(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best baby monitors

u/lionfamily is my nominee!

She is so sweet to everyone on here. Her comments are always uplifting, generous and kind. And not to be biased, but she did just gift me the gift of good sleep (my weighted blanket) and I'm going to be forever grateful. I may often dream of her as well (JK!!). She is such a good person and I feel she deserves good things in life.

She has a infant camera monitor on her list that I would love to gift her, but simply cannot afford. I'd love to be able to give her the gift of a peace of mind while her littlest cub is upstairs and she is downstairs 😍😍

This is the monitor ::

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JVCSNSD/?coliid=I2LUCQ2L037518&colid=15SD2CV4OBEL3&psc=0&ref_=lv_vv_lig_dp_it

Thanks for the contest 💜💖💜

Oh my god I can so relate to this. To get over it, I can't recommend this monitor enough. It beeps if no movement/breathing is detected for 15 seconds, and it's allowed me to feel so much better when the baby is sleeping. I see now that there is a version of this that comes with a video monitor, which I didn't see when I bought mine, but looks pretty awesome.

The one drawback to this monitor is that it's pretty stationary since it needs to be plugged in and there are cords, so it doesn't work if you have your baby sleeping in several places. For something more mobile, I've heard good things about the Snuza monitor that you clip onto the baby's diaper and it vibrates and has an alarm if it senses no movement.

Note that for both kinds of monitors, having anything that moves in the crib (like a mobile) or using it when baby is in a swing or bed sharing (in the case of the Snuza) can interfere with effectiveness.

Hope that helps!

First off I wanna say you’re doing a great job so far. You’re trying everything possible to keep baby comfortable and happy and that’s amazing.

Of course I am not a doctor or trained professional so this is just what we did with our own judgement and I am in no way instructing you to do this unless you feel comfortable:

I also had a baby that wanted to only stomach sleep so I found a peace of mind solution with getting a motion pad monitor.
This one

It alerts after 15 seconds if baby were to not have “moved” (it senses breathing motion). We slept peacefully knowing this was monitoring her and we never had a single alarm not even a false while she was in the crib. It only ever went off for us forgetting to turn it off when we took her out of the bed. I always tested it weekly just for peace of mind.

I still have it and will use it again for baby due in December.

Another FTD here. I had the same dilemma: Packaged baby cam vs. badass custom wifi cam setup vs. audio only.

A friend ended up buying us a simple Summer brand video monitor with night vision. Even though I didn't end up hacking together a secure stream for my wife when she's at work, I really do love it. I'll definitely recommend the video over audio-only so I can peek and see if she looks cold or if she pulled her blanket over her head.

I do miss the wifi/streaming abilities but it isn't a deal breaker. My advice is that you'll be happy with whatever you get so don't worry too much about buyers remorse. You'll quickly adapt to whatever features you end up getting and it's NBD if budget is your main concern.

Good luck.

We got a cheap ~$50 video monitor on amazon and it's been great. Vid quality isn't stellar but we aren't exactly looking for Hollywood production. Monitor lasts about 5hrs on battery and the mic is relatively clear. This is it:

Video Baby Monitor - Night Vision Camera, Super clear picture and Two Way Audio System for Baby Safety & Security - Wall Hooks Included https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07333QWMW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_rs1Dzb0VEYTQB

Newborn is the hardest, by far.

To help you sleep, maybe you should get one of these--we got them for our twins. They don't work if the baby is sleeping in a thing that's moving (car seat, swing, etc.), but in a crib it works great:
https://www.amazon.com/Snuza-Hero-Movement-Replacement-batteries/dp/B00IFE163S

If she stops breathing for a certain amount of time (I think it's 15 seconds), it buzzes to stimulate her to start again. If that doesn't work, in another 5 seconds the alarm goes off LOUDLY so you can hear it and rouse her.

Also, don't stress about milk production. Most moms combo-feed (some breastfeeding, some formula). That's actually pretty awesome because it makes it very easy for other people to help feed the baby, so you can occasionally get a nap or shower while someone else takes care of the baby, and you don't have to spend unpleasant hours hooked to a breast pump (I still have flashbacks about how unpleasant that was!).

Products:

• A baby monitor. Doesn't have to be a fancy device with an AESA radar, full-spectrum IRST, and a high fidelity data link transmitting the information back to the command post. A [simple audio-only set] (http://www.amazon.in/Motorola-MBP10S-Digital-Audio-Monitor/dp/B002KV14VG/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1464371126&sr=1-1&keywords=monitor) can be had on the cheap on Amazon, and is immensely useful.
  
  
• Quality diapers and wipes. I cannot stress this enough. a little extra cash spent on good diapers is going to make everyone's life happier.
  
  
• A sealed garbage bin to dispose of dirty diapers. Do not throw them in your regular kachra, or they'll stink up the house double quick. You ideally need something like the Diaper Genie.
  
  
• A good quality baby harness. It needs to support the baby around the buttocks, and not on the crotch. I won't comment on the long-term health benefits, but it's discernibly more comfortable for the kid. BAsically something like the Ergobaby 360. It's twice as expensive as a conventional harness, but I'm sure you could find a cheaper alternative if you do your research.
  
  
• Some good books. Little Blue Truck is one of my favourites! When they're young enough, though, you can read them practically anything. They just need to hear your voice as often as they can. I read mine a history of the Battle of Britain :-/
  
  
• A Kindle. Mothers get bored while breastfeeding for the first few months. They can get some good reading done in that time.
  
  
• If you're in the US, get a maid to clean your place every couple of weeks. Believe me, it will take a huge load off your back.
  
  General Tips:
  
  
• I cannot stress this enough, but talk and sing to the baby as much as you can. Do not just play music on your phone or tablet ... the child needs to be exposed to real human voices in order to learn how to speak early and effectively.
  
  
• Avoid speaking in low voices or muting your TV when the baby sleeps. It needs to get used to sleeping through everyday noises.
  
  
• This is a personal opinion, but do not go overboard in keeping your baby "safe" and "protected". Let it explore the world. Let it fall, let it hurt itself (within reason, of course), let it take ill, allow it to fail at tasks, etc. etc. Babies are hardy as hell; they recover from these things quickly, become tougher, and learn a few important lessons along the way. I even stopped using hand sanitiser before handling my kid after she turned six months old. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is good enough.
  
  Hope this helps for now. Will keep adding to this list if I think of anything else.

We really debated on baby monitors. We knew we wanted one with video, but beyond that we didn’t think we needed anything fancy. We ended up getting this one:

Govee 3.2 Inch Video Baby Monitor 2.4GHz Wireless Long Range with Digital Camera by Minger, Infrared Night Vision, Two Way Audio, VOX and Temperature Monitoring, 8 Lullabies and High Capacity Battery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FSFP5MK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pii1CbMATG2AB

We like it because we were able to mount it to the wall above the crib, it displays the temperature in the nursery, and allows us to talk to baby through the monitor, so we can attempt to soothe him from outside the nursery before we go in. We haven’t used it much yet (baby is 2 months today!), but the few times we have used it, I’ve been very happy with it.

Video quality isn’t crystal clear, but it definitely gets the job done.

I hope the night went well for baby and that you were able to get some sleep! It will get easier! If you can, and you think it will help, get the Angelcare Sensor Pads (or other name brand) that monitor movement. I have the HiSense Sensor Pads one and it is INCREDIBLE. Might help ease your mind mama. Good luck!

OP how are you on reddit while you wife is in labor? Those nurses put my ass to work in the delivery room!

Oh and congrats on the new job and hopefully, by now, new kid.

My pro tip as a dad of a toddler is to get one this if you don't have something like it already.

https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Digital-Color-Monitor/dp/B00I3K1D00

We literally use it every single day. Don't bother with anything expensive or super HD or anything like that. This one is basic but works and a replacement battery for the display unit (which you'll probably need after about a year and a half) is only a few bucks and easy to swap.

Thing is built like a tank too. I can't even count how many times we've dropped it and it still works perfectly.

I got lots more info if you have Q's. you know.. stuff that isnt' in baby books and stuff other parents may not think to mention.

My top five:

1. OXO perfect pull wipe dispenser - OXO Tot Perfect Pull Wipes Dispenser, Navy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0771FFJ1J/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mzPkDbJMKD4SF
   
   
2. Target storage baskets - https://www.target.com/p/y-weave-medium-rectangle-bin-room-essentials-153/-/A-53816617?preselect=14758453#lnk=sametab - used these in the dresser drawers to organize clothes!
   
   
3. Angel Care monitor - Angelcare AC403 Movement and Sound Monitor, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K5439FO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_wEPkDbTEKA6RS
   
   
4. plush deer bust - ADORE 13" Boone the Whitetail Deer Plush Stuffed Animal Walltoy Wall Mount https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EVWX6A8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kFPkDbPEAR0Y8 - His antlers are a fun way to keep the blinds cord away from the crib!
   
   
5. the low profile dresser and shelves my husband made that allow us to use the otherwise useless space under the sloped ceiling.

I have this monitor and we’re really happy with it! You can move the camera around, zoom in/out, talk through it, and it monitors the room temperature and you can play lullabies through it. The picture is great even when the room is pitch black. The only feature I wish it had is to filter out “little” noises like the tiny grunts babies make all night long. Otherwise it works really well!

We use this one: Zzume Baby Monitor. It's video/audio, but pretty simple. Doesn't record anything (why is that something that people want?), but it's got a pretty decent range. I was able to go outside to shovel the walkway while she was napping, monitoring her the whole time. I really love it.

Congratulations on the kid!

I know of this. It's not the prettiest but it gets the job
done. It lights up with brightness based off noise level.
https://www.amazon.com/Secure-Coverage-Digital-Monitor-Parent/dp/B004AHKUHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331561123&sr=8-1
I could also suggest a video monitor as well to be able to see inside the room as that might be helpful too.

We have this one. It probably has a too few many bells and whistles but having a good, long-lasting rechargeable parent until is good. We use a cheaper one at my parents lake house and it eats up regular batteries very quickly.

By two rooms do you mean two cameras?

​

If you don't mean that, and only need one camera, I LOVE this one. We've had it a year, and it works great. My only complaint about it is the lowest screen dim setting isn't that dim at all.

Summer Infant Babble Band Wearable Audio Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016Q0YY9U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_JBqQBb0CNZ04J

I think this would be great for you, if you're sleeping. The bracelet will vibrate when the monitor is alerted by your baby.

https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Secure-Coverage-Digital-Monitor/dp/B004AHKUHM?tag=babymonitor101-20

But it did have so.e feedback issues. It's not perfect but worked for us :)

We use this one and we really like it!

I also noticed on some of your responses you've noted that one of the issues is even when dad goes you still wake up because noise is coming through the monitor. You might want to try a monitor that has a vibrating feature (like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Secure-Coverage-Digital-Monitor/dp/B004AHKUHM?ie=UTF8&tag=babymonitor101-20). Whoever is going to get up can sleep with the monitor and you don't have to wake the other person. This might help you get a bigger chunk of sleep during the night instead of both of you constantly waking up when only one needs to.

Which one do you have? I have this one and it works great. No interference that I can tell from mine.

I have the cheaper Summer Infant video one and I like it for the most part. It doesn't connect to WiFi so I think hacking is a minuscule concern since someone would have to be basically right outside my door to be in the radius where they could hack into it. The battery on the handheld sucks if you're using video a lot (just audio though it's pretty good) but I almost always have it plugged in anyway so it's not a big deal for me. You can buy additional cameras if you want to mount one permanently in their room but have a separate one for portability.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00I3K1D00/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You're probably better off getting separate devices. The IP cameras are not stable enough in my opinion to be relied on (what happens when the camera locks up or the often-poorly-written software crashes?), whereas the standard audio monitors don't have that issue.

I ended up getting a Foscam camera and a Philips Avent DECT audio monitor.

Could you try a vibrating baby monitor for him, something like this https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Babble-Wearable-Monitor/dp/B016Q0YY9U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1480445542&sr=8-1&keywords=summer+infant+babble+band&linkCode=sl1&tag=thedeafmama05-20&linkId=ff8e1919c75340f6356997b3b04cd4b4

This one we have vibrates at a certain sound level (that you set)

http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B004AHKUHM

Not a stupid question! There are baby monitors that light up or vibrate when they detect noise (like this one.) They also come with belt clips, so the Deaf parents can attach it to themselves and go about their business during the baby's daytime naps.

We bought this, I loved it SO much. It stayed attached to me so I didn't leave it around, it has a vibrate setting, which works great if you go in the room w the monitor, there's no feedback. We had two cameras but the sound quality wasnt good enough to hear him breathing. (As first time parents we were always checking.) We ended up ditching them entirely an only used this. Summer Infant Babble Band Wearable Audio Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016Q0YY9U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_85SWAbH5KW7F3

Summer Infant Babble Band Wearable Audio Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016Q0YY9U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_at8VCbCFTD3ZZ

Obligatory disclaimer is that we have never used this when our kid is in the same room as us so YMMV

We use a [Summer](Summer Infant In View Digital Color Video Baby Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I3K1D00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_uO3gzbPAZW9HN) brand non-wifi monitor. The battery on the screen dies kind of fast if it's not plugged in, but gets the job done.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0061PIHOE/ref=pd_aw_sbs_5?pi=SL500_SY115&simLd=1

We registered for it. Still working after 2 years used every night.

I just use a regular summer brand baby monitor with infrared and a 4" screen. Like $120 at target. No reason to have it viewable on phone or connect it to wifi. No reason to require the need to talk to your kid back through the camera. These are all extra nonsense selling points.

Summer Infant In View Digital Color Video Baby Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I3K1D00/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_6d-fybF1K9XG2



Even the reviews there crack me up. Horrible battery life? Oh, you are surprised the screen doesn't stay on for over 3 hours like your phone? That phone you paid $700 for? Haha


I use this monitor and have had no problems. If you plan on 2 kids get the one with 2 cameras and one monitor.