I'm pregnant with #2, and considering whether or not to get another baby monitor to monitor both kids' bedrooms. My son will be just over 2 yrs when the 2nd is born, and will have probably only been in his new room, in a real bed, for a couple of months by then. What age have people stopped using baby monitors to watch their kids, and why might you have monitored past 2 yrs or once they've been in a real bed?
Just to add some more background: I have a 2-story home, and my son goes to bed at 6:30pm, so we're downstairs (or even outside) a lot when he's sleeping. Since my son is such a light sleeper, we have to shut his door, which makes the monitor essential for now since he's in a crib. Also, the kids' bedrooms are down the hall from our bedroom, but I figure once he's in a regular bed, he'll probably get out and come into our room if he wants.
Some time around 10 mos, I think. Even on different floors, I can hear calling or yelling or crying. Especially once the child can get out of bed, I really don't see any need.
We stopped the first night DS came home from the hospital. We set it up and went to bed. DS started screaming/crying - it was broadcast full strength in stereo - from his room and through the monitor. Jumped through the roof. I realized babies are made to scream loud enough for someone to come. End of monitor. I have a ranch home, but seriously you could hear him outside if the windows to the house were open.
There is no reason why you can't have the monitor still for your eldest.
Like you said, sometimes you'll be downstairs & outside.
It's fine and why not?
If it makes your life easier & gives you peace of mind, go for it!
About a year.
That was past the SIDS risk, and we have no need to listen to his singing, periodic whimpers or lectures on string theory and quantum mechanics.
If it makes YOU feel better to have a second monitor, then that's all that matters!
We bought a monitor the first time that had one base and two handsets. At some point, I bought a second base with a handset for the first baby because we had a tri-level house and I put baby in the living room to nap and wanted a monitor there for her.
I think we stopped using a monitor in the oldest's room when she was 3 or 4. She was able to open her door and come to us if she needed something or was scared. AND, the other monitor in the youngest's room was close enough to her room that if something happened in that part of the house, we'd hear it. (Our bedroom is in the back of the house and with our fans, we'd NEVER hear them cry or hear someone trying to get in the house....we live on the corner of two relatively busy roads and have had vandalism.)
I only used a monitor when we traveled. Even sleeping on a different floor, I can hear what needs to be heard. You can't hear him even when he is yelling/screaming? And when I work outside in the yard, I'll go inside every 15 minutes or so to see if I can hear the kiddos.
You might consider moving your 2 yo to a bed. That way, he can come get you if needed. Downside? He can come and get you if needed.
Never used a monitor except if I was in the backyard when a baby was napping in the house. When I had infants, we lived in an 1100 sq ft ranch. If a baby was crying, I'd hear them. I didn't need to hear anything other than crying. The nursery was next door to our bedroom, shared a wall. I wouldn't have missed hearing crying.
I only used it when my daughter was a tiny baby and my computer was downstairs, so I could hear if she cried. I don't see why anyone would use it otherwise, unless their baby will be in a drastically different part of the house than they are in, like friends of mine who's kids' rooms are upstairs while they're downstairs. But our dd's room was across the hall and is now next door, so it's never really been needed in our house.
My daughter didn't get out of her big girl bed until she was told. Since she was on a different floor, I used the monitor until she was 3 and we moved to a new house. Now at the new house, she comes to our room when she wakes up. If we were still in our old house and our rooms were on different floors, I'd probably still use a monitor.
I've never used a baby monitor. I would just check frequently for noise. But I would say a 2 year old wouldn't need one as long as he sleeps well.
I stopped using them when my kids stopped napping. They were sleeping through the night very early on, so it was no problem to let go of them when they let go of their naps.
Dawn
I've always lived in 2 story homes and I've never used a baby monitor. Even with the door closed I could always hear if my kid needed me. Maybe that's just me. I suppose if you're outside it would be useful. But otherwise, I'd get rid of it for the 2 year old.
If they can get out of bed on their own to come and find you then you won't need a baby monitor. I used one when they were in a crib because we shut door in our house and go outside a lot when the kids are still sleeping. As soon as my kids were out of the crib away went the monitors.
I used the monitor more when my boys were 5 and 3--They would get up really early (around 5) and try to be sneaky--The monitor would help me hear them so I could intercept any michevious behavior:)
I didn't buy a second monitor when I had my second child. My oldest was 21 months at the time. She didn't really nap much, so I didn't worry about it.
The monitor broke when my youngest was 12 months.
I will be buying a new monitor for the third baby.
my son is a 2 and we still use a monitor. my husband thinks it is ridiculous, but I like feeling reassured that everything is fine :)
