A Parent's Guide To Buying A Baby Video Monitor

Baby video monitors have now largely superseded more old-fashioned devices consisting of just a microphone and a portable speaker. These consist of a camera with a built in microphone which is placed in the room of your baby and a portable hand-held receiver unit which displays the resulting video and sound. In this way you can both see and hear your baby when you are not in the room. These products also come with a night vision mode so that you can monitor your baby in a daylight and in a darkened room.

Choosing a device which suits your needs can be a difficult decision due to the broad range of different products available on the market. However, despite the choice there are just a few simple considerations that you need to bear in mind in order to select a product that will fulfill your own requirements.

The first thing which you need to take into account is the size of your home. This will in turn impact on the power of the device that you need to buy. Short range devices will be sufficient for small homes or city apartments. However you will need to consider buying a long range baby monitor if you live in a larger home or want the device to work into your garden.

The next consideration is the size of the screen. A small screen size of 1.5 inches is normally big enough to monitor your baby's movements. However a screen size of 2.5 inches or more provides a much clearer view. There is however a delicate balance between the quality of the video and the cost since a small increase in screen size will substantially increase the cost of the device.

There are a broad range of companies that manufacture baby video monitors ranging from small companies to much bigger brands. Well established branded companies tend to manufacture more reliable products and offer a much stronger after sales support service. However this comes at a price. Most parents prefer to go with companies that they know and trust.

Also bear in mind that some baby monitors have some very useful additional functions. For instance some products are able to play lullabies which can be started and stopped remotely via a hand-held receiver without even having to enter the baby's room. This is wonderful for babies that are poor sleepers as this soothing music greatly helps to induce sleep.

By considering the range of options available it's possible to ensure that you end up with a baby video monitor that specifically meets your needs and requirements.