how long do you use a baby monitor for?

[GwenGotLost]

I mean, when do (or did) you start to use one, and when did you stop using one? I'm sure it's a personal thing with confidence levels, specific health problems being a factor etc, but in general, what kind of age?

also, and additional question, what sound only monitors (will not be able to afford a video one) give a good, bright flashing light when they go off? I'm deaf in my left ear and have a tendency to sleep on my "good ear" so am a little worried I may not always hear. My 1st is due in July, so plenty if time to work it all out :)

[Ruthchan]

I can't comment about your hearing issues, but I found a monitor really useful in the first few months.
I slept in the same room as my DCs for the first 4 months, but in that time it was useful to have one if we were in a different room during nap time, early in the evening etc.
After 4 months, I started sleeping in a different room and I found it very reassuring to have the monitor for when they woke up in the night.
I probably used it for about a year with each child. After that I found that they were loud enough to wake me without the help.
It's a very personal thing though and I'm sure everyone is different. It especially depends on where in the house you all sleep and how sound-proof your walls are.

[Cheddars]

I used one for a year with my first dc, then not at all with the second.

The one I had had lights on which was handy if I couldn't hear over the tv.

[TheSurgeonsMate]

I still use one at 21 months .

[madeindevon2]

I've only just taken mine out of sons room at 4.5!!!! For new baby
Handy also when they playing in bedroom and you downstairs!

[EthelredOnAGoodDay]

Genius smalltown!

Back to OP, we still use ours and DD is 2.3.

[40notTrendy]

Smalltown, I'm so regretting giving ours away now!!

[40notTrendy]

sorry op. Did mean to answer. Ds napped downstairs near me when he first born. From about 4 months he napped in his cot in our bedroom and that's when we started to use the monitor. No point me saying which one as its 6 yrs ago now!

[forevergreek]

Still using at 2.5 years :) actually have two one for each child .. Who sleep in the same room! But we have video so one sound monitor and a camera on each cot so we can see who's still awake etc

[MJandherdog]

I never used one. There was never a doubt in my mind that I would hear her...I'm fairly sure that everyone in the street could hear her!

[Jolyn1]

I stopped using it during night time at the age of 2. Since I still use a monitor with my 1,5 years old daughter now, I sometimes position this bm and use it to see what he is up to during day time, when suspiciously quiet while playing.