Hi,
Has anyone had a good experience with a baby monitor that has a video component to it? Can they really capture anything in a pitch dark room? Or, should we just go with an audio one??
Thanks in advance,
J. (Mama of one).
We bought the Summer portable video monitor. About 169$ at Target. Worth every penny thus far. Decent picture in the dark and audio quality high. I can hear my baby breathing! And see him goofing off, too. Anyway, thanks to all who gave input and I would ask for this as a gift, but would (and did) pay out of pocket for it as well. Ciao!
Hi J.,
I have the monitor you are asking about and it is awesome! It really does capture everything in the dark. I keep it next to my bed and can glance at my son anytime during the night. It can also run off batteries so you can use it during naps and work/walk around the house and still see and/or hear your child. I hope this helps.
We have just a sound monitor, a good one by Sony, but have said a thousand times we wished we had gotten the video monitor now that our son is older, (almost two).
When they get older they seem to sense you are peeking in on them during nap time or after bed time, and the eyes pop open and they are awake again if you open that door.
So, just my opinion, but with our second child we are going with a video monitor. The Babies R Us website usually has reviews by other customers right next to the products, they are very honest if you are wanting more input about a specific model or brand of monitor.
I don't think I could live without mine. I got one with my first child 5 1/2 years ago and now use it with our 19 month old! You can totally see everything in the dark...even their little chest going up and down from breathing! I especially love the video feature because I can tell when my daughter is just looking for her pacifier or is REALLY up and I need to go in. Otherwise, I can just watch her put herself back to sleep and it saves the disruption of me going in her room. I would for sure get one, it's worth every penny. I have tried several different brands and finally settled on the safety 1st brand. Save your receipt from Babies-R-Us, sometimes certain ones will pick up interferance...it may just be trial and error finding the one that works in your house. More expensive does not necessarily mean Better with these monitors!
Good luck, S.
HI! I got a used one off of e bay out of desperation in the middle of the night and it's been the best thing I ever bought! When my daughter learned to pull up at 6 months)and stopped sleeping through the night (she'd been a perfect sleeper since 6 weeks old) I found that if she even heard me walk by her room let alone open the door to peek in, she'd become hysterial! We tried everything including rocking her to sleep (seh'd jsut wake up in 30 minutes crying again!) but in the end if she saw me, it made it worse so we had the monitor and I could be sure she hadnt' fallen and hurt herself (which was my biggest fear). I now know by her position in the crib how close she is to going to sleep or if she is really ready to get out of bed, etc. It's fun to watch her while she plays and you can turn the sound off while you sleep if you dont' need it. When she is sick, I turn it on or if I just want to know when she is awake (just the same as a sound monitor)
I can't recommend brands as we just have had one and it's held up for two years but is getting a little beat up now. I will get a new one when we have kid #2. I will likely get a split screen one then so I can have it in the nursery and the toddler's room (Comes with two cameras). I'd say read the reviews on Babies R Us then look at e bay to purchase and you can get a used one so it's not a huge expense if you aren't sure. I don't think this is as necessary when you have a new baby (you can go in their room and it doesn't bother them) but later it sure is great! Good luck!
J.,
I don't personally have any experience with them, but my brother and his wife installed one in their house 3 years ago when their son was born - and they LOVE it! I don't know about capturing anything in a pitch dark room, because they usually have the door at least cracked a little bit. BUT I have seen the reception and it's generally very good. They even take the receiver outside when they are doing things out back during nap time.
Hope this helps some...
J.
Anticipation Ultrasound Studio in the Fontana Shopping Center at 51st and Memorial has the color baby monitor that they sell set up in their lobby that you can see actually working. I hate to buy something like that without seeing it in action!
