Baby Monitors Can Offer You Peace Of Mind

A baby monitor is the most useful in situations where a parent or caregiver is not within audible distance from the baby. Many people are surprised at exactly how audible a baby's cry is, however a baby monitor is an excellent means of providing peace of mind for any parent.

Baby monitors are generally a walkie/talkie device that only has one way capabilities; one end (the baby end) picks up sounds, and the other end (the parent's end) transmits sound.

Types of Monitors

There are three basic types of baby monitors available; the most common are the 2 way radio type, the video camera type, and the motion sensor variety. The two way radio type has indicator lights that will give a visual as well as an audible signal to a baby's cries or other noises. These have been used for decades and use radio waves to communicate between hand sets.

The video camera baby monitors allow parents and caregivers to see as well as hear baby, if living in a very large home, or the parent or care giver must be out doors with out the baby, these can be a great comfort to the baby's safety and comfort for them. These also transmit sounds using radio frequencies and often have adjustable band settings, incase interference is detected.

The motion sensor baby monitors are also called baby alarms; they were developed to prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) by alerting the parent or care giver with a sharp alarming sound from the hand set if the baby is inactive for a certain amount of time. These devices are so sensitive that they can detect breathing, therefore inactive can mean not breathing; and this type of baby monitor could be particularly comforting to parents of high risk babies such as preemies.

Not every household needs a baby monitor, apartments and one story homes are probably not places parents or care givers really need baby monitors. Babies cries can be heard loud and clear across long distances (think to a busy grocery store, ever heard a baby cry over all the noise but not been able to see the baby?). For these people a baby monitor may never be used and could end up just collecting dust; also first time parents may not realize how little a baby is really left alone. Babies don't sleep very long, and there are many portable devices, such as infant carriers, bouncy seats, and bassinets, which babies can sleep in; many parents keep the baby out in the middle of the family action. This is a double duty application because this can also get a baby used to sleeping in loud or noisy areas.

Baby monitors may not be for everyone, but for people who want them, they can be very useful tools and put a parent's nagging mind to rest. When purchasing a baby monitor be sure to check such conditions as the frequency, power sources information, and range. The range should mention obstacles such as walls and doors. Also assuring that the lights and other signals the baby monitor relays are easy to understand is good to know before one is actually using the device.