability isn't necessary in the newborn phase, it is helpful for parents as their children get older. Being able to see your baby's movements from anywhere offers an added level of peace of mind.
2-Way Communication
Some monitors allow parents to talk to the baby. Although at first thought it may seem a little "Big Brother", it can really be soothing for the baby who enjoys hearing mom and dad's voices. This feature on a baby monitor is also beneficial for parents who have older children because they can use it to let them know when meals are ready, when something needs to be done or when the child needs to go to bed.
Wireless Connection
When looking for a baby monitor, try to find one that is wireless. This will allow you to take the monitor around the house or outside instead of being restricted to a location with an outlet. This is a big "duh" moment, but parents should definitely consider the price of the monitor. Some monitors offer the same features but because of a different brand name have a
significantly different price tag. The monitor should have a long range so that you
can hear the baby no matter where you are in the home. One of the features on the
best baby monitor that parents can get is a WiFi connection that will allow parents to
use an app with the device. Parents can connect the monitor to the smartphone to see
and hear the baby without using the other part of the monitor.
Baby monitors to consider as recommended by the good folks at reviews.com:
Hello Baby Portable Video Baby Monitor
For more information on the monitors listed above - check out all the details at reviews.com.
Alternative Options
If you're at all like we were, you may be indecisive and not ready to invest the big bucks in a monitor yet. The good news is, for an newborn, you really don't need much. A simple audio monitor will do the trick for several weeks at first while they aren't doing a whole lot of moving. We purchased the VTech DM111 Audio Baby Monitor for use while we researched our video options. In the end, we decided to go with the Nest Cam Indoor Security Camera so when our babies are older we can use it as a security camera in the main area of our home. It gives you alerts and snapshots right to your mobile device. With two way communication you can listen in and talk to whoever's in that room.
With two way communication and alerts straight to your mobile app, the Nest Cam is a definite contender when shopping for baby monitors.