How to Select the Right Baby Monitor

A baby monitor can help you get things done around the house while your baby naps in another room. The following steps can assist you in choosing the right monitor for your home and baby.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby Monitors
• Baby Toys

1. Decide on a one-way or two-way system. A one-way monitor allows you to hear your child, while a two-way monitor allows your child to hear you as well.
2. Consider video. Video monitors make some parents feel more comfortable about being in a different room, as they can keep an eye on their babies. They are considerably more expensive than basic audio monitors.
3. Take the size of your home into account. Some baby monitors have more limited ranges than others, and some have trouble transmitting through thick concrete walls. In a small home, a simple monitor should be sufficient, but large homes on more than one level may require something more sophisticated.
4. Think portable. Many baby monitors have clips that allow you to attach the receiver to your belt or clothing.
5. Guard against interference. Many monitors are made less effective by cellular phones and cordless phones being used within a few blocks of the neighborhood. Some monitors are equipped with more than one channel to help deal with this problem.

Tips & Warnings

• If your baby wakes up quietly, put a small toy or other safe object that jingles, rattles or rustles next to him or her ' this way you will know as soon as he or she is awake.
• Make sure the transmitter is close to your baby ' within a few feet ' so that it picks up even tiny sounds.
• Remember that a monitor is no substitute for supervision ' always make sure that you can get to your baby within a few seconds if you have to.
• A two-way monitor can be useful if you want to reassure your child as you head towards his or her room but shouldn't be used as a substitute for your presence.
• Check batteries and adapter cords frequently to guard against malfunctions.
• Avoid putting stuffed animals, thick blankets or quilts in your baby's crib. These could cause your baby to suffocate.