Reddit mentions: The best baby safety products

So, now that I've had coffee....

Good morning. I hope you're feeling a little bit better.

With your daughter - at about 2.5, my boys both started to protest naps. My solution was to stop calling it nap time. I let them pick 1 book and 1 quiet toy from the playroom and take them to the bedroom (normally, no toys in bedroom). Then they had "quiet time." I usually told them it was only for a half hour, but tbh, I lied. 95% of the time, they fell asleep within 10 minutes, and slept for their full nap. The other 5%, they'd play quietly for an hour or so. I put one of these locks on the door, which keeps it open a crack. Note that at first, they came to the crack every 5 minutes to ask if they could come out yet - I had to be super consistent that "no, the timer hasn't gone off (because I didn't set it), they had to play quietly until the timer said that quiet time was over."

As to the no breaks / burned out. Like I said, I've been there. Military life is hard on families, and transitioning out isn't much better. Some things to keep in mind:

1. Just because it's your job doesn't mean you don't get breaks. My husband works in an office. That doesn't mean he works 24-7-365. He gets evenings off, weekends, he gets vacation days and sick days. So, I too deserve time off, sick days, vacation days, etc. I don't get a lot, but I do get some. I find it easier to schedule it in advance, so here's what my husband and I worked out (and by worked out, I mean I informed him of what I needed, and let him pick the day): I get a babysitter to watch the kids from 1-4 on Tuesday. This is when I usually go to therapy, but it's also my time to do whatever I want. He is on kid duty Thursday evening. Dinner, bath, bedtime, the whole thing - from the moment he gets home, I'm "off the clock." I usually go hide in our bathroom and take a bath with a book, but if they're being particularly loud or if the baby is crying, I leave the house. On weekends, each one of us gets one morning off. So Saturday is his day to get up when they get up and get their damn cereal, while I get to linger in bed. Sunday is his day, and I get up with the kids.
   One afternoon, one evening, and one morning to "sleep in" till 8. It's not a lot, objectively, but it makes a huge difference.
   
   
2. Reconsider the religious preschools. Even when they have "chapel" the messages are usually just basic bible stories that (imho) everyone, whether religious or atheist, should know. Things like Noah, that get referenced in popular literature. If they do push a message, it's things like "God loves you" or "God wants us to be nice to our friends." Sending your kid to preschool is NOT getting someone else to do your work for you, it's giving yourself a desperately needed break so that you're a better mom the other 99% of the time, and it's exposing your daughter to all kinds of things that you can't teach her at home, like listening to adults other than you, socializing with her peers, taking turns and sharing, etc.
   If you still decide that's not for you, look into a YMCA membership. You can probably get a military discount if either one of you still has your ID. Some advantages: great beginning swim lessons for your daughter, workouts for you (once you start to feel better), and best yet - 2 hours per day of child care included with your membership. Your daughter gets to practice all those social skills and play with new toys... you get to drink a cup of coffee and browse reddit in peace (or, I suppose, time to workout, but I always just read).
   
   
3. Most of the military men I know do better with specifics. That's why my list of "time off" was so carefully written out - instead of just saying "I need a break" I said "I need one afternoon, one evening, and one morning each week." We took the same tactic with our relationship. If you think of your relationship like a bank account, military life has a way of making tons of withdrawals (tdy, pcs) plus life in general (career change, childbirth, your BiL's death)... your relationship account sounds like it's running low. So we came up with a list of things that make deposits, again being very specific. Our list looks like this:
   
   

• sex twice a week
  
  
• date night once a month (even if it's just microwave popcorn and netflix)
  
  
• family outing once a month (park, zoo, pool, fly a kite in the backyard, pet puppies at the humane society, whatever)
  
  
• something special on mother/father's day, birthdays, valentine's day, anniversary, and christmas. Doesn't have to be expensive, could be coffee in bed or look I made your favorite dinner.
  
  
• one hour of family play time once a week. For us, it's board games, but with younger kids it could be build a pillow fort or play dress up. Just as long as both parents and the kids are all playing together.
  
  Our list has 8-10 items on it, but that gives you an idea. We've been doing it for 2 months now, and honestly, it's starting to help. We're feeling more connected and closer, and I feel like he's actually getting to re-know me, and get to know our kids for the first time. Our kids are getting more comfortable with him too.
  

• Baby-proof the shit out of your house. Every cabinet, every stair, every plug. That way you can relax on the couch and your little crawler, walker cannot get into any trouble. We have 4 gates in my house. My kid could try with all her might to kill herself, but she wouldn't be successful.
  
• Your baby won't remember this time. That's a good thing. Don't beat yourself up about what you're not doing. What you are doing is giving him a forever buddy. They will be closer than close, and thicker than thieves. You haven't messed anything up.
  
• Invest in a baby jail.
  
  
  
• Have family come later--we had support in weeks 2-6 this time, and the emphasis was wearing out the toddler, and letting me sleep with and nurse the baby.
  
• If you can do it: have another wave of support set up for the 4 month sleep regression. It feels so much worse with 2.
  
• You'll be able to get them napping at the same time--don't worry about that. The first month, the baby will sleep anywhere and everywhere.
  
• Get your older baby used to hand washing, as soon as you can. My second born was sick a lot b/c she was born in December, during the worst flu season on record. We avoided the flu, but she got cold after cold from her sister. Persistent hand washing, and keeping the oldest's fingernails short helped.
  
• Your second baby will be better at putting him/herself to sleep... pretty much out of necessity. I'm able to put down my baby and walk out of the room (unheard of with my first!), because I have to tend to my toddler.
  
• Teach your oldest sign language. He will be right in the middle of trying to speak and not being able to yet. Sign language will help you communicate without a lot of frustration. Pick up "baby signs" to start, and then add on books as he masters the first signs (it took until my daughter was a year to really get the baby signs down. By 14 months, she had a sign language vocabulary explosion, and could ask for water, juice, to go in her stroller, to sleep, bathe, and for lots of different types of food. It helped us avoid many breakdowns and tantrums.
  
  The bad:
  
  
• Your partner and you will be like passing ships in the night for a while. Two babies: two parents, two baths, two bedtimes... you'll both have your hands full. Try your best to connect with a hug each day.
  
• There were many days where showering wasn't possible due to one baby or another needing me. I've had to jump in with my toddler a couple of times--once to her extreme emotional dismay, and another she didn't mind since we used mama's bathtub (the SPECIAL bathtub).
  
• Pregnancy is harder. Your body is looser. You'll feel the aches and pains earlier, The nausea is more intense. You won't feel connected like you did with your first because you'll be so busy with your first.
  
  The good:
  
  
• Birth is much better. Dreamier, even. I had a hard first birth, a very long labor, and was too sore to walk without pain for 6 weeks. The second birth was gentle, quick, and I was walking without any pain days after birth.
  
• You will be so confident this time around. You'll know what works, what works for you, what works for your family.
  
• You'll already be in the shit, so it won't feel like going backwards. And when you're out, you will be out (if you want to be).
  
• Your oldest will love being big brother, and he will love his sibling. Being a big boy helper is so exciting! Pushing a stroller is fun! Showing baby how to do things is thrilling! Soon you will be able to sit back, in your baby proofed home, and watch your similarly-aged children entertain each other like magic.
  
  You can do it. It will be hard. Very hard, but then suddenly, it won't be. And you won't even remember what life was even like with a family of three, because your children will love and need each other. It will be like you've been waiting for this child, and life is unimaginable without them--it happens so fast, and it is so worth it.
  
  Good luck!
  
  And now that I have a 3 year old and 18 month old:
  
  
• Your second kid will make you feel like you don't know WTF you're doing sometimes. You will learn. Be gentle on yourself.
  
• Miralaax for constipation saved my life with my second kiddo. It is non-stimulating, and was suggested by our pedi around month 8. If your kiddo is having trouble pooping (esp if formula fed), this is a very helpful option to ask your pedi about.
  
• Two small kids in the bath--woo that was dangerous for a minute. There are some sit-me-up baths that will help facilitate a safer bath with two for your little one. I found a mom who had this bath seat from germany. If you order it new, be aware it will take a while to get to the US. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it definitely helped!
  
• I had PPD/PPA(gression), and it took me until almost a year after having my second baby to get on medication. I was in heavy denial, even in counseling, thinking that the meds would change me in some fundamental way. THEY DO NOT. They help you shake off that terrible voice in your head (mine sounds like my mother) telling me that I'm not doing a good enough job. If you are feeling like a total failure, are angry at the whole world--that's also postpartum depression, but it's expressing itself in anger. Please, please, don't suffer. Zoloft has saved my last pregnancy from being a complete torture. I'm looking forward to seeing how post partum is without the depression!
  
• My kids start sleeping through the night around a year old. So that's how long it took for me to feel like "we made it" through the hard part. Naturally, I got pregnant around 10 months PP.

FTM here... I got this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHYTBI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I originally bought a different one (a WiFi/phone app one), but it was pretty laggy on my phone (which is a pretty good phone & we have pretty good WiFi). DH & I decided to just return it & try another one (the one above). We haven't 'officially' tried it out yet (I'll be 34 weeks tomorrow), but we've played around with it & tried it out a bit for ourselves. In short, the picture is pretty good, the sound is very good, and the parent unit/monitor is very responsive. It's VERY highly rated on Amazon. I know it's early to tell, but I think we're going to be very happy with it. It is a little pricey (around $167 on Amazon), but I still think it's worth the money.

If you're not sure, I just Googled things like 'best baby monitor 2017' or 'best video baby monitor' (depending on the kind you want), and some websites provide very helpful reviews of different monitors (pros & cons, etc).

People always talk about how important baby-proofing is. Lock the cabinets with the cleaning supplies, cover the outlets, secure the furniture - this is all REALLY important. What they tend to gloss over is how to toddler-proof the house to keep the HOUSE safe from the toddler.

You can't expect to get very far by gating a toddler IN to something, but you might have some luck by gating the things you don't want the toddler to get into. For example, the Christmas tree. Sure, it looks ugly, but something like this blocking off the tree is better than picking up a bazillion broken ornaments every day (or even picking up the tipped over tree multiple times a day). It can be frustrating and daunting to really toddler-proof the house, but in my opinion it is SOOO worth it. Yes, it means that you pretty much end up with your living room looking pretty bare. No, it does not stop the cushions getting removed from the couch (I mean you could get a couch that doesn't have removable cushions, but that also makes it much harder to clean, so I prefer just picking up the cushions).

I'm not sure what this says about me as a parent, but my kid is generally gated out of our kitchen (where our cat's water bowl is), unless me or my husband are actively in the kitchen (we just move the water bowl). Things are better now, but for a while blocks/toys with a lot of pieces were "special occasion" toys, but otherwise out of reach (don't get me wrong, they got played with multiple times a week, but if I wasn't in the mood to pick them up, I wasn't offering them - this actually made them more special and fun for my kid).

Obviously, toddlers still get into everything and leave a path of destruction wherever they go. Taking my child to anyone's house that isn't toddler proofed is...not fun (dear MIL, please please please can you just move the antique glass baby doll in its very fragile wooden cradle off the floor in the living room BEFORE we come over? PLEASE?). I'm still doing nightly clean up after a really fun, easy, and stress free (lmfao NOT) bedtime routine, so I feel you there. I'm holding out hope that ONE DAY my child will be old enough to put their own toys away (and other days I consider just letting my child have their wish of the tablet being their only toy). One day, we'll get there. Maybe.

In no particular order:

1. Snuza Hero (SE). Was $120 when I bought it, looks like it's gone down to $100. Really helped me sleep soundly knowing we'd be alerted if anything stopped baby's breathing. We had a few false alarms where it simply became detached from her diaper, so it definitely works.
   
2. 7 A.M. Enfant Nido. So, this was not actually a splurge at all because I somehow lucked out and found it on clearance for $18, but I would happily pay full price ($60) knowing how well it worked for us. It is designed to be safe to use in the car seat (nothing touches the straps at all). My daughter was toasty warm all winter long. We live in Michigan and get a lot of snow. This product was invaluable for me.
   
3. Solly Baby Wrap. ($65) There are cheaper wrap carriers out there. This one was the best I tried. I loved this product so much. I'm actually going to have a hard time not buying a second one in another color 😂
   
4. Uppababy Vista Stroller. ($930) We had another (cheaper) stroller at first, but I ended up selling it and buying this one before my baby turned one. I wish we'd just gone with this from the get-go. The ride is incredibly smooth and the quality is amazing.
   
5. Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Monitor. ($165) I actually thought we could get away with no baby monitor at all because our house is so small. It's true, it's not a *necessity*, but when we went to visit my MIL and she had purchased a monitor to use at her house while we were there (for 3 weeks). It was so nice having it that I purchased this one as soon as we got home. I didn't realize how much freedom it allows you (I can go have tea on the back porch, or do a bit of gardening, or go run on the treadmill downstairs, all without worrying that I won't hear the baby waking up) until I lived with one first hand. We survived just fine for over a year without one, but I could have been so much more productive with it. This time around, I'm getting an add on camera for this unit to put in our room (where new baby will sleep). The original camera will stay in my toddler's room.

As other commenters have said, she could be looking for ways to help/things to do. Think of her like a toddler or a puppy, if you don't give her something safe and acceptable to do, she will have to come up with something on her own. You could set up "task stations" throughout the house; clean towels to fold in the laundry room, recyclables to wash in the kitchen, coloring or a puzzle in another room, have the broom and dustpan out where she can easily see them, etc. If they are easy, common (familiar) housekeeping tasks she should be able to do them without getting frustrated and feel like she is contributing. When you are working in the kitchen, you could have her wipe down the counters or table. Include her in as much of the housework as you can, if she spends 20 minutes washing the table, or ten seconds on the table, four minutes sweeping the floor, and 5 minutes washing recyclables and dishes that won't break, even if she does it all poorly, she was occupied where you can keep an eye on her, while you actually accomplish things.

If she can still read, you can type out instructions for things like creating a load of laundry (picture of a basket filled to a full load of things that can be washed together with instructions saying that the basket needs to be this full of the same color of dirty laundry before it can be washed). Also put reminders on the machines that you have to wait until the cycle is finished before things can be removed and a new load started, and a reminder to take out the load in the machine before adding a new load. Don't make a big deal about the instructions being for her, you and your partner can loudly remind each other to follow the instructions every time you go do laundry. You will still want to supervise her, but the signs might be enough to get the problem under control for awhile. You can also use a sharpie to make a bold mark showing where the dial should point.

Another commenter suggested having a decoy garbage can of clean recyclables for her to dig through, you could expand on that by having a large container of clean, mixed recyclables and some smaller bins to have her sort them into. She gets the fun of digging and gives her a way to "help". Things she finds that she seems especially enamored with (like your pill bottle) can live there. You could also try having her wash the recyclables as you get them and she can add them to her collection, if she has a constant inflow, you might be able to have a secret outflow. Going from ten to zero is much more upsetting and noticeable than removing the same number as are put in to maintain 20.

I agree with everyone saying to lock up the garbage and dog food. These are great for locking cabinets and you can get ones that use strong double stick tape if you don't want to put screw holes in the cabinets. You can also get safety locks (aimed at toddlers) for washers and dryers, it is possible that you could find one, or a combination of a couple, that would be too hard for her to figure out.

For your packages, if you have space by your door, you could get a locking storage bench (if the one you like doesn't have a way to lock it, it isn't too hard to add some hardware). UPS, USPS, and FedEx all have ways to add driver/delivery instructions to shipments, where you could put the combination, on their apps and webpages (unfortunately, I think you have to manually add them to each shipment).

And don't forget to buy some healthy dog treats (or reserve part of the pup's daily food allotment) and put one days worth at a time in a special treat container (or half a day to make it last longer), so she can still "spoil" the pup.

Here's the rest of the pictures 😁😁

https://imgur.com/gallery/Q03hZZk

Top Five

In the living room

Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 Travel System
Graco SnugRide Click Connect 30 travel system

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Graco-FastAction-Fold-Click-Connect-Travel-System-Bennett/374308673?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228237510206&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=283899052272&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-539613311477&wl5=9003876&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=374308673&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG10R9JBufXv4b1xe6xeFntXyvAzYwQKzGB07mpet7ccLlbFaEL0MxMIaA

(We'll probably have the stroller in the car most of the time)


Evenflo Versatile Play Space, Cool Gray

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LTSWND/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2zNPCb6QQMGHB

(Usually comes with a sixth panel, but we wanted to save space until we needed to add it)

Our room sharing set up

Bassinet was handed down to us all put together, and I can't find a link sorry!

Night Lights for Kids, VAVA Baby Night Light, Bedside Lamp for Breastfeeding, ABS+PC, Touch Control, Timer Setting-Pink

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HSTL75K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MCNPCbBNG4FR6

(Not pictured)


Ubbi Money Saving, No Special Bag Required, Steel Odor Locking Diaper Pail, Gray

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00821FLSU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_byNPCbWY1Z2F8


Honeywell Mistmate Ultrasonic humidifier

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Honeywell-Mistmate-Ultrasonic-Humidifier-HUL520B-Black/37690122?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228027316373&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=43910449232&wl4=aud-566049426705:pla-84286515392&wl5=9003876&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=37690122&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG12UXQFyrKBbTM4Eq7IlBEg7IxwOorzgvPuFbH8x7isxW8BIMyNhJ_QaAk4HEALw_wcB


Munchkin Laundry Hamper with Lid, Grey

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077PTSZVK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_6hPPCb84MDT0G


Super Strong Folding Step Stool - 11" Height - Holds up to 300 Lb - The lightweight foldable step stool is sturdy enough to support adults & safe enough for kids. Skid resistant and open with one flip

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZ0VCQD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TINPCbBERP8HJ


Her side in my closet


South Shore Litte Smiley's Changing Table, Chocolate

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BFJ9S1C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JANPCbP4FX2PG


GAGAKU Baby Diaper Caddy Organizer - Baby Shower Basket Portable Nursery Storage Bin Car Storage Basket for Wipes Toys Tote Bag

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DBXH1BP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_3MNPCbDNHVK1V


Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CNOIQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LJNPCbGX20KF4


mDesign Soft Fabric Dresser Drawer and Closet Storage Organizer Set for Child/Kids Room, Nursery, Playroom, Bedroom - Rectangular Organizer Bins with Textured Print - Set of 4 - Linen/Tan

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071P9GPV4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_czNPCbQ2QWJHZ

mDesign Soft Fabric Dresser Drawer and Closet Storage Organizer, 8 Section Divided Bin for Child/Kids Room, Nursery, Playroom, Bedroom - Textured Print with Solid Trim, 3 Pack - Gray

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZYC4439/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_MNNPCbH4F8YGB


Modish Labels Baby Nursery Closet Dividers, Closet Organizers, Nursery Decor, Baby Girl, Deer, Floral Antlers, Flowers, Woodland

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06WLQ8B5C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_nBNPCbR1DRJ22


AmazonBasics Kids Velvet Hangers - 30-Pack, Pink Polka Dot

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FXNAD6U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.HNPCbRTDQ9P5


For the kitchen

Philips AVENT Microwave Steam Sterilizer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VBXKG2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_mMNPCbGSZ1NJY


Boon Bundle Feeding Set

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KGPWGZJ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_fQNPCbJJKFAD7


Gourmia Jr. Single Baby Bottle Sterilizer and Warmer, Digital Display, Dishwasher-Safe Removable Parts, JBW150, ETL-Certified

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZ991WH/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TQNPCbAMJZFRJ

Not Pictured items

Rustic Wood Frame Gray Felt Letter Board 10x10 inches. 440 White & Gold Letters, Months & Days Cursive Words, Additional Symbols & Emojis, 2 Letter Bags, Scissors, Vintage Stand. by whoaon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CKT6S6G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_qRNPCbYJZKZF8



Fisher-Price Auto Rock 'n Play Sleeper, Aqua Stone

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Fisher-Price-Auto-Rock-n-Play-Sleeper-Aqua-Stone/39577511?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222228031612947&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=55217708312&wl4=pla-113855432192&wl5=9003876&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=39577511&wl13=&veh=sem&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1pblBRDSARIsACfUG10bahlDvXNs66-ReAkUjjQSfucHTHxORdYUyZ92T0oddQGzOtGb360aAoXjEALw_wcB


Fisher-Price Bath Tub, Rainforest Friends

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BUO464Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_txPPCb7ZEHWCC

The number one thing id say is to make sure you secure your furniture to the walls. Honestly, ir only takes a few mins and some cheap brackets, its definetely worth the effort. I'm going to be another person who praises the magnetic locks. They keep the cabinet door tightly closed so its impossible for him to get his fingers in there and open it like with the spring locks (which took him less than an hour to figure out). Easy to install, it comes with templates. They are really easily switched on/off so you can leave it unlocked if you're cooking or what ever and need to get in a particular cupboard often and dont want to faf around with the magnet key (which works remarkably well through wood!). You cant tell at all from the outside that they are there which i appreciate and it feels really solid and secure. The only downside is that they're a bit more expensive than other kinds of cabinet locks. I definitely think they're worth the money though. The only cabinet I have that you can see the lock from the outside is a spinning lazy Susan corner cabinet that has my pots and pans in. I looked at various products that were specifically for childproofing and they all looked cheap/weak and they made it so you can only spin one way. Then I had a look around and realized that a sliding bolt lock would be able to hold it firmly in place but also retract completely and not impede the cabinet spinning. I usually leave it unlatched coz I dont care if he bangs the pots around but if I'm trying to let my husband sleep it can be loud. Its tight enough that even as a burly, impossibly strong 16 month old he still can't physically get it open. Anyway, the point of that story is that you dont have to rely only on products that are specifically "childproofing" if you can think of a cheaper/stronger alternative that works better. Most of the other things we protected against where things that could hurt him by accident and not particularly things that he might get into if he wasn't being supervised coz I already watch him like a hawk and try to teach him appropriate boundaries. Stuff like sharp corners he might hit if hes running or falls against it and covers for the power outlets, especially the ones that have things plugged into them coz he tries to pull the plugs out and put his finger in the gap between the loosened plug and the wall! Before he was mobile though I just made sure to keep him on a safe surface and make sure nothing dangerous was within his reach. He spent a lot of tummy time on the lounge room rug coz it was easy to keep vacuumed of things he would otherwise try to eat and its really good for core strength. :)

I'd personally recommend a video monitor with night vision and zoom. Two-way audio is a nice plus but not essential (my husband and I do use it to communicate while one is putting the baby to bed). We have the Infant Optics DXR-8 (the best seller on Amazon) and it's great. The interchangeable zoom lens is really a fantastic feature, as the way our nursery is set up the camera had to be pretty far from the crib. I couldn't live without the video aspect as our son tends to spit up a lot and it's essential to see if I need to go and change the sheet, plus I just like to see him for peace of mind.

Some friends of ours got a really expensive wi-fi monitor so that they can view the video from anywhere, but I only think you'd need this if you had a nanny and needed to check on things while you were at work or something.

When I was pregnant with my first I didn't think we needed a video monitor, but then when we moved her into her own room I decided we did. It is SO helpful. When she would cry out in the night I could peek on the monitor and see if she was actually waking up or just snuggling back in to sleep, so I didn't get out of bed if I didn't need to.

That first one I bought was a Foscam that isn't available anymore and I wouldn't recommend anyway. It had a feature where the screen would turn on if it detected noise, which sounds nice, but was actually really annoying. We ended up keeping the screen on all the time, which burnt it out pretty quickly.

Just a few months ago I ordered this one and I love it. Great picture, good sound quality, and the sound when speaking through the monitor to the baby/kid is good too. We don't use that feature often, but it's nice to have. It also shows the temperature in the baby's room, which is really good because our daughter's room gets cold quickly. We plan to get a second camera to use in the second baby's room because you can link it to the one monitor and go back and forth between views. They also have the option to add on a wide angle lens to see the whole room rather than just a close up of sleeping baby, which will be nice as our kids get older.

Practice getting her to sleep on whatever you're going to bed her down in while camping. The clothing and the playpen or whatever.

Turn off the lights in the house and play with flashlights. Maybe even a campout in the backyard if you're able.

Bring benedryl just in case and a good first aid kit.

Also bring the comforts of home like blankie, stuffy, whatever.

Bug spray or lotion only works if you reapply it as recommended. There are 'family safe-non-deet' options, but they don't work as well and need reapplication frequently.

Sunscreen.

Glow sticks. Toss one in her bed in case she wakes up scared at night. Tie one around her wrist or pin it to the back of her jacket. It'll help you spot her if she wanders. Plus, they love them. They're nice in the ice chest too.

Stock up on baby wipes and a spray bottle to fill with water if you're not near a water source. You can do alot of clean up with those.

Embrace the filth. She's bound to eat some dirt, gnaw on a stick, etc.

Those cheap, fit together, padded mats you can get at Harbor Freight come in handy and can provide a crawling, playing space. The collapsible play yard (not play pen) things are the bomb too. https://www.amazon.com/North-States-Superyard-Colorplay-Playard/dp/B006NTY1HU/ref=sr_1_4_a_it

Believe me, you're in for a bit of a challenge in the playing regard. It's pretty important to not let them play at all initially.

/u/AnalgesicSex explained it very well above, but basically they are taking the knee apart, grinding/cutting away in there, and trying to put it back together better than before. It's pretty fragile until the muscle grows back, so if you're not able to keep them calm, our vet(s) recommended crate rest only for a few weeks. In our case, we bought this (extra tall, he's a lab) baby gate and put it on the door to our office. I basically kept him in here with me every possible waking hour, and put him in the crate when I couldn't directly supervise. It wasn't much fun for him, but the dogs all got used to it very quickly.

Surprisingly enough, neither! We got a dog with a totally shaved leg (it looks hilarious) and some gruesome nasty crusty staples covering the raw incision. I was pretty surprised myself, but they said it was better to let it air out. They did provide us with a cone of shame (Elizabethan collar), but we didn't need it after the first day. We were also on an antibiotic for 10 days. As always, YMMV with that stuff, and I'm sure the vet will do whatever is best for your pup. Our main concern was to go above and beyond all the instructions to ensure the recovery went well.

http://smile.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-Monitor-Interchangeable-Optical/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=zg_bs_166870011_3

We could have gone cheaper, but nothing had ratings as good, or as many features. There are more popular Motorola models, mbp36, but they didn't have nearly as many positive reviews. I've tested it from the upstairs nursery to the basement and back yard with no issues or interference.

Price fluctuates between $209 and $171 (got lucky when I bought it for that a month or so ago).

Pick a model you like, and use camelcamelcamel to watch the prices for you.

Edit: Features I wanted include talk back, pan and zoom, expandable by adding another camera, good night vision, large viewable handheld monitor, good battery life, optional wide angle lens for when she's older and moving around her room and a far reaching range that didn't interfere with my WiFi.

YES - my son is a climber, a runner, and loves to get into everything. Babyproofing made my life so much calmer. Here's some of my favorite finds.

Door Monkey - fits on standard (not beveled) door frames, installs in 1 second, and works fantastic as both a pinch guard and to prevent entry/exit. Its also nice on bedroom doors which have locks on them, as I'd get locked out of multiple rooms otherwise as my son knows how to activate those locks.

flip lock - for the front door, as my kid figured out how to move a chair to the front door and unlock it and get outside. Easy to install high up, looks nice, cheap, and is easy to work.

Baby fence - put this around the stuff you want to keep baby out of! Things such as entertainment centers and computer desks can be surrounded by this fence.

magnetic locks - for those drawers that you don't want any possible entry into, i.e. drawers with money. Very solid lock.

Latches - for things that can't be drilled into/that you don't want to drill into. You can lock the bottom drawer of the stove, the dishwasher, regular drawers, etc with this. Easy to install; I don't know how easy to remove.

I was/am in the exact same boat - first kid, limited funds, starting from scratch, going through reviews and prices drove me insane. It took me probably three months to get my registry together, and, even then, I am still switching things up, lol.

lucieslist.com was invaluable while picking everything out. I highly recommend you check it out.

What we have bought ourselves that fit our tight budget:

Graco Comfy Cruiser Travel System. We had already decided to go with that car seat, given that it seems to be the top-rated budget option, and the stroller ended up being a much-needed bonus. We go on walks a lot, so it works for us. If you don't need the stroller, the seat itself is, I think, only ~$100.

The Pack N Play, which I've heard from literally everyone and their mother is almost a necessity.

Because we don't have an IKEA near us to get our hands on a swanky $99 crib, we bought this DaVinci crib. We still only ended up paying $100 for it, as we found it on sale, however, we would have paid the $200 for it, given that the reviews are good, and, when compared to some other cribs that cost $400 and up, the price isn't bad at all.

As for the rest of the registry, we have on there a Moby wrap (affordable baby wearing, yay!), nail clippers, outlet plugs, nursing pads, a wipes case, a baby tub, baby wash, assorted crib sheets, waterproof crib sheets, Pack N Play mattress, and sheets to go with, crib mattress (we actually bought this one when we found it on sale for $20, and it's just fine), receiving blankets, dirty diaper bags (because we aren't getting a diaper pail, just a small can with a seal-able lid), changing pad, and a cover to go with, pacifiers, Dr. Brown's Gia Nursing Pillow, a bottle brush, bottle warmer, thermometer, booger sucker, camera to monitor the baby, and a few other assorted things that I couldn't really find a definitive "best in class" for, so pick at your own discretion: diaper bag, swaddles (although I've read good things about the Summer Infant brand), bottles (we're going with Phillips Avent), a bouncer (we got this one), and a swing.

I agonized over this stuff for what felt like forever, lol, so I hope it helps you and saves you some hair-pulling. It's all so overwhelming!

We went with the infant optics. after it was recommended by several friends. Super easy to use, all the normal features, but it is also very easy to add cameras to and ha s interchangeable lenses so you can use narrow or wide lens views as your kid grows. Only $165.

Personally, I find it a lot easier to have a physical monitor to walk around with that is always playing the audio instead of needing to use a phone and open an app. Plus its easy to hand off to nannies/sitters/family members without messing around with everyone's phone.

Not accessible remotely, but I also don't have to worry about someone else ever logging into it.

There are a few advantages of the regular baby cams.

1. It is a standalone system, so it's easier to travel with. You can take it on vacation or to a friend's house more easily and have it just work without internet.
   
   
2. It's sometimes easier to just carry around the monitor with you and have it be a dedicated machine compared to having to pull out a phone, wait for an app to load/connect, etc. Baby monitors are always connected and real-time, so if your baby is crying you can see why much quicker.
   
   
3. My baby cam (Infant Optics DXR-8) has a volume meter on the side, so even if you have the volume muted, you can see if the baby is making noises, and how loud those noises are (crying vs babbling, etc). This is great for just a quick check while you are watching TV or doing something where you can see the monitor but not hear it.
   
   The downsides are basically what you stated- you can't really re-use the system when your baby grows up, and the quality of most IP cams is better. Our baby cam at least has some different lenses and the ability to pan around the room, so it serves its purpose pretty well.
   
   Good luck with your decision!

3 is a REALLY hard age. It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed by trying to parent, especially a child who has extra challenges from a health problem. A few things:

1. You need to make sure that you're taking care of yourself. Other people have mentioned the possibility of this triggering your own mental health issue. When my health issues were addressed, it made parenting SO much easier. You also need breaks and a way to remove yourself from situations where you are overwhelmed. We used these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ECJWK4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1 to keep our son in his room, where he was safe. Because of how it latches, it's still easy to hear if something goes wrong, but doesn't allow them to wander around/get into dangerous things. Obviously you can't just lock your child in their room for hours at a time. But if you're loosing control of your own emotions, 10 minutes of being in their room is a lot healthier than you losing it on them.
   
   
2. It might help to see a therapist. They can give you tools to help calm down.
   
   
3. This is the big thing that I wish I knew when my oldest son was three. It's okay that your kid is out of control. You cannot control him. You cannot force him to behave. And he's not capable of controlling himself yet either. That means that there are going to be a LOT of times where he's out of control. That can feel overwhelming and scary, but it is NORMAL and there isn't anything that you need to do to "fix" it. Keep communicating your expectations and just hang on. He will mature. His ability to control himself will improve. He won't behave this way when he's 14. His misbehavior doesn't mean that you're a bad parent.
   
   With all that said. Don't feed the emotions. If he's melting down, put consequences on hold. Adding time outs, or losing privileges, or spanking him isn't going to help things. It's only going to add anxiety for him and you and extend the problem. He feels out of control and doesn't know how to change that. More consequences for not doing something he doesn't know how to do aren't going to help. Reset your expectations to things that you think both of you can accomplish. Fighting over cleaning up toys? Decide that you'll come back to the toys and go get a drink instead. Is he melting down because he wants a snack and it's an hour until dinner? Get out of the kitchen and start a bath. (Add food coloring for extra distraction.) Are you trying to do grocery shopping and he's throwing a fit? Get the stuff you need for dinner and head home. Parenting a 3 year old requires a LOT of flexibility and that's not always a part of a parent's personality.
   
   Last suggestion. If you can afford it, find a drop off day care that will allow you a little time away. That way, every Tuesday at 10 (or whatever time works for you) you can drop off littlenotbeingmyself#1 and put littlenotbeingmyself#2 in the running stroller and do that thing that you love. There have been times where I've felt like the fact that I'm a stay at home parent means that I should ALWAYS be watching them. And I've discovered that's not healthy for any of us. Hang in there. It does, eventually, get easier.

> He's not sure he wants to use them, but logically says there's no reason we shouldn't.

I'm going to say that this is more about emotions than logic. Forget the money or whatever invested, the best thing to do would be to donate that furniture to a womans shelter or something along those lines and start fresh. It is the best way to respect the memory and begin to create new ones, in my humble opinion. You can't just overwrite the past.

Also, silly as this sounds, I'd look into getting an Angel Care baby monitor. It was extremely useful for easing my nerves with our children and they sound an alarm if a baby stops breathing. They are stupidly effective.

/avoid crib bumpers unless they are mesh

//nightvision camera's are never a bad idea

http://www.amazon.com/Angelcare-Movement-Sound-Monitor-White/dp/B00GU07FLQ

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!

I love our monitor. It’s got a great picture, you can adjust the camera, the screen is clear, volume control is great. The downsides are that the battery doesn’t last as long as I’d like and it takes forever to charge. I usually just leave it plugged in all night so it doesn’t randomly die, which seems like it would be a great solution except there’s a bright as hell blue light that comes on when it’s all charged. So that wakes me up around 2-3am every night, since the monitor sits like 2 inches from my face on my nightstand. Lol Also, when our microwave is running, it disrupts the WiFi signal if the monitor is in the kitchen with us. Other than those things. it’s been great.

This is the one we have.

ETA: I realized I don’t think it’s actually connected thru WiFi because we frequently take it to my inlaws and don’t use their WiFi. I don’t know how it works. Magic, most likely. Either way, the microwave interrupts the signal.

Forest themed nursery. I wanted his room to be calm colors and used decorations that we already had in our home for the most part.

My top 5 items in the room:

1. The crib - ikea Crib crib
   We wanted something simple and affordable this checked both boxes.
   
   
2. Rocking Chair- Glider
   Loved the price and it’s my favorite chair in the house already.
   
   
3. Twin bed- Tuft and Needle . We have this mattress in our room and LOVE it so naturally because we needed to get a bed for the room we got the same one.
   
   
4. Book shelves- ikea
   We went with these because they seemed a little sturdier than the ikea spice racks.
   
   
5. Baby monitor- infant optics video monitor
   I liked that you can move the camera to see and zoom in and out as well. My SO also walked to the end of our street and still had full connection so the range is great.

100% this one. This was recommended to us by a friend (who does a lot of research on products usually), and we have found it to be invaluable. I've also noticed it at other people's houses and we always have a 'best baby monitor ever, right?' moment.

The range is great. We walked across the street and checked our mailbox when testing it. The picture quality is great, especially in the dark. And it's easy to add multiple cameras which is very handy. We had a camera on our boy's crib and his playpen so that we could still see him while washing bottles in the kitchen as he played.

Good job so far! Like most people were saying, don't pick him up and don't do check ins if he's not crying. The first two nights are the hardest and then it gets so much better. Have you thought about getting a video monitor to give you peace of mind? You can see them in the dark too. I love ours:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00ECHYTBI/ref=pd_aw_sim_75_of_27?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=HCRNTD85FVE65V3AX9W0
I think he will find the best sleeping position on his own. My girl prefers sleeping on tummy with her face in the mattress. At first I would go in to turn her but then she'd go back to the same position. It really freaked us out, so we bought a breathable mattress. It's been two months and it's still her favorite position. Hope tonight goes better. Keep up the good work!

Hmmm...idk how easily it would be to attach one, especially to the metal. I know it sounds odd, but we've always used a playard. Every section is removable and you can rearrange the entire thing to the dimensions you want. To make it work as a gate (to like block off the kitchen, for instance) we've just bended and folded around furniture. Anchoring behind heavy things my son can't move. The gate is placed between the wall and the heavy object, and then bent just so that it can't easily be moved, even if one of us trips over it and falls...which has happened lol. Currently it's anchored behind a washer and an old sewing machine table. Also when we need to place it somewhere else, it's really easy to move and folds in on itself, accordian style.

We've lived in two places since our son was born and neither really had an easy place to secure a gate. We kinda just got creative lol.

To add, you can get the video baby monitor cheaper on amazon than in store. We have one of these, and it's pretty good.

While it isn't cheap, it's less expensive than in-store ones. It can also be expanded pretty easily with more cameras, and the ability to change the lenses makes it pretty versatile. We've had ours for 3 years, and it's still great.

We used to live in a 2-story house, and it was invaluable to hear when the babies were stirring to run up and attend to them before they full woke and then couldn't get back to sleep :)

Great advice! I think I am going to order some lanolin right now to start prepping for breastfeeding. Thanks for writing out all your tips =)

Also, this reminded me of something:
> Our first night home, hubs and I had a hard time sleeping out of anxiety because Quinn wasn’t in our room. His room/crib is literally fifteen steps from our bed but it made us uncomfortable not being able to look at him and hear his little fusses and snorts.

You may get better sleep if you look into a Snuza Hero or Angel Care Monitor! They both track the babies breathing and will alert you if it doesn't detect anything for 20 seconds. They aren't inexpensive but you may be able to find them second-hand or at consignment. I know I got much higher quality sleep when I wasn't lifting my head to make sure LO was breathing 5 times a night.

http://www.amazon.com/Snuza-ILSHER-Baby-Monitor-Hero/dp/B008OJ7C6Y

http://www.amazon.com/Angelcare-Movement-Sound-Monitor-White/dp/B00GU07FLQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1411361301&sr=1-1&keywords=angel+care

Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FWmjDbFDEXWTP

This is the one I have 😁👌🏼
We have it drilled on either side of our living room and it stretches across nicely to keep the kids out of the kitchen. We bought two smaller Regalo brand gates for our doorways exiting the living room

• Keep in mind the author of that video doesn't seem to know much electronics either. "Pulse Wave Modulator." The "low voltage hurts motors but slow PWM is good" bit is bullshit. It's AC motors that melt when the voltage is too low.
  
  
• Most DC motors like those are totally symmetric in operation forward and backward. They have a positive and negative lead because they need to specify which direction it goes w.r.t. input polarity.
  
  
• Swapping the power switch and pwm controller will work... the problem is that the PWM controller probably always draws a little bit of power if it's powered up, even if it's turned down to zero or no motor is connected. It will run down the battery when turned off.
  
  
• I am pretty sure the diode is not required if you use a PWM unit designed for motors. If you use one intended for a resistive load like a light bulb, then yes, you would definitely need it.
  
  
• Driving cheap motors with high frequency PWM can be a bit sketchy at times... their brushes make a lot of noise, and you can't put big diodes caps on them because the PWM will melt them.
  
  
• When I search for "12v li-ion battery" on amazon I get a lot of cheaper options, like this. YMMV. Some of them look a bit sketchy. You could also use an SLA battery, but it's heavier for the power. But you don't need a lot of power.
  
  
• The drill chuck is kinda ridiculous, and probably half the total weight. I guess if you don't have access to a lathe to make yourself a proper spool and can't find one online you have to improvise...
  
  
• If I were designing this -- and almost certainly how all the professionally designed ones are built -- it would use a motor with an optical encoder. That would have the benefit of not changing speed due to variable friction or battery voltage, and would be able to do fast and slow movement with the same motor. Doing that from scratch is probably well in excess of your electronics skills, but there's probably an arduino sketch of something similar out there.
  

So, she's 1. You can do sleep training with her, and she will get better about sleeping in general. There is a sleep regression just after 1 year though and that may be why she's being so difficult to get to sleep. I'm really sorry that you are going through this with no help and no support. Do you have a friend or family member nearby who could watch her for a night so you can get some much-needed rest? The sleep deprivation will really do you in temper-wise. Can you put her in a playpen or a babyproofed room and use something like a door monkey to keep her locked in and safely watching some cartoons while you get some sleep? This may also be a good time to give her some melatonin 30 mins before bedtime (kid doses only, you can find them at the pharmacy in a bottle specifically dosed for kids with 1mg or something like that). She will sleep better. I used it for my kid when he was having a sleep regression and it helped a bit. You need some sleep though, so you can be a more patient mom. this is a hard age even if you were getting enough sleep.

What sort of range do you need? We go to hotel-based conventions with our kid, and use the previous generation of this monitor so we're not trapped in the room, but it's not WiFi (setting up hotel WiFi on a baby monitor is, shall we say, not cost effective).

It does have a temperature sensor (no humidity, but the temp display turns red if it goes too hot or, IIRC, too cold) and remote pan/tilt/zoom, plus the walkie-talkie and night vision, and the ability to have up to four cameras and two parent units. It's always-on, lets you know when you lose signal (loudly!), and has decent video quality. (If you want, I can PM you a couple photos and a video I've taken of the monitor over the years, both day/night.)

We've found that the range easily extends through our entire house (~3000sqft), and outside it without trouble. Haven't tried it from inside the neighbours' houses, but I can walk past our nearest neighbour and still get signal most of the way past their house.

At hotels, where there's more interference and significantly different wall construction, we can easily get down the hall and to a public room where we could sit and play games with friends. Call it 40-50 feet.

My only gripe is that now, 4yrs later, the OEM charger is busted and the parent unit can't hold a charge. We'll have to buy one of the current generation for this new kid and future travel.

During heavy rain, water can blow the individual fuses within each string of lights -- but more often this is caused by having too many strings of lights connected. Limit it to however many it says on the box.

Water will also trip a breaker. This happened to us with any amount of rain. For years, we'd tape up the ends with a piece of tape, but this gunked up the connecters after a while.

The best solution we found is to use electrical outlet plugs like these

They're cheap and they keep the water out. Good luck!

[regalo super yard](Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_a8K0CbB3DGQMJ)

You're going to want to adjust your search terms. Look for play yard.

Please look at the specs on this one and see if it will suit.

A little pricier than other options, but I got this one for my GSD puppy and it has been awesome. It's technically for kids but it has worked well for her.

I like that the bars are metal and there are no horizontal bars across it so it keeps them from being able to climb. It is basically indestructible. You can buy additional panels that are super easy to attach. It also comes with a kit to anchor it to walls if you want to use it as a gate to block off rooms instead.

We got something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-Inch-Super-Wide-White/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=sr_1_6_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1502910571&sr=8-6&keywords=baby+pen

Or you can combine a few of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Surround-6-Panel-PlaySafe/dp/B000G1YW98/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1502910571&sr=8-4&keywords=baby+pen

We put it over a foam mat and our son was happy. Eventually set him to free range once he really got moving.

Good luck.

Foam Mat:
https://www.amazon.com/ProSource-Puzzle-Alphabet-Numbers-Tiles/dp/B00DQEKHUA/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1502910700&sr=1-4&keywords=baby+foam+mat

The foam mat now is being used for the slide we opted to keep inside for the occasional heart attack er. i mean fun...

Not from the UK but got this one from Amazon.

Liked this model as the video is just local between the camera and monitor, and not streamed over the internet.

Would recommend based on use so far, though to be fair it is on the pricey end.

edit: bought from US Amazon so in our case need to have the camera plugged into a power adapter...which is ok for us as camera stays plugged in all the time anyway. The portable monitor just charges via USB so easier to use existing USB chargers around the house. Also night vision works well.

My sister uses a play yard to fence off her living room. It can be connected to fully enclose an area, or spread out to block a wide doorway. If you straighten it out fully it loses a lot of the stability, but if you zig-zag it, it should be fairly secure.

This super long gate also has pretty good reviews.

We use this model with the twins and all of us love it! I actually recommend it to every new mom because the price is worth the peace of mind. We considered [this] (http://www.amazon.com/Snuza-Portable-Baby-Movement-Monitor/dp/B002WLGV08/ref=sr_1_4?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1373859903&sr=1-4&keywords=breathing+monitor) as well, the reviews seem good enough if you wanted to try out something more portable.

I really like the door monkey. It's a bit expensive, but it's worth it for the improved air flow and protection of people & walls. I would also recommend checking out KIScords for your cabinets. They make two different models and I've been happy with both.

For a Baby Monitor - I cannot recommend this one enough. https://amzn.com/B00ECHYTBI It's a little bit pricier than the others but it's works great! We bought a different one to start out with but it had really poor reception in the house. (As in it stopped working one room away). So we returned it and got this one. The video clarity is great, you can move the camera around which is awesome once your LO starts moving. And it travels well. But really it's their customer service team that sold me. I 'might' have broken the camera by dropping it. They replaced it for free even though I admitted it was my fault.

I don't think there's a point to video monitors until you have a mobile toddler. When a baby is in his crib, sound is good enough. You know he can't get out, if he starts crying, go check on him.

That being said, we have one for my toddler who is almost 2. We got it for him when we transitioned him to his toddler bed so we could keep an eye on him if he got up out of bed. We first got the DXR-5 and it was great. We used it for a while and then upgraded to the DXR-8 because you could move the camera around.

I like the DXR-5 because it has a white noise function that will turn the sound off unless something happens over a certain decibel. The DXR-8 doesn't have that and the sound is always on (and it seems like there's always some static noises). You can talk to the baby through the DXR-8 though, and both have great night vision.

I'm registering for a monitor, and for now put down the Hello Baby. I didn't do any research...I just know that my friend used it with her baby, and I liked it! Haha. I do like that it is wireless.

We live in a small-ish place (1200 sq ft in the shape of a square, so not spread out), but I like that I can look in on the baby when she makes sounds and see if she's actually awake, or is just being a noisy sleeper. I think it'll help us not jump up to see her every time she makes a sound.

Plus, it'll be nice when we go swimming/hanging at family's/friend's homes and she's napping. We can hang outside without worrying about her being inside!

I have a 50lb <1y/o mutt, a rather pissy big old cat, and a tiny grumpy old man bunny. The dog chases both of them, but he chases everything (leaves, bugs, birds, anything that moves). Cat holds her own, so pup will chase her if she runs down the hall, but backs away as soon as she stops. And when he "gets" the bunny, he just stands over him. I'm still cautious (bunny basically lives under the bed & has escape routes) and I keep the dog separated from the rabbit when we're not home, but I've been happy to see that they get along well.

But I do want to caution you on what type of gates to get if you go this route for extra security: my mutt was like a rock climber, he scaled or pushed his way under the baby gate. We finally got rid of the old one & picked up one of the ones that's primarily vertical bars so he couldn't climb it. It's been amazing.
https://smile.amazon.com/Regalo-Easy-Step-Extra-White/dp/B001OC5UNA/ref=sr_1_9_s_it?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1500641106&sr=1-9&keywords=baby+gate

I hope they end up getting along beautifully, but if he's a chaser like mine, always keep escape routes/areas and separate areas of the house for them. If he ever seems like he's making an effort to actually get the cats & hurt them, seriously consider rehoming them. It sucks, but as said before, having a dog that's killed another pet is just awful.

I think 10 months is too little to really understand why you won't let him play with the most fun thing in the world. I mean really, gas stoves are the best toy you could ever have! :) j/k obviously. They do make covers for the knobs so he can't turn them and locks for the oven. They also have guards for the burners. Would be totally annoying for you guys, but at least you wouldn't have to gate him off as much? Maybe if you bought him a play stove and put it in the kitchen and make a big deal about how great it is? Not sure if he would fall for it.

knob covers

oven door lock

stove guard

Someone bought us a Nest Cam, but I returned it... I didn't really see the advantage to clogging my wifi, or having to use a cell phone as the monitor. We got one of these instead... The good part is that it's not on the wi-fi, the monitor never loses signal, and it doesn't need a cell phone.

I don't remember if the nest cam was movable, but with ours, we can also turn the camera if our baby crawled to the other side of the crib, which is nice. Also, it has a microphone so you can talk to your baby without getting up (although i think it will only be useful when he's a little older).

As for Child Locks on cabinets:

i recomend these: https://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Magnetic-Locking-System/dp/B004GCJMLG

they are a bit more expensive, but rather easy to install (i did all 20 of mine in less than an hour and a half, and got a lot faster once I got the hang of it) and unless they have the key (which you can place up high on your fridge, out of reach) there is no way they are opening those locks.

best part is if you know you have to be in and out of a cabinet a lot (say, cooking and thats where your supplies are) you can turn the lock 'off' for a bit, with just a push of a button.

Very great locks.

Not sure what your living space is like but we have this and created a penned off area
Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eQA8Bb39ZJ8HG

> Your weekend ignore training regime, was that again in an x pen? Where you frequently went in/out of the room but not pen?
>
>

My puppy is a 16 week old Indian pariah mix that we've had since she was 12 weeks (though separated from her mother at <6 weeks, since that's the age the fosters found her at as a lost stray). The breed is known for its social playing, intelligence, but is also not big on cuddling.

I don't have an X-pen, but we do have a puppy gate: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089HDZYY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 that has been a lifesaver.
Cords have been moved behind big furniture, like the couch, where she can't reach them.

My dog has a lot of food-toys and chews.

Food ball: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ARUKU0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bob-a-lot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003YHB8EI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

"Wood" stick we use to lure her away from tempting wooden furniture legs:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0754P3NSC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Solo-playing works best with toys that make a noise or move on their own (at least for my puppy). We've found a hard golf ball that noisily rolls across the floor (debatable whether this is a good idea; right now our puppy is too small to fit it fully in her mouth, let alone choke on it, but it's definitely hard enough that I worry she might break a tooth. But no signs of aggressive chewing yet), but she also likes other balls and stuffed toys (which she just takes in her mouth and shakes about wildly).

IMO, the food-dispensing toys are a must-have.

We also leave her dog bed and crate available in this space, and a blanket on the floor, that she likes to sit on while she chews.

Weekend training regime is the same as anything else. Dog in the living room, living room closed off with puppy gate so she can't follow us out, and is in a relatively puppy-proofed space, and toys and chews left strewn about.

She mostly sleeps through the day, now, knowing we won't engage with her playing. If she's being too noisy or needy, I'll leave her alone in the puppy-gated living room and work in another room.

I hope this helps!

How much do you want to spend? One of the best things we bought for our little one was the Snuza. It's a monitor that attaches to baby's diaper while they're asleep. If they stop breathing, an alarm goes off alerting the parents. I can not tell you how less paranoid I was after purchasing this for my son. I no longer felt that I needed to wake up and watch him just to make sure he is still breathing. There is a cheaper version found here. I believe the difference between the two is that the Snuza Hero vibrates (before sounding an alarm) to try and stimulate baby after a certain amount of seconds of no movement being detected while the Snuza Go automatically sounds the alarm. Either would be a great gift, especially for twins! :)

The Hello Baby monitor! It's so easy and functional and the monitor stays charged for days at a time. I love this thing. Plus it's only $70 and requires nothing except what it comes with and you can add multiple video feeds to the one monitor. I farm for a living and this thing has a pretty impressive range. I'll be a 3 minute walk away from the house in the garden and it still works perfectly.


https://www.amazon.com/Hello-Baby-Wireless-Temperature-Monitoring/dp/B01CZUD4R8

I also have a galley style kitchen, with a refrigerator on one side and cabinets on the other. At first I was using 2 sets of this Evenflo baby gate. I like it because I can move it around the house as needed, but it didn't take long before my son was able to just move it out of the way no matter what I did. I tried using the stick on door lock's on the cabinets, because we rent and can't screw anything in, but I'm in SoCal and it gets so hot here that they just melted off 😂 Eventually I bought these door locks for all of my cabinets and drawers and I pretty much love them. They're not the prettiest, but damn do they work. And it's nice not having gates all over. To take them off you just use a razor blade and some goo gone and you should be set. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they don't cause any damage though.

We got two of these to create a baby pen for my son, with the expectation that we'd be adding two more kids to it. It's expensive, but it's awesome. Solid as a rock and because it's bars, rather than a grid pattern on the panels, he can't climb it.

There's nothing wrong with putting your babies in a confined space to keep them safe.

Carlson Lil Tuffy Metal Expandable Gate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089HDZYY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0AR5CbSZTX585

Is what we used when our shih tzu pup was little (9 weeks/4.5 lb to like 6 months/10lb) to keep him in the kitchen. He couldn't get through the bars or jump it. Till he got long and strong enough to jump it! We still have it, and I use it to keep him in the office with me when I work, but if he really wanted to escape it now he could.

Carlson Extra Tall Walk Through Pet Gate with Small Pet Door, Includes 4-Inch Extension Kit, 4 Pack Pressure Mount Kit and 4 Pack Wall Mount Kit, Platinum https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DAGKAIM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_pDR5CbS6DJW5E

Is what we use now to keep him in the kitchen during the day now. This is the first one we had ordered till we realized he could squeeze through the bars. Doh! Now that he's full grown he can't squeeze through, and it's tall enough he can't jump over it. Though his head can clear if he's doing a dedicated jump. I recommend wall mounting on the door frame.

Baby prison. I got basically an indoor fence, set it up around get play rug. Best $90 spent. She practices pulling up and cruising on the bars, I get to do chores without worrying about her crawling around and putting things in her mouth.

This is the one I got:

Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard, 4-In-1, Bonus Kit, Includes 4 Pack of Wall Mounts https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WmhsDb3N14GWA

The ones with the magnet locks are awesome. They shut off when you don't need them and are easy to open when they are locked with the key, we have one in each room. Also when they are locked the door doesn't budge at all so the kiddo won't incessantly jiggle the cabinet door. We only have them on the really important cabinet doors. The rest he can get into like the pots and pans and he did for a few weeks but the newness wore off and now he doesn't bother them.

The best is to just secure as you go. Kids will find something to play with but in a few weeks they'll forget it and find something else to mess with so sometimes it's not even worth rearranging.

We have a cat that likes to do this too sometimes. Also a toddler.

You can buy cover knobs to make it so they can’t get bumped to “on” position to avoid this devastating scenario in the future.

Safety 1st Child Proof Clear View Stove Knob Covers (Set of 5) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00068O22S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_FS9OBbQ4TYADA

Your cloud is the best cloud - what a good boy!

We got what we called the "cage" lol! Its those big gates that you can make into an octagon shape or a square. It worked well for us. We mainly got it to kind of separate the living room and keep toys organized we were able to use it until a few months after walking when he figured out how to loft it up. Best 100$ investment! It comes in neutral colors as well.

North States Industries Superyard Play Yard, Colorplay, 8 Panel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006NTY1HU/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ctssub15PZ34N

TLDR (at bottom) recently switched daycares.

My daughter (3yo, will be 4 in Feb) is just getting out of this phase as we speak. (Literally this week things are getting better.)

The mistake of taking her out of her crib early I think is what started this. When she was in the crib she was a good sleeper throughout the night. We also have a 5 and 2 year old that sleep perfectly.

We have a pretty specific routine/schedule and diet that doesn’t consist of sugar and juices. So we ruled that out early on. Plus no tv or iDevices. However, on the weekends we allow a kid’s movie. And that’s when the night terrors began (OMFG)... thank you Coco and Monsters Inc.

It usually takes 90 minutes to two hours to get her down. And she’d only want my wife and then she’d come in two times in the middle of the night. We don’t allow them to sleep in our bed. However that may be the less of two evils.

We bought door locks for when she wants to be extremely difficult and that worked a little because she sees that as a punishment. However we don’t lock doors overnight or extended periods of time.

She naps well too so there really isn’t anything to change there. I thought we need to take her to the doctor because this shit isn’t normal lol. We also tried kids Zarbee Melatonin... the little girl’s will power was too strong for that.

Soooo..... what has changed!?!?!? The daycare. The previous daycare from two weeks ago was good in its own right. However we felt it didn’t push or really stimulate her. And I would go as far as saying the caregivers/teachers didn’t give her the personal attention or “love” she may have needed. And that’s not specific to my girl.

Once our daughter was big enough we got her an activity table that went around a seat, it converts to a high chair/booster that grows with kiddo which saved us buying a high chair.

Activity center: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LTI0ARO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vt5MDbQPJ4TAX

Once she was a bit bigger we used her bouncer and kept her in our line of sight.

Bouncer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016XS2O7O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Mu5MDbGS0KDD7

Now that she’s walking we use baby gates and a play yard fence to keep her in a solidly baby proofed area and she still loves her bouncer at 17 months old

Play yard fence: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006NTY1HU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_vv5MDb89CNM0C

Edit: we also had a larger swing in the living room and a smaller portable swing I’d move around when I’d need to go to a different room to clean or something.

First, i would talk to your family and see if they are willing to do some baby proofing to help you out. You might offer to provide some of the things you need to make that possible. Ask if fragile things in low spaces can be moved while he is still learning the boundaries. They agreed to let you bring you kiddo so I hope they are willing to help you out on this part.

In the mean time, a playyard might be best for you. It can be used in a circle, used as a barrier to block rooms/doors, and is easily taken apart and stored. It was a life saver for me when i watched babies in places that weren't baby proof.

Edit: As an unintended benefit, the kiddos i've watched that spent time in this 'baby jail' learned to pull themselves up on furniture/gates much earlier than other kiddos. Motivation to try hard!

My MIL introduced us to this wonder.

http://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Comfy-Bath-Sponge/dp/B000H953Y2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1381514697&sr=8-3&keywords=bath+sponge

The baby can lie down, be warm because they're laying on a warm wet sponge (drape a cloth over the top of them...) and I felt safe and secure using it because our little guy wasn't slipping and sliding all over the place. I loved this thing.

My four-year-old started doing this and he started complaining that he didn't like the dark in this room. But for him that's a stall tactic. Recently we started keeping the lights in the hallway and other close areas on, but explained to him that every time he comes out of his room we will turn off one light. It has worked out very well.


Also: these are awesome. I don't use it anymore, but it was very helpful when my kids were younger for bedrooms, closets, pantries, etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Door-Monkey-Lock-Pinch-Guard/dp/B004ECJWK4

We registered for this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI?tag=blvisitor-20

Why we bought it: Good reviews on Amazon. I liked the different lenses and that you can add on another camera. I liked that you can have the monitor "off," but still see if there is sound (the lights will light up).

Why we didn't want a webcam: 1. the security issues (people hacking and talking/seeing baby), 2. we don't have the need to see baby when we aren't home (baby will be at daycare. If we were going the nanny route, I might have changed my tune), 3. i don't want to have to use my iphone as a baby monitor. I'd rather have something that can be "on" all the time rather than toggling to an app/website.

Can't help you with how hard was it to secure - haven't used it yet!

Edited to add: also liked that it came with a temperature sensor. We will probably buy the wide angle lens once baby gets older/mobile.

Use this style to create a horseshoe around the stairs. This will allow the dog to safely jump over it.


Regalo 192-Inch Super Wide Gate and Play Yard, White https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_CigdAb71H6VQM

Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera HB24, Night Vision Temperature Monitoring & 2 Way Talkback System, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZUD4R8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_GjR5CbWQKN3S8

This is the one we have and we never had any issues with it. They have additional cameras if you need to add it but it’s $70 for the whole thing which was a great price for us. It’s not the best picture quality but it works great and we can still see more than enough when we used it.

I just bought this one from Amazon but I haven't used it yet. It has really good reviews so I'm hoping it'll be great!

Yes! I actually have the same one (love it!) and found that I needed a bigger foam insert to keep my baby upright during bath time. Just a friendly suggestion :)

Like this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H953Y2/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_bHzgDbR5AZ8QT

https://www.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-DXR-8-Monitor-Interchangeable/dp/B00ECHYTBI

#1 best seller in baby monitors, frequently recommended in top baby monitor lists, been very happy with it

Just curious: do you NEED it to be wifi (as in an IP camera). So it's accessible on your phone/tablet? Or would a normal baby camera that's not hardwired work? You say it has to be "wifi due to placement" but I'm not sure if you mean it can't be hardwired or connect to your wifi. I have this monitorand the range is excellent.

Obviously if you're looking to integrate into HASS then yeah you'll need a wifi camera. I personally use Wyze running the custom firmware from Dafang-Hacks on Github, so I have RTSP. It....works. But there's a bunch of drops, and I can't get audio to work. However, Wyze has said RTSP is coming in the stock firmware (it'd be a forked version) sometime in Q2 of this year. So it may still be an option if you can wait.

I think the Yi cams can be hacked to run RTSP but i'm not sure. Otherwise, you're looking at something like an Armcrest for like $60 or 70ish.

I got this monitor and really like it. Granted, I haven't viewed a baby through it, but the picture is really clear and you can control the camera movement from the hand held base, so if baby moves you can move the lens without needed to walk into the room to adjust.

Get one of these https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WLGV08/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i3uyzbH5DZTQ1. They work super well and it completely saved my sanity with both of my kids. Totally worth it!

I just bought the Infant Optics one from Amazon today, nice Black Friday sale and all reviews I found seem great. It's also hack safe.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHYTBI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

oh ok sweet. then I could keep a pack charging and a pack on my backpack. I sometimes spend 6 to 8 hours wearing it so its important to either have a long battery life or quick charging/battery swapping. getting the weight down would be awesome.

Are these the batteries you tested as working fine on the lepai?

>not a 100% convinced we need a baby monitor

until you wake the baby up by breathing too hard when you walk in their room to check on them...

It's really been a stress reducer to be able to instantly click the screen on when the baby makes some sort of noise.

This one is awesome. I did a screen image compare (in store) and this one was super awesome compared to others. I know it's a little pricey, but the pan/tilt came in handy when they start rolling around in the crib (out of sight of the mounted camera). Also, my wife really liked the zoom feature because she could see him breathing as he laid there.
http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-MBP36S-Wireless-Monitor-3-5-Inch/dp/B00M2F0OYS/ref=pd_cp_ba_2

We've received two as hand me downs. I really like "Hello Baby" it's picture is really crisp and there is a talk back feature so you can intercom your voice over to baby. We don't have extra cameras but I know you can sync up other cameras for different views which is pretty cool.

Our son is 2.5 years old and we've used a Nestcam/dropcam since day one. No issues with it. WiFi, 1080p recording, two way communication, night vision, 24 hour with 10 or 30 day cloud storage. Plus you can make time lapse clips and draw out a notification zone where you'll get specific alerts. You can view it on any device at home or when you're out and about. We also used the Infant Optics video monitor as well initially. It's not WiFi, but the range is really great and also has two way communication, night vision, temp monitoring and you can move it around remotely plus you can add on multiple cameras to the system.

What!? Get a new Dr. Asap! Also look into a sids monitor! Helps me feel more comfortable going to sleep. It clips to my son's diaper and will beep if he stops breathing (and when it falls off which isint often but wow I can fly out of bed fast). We got the Snoza Go. https://www.amazon.com/Snuza-Portable-Baby-Movement-Monitor/dp/B002WLGV08

I've got this one but with two receivers.

We don't use the heartbeat sensor though. I did a lot of monitor research and to be honest there's no real consensus on the "best."

I like this one because it has really good battery life and it's sensitive enough to ignore the sound machine we have and only turn on when the baby cries.

Also, I'd recommend not getting a video monitor. I have plenty of friend that have them and they are checking them all of the time. It raises your anxiety a lot.

I always say audio and video. I caught my son climbing out of the crib at 11 months, before he could walk. He grabbed the top of the rail and used his sweaty feet to walk up the slats. I ran in and caught him as he was swinging a leg over the edge. If I didn’t have the video on I would have had no idea that’s what he was doing.

We have an infant optics dxr-8. So far it’s great and the customer service has been awesome. My one complaint was the battery died after about 8 months, but it cost around $10 on Amazon for a new one and it’s worked great ever since.

We used the Safety 1st locks for our childproofing. Very effective, and nice to have something that doesn't show or mark up the outside face of the drawers & cabinets.

It is tricky to align the latch properly, but that will also be a problem with the adhesive latches. You can take out the screw and drill a new hole if you mess up the alignment on the Safety 1st latches-- do the adhesive latches come with extra sticky pads?

Safety 1st was also nice because you can "turn off" the latch without removing the hardware.

But yeah, get two of the key magnets. You will lock one inside a drawer at some point.

[summer infant bath sponge](Summer Infant Comfy Bath Sponge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H953Y2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Tdr7ybCW5R0BC)

These bath sponges. Easy to travel with, lay in the tub, set it in the sink. Comfy for baby, easy to wring out and store. Loved them.

Yes, we have these dandy ones, they work very well, have a lock-stop button for times when you want them to stay unlocked (e.g. cleaning time), and are fairly easy to install. $25 for 8 isn't a bad deal either. Any sufficiently strong magnet can unlock them if you lose the key, but we're pretty much talking neodymium magnets here, so toys won't do it. We keep our key on the side of fridge.

I agree, baby gates are likely your best tool so you can ensure the dog can't get to the son without your knowledge and supervision. They have ones with doors in them so you don't have to constantly climb over them.

This is the one I use https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001OC5UNA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_j8plDbG1JKBZN

I've been torn as well on the phone app vs parent unit. My best friend had a baby in december and she pushed me toward going with one with a parent unit. She said it's easier to just grab and look at in the night vs opening and navigating your phone, and she likes not having to close out of whatever she's doing on her phone to look at the app during the day (sounds lame at first thought but I can see it haha). BUT I do like the idea of being able to pull it up from wherever. I registered for this one, we'll see! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI?tag=blvisitor-20 I was planning to go with the nannit had I gone the wifi/app route

I have these on top of the garbage can, to make sure they can't open it. When I put stuff like chicken wrappers, etc. I for sure want to make sure they can't get in.

Consumer reports only rated 3 monitors with video capabilities, and don't have any recommended models with video.

1. Summer Infant Slim & Secure 02800/02805 baby monitor(rating 54)
   
2. Safety 1st True View baby monitor(Rating 51)
   
3. MobiCam AV Wireless Monitoring System baby monitor(Rating 33)
   
   Their top rated audio monitor was the Philips Avent DECT SCD510 baby monitor, which scored an 88.
   
   For what it's worth, we used this Infant Optics DXR-8 model, after having issues with a motorola video monitor we had registered for: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHYTBI/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Infant Optics. We did a ton of research and this was the best: https://www.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-DXR-8-Monitor-Interchangeable/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1542723600&sr=8-4&keywords=baby+monitor

HOWEVER, it's not amazing. You aren't getting an HDTV with 4k resolution and color reproduction. The screen works fine, but it's not amazing. The alternatives were $500 units which didn't make any sense. This seemed to offer the best bang for the buck. We wanted the ability to make it wide angle, have numerous cameras via one actual monitor, and have IR at night. This checked all of those boxes. We bought the wide angle and telephoto lenses, two cameras, and the screen. I think we spent $200-300 all in. The second camera was used for the livingroom when she was learning how to walk, and my wife was in the kitchen or something. Now, it's used when we go to other people's houses if she ends up falling asleep there.

I highly recommend the Infant Optics. Big fan of it not requiring a WiFi signal, as it uses its own radio signal. The range of motion is great, and the camera comes with a 2x Zoom lens (can be used without as well)

Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_ub0WBbE3A0RGA

That looks like about $80 for parts, excluding wiring, connectors, speakers, and enclosure. Here's my take on it:

Ditch the lead-acid battery. Your portable stereo will not be very portable with that 5 pound monster. Additionally it is not made for deep cycle use. Instead I wold recommend this or something along the same lines. Or even build your own from raw cells.

If you can avoid having to run any 110v into the unit, you'll save a bunch of weight and complexity. The power pack I linked to comes with its own external charger. You can get something like this if you want USB power.

Video was a must for me. I recently got the Motorola MBP36S as per a friend's recommendation and it's perfect. I found a brand new one on Kijiji.ca for a great deal!

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B00M2F0OYS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1465365790&sr=8-1&keywords=motorola+baby+monitor&pi=SY200_QL40

How long do you need the fence for? I did get the relatively expensive North States Play Yard when she was about 6 months -- got 2 connected together. This type of gate has some advantages: first, the gate is made of vertical bars, not lattice work, which means the baby has a harder time climbing it.

Mine is a 17 month old monkey now, and can climb halfway up by putting the bars between her toes. If there had been cross-work, she would have gone over it long ago (she's already climbed out of the pack-n-play and would have climbed out of the crib if I hadn't caught her).

The second advantage is weight -- it is a heavy metal gate, so a toddler can't push it around easily. I guess it depends for how long you need the fence at work and how resilient you need it to be as baby grows up.

Just to say, I haven't regretted the investment in that one at all!

I've had this Infant Optics one for a year now and it's been great. The volume is pretty loud and the screen works well though it's not huge.

We like this for inside doors- http://www.amazon.com/Door-Monkey-Childproof-Pinch-Guard/dp/B004ECJWK4. We keep our doors to the outside locked at all times.... our kiddo hasn't figured out the locks yet.

Good luck!!

Setup a playard like this (if you have hard floors setup a playmat as well within the gated area. This type of setup gives them lots of room to play):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006NTY1HU/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_eoiXCb43A4D11

Or use a playpen like this (I think this option is better for small spaces and/or you want to be able to move it from room to room easiest):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0725JZ9KQ/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_vpiXCb5JR7RH8

Maybe something like this? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006NTY1HU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sjE0BbSQ61DKJ

Though how many people will be there? I've found with lots of family around kiddos have a lot more people who want to sit and play with them, chase them from room to room etc. than normally at home. As long as there are some toys and at least one kid safe space (like a living room rug) where people will be sitting around too I don't know that you'd necessarily need to contain just the two of them together.

They make tv straps that can be attracted to the wall, or whatever it sits on (or both). Definitely secure any furniture that baby may have access to.

An alternative is using a baby gate, something like this to keep them confined to a smaller area (if you have room). This worked for us until our daughter was pulling up and trying to walk and then she started just pushing it around.

Some babies get into every little thing (like mine did) and some don’t. I would start with securing big things and then just seeing what your baby starts getting into. I would move breakables up high, along with anything that could be a choking hazard.

I have two of the same cages for my birdies! I'm planning on just putting this play yard thing around the cages, and using binder clips to secure the doors as those take a good bit of squeezing to open. I already have to use them on the little side doors in my budgies cage because she has learned how to push them open, lol. Black or grey zip ties that blend in to prevent chewing or leather toy straps would probably also work.

Roger? (Oliver and company :D)

Perhaps this? But I love surprises too!

Just in case for the five one!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003VNKLIY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1525363286&sr=8-1&keywords=regalo+yard&dpPl=1&dpID=51BMb5OVKNL&ref=plSrch

We used this to make one room completely baby proof. It had a couch, a fenced off tv and toys. And I contained him in his “cage” anytime I needed to get something done. Or else nothing would get done... well worth the money! Plus he learned to play nicely independently:)

Sorry, I did not realize you did not want to drill.

Maybe these might work? It looks like it.

https://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Xtraguard-Action-Multi-Latches/dp/B007A2ZSZ8/ref=sr_1_7_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487321513&sr=8-7&keywords=childproof+cabinet+locks

I use those on all sorts of doors, including our sliding glass doors with an even larger gap/frame than your windows. Stick it it the glass. You can easily scrape it off later. They are excellent.

I think an Angelcare monitor might help you relax a little more. She'll probably never need it, but at least it'll give you some peace of mind.

http://www.amazon.com/Angelcare-Movement-Sound-Monitor-White/dp/B00GU07FLQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394069146&sr=8-1&keywords=angelcare++monitor

Our 2 year old son sleeps on a mattress on the floor with a space heater in his room and I was also super worried about it (and truthfully still slightly am, but can't figure out any other solution), but so far it hasn't been a major issue. He has been on a floor mattress since he was ~6 months old, but only had the space heater in his room since we moved 6 months ago (so space heater situation started when he was around 19 months old). Obviously, your situation could be different, but I find that when he's in his room alone and not in his bed, he's more interested in playing with his toys/stuffed animals than he is with messing with the space heater. He does switch it on/ off and change the heating setting sometimes during the day so I always check it before saying goodnight, but once we say goodnight I have never seen him mess with it (we have a video monitor). We also specifically chose a space heater that doesn't get hot to the touch when on and automatically shuts off if it gets knocked over. When he was younger we had [this] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VNKLIY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) gate up in his room to separate the kid-proof part from the non kid-proof part. We took it down before he was able to climb over it so can't say whether it will work for you, but we found it to be sturdy (it connects to the walls so wouldn't fall over) and generally kid-proof.

After A LOT of research, this is the one we're going with: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHYTBI/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_ttl?ie=UTF8&colid=1SB3NXTEYXV2H&coliid=I1PIUKGEX1655U

It gets pretty great reviews and the couple of complaints I saw were much more manageable seeming than some of the ones found for Motorola and similar big-name brands. I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but we're hopeful!

We were given this one as a gift at our baby shower and I love it!

Well, my friend, have I got the product for you!

Safety 1st Magnetic Cabinet Locks, 8 Locks + 1 Key https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GCJMLG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_M9aHzbDJQPV27

I used this set on a piano bench that I now store ammo and magazines in. Works very well. May be adding one to my bedside drawer to keep a gun in.

Get a door monkey. We use one of these, but we just use it for going to bed and take it off after he falls asleep (you can keep it on all night if you have safety issues like stairs). When our son first transitioned out of crib he kept escaping his room instead of going to bed until we used this. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ECJWK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_w4gBCb780GZ7Y

I'd say use whatever works! Personally i never used baby tubs but really liked the sponge thing you can sit or lay baby on. Kinda like this: https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Comfy-Bath-Sponge/dp/B000H953Y2

We love this tub too! We also use this sponge to help stabilize her, since she is not sitting up yet:

Summer Infant Comfy Bath Sponge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H953Y2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Fdmozb1BFB2C9

We use the Infant Optics DXR-8 (link below). Very easy to set up, auto switches to night vision in low light and you can pan/tilt the camera remotely. It's been great so far.

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_93HUDbZGMA8CS)

Eh - they learn quick what things hurt - tho mine won't stop climbing onto the back of the couch. these are pretty awesome. But instead of containing the child, we put them around our entertainment center which keeps him out of it.

I have this one with 8 panels
North States 3-in-1 Metal Superyard - 144 inches Long Play Yard: Create an extra-wide gate or a play yard. Hardware mount or freestanding. 6 panels, 10 sq. ft. enclosure (30" tall, Beige) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000U5FOT2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_VoJFDbPZST87Q

We had it over a foam mat. Now that we moved and LO is older, we have 3 panels with the gate mounted to seperate the living room from the rest of the house. Keeps toddler in and pets out.

[this one](Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vesPybASVPHBS)

Two years and going strong. My sister had an expensive Motorola one and it blew out in less than a year. She got this one by my recommendation and loves it.

hahaha maybe you just need some childlocks! I bought these off of Amazon to keep my toddler out of our cleaning chemicals, and they work well!

I would just get rid of the nightlight. Is it really necessary? When my son was born I bought this chargeable light and it has been a great investment. It's dimmable and since you charge it with a USB I can move it around to wherever I want without worrying about cords or outlets. It's also saved my ass any time the power has gone out.

Edit: and get latches like this for the diaper pail.

We have a set of these:
metal super-gates of awesomeness

no horizontal footholds = no way to climb.
they're more expensive, but they're pretty good quality.

We registered for this one, Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens

My friend has the same one and has gone through a few and said she loves it.

We have the Hello Baby monitor (this one). It's great. Not crazy expensive and works really well. We got this shelf thing to mount the camera to the wall by the crib but it also comes off easily to use if you're traveling.

We put a lock on babies room so toddler can’t run in there. When baby was a newborn, I would co sleep with baby on the fold out and was terrified the toddler would come running in and land on baby.

This thing was a great solution!

Edit to add: I love that it’s so easy to take on an off. We take it off during the day so it’s nice and quiet for nap time, and then just put it back on before bed.

We have the Infant Optics DXR-8. It comes with two lenses, has audio, and good display. It often shows images of a child who was just put down doing crazy stuff like waking up and moving wildly, and it often emits what seems to be a crying noise, but other than that, it's great! 😉

Hi there! I'm not one of you any more. In fact, my little boy is 18 months old now. I came back to baby bumps and I wanted to make a post about an awesome baby monitor on sale on Amazon today. I seriously LOVE this monitor. I've tried a couple out, but this one kicked the pants off any of them. It's the Infant Optics DXR-8.
Infant Optics
It's one of the highest rated/most sold monitors on Amazon for a reason.

It's sounds like you're being really thoughtful to their needs which is awesome! Are you renting a house/cabin etc for this visit? Are they flying or driving? Is there a place nearby they can stop for diapers, wipes, snacks etc if needed when they get in? If they are driving they might just bring all that stuff with them- it they are flying that gets trickier. I would also add a bit of childproofing (or make sure these things can be provided) make sure there are outlet covers in their bedroom and the common areas everyone will be hanging out in... Also move breakable decor higher there if need be. I don't know the layout but the other 2 things I would think of are if there is a cabinet in the kitchen with lots of cleaners etc put a childproof lock (varies by cabinet design- knobs or not) and lastly if there are any stairs to watch out for. Maybe since you are renting a crib/highchair you could rent a gate or see if the property already has one you can use?

I bought this on Amazon for my mischievous rescue Pom and it has been great for keeping him out of areas I don't want him to go into. It's short enough that the cats can jump over and has a tiny door he can go through if I want him to come into the forbidden room. It also allows him to see me in the other room so he won't bark. You might also want to invest in a large crate for nighttime.

I have this one. Works great!

Evenflo Versatile Play Space,... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LTSWND?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

While you're at it

Stove safety knobs

and

Oven Lock

We used those and they were a life saver for us, especially for the oven as ours loved opening it.

Is this for the bottom of the stairs? You can DIY one with pvc pipes and fabric that will fit between the railings, seen here. There are also a super wide play yard by Regalo that you can set up in whatever configuration you want, and screw each end into the wall.

How about something like this? http://smile.amazon.com/Door-Monkey-Childproof-Pinch-Guard/dp/B004ECJWK4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1407865005&sr=8-2&keywords=handle+lock

Or just go to your local Babies R Us. There's tons of products out there designed to keep kids from opening doors they're not supposed to, even for lever handles like you have. I'm sure the same things will work for a cat.

My son would have ripped off the tape lickety-split. Outlet plugs are pretty cheap. It's a baby proofing item I'd definitely get. They're inexpensive. Amazon has 36 for $2.09.

If you feel like you need baby gate, consider a Door Monkey. Temporary installation, works great.

I couldn't be happier with the infant optics.

Seems to me like most "blogs" and "reviews" are just promoting whatever product they're paid to promote. The motorola one that is almost $300 has 45% 1 star reviews on Amazon.

one of [these,](http://www.amazon.com/Portable-4500mAh-Rechargeable-Battery-Wireless/dp/B008UKKXRC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1405463569&sr=8-3&keywords=12v+rechargeable+battery+pack
) and one of these and your good to go. trust me.

Like some other people have mentioned, I wasn't a fan of wifi enabled monitor. So I ended up with this one: https://www.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-DXR-8-Monitor-Interchangeable/dp/B00ECHYTBI/

I like it so far, the range is good enough for us to go the neighbors house and still pick up the video and the monitor has a battery so we can take it around the house with us.

I got the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor. Easy set-up. Pan/Zoom, temperature, hear baby and talk to baby - working good for us so far. Got it on Amazon:
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHYTBI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera HB24, Night Vision Temperature Monitoring & 2 Way Talkback System, White
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZUD4R8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KETRBbHB27TZR

We have this one and we love it!

This was about the age that daughter officially dropped naps. But when she did nap it made bedtime a nightmare.

This is also the general age (she may have been older) that switching up her bedtime from "bath/quick rinse, 3 books, sing 4 songs, and tuck in" to a different version. She started having an emotional reaction when we read specific books because she was so scared of going to bed - usually because she was associating the experience with being left out.

So we bought a door monkey, and had her repeat the rules. Kept them simple and kept the punishment exact.

Us: tuck in time, and now tell us the rules?

Her: No crying or whining, and stay in bed.

Us: What happens if you break the rules?

Her: mommy daddy hafta close da door.

Then hugs and kisses, and as long as she followed the rules we could leave her door open. Which for some reason made her feel better.

If this works, it's great. If not, I have no other help, because we are fast approaching this stage with my son who just turned 2.

Sleep issues suck, and I'm so sorry!

We LOVE this one and haven't had any problems with it in 3 months of useage: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072LTSWND/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I had two kiddos that were both born at 25 weeks gestation. They lived in the NICU for 4 months each and came home with no medical equipment. However every single sound, movement etc they made terrified me that something was wrong. I worried to death that they would stop breathing while sleeping. So our doctor recommeneded this for their cribs - Angle Care Breathing Monitor this thing was amazing. If they moved off the pad the monitor freaks out, if they pause breathing for more than 10 seconds it freaks out. From what I am reading you would probably like this. It will help you feel more secure about letting them grow on their own. I think everything will be fine, and you are doing a great job! Besides that worrying means you care and more attention is always better than less with babies.

Get a baby gate for her door, or at the top of the stairs, whatever works best for your floor plan and where you want her to be. We have one of these in the door:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OC5UNA

I got this giant metal baby cage. It is a pretty large space, and has the freedom the be uncoupled to wall off a room that is baby proofed if I need to. I love that thing. My kid is 14 months (almost) and it still works great if I need to put him down for a while without him getting into crap. I didn't get it till he was 7 months old but have gotten a ton of use out of it.

*edit that is the Canadian Amazon link as I am Canadian. No idea where you are at :D

Good luck. She will still push the buttons, or pull the cords, or spill stuff on it. Only thing that worked for me was https://smile.amazon.com/Regalo-192-Inch-Super-Adjustable-Mounts/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=baby+fence&qid=1554683862&s=gateway&sr=8-3 and sectioning off part of the room.

Do you want to use an app to watch it or just a straight monitor?

I prefer not having the IP based ones because it keeps it off the net. I don't mind changing the settings on them, just easier to not have to.

The one I bought is a straight video monitor/wireless camera. Camera/Monitor

I have the one for you, because that was exactly my criteria.

Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera HB24, Night Vision Temperature Monitoring & 2 Way Talkback System, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZUD4R8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_rvCRzbNW7XB4X.

I wanted temp read out, battery operated, not wifi/hackable, and cheap. Love this one so far. It also has a "VOX" mode where the screen turns off and saves battery until there is sound.

So, for poop in the bark yard issue I've got one of these that sits outside permanently in a circle so the dog can't poop in that area and the babies have a grassy area to play in. Once we get their outdoor play house I'm going to hook two of those gate things together and it will live around the playhouse to keep dog/poop out and babies in.

I've got no solution on the behavior issue though. Our dog is an asshole and almost 11 years old, so she isn't changing any time soon. She growls and nips at them if they get close, so now that Ben's crawling we've had to make sure he doesn't get too close to her.

Father of 3 kids here, PC cabinet has a magnetic kid lock on it. The plastic ones are junk that most kids can open by the time they are 3 or 4.


Edit: the oldest one (6) loves to watch me play games, so I've got a future PCMR gal up and coming. Can't wait to build her her own PC someday to game with. Minecraft is high on the list when she gets a bit older.

They sell lever locks in the child proofing section of most stores. Maybe that could help until you figure out a pup training idea?

They also have top of the door locks like this
Door Monkey Door Lock and Pinch Guard https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ECJWK4/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_g5W8ub1QRWQG0
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ECJWK4/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_g5W8ub1QRWQG0


We had a Houdini dog once too

I had great luck with one of these adjustable pens: http://www.amazon.com/North-States-Superyard-Metal-Gate/dp/B000U5FOT2/ref=sr_1_4_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1462386576&sr=8-4

If it's too large, you can remove two panels and make a square out of it. I used one for my bloodhound/anatolian mix puppy, since he hated being crated. We graduated him to having run of the house after I put him in the pen during the day, and came home for lunch to find him asleep on the couch. :)

I think other folks have some good ideas for the awkward space. Keep in mind, the older they get, the more they want to hang off/around the gate. We have wall-mounted ones and my kid always liked standing on them. We have one pressure mounted gate at the bottom of our stairs and it cannot handle the same level of abuse/climbing.

Someone else mentioned the Regalo 2-1. I have a metal version of this and it might be a good option for you to block off the stair area. This is the one I have - I use it as a play yard.
https://www.amazon.com/Regalo-192-Inch-Super-Adjustable-Mounts/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=regalo+play+yard&qid=1555346485&s=gateway&sr=8-4

I highly recommend the Regalo Easy Step Extra Tall Walk Thru Gate. Toddler went be able to open it, and you don't have to climb over it.

Another idea... there are a bunch of childproof locks you could probably use that would be a lot easier than moving a 50 pound chair everyday. Something like this or similar: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007A2ZSZ8

Edit: this one is self locking so you’d never forget to lock it in the first place: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SK5BRDL

http://www.amazon.com/Angelcare-Movement-Sound-Monitor-White/dp/B00GU07FLQ - saved my sanity and allowed me to sleep in peace, you likely will get a few false alarms but it works amazingly well

Ugh unexpected car expenses are the wooooorst. I'm so sorry :-( There are 2 other versions of the Snuza that are cheaper. Instead of vibrating after 15 seconds and beeping after 20, there's an $80 version where you can set it to beep after 15, 18, or 20 seconds; and a $67 version that beeps after 15 seconds.

I know it's expensive but the peace of mind it gives is so worth it!

If you want to keep her out of the bathroom while still allowing adults access, we like these. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004ECJWK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jJuBDb520CRR9

That said, by 30 months many kids are potty trained and need to wash their hands. By that age my daughter had access to a sink and was allowed to “play” in it if she didn’t make a mess. We had some ground rules - water stays in the sink, etc. 30 months is the age when many kids start outgrowing the need for baby proofing, a better longterm solution would be to teach her appropriate rules for using the sink.

This is the one I’m getting:

Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JaKbAbC77VPCN

I’m expecting number two and I’ve been doing research on baby monitors that can have two cameras, and have split screen, or dual monitoring. This one by FAR has the best reviews of any that I have looked at.

The monitor I have has a color bar on the side that gets more red the louder the baby gets. Maybe a monitor w this type of option would work for you. Visually seeing you’re baby on the screen combined with the color bar may help you determine if baby is upset/ hungry or just getting comfy.


Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OsqQBbDM322HA

Edit: I’m not hearing impaired I just thought this feature could be helpful to you.

I really like this playpen, it is super sturdy and no crossbars so they are less likely to attempt to climb out. https://www.amazon.ca/Regalo-192-Inch-Super-Wide-White/dp/B003VNKLIY/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1519067238&sr=8-1&keywords=Regalo+192

https://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Comfy-Bath-Sponge/dp/B000H953Y2

My mom suggested this bath sponge and it has worked great so far!

http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-XTRAGUARD-Count-Action-Latches/dp/B007A2ZSZ8/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1411756003&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=Drawer+locks

We use these drawer locks, they work great! Also use these to lock the toilet lid.

if it ever becomes a concern, probably 100 childproofing products to choose from

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007A2ZSZ8/

btw, really awesome work on your remodel

Boosting up to a 12 volt from a 3.7v batter strains the battery pretty heavily. power is the same on both sides of the converter minus efficiency losses, so this would require 3 times the current on the low side.
Typically, a battery's mAh rating is tested under specific loading conditions. Puekerts law states that drawing too fast from a battery can change its actual capacity by a greal deal (maybe 40%).

I would use a 12v battery like thishttp://www.amazon.com/Portable-4500mAh-Rechargeable-Battery-Wireless/dp/B008UKKXRC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1418685970&sr=8-4&keywords=12v+lithium+ion+battery+pack#productDetails

then use a buck converter to step down to the led voltage. you can even buy a buck converter IC to make it simple. The IC will regulate the output, although LEDs arent terribly sensitive to voltage fluctuation

I did this all the time with my son post-partum. Cycling was my jam starting 4 weeks after delivery because I could get in a good workout while he chilled in his rocker or even did tummy time.

That said...word of advice: Once he starts moving, you'll realize your trainer is infinitely more dangerous, and your kid will be attracted to it. I used an exersaucer during my workouts once he started standing and moving around on furniture, but now he's running around so we just bought this baby gate for our home gym to separate him from us while we workout. That gate can also be used as a play yard! Your workout setting may change as he grows, but it's totally possible to keep it up!

This is the monitor we got for our registry and so far, it's pretty neat (obviously not baby tested yet).

Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QyLCybWPE46B8

It has the option to turn off the video but leave the sound, has night vision, and reads the temperature of the room (and other cool features).

We also got the Snuza over the Owlett after much debate. I turn my phone off at night so the Owlett wasn't going to work for us but with the Snuza's audible alarm, I could hear it over the baby monitor.

I got this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002WLGV08/ref=yo_ii_img?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have tested in on myself and it went off when it was supposed to and it was loud! Small and comfy too so I don't see it bothering a baby. Cheaper than the owl sock thing (I had to choose between them)

Also I swaddled both my kids for about 4 months and they're fine. Just make sure it's not loose

If you can afford it, I would suggest upgrading to the metal version: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000U5FOT2

The plastic version is a lot easier to climb (the diamond pattern provides horizontal toe holds) and the metal version comes with wall brackets.