Help needed on monitors!

[jess3429]

Hi guys,
Never posted on a blog before but I?m just completely confused! I?m seven months pregnant and after speaking to several mums they?ve told me I need to buy a baby monitor as a necessity (None of my girlfriends have babies so I can?t ask them!).

Trouble is I?m not really sure what I to look for? is analog or DECT better? What are the safety features that I need to look for?
Has anyone had any luck with a good monitors? How much do people spend on a monitor or do I not need to buy one? I live a 3 storey townhouse so it might be needed??

Any help would be greatly appreciated it,
A very confused pregnant woman!!

[Sunshinemummy]

I think if you look in the reviews section of the site you will find monitors in there. My monitor is almost 4 years old so couldn't say what to look for now but I've used mine with both kids until there were about 2 ish and found them really useful. Mine has a rubbish battery life but a long range which means I can use it at our deck at the top of the garden but it deosn't last very long. Good luck.

[damnitdamnit]

i have a BT one (actually i have 2 as i still have 1 for DD1) its digital. really good.

[PuppyMonkey]

You don't need one - you will hear the baby no matter where it is in the house. Unfortunately!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Mine is 4 years old too, but still great, and always gets the best reviews on here (this is a forum rather than a blog btw - welcome) - BT digital plus.

[mrspurple79]

Hi,
I had an analogue one for my fist, 3 years ago but now have a digital for my second, 3 months, and digital is definitely better. I do think a monitor is a necessity, it gives you piece of mind while your baby is in another room of the house. I have the Vtech clear sounds deluxe, and think it's excellent, it has loads of extra features too. The range for the monitor is really good so it would be good in your 3 storey house. Think I paid £70 for it and it has been worth every penny, could not do with out it. The sound is so clear and it is so reassuring to hear your little one breathing.
Good luck with the rest of you pregnancy and labour

[LowLevelWhingeing]

First of all, welcome to mumsnet and congrats on your pregnancy! You'll find loads of mums here for picking their brains.

I have had 7 monitors for 2 children (now aged 2 and 4) and I have had so many because the previous 6 packed up within their warranty so I feel like a bit of an expert...

Digital is definitely better. With analogue it's like a radio where you can hear a constant signal - like hissy white noise until your baby cries. With digital, it's silent until your baby makes a noise, and you can set what level it 'kicks in' at; so you can set it so you can hear you baby breathing, or just when baby makes a louder noise like coughing or crying.

The two other considerations are distance and battery life. All the digital models I've had have had really good range. We live in a three story house and they've been fine for that and to the end of the garden. The battery life has varied greatly; some only give you a couple of hours off the charger. You should be able to have it off the charger for daytime naps then all evening until you go to bed and charge it overnight.

The best monitors I've had are BT - like this one. This model play lullabies which I think is a helpful feature as it gives your baby a cue that it is bedtime - but that's a personal preference. It also tells you the temperature in the nursery, but this isn't really necessary as you can tell when it's too hot/cold!

I didn't like the Tomy because you need a screwdriver to change the sensitivity setting - with the BT it's just a button on the parent unit.

[minxpinx]

We had a bt one and it was fine. Has anyone tried any of the ones you can get on the iPhone?

[Sunshinemummy]

Oh mine is a BT digital that plays lullabies but as I say, while the range is good, the battery life is rubbish.

[LowLevelWhingeing]

Sunshine, that was one of the reasons I have returned a couple of them - because they were supposed to last 16 hours or whatever and I was getting about 4.

The one I've been using for 2 years still lasts a god 10 hours (not tried it any longer than that).

[Sunshinemummy]

I would say mine lasts 1.5 hrs max which is very frustrating but I've had it so long I couldn't take it back if I wanted to.

[izz2009]

We had this one, used it for DD and DS and now given it to my Sister. Excellent price.

Here you go