Alternative to the video baby monitors
Discussion
So my best mate and his wife are expecting their first baby in December and I want to get something that they will use every day and not the normal clothes, nappies, etc so thought a video baby monitor would be perfect (both work in IT and love tech)
After spending about an hour this morning looking at some they all come up with crap reviews and when your'e spending around £100 on something i'd expect it to be good.
So it got me thinking if there any any none baby related webcams that could do something just as good using a mobile app and/or a website that does video and audio so they can see and here the baby.
I've done a quick look around but nothing is jumping out at me so was hoping good old PH community might be able to shed some light?
After spending about an hour this morning looking at some they all come up with crap reviews and when your'e spending around £100 on something i'd expect it to be good.
So it got me thinking if there any any none baby related webcams that could do something just as good using a mobile app and/or a website that does video and audio so they can see and here the baby.
I've done a quick look around but nothing is jumping out at me so was hoping good old PH community might be able to shed some light?
There is an iphone (and android) app called - Baby monitor 3d which we use when we are out and about - 2 iphones (androids) pair up. leave one in babys room (with vidoe on or off (your choice) one parent carries the other and can listen / see what they need to.
We don't use it in the house, but it's great when visiting friends if putting baby down for a nap etc. Only costs a couple of ££
This one: http://www.babymonitor3g.com/
Edit: not really what you're looking for, sorry!!
We don't use it in the house, but it's great when visiting friends if putting baby down for a nap etc. Only costs a couple of ££
This one: http://www.babymonitor3g.com/
Edit: not really what you're looking for, sorry!!
Unless it's as simple as pressing one power button on the camera and one on the monitor thln I'd forget it. When your dealing with a baby that's not sleeping the last thing you want is an unreliable webcam that you have to try and get working. We have a Tommy teepee baby monitor. Works flawlessly, required no setting up. Cost about fifty quid. I honestly can't see the point in bothering with something else.
Are you sure this is something the new parents would want? Many (us included) didn't want such a monitor and people I know with them have said they make them more paranoid, constantly checking the video etc. What happens if you check the monitor and the baby has its eyes closed and isn't moving (like they are a lot when they are asleep)? Do you then go upstairs to check they are breathing? Kind of defeats the point of a video monitor imho.
Just a thought
Just a thought
SystemParanoia said:
IoT heart rate monitor would be better
a quick check of your app and you can see the pulse of little beloved as well as trends et al
Until they roll off the detector mat, setting off an alarm and leaving you legging it upstairs to check on your child... regularly throughout the night...a quick check of your app and you can see the pulse of little beloved as well as trends et al
wiggy001 said:
SystemParanoia said:
IoT heart rate monitor would be better
a quick check of your app and you can see the pulse of little beloved as well as trends et al
Until they roll off the detector mat, setting off an alarm and leaving you legging it upstairs to check on your child... regularly throughout the night...a quick check of your app and you can see the pulse of little beloved as well as trends et al
We have a Summer brand video monitor. Easy to use and works really well. It's not worth faffing doing your own thing for the price of them.
If the new parents are the paranoid type, they'll be paranoid regardless of what they use to keep an eye on their nipper. For us it encourages LESS visits upstairs.
One of the best things we bought when embarking on parenthood.
If the new parents are the paranoid type, they'll be paranoid regardless of what they use to keep an eye on their nipper. For us it encourages LESS visits upstairs.
One of the best things we bought when embarking on parenthood.
We use a regular wifi Foscam camera, works well using an app on the phone. Wouldn't be without it now.
It supplements a plain audio baby monitor, which is always switched on, on a charging base in the kitchen. If we're out of earshot (and to be honest, you'll hear a crying baby in most houses) then we take that with us. Unlike the dedicated video baby monitors, it's small enough to put in your pocket, and has the range to get to the bottom of the garden.
Opening the app and getting to a video feed takes maybe 10 seconds and there's no way I'd rely on it for audio alerting (we actually don't use the audio bit at all). It is very useful though for seeing if she's actually asleep or playing quietly, or if sat/stood up in the cot rather than lying there making noises.
I don't know anyone who's been happy with the movement pad things. The baby will probably be in with you for a couple of months at least (and their grunting and snuffling is a pretty good sign they're alive), then once in a cot it's not long at all before they can shuffle themselves off the pad and wake you up with the alarm.
Either way, talk about it with them beforehand. They may love the idea, they may not want video at all.
It supplements a plain audio baby monitor, which is always switched on, on a charging base in the kitchen. If we're out of earshot (and to be honest, you'll hear a crying baby in most houses) then we take that with us. Unlike the dedicated video baby monitors, it's small enough to put in your pocket, and has the range to get to the bottom of the garden.
Opening the app and getting to a video feed takes maybe 10 seconds and there's no way I'd rely on it for audio alerting (we actually don't use the audio bit at all). It is very useful though for seeing if she's actually asleep or playing quietly, or if sat/stood up in the cot rather than lying there making noises.
I don't know anyone who's been happy with the movement pad things. The baby will probably be in with you for a couple of months at least (and their grunting and snuffling is a pretty good sign they're alive), then once in a cot it's not long at all before they can shuffle themselves off the pad and wake you up with the alarm.
Either way, talk about it with them beforehand. They may love the idea, they may not want video at all.
richatnort said:
So my best mate and his wife are expecting their first baby in December and I want to get something that they will use every day and not the normal clothes, nappies, etc so thought a video baby monitor would be perfect (both work in IT and love tech)
That's weird, dude. They'll no doubt be googling and reading reviews of what they want based on their beliefs (video monitor users are in the minority I would say).Get a couple of outfits, say 20 quids worth, and get some for 6-9 months old. Job done.
Or as they are your mates, get them some nice wine, they'll be drowning in baby gifts anyway.
Buy them a hamper that has the following
Duck Liver Pate
Nice bread
Blue Cheese
Crackers or something to put the cheese on
Red Wine
More red wine
Espresso
Cafetiere
Pair of Camelbak travel flask/mugs
They're set then for stuff Mum couldnt eat during pregnancy and probably might like, plus they're ready for the getting up every couple of hours
The Camelbaks especially are good, they keep a brew warm for about 5 hours. And they're watertight when put together. We use ours for the morning brew (you never finish one anyway) and also for keeping boiled water hot when we're out.
Video monitor - tbh, these wont come in handy until 6 months after the birth anyway (the baby will be in a moses basket next to the bed) so it's going to get lobbed in a wardrobe and forgotten about for a while. The sensors in them detect no movement and then sound an alarm, rather than telling you that your baby is moving. It's a nice idea, but I think something that they'd get more use of immediately might be time better spent
Duck Liver Pate
Nice bread
Blue Cheese
Crackers or something to put the cheese on
Red Wine
More red wine
Espresso
Cafetiere
Pair of Camelbak travel flask/mugs
They're set then for stuff Mum couldnt eat during pregnancy and probably might like, plus they're ready for the getting up every couple of hours
The Camelbaks especially are good, they keep a brew warm for about 5 hours. And they're watertight when put together. We use ours for the morning brew (you never finish one anyway) and also for keeping boiled water hot when we're out.
Video monitor - tbh, these wont come in handy until 6 months after the birth anyway (the baby will be in a moses basket next to the bed) so it's going to get lobbed in a wardrobe and forgotten about for a while. The sensors in them detect no movement and then sound an alarm, rather than telling you that your baby is moving. It's a nice idea, but I think something that they'd get more use of immediately might be time better spent
Thanks for the suggestions.
I thought about the hamper idea but I thought everyone would be doing that so why not do something more practical and by buying them a monitor or some kind would mean they can concentrate on putting that £100 they'd spend on a baby monitor or whatever to a better car seat or cott or even to clothes if they wanted to get them.
I asked my mate in a way that he wouldn't get an idea and he doesn't think the video thing is a good idea so i'm going to go for a standard baby monitor i think!
I thought about the hamper idea but I thought everyone would be doing that so why not do something more practical and by buying them a monitor or some kind would mean they can concentrate on putting that £100 they'd spend on a baby monitor or whatever to a better car seat or cott or even to clothes if they wanted to get them.
I asked my mate in a way that he wouldn't get an idea and he doesn't think the video thing is a good idea so i'm going to go for a standard baby monitor i think!
richatnort said:
I thought about the hamper idea but I thought everyone would be doing that
Trust me, they won't. All people buy is clothes and baby stuff. It's actually a good idea to get them something for them.richatnort said:
I asked my mate in a way that he wouldn't get an idea and he doesn't think the video thing is a good idea so i'm going to go for a standard baby monitor i think!
There are loads of standard baby monitors, and trust me they will be doing their research and there will be one they want. If you don't get the one they want, disappointment will ensue.Everyone bought us 3-6 months clothes, Sainsburys gift cards and other bits and pieces.
No-one bought us newborn clothes, on the basis of they're out of them really quick so we bought them. We did get given a bundle of clothes from one of our friends that was a mix of everything.
I think if you're looking for tech, something like a Canon Selphy might come in handy. A dye sub (not far off lab quality) printer for 6x4s that they should be able to print from their phone.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Selphy-CP910-Compac...
A pair of smart nigh lights would also be worth a look, one for the landing, one for the changing room/bedroom https://www.aumilight.com/
A Tassimo or something clever; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smarter-Coffee-Machine-Co...
The monitor idea to me seems a bit OTT, but that's just me, each to their own. It's something I'd want to speak with my wife about and decide what we want to do
No-one bought us newborn clothes, on the basis of they're out of them really quick so we bought them. We did get given a bundle of clothes from one of our friends that was a mix of everything.
I think if you're looking for tech, something like a Canon Selphy might come in handy. A dye sub (not far off lab quality) printer for 6x4s that they should be able to print from their phone.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Canon-Selphy-CP910-Compac...
A pair of smart nigh lights would also be worth a look, one for the landing, one for the changing room/bedroom https://www.aumilight.com/
A Tassimo or something clever; https://www.amazon.co.uk/Smarter-Coffee-Machine-Co...
The monitor idea to me seems a bit OTT, but that's just me, each to their own. It's something I'd want to speak with my wife about and decide what we want to do
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