Safety Tips For Using Baby Monitors

Baby monitors are lifesavers for nervous parents. These incredible tools allow you to check up on your child while you finish up other chores or simply lie down and get some much-needed rest. You can also use them to sing lullabies or play some calming music for your restless kids even if you’re far away from the nursery. If your kids are light sleepers, you can even use baby monitors to check up on them without disturbing their precious sleep.

Although baby monitors are indeed convenient for families, they can also become safety hazards if they aren’t used properly. Before you buy the latest model and install it next to your child’s crib, it’s important to take proper precautions and ensure that nothing is within your baby’s grasp. Here are some essential tips for using baby monitors at home.

What to Look For When Buying a Baby Monitor

Like any gadget, a good baby monitor should include great key features in addition to nifty add-ons and a reasonable price tag. Here are some necessary features to look for when buying a baby monitor for your home.

1. DECT Technology:  DECT stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications. Although DECT is mainly used to help you make calls with cordless phones, it’s been used in many baby monitors to help parents listen to their babies without any static or fuzzy sound. When looking at monitors that use DECT, look for frequencies of around 900 MHz or higher to ensure a clear signal and easy listening experience.

2. Night Vision Technology:  Cameras can’t really capture what goes on in the dark unless they have night vision features installed. If you plan on using an audio/video baby monitor to check up on your little one at night, be sure to pick a monitor with night vision video technology. That way, you’ll be able to see how your baby is doing even if the room is pitch black.

3.“Alert” Features: You won’t always get to look at your baby monitor if there’s way too much to do around the house. If you think you’ll be busy with a lot during the day, look for baby monitors that can warn you if something doesn’t seem right in your baby’s bedroom. Some baby monitors have lights that flash when loud noise is detected, while others can send alerts to your smartphone in case your baby’s face is covered.

4. Rechargeable Batteries: Since your baby monitor will be on 24/7 it’s much better to pick a model that can easily be recharged than one that needs replaceable batteries. Don’t forget to look for models that can warn you if the batteries are about to run out, too. You wouldn’t want to wake up to a blank monitor, after all.

5. Portable Wireless Receivers: You’ll want to go for a receiver that you can bring with you if you need to do a lot of work around the house. That way, you’ll still be able to hear your little one’s voice even if you’re out in the garden or garage. Try to also opt for other nifty features like extra handsets and belt clips for additional convenience.

6. Proper Sound Filtering and Activation: You won’t be able to know how your little one is doing if there’s way too much background noise muffling your baby’s voice. You’ll also have to deal with too many sleepless nights if you pick a monitor that picks up too much white noise. It’s best to look for monitors designed to filter out noises that you really don’t need to listen to.

 

Tips For Using A Baby Monitor

Your baby monitor will go from a convenient parenting buddy to a dangerous safety hazard if you aren’t careful. Here are some important safety tips to remember when using a baby monitor at home.

1. Don’t put it in the crib

Your baby will grab anything inside of his crib, including the cameras from a baby monitor! If you don’t want your baby to get a bruised head from bulky tech or choke from small parts, it’s best to keep your monitor away from the edge of his crib.

 

2. Don’t use it as a replacement for adult supervision

Technology isn’t meant to replace the power of our own eyes, ears, and instincts. You should still supervise your child as much as possible and spend time with him in person. Leaving your baby inside his bedroom all by himself all day will only result in severe emotional distress and cost him the socio-emotional skills he needs to thrive.

 

3. Get rid of stray cords

Babies can indeed choke against any string or cord they can get their hands on. In fact, there have already been several cases of kids as young as 6 months choking on electric cords attached to baby monitors. When installing a baby monitor in your child’s room, keep all power cords at least 3 feet away from the crib. If possible, bolt cords to the wall or ceiling so that they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

 

4. Keep it in a safe place

Like any other piece of technology, your baby monitor will spark and break if it’s directly exposed to water. Keep your baby monitor away from spots that could get damp during the rainy season and do be careful if you need to carry a bit of water around in your baby’s room. It’s much better to be careful than to risk wasted money or electrical accidents, after all.

 

5. Secure your cameras

You can never underestimate the frightening power of online hackers. Cameras and monitors that aren’t secured can easily be hacked into and controlled without you realizing it. If you’re using a monitor that requires an online connection, take precautions and secure it with strong passwords. Don’t reuse passwords from your social media or other online accounts as hackers could use this info to invade your privacy even more.

 

6. Don’t rely on it to get rid of SIDS

Monitors aren’t magical tools that will protect your child from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). They’re simply meant to alert you in case anything goes wrong while your child is asleep. Before installing a baby monitor and putting your little one to sleep, make sure to follow proper sleeping guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). This means removing loose or bulky items from the crib, letting your child sleep on his back, and making sure that he can’t choke on anything while he’s asleep.