A Reliable Baby Monitor
While a baby monitor is not a mandatory item in a nursery, it is often appreciated by parents for the peace of mind it brings. It can provide a lot of help when it comes to supervising a baby. There is a reason why monitors are always a popular item in baby registries!
Future parents will be amazed by the baby monitor market. There are many to choose from and there are different kinds of baby monitors that correspond to different needs.
Sound Monitors
Sound monitors are the most common baby monitors and are usually the most affordable. They allow parents to hear the sounds made by a baby. Whether baby is quietly waking up from a nap or crying in the middle of the night, parents will get a notice.
Here is what parents should look for in a sound monitor:
- A high quality sound transmission.
- A decent range between the nursery unit and the parent unit. Do not necessarily look for the widest range as parents still need to be close enough to their baby in case of emergency.
- A number of channels large enough to choose from and to be able to use without interference.
Video Monitors
Video monitors allow parents to monitor their baby by watching him or her. For this, parents need to install a camera with a direct view on the crib. Video monitors are useful to see if the baby is okay and to double-check when you hear your baby: is baby waking up or was it only a sound made during sleep?
When choosing video monitors for your store, you should look for the same criteria as a sound monitor plus:
- A high quality video feed.
- A video monitor with infrared lights to watch the baby at night and in a dark room.
- A monitor with an adjustable camera angle.
Movement Monitors
The market for movement monitors is smaller than the market for your regular baby monitor, reason being, that there are not as many choices as a regular monitor. They are meant to reassure parents who want to monitor their baby's movements. A typical movement monitor will use a sensor pad placed under the crib's mattress and will let parents know in case absolutely no movement has been detected after 15 to 20 seconds. Even though movement monitors are in the higher price range than regular sound monitors, concerned or nervous parents who are looking for extra peace of mind while baby is sleeping may want them. What you should look for when shopping for movement monitors is a technology that has proved itself over the years.
Features That Make Life Easier
When it comes to baby monitors, retailers should also look for additional functions that may become convenient when taking care of a baby.
- Battery operated nursery unit: to provide a useful back up in case of power failure.
- Volume control and the choice between continuous sound transmission and voice activated transmission. Do you want to listen to every sound or just when baby is crying?
- A portable and rechargeable parent unit: no need to plug and unplug the unit around the house. Some models come with 2 parent units: parents can leave one in the bedroom and can take the other one with them around the house.
- Low battery indicator: no explanation needed here.
- Temperature display: to know exactly if the nursery is at the right temperature for baby. This is not replacing the real room thermometer but could give parents a quick idea if they're concerned about it.
Correct Installation is Key
When parents bring home their monitor, they must make sure they install it properly before baby arrives. Safety is a must: remind parents to make sure all cords are out of arm's reach of the child, even if the baby is not mobile yet. Parents should also take the time to test their monitor in their home: how far can they go before the connection is lost between units? Does the monitor work properly? Is the sound quality good? Do they get static or interference on their monitor? About interference: in a world full of wi-fi connections, portable phones and other cordless devices, baby monitors may pick up interference or other conversations. To reduce the risk of such issues and ensure the best privacy possible, parents must have a look at the number of channels available. More channels mean better chances of a interference-free environment, but also the frequency that is used can make a difference.