Baby monitor

Author
Discussion

colin86

Original Poster:

278 posts

113 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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Looking for recommendations for a baby monitor? The wife is due in 2 months will be our first . Been looking at baby monitors but not one that just stands out some reviews good and bad on the ones I have looked at so far .

So what do you recommend?

Thanks

Miserablegit

4,013 posts

108 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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The BT ones have always been good - our latest has been going for 6 years. It’s a bt350 digital light show that has nightlight and a projector. Don’t know what the new model will be.

Initially I bought an all singing all dancing one with a mat that went under the baby’s mattress and sounded an alarm if there was no movement - that lasted about 2 weeks before we binned that - good idea but poor execution.

Best of luck
Don’t bother with steam sterilisers - Milton much easier to use ! Steam steriliser no longer sterile once it is opened to take the first bottle out!
There will be a buggy available that will fit in a sports car so if you have one there is no need to get rid of it!

Andy H86

52 posts

120 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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We've got a BT 6000, been really happy with it.

Especially like that the microphone on the camera is not active when the monitor screen is off so it doesn't keep you awake at night (it does activate is the noise is sufficient, so you won't miss the baby crying).

We've also tried the Motorola mbp50,, liked it but the microphone was always active which we found annoying.

CorradoTDI

1,432 posts

170 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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Consider using a YI Webcam (£20 Amazon) then use a tablet / phone as the other end.

Most baby monitors are fairly poorly made and don't last

jamesbilluk

3,654 posts

182 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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We have a Campark Video Baby Monitor with Camera, it was from Amazon, £49 now (I think it was on offer when we bought it)

Seems very well made, and has night vision, this has been useful to see what the little one is up to. The screen and picture are very clear.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Campark-Infrared-Wireless...

mcm87

110 posts

132 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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We have a “HelloBaby” video monitor from Amazon. Works well enough and is still working great a year in. Definitely get video, now our little man is standing we can see when he’s causing mischief but not necessarily making much noise.

As for other random things which worked really well for us - babyzen yo-yo+ pram has been fantastic for small cars. Folds down into hand luggage size in one movement.

mcm87

110 posts

132 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
quotequote all
CorradoTDI said:
Consider using a YI Webcam (£20 Amazon) then use a tablet / phone as the other end.

Most baby monitors are fairly poorly made and don't last
We tried this, I don’t recommend it personally. There’s lag as it goes via the cloud and there’s no alarm if something goes wrong/the app crashes/the camera loses wifi. With a traditional monitor if the base unit loses signal or the battery is low it sets an alarm off so you’re certain not to miss anything. Most also have temperature sensors with hot/cold alerts and a few other features.

You also need the app open permanently as the push notifications are rubbish. So you need a dedicated device regardless.

Some people are also worried about the security concerns of having their baby streamed online and if it gets hacked they can talk back.

We ended up buying a dedicated one. Sometimes low tech and simpler is better!

Spidersleg

676 posts

82 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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We have a Motorola mbp160 for audio and a yi cam for visuals. Had this setup for 3 years and it's best of both worlds.

annodomini2

6,860 posts

250 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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After 2 kids, I've had both video and audio ones, wouldn't personally bother with a video monitor.

Audio one is adequate.

Key bits:

1. Make sure it's encrypted, usually DECT.

2. Make sure the adult receiver is cordless, but not WIFI using your phone etc, so you can take the thing with you.
(Phone app will drain your battery and there are security concerns)

Avoid the chinese junk and get something branded, yes you will pay a bit more, but it will pay for itself in quality and reliability.

We had a Tomy, but I don't think they are made anymore, this looks ok:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/6088662?clickSR=sl...

richatnort

3,018 posts

130 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
ditto pretty good. just get an arm off amazon if you want to put it on the cot / your bed to see in easier

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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We just got some cheap WiFi camera on eBay. Was a bit of a hassle to reconnect if we needed to take it away etc but once connected we never had any problems. About £30 IIRC.

Also agree with the above points about steam sterilisers and massive pushchairs, don’t bother!!

nmd87

833 posts

189 months

Monday 18th May 2020
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Another BT recommendation. It just works.

Murph7355

37,651 posts

255 months

Monday 18th May 2020
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We used a Summer video monitor.

Very useful, decent kit.

devnull

3,745 posts

156 months

Monday 18th May 2020
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Everyone buys these BT ones, but they look like st, the screens are the very definition of potato.

I wanted a wifi monitor because I travel a lot and thought it would be nice to see the baby in the evenings.

I originally bought a motorola wifi monitor, but I had to send it back because the app you use on your phone was full of adverts. if i'm spending 150 quid on a device, I don't want the app trying to sell me additional things. it was infurating.

I now have a Kodak Wifi baby monitor - still not amazing, but the app works well and passes the wife test (i.e. can you just turn it on and use it with minimal fuss).

Floydey

116 posts

153 months

Monday 18th May 2020
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We had a Motorola video cam which we found useful, whilst the actual video didn't offer much the peace of mind helped

We've got #2 on the way and have decided to go left field... We've got x3 Neos smart cams dotted around the house. It's linked to our Amazon Echo Show so fantastic 8" picture as oppose to the 2" screen before. Also has motion detection, two way audio, etc. etc. and all linked to both of our mobiles too. To be honest in the 6+ months we've had the cameras, they've been spot on, including monitoring our now 16 month old when she's having a daytime nap and we're out in the garden.

filthypig

233 posts

85 months

Tuesday 19th May 2020
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We've got the BT Smart 5" screen baby monitor. It's excellent. Can use an app instead if you're away from home and want to check in as well as the portable base unit.

essayer

9,011 posts

193 months

Tuesday 19th May 2020
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bear in mind
- you won't need one for the first six months
- the screens are handy but video quality really isn't that important, pretty obvious what they are doing. same for pan+tilt/zoom
- if you buy ones that need Wifi, what are you going to do when you go on holiday?

richatnort

3,018 posts

130 months

Tuesday 19th May 2020
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essayer said:
bear in mind
- you won't need one for the first six months
I this is is personal preference and different parenting techniques as we used to put our baby down in her moses basket when we weren't there & the camera was useful for keeping an eye on them. By 5 months she was in her own room too.

Floydey

116 posts

153 months

Tuesday 19th May 2020
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richatnort said:
I this is is personal preference and different parenting techniques as we used to put our baby down in her moses basket when we weren't there & the camera was useful for keeping an eye on them. By 5 months she was in her own room too.
Absolutely agree this is personal preference - we had our daughter in her bed by 3 months, but continue to use the monitor/cams even though she is 17 months old now

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Tuesday 19th May 2020
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We've just bought a VTEC one. About £40 on Amazon and it is superb. The receiver has a very clear colour screen, good audio and you can even press a button and talk into it. Our boy is 4 but we have a summer house in the garden so we use it for date nights when we are playing pool in case he wakes up at night and we don't hear him. It's better than the expensive one we used to have when he was a baby.