What is a baby monitor?
Baby monitors are invaluable – freeing you up to move around the house while your baby sleeps, and letting you know when they wake!
Typically a monitor has two parts. The base unit sits near the baby’s bed, while the parent unit stays with you. You can choose from a huge variety of monitors - from basic models with ‘sound only’ alerts, to more sophisticated digital models with video.
Which baby monitor is right for you?
There’s a massive variety of baby monitors on offer, from basic to all-singing, all-dancing super monitors! Often the more you pay, the more features you get. So have a think about what you really need from this range of options:
- range - look for one with a good range, usually the maximum is 300 metres
- sound quality – some offer digital quality and reduce interference
- video – in case you want to see your baby all the time
- room temperature display – your baby’s room should be 18C for safety
- Visual sound indicator – it may have lights in addition to sound
- music – some have lullabies and other soothing sounds
- nightlight – to provide a gentle light in your baby’s room
- remote control
- mains only power – usually cheaper, but not ideal if you travel a lot or move from room to roomrechargeable – the parent unit is often cordless and can clip to your belt
How much will a baby monitor cost?
They start at around £20 and go up into the hundreds.
Top tips for buying a baby monitor
A monitor can give you great peace of mind, helping you listen out for your baby while they sleep, but it’s always worth following guidelines for bedtime safety. For information on premature babies and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), visit Tommys.org.uk or lullabytrust.org.uk
Ready to buy?
Take a look at some of the popular baby monitors below.
Angelcare AC1100 Video, Movement & Sound Baby Monitor
RRP: £209.99 - Buy now
The AC1100 3-in-1 digital baby monitor watches over your baby when you can't, detecting all of their movements and sounds, even the most subtle of movements. You can also see your baby on the high quality digital video screen, day and night. The parent unit also offers touchscreen technology; a touch is all it takes to activate a multiple of functions.
- Under-the-Mattress Sensor Pad
- 2.75" LCD Touch Screen
- Digital Full Colour
- Video Transmission
- Infrared Night Vision
- 2.4GHz Digital Transmission - Optimal Privacy & Security
- Temperature Display & Control
- Out of Range Indicator
- Volume Control & Vibration Alert
- Batteries or Mains Operated
Why our mums love the Angelcare AC1100 Video, Movement & Sound Baby Monitor ....
- The under-mattress sensor pad monitors all of baby's movements. If it doesn't detect any movement for 20 seconds, it sets off the alarm.
- The video screens on the parent unit means you can see when baby is unsettled, or crying, or just sleep babbling and decide if you need to go in to them. Very handy.
- Clever night-vision technology (infrared LED) means you can even watch them while they sleep in the dark!
- It's a very easy-to-use model, with simple touch-screen settings that don't hurt your head when you're tired.
- As well as the option to have continuous sound monitoring, or just voice activated (crying, babbling etc) there's a button to talk back to them via the parent unit - which is useful, as they get older.
Angelcare AC403 Movement & Sound baby Monitor
RRP: £109.99 - Buy now
The AC403 Movement & Sound Baby Monitor is the enhanced version of the UK's bestselling AC401 monitor. It watches over your baby when you can't, detecting even the slightest of movements.
- Under-the-Mattress Sensor Pad
- Full Colour Digital Display
- Audible "Tic" Feature
- Portable & Rechargeable Parent Unit
- Nursery Night Light
- Crystal Clear Transmission
- Out of Range Indicator
- Volume Control & Vibration Alert
- Batteries or Mains Operated
Why our mums love the Angelcare AC403 Movement & Sound baby Monitor....
- Under-the-mattress movement Sensor Pad: The Sensor Pad is a great reassurance because it monitors all your baby's movements, even the slightest ones. An alarm will sound if no movement has been detected for 20 seconds.
- Variable sensitivity settings: It's great value for money and really flexible because as baby grows and develops and becomes more active you can simply adjust sensitivity settings to suit your needs.
- Portable & rechargeable Parent Unit:Peace of mind on the go, just clip the small portable Parent Unit to your belt and monitor your baby wherever you are in the house.
- Full colour digital display: Feel reassured as the full colour LCD screen on the Parent Unit clearly displays a number of monitoring features, so even if the sound is off you'll know what's going on.
- Temperature display and control: There's no need to worry about baby's room temperature as it's monitored and displayed on the Parent Unit. An alarm will sound if the temperature is too high or too low.
- Crystal clear sound transmission:Because there are 8 channels to choose from, you can rest assured you'll enjoy crystal clear sound transmission.
- Continuous or voice-activated sound monitoring:Another fab feature showing the flexibility of this monitor is that it can be set to continuous or voice-activated sound transmission, so you can hear all sounds in baby's room or just when baby cries - it's your choice.