Video-based baby monitors are the norm these days, so when I was choosing a monitor for the nursery before my son was born, I knew I’d choose one with a screen.
When we searched online for the best baby monitors, we found a dizzying array of options, from HD streaming video and smartphone connectivity to multiple cameras that can pan, tilt, and zoom.
I was overwhelmed by the amount of high-tech features and wondered if I really needed some of these devices to keep my son safe. My husband felt the same way, so we started thinking, “Did we really need a video monitor?” We talked and decided to go the old-fashioned way when it comes to monitors.
We quickly found a simple VTech model that seemed perfect. It had wireless connectivity, five volume levels, and a parent unit with a belt clip. It was the most bare-bones one we found, but it had a few extra features, like a room temperature sensor and a star-shaped ceiling light projector that glows in the dark.
It was also an added bonus that the cost of the basic monitor was much lower than most video options. Some video models can reach hundreds of dollars, but we paid about $40.
When my son was about 2 months old, my husband and I started using a monitor for his naps. Since then, I have never looked back. I understand why parents would choose a video-based option, but here’s why the no-frills model works so well for me and my family.
It may sound counterintuitive, but keeping an eye on my son while he naps actually helped me avoid anxiety as a parent.
I feel less anxious
It may sound counterintuitive, but keeping an eye on my son while he naps actually helped me avoid anxiety as a parent. I strongly suspect that if you had your baby’s video feed at hand, you would have a hard time looking away from the screen. I can imagine myself constantly staring at the monitor to see if he’s still okay, but I think this frequent checking would make me irritable and distracted.
But with an audio monitor, you can visually separate yourself from your baby when he or she naps in the nursery. I love being with my son, but finding small moments during the day to be away from him is also very important to my mental health. It’s a time when my son is out of my sight and I can read a book, watch the news, or just rest my eyes for a few minutes.
And when my husband and I are home together, we might use that precious nap time to chat, eat together, or watch a TV show. Not having to glance at a screen can help you feel more present with each other and stay connected as a couple.
We remain fully responsive to our son while he naps upstairs. Our monitors are sensitive so if the baby makes any noise, one of us will be in the crib within seconds. With a video model, I can’t imagine being more responsive.
feels safer
Unlike many video models, our monitors use wireless technology rather than a Wi-Fi connection. In other words, you can rest assured that remote hacking is impossible.
I was certainly alarmed by recent reports of parents hearing strangers’ voices through video monitors connected to Wi-Fi. You can protect your Wi-Fi-based camera from hacking by choosing a strong password, keeping your firmware up to date, and using two-factor identification. However, a low-tech wireless model completely avoids the risk of remote hacking, which appealed to me.
Another advantage of non-Wi-Fi models is that they cover you even if your home internet goes out.
related
trust the audio
Choosing an audio-only monitor gives you a certain level of confidence. Even if I can’t see my son in his crib, I have to trust that he’s okay. This may seem like an absolutely scary thing to do, but I remember being a little nervous the first time I put my baby upstairs with the monitor. But now that it’s been a few months, I don’t have to worry about it at all.
It helps remind ourselves that we are doing everything right to keep our son safe while he naps. We follow the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep recommendations. This includes placing your baby on his back on a hard, bare mattress with a fitted sheet and avoiding the use of bumpers, blankets, or toys that could pose a suffocation hazard. We pay close attention to our son’s sleeping environment, so we are confident that he is completely safe when he is in his crib.
Also, I noticed the following: Even if my son and I are in the same room, the possibility of 24/7 visual surveillance is an illusion. My husband and I take turns sleeping in my son’s nursery overnight, but I still don’t look at him when I’m fast asleep in the bed next to his crib. Even if I had a video monitor, I wouldn’t watch it while I was sleeping. All I can rely on is my ears, and so far they haven’t let me down.
