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Babble Best Baby Monitors of 2012
When buying a baby monitor, parents seeking out helpful advice are often met with sometimes-complicated tech terms and contradictory reviews. Most look to a monitor's "range" as an indication of a good monitor, but there are a lot of other factors to keep in mind - ones that might turn out to be deal breakers. Hence rule #1: Always keep your receipt.
One of the most important factors is frequency. The more electronics you have clogging up a particular frequency (whether it's 2.4 GHz, 900 MHz, etc.), the more interference you might have. That's the reason why some homes can't pick up a signal, even after reading loads of glowing product reviews. Yet the reality is that we often don't know what frequency our wireless devices run on
(cell phones, wireless routers, cordless phones, laptops, etc.) - including what our close neighbors are using - so it could be a trial-and-error process. During our tests, we fortunately didn't run into any major static issues, considering most monitors have a variety of channels to choose from - and most automatically change to the best channel for your home. But frequency definitely plays a part in
sound quality. Read More »
Static and signal issues could be coming from other sources too, like your house itself. A monitor's advertised range (how far a monitor's signal can reach) is measured in an obstacle-free environment (which most homes are not), so the number is fairly relative to where you're living - including building materials like aluminum siding. Because most people don't live in completely open environments, it can be hard to judge just how much range you really need. If you're getting a lot of static, try a monitor with longer range. While frequency will still play a bigger role, when in doubt, go with the longer range. A monitor that claims to work 2,000 ft. away from the baby unit will more likely have a stronger signal than one with a 350-ft. range. But if you only need a monitor for a few rooms away (rather than for a multi-story house, or to reach out in the backyard), then pretty much any range will do.
The third feature to consider is digital vs. analog monitors. Traditional analog monitors are basically radio transmitters - meaning there's a chance that a neighboring family can pick up your baby's cries on their monitor, or a trucker's radio scanner can tune into what's going on in your baby room. The newer (and more expensive) digital monitors encrypt the sound from monitor to receiver, making it impossible for outsiders to listen in.
The last thing to consider is which features you'll want. If you're heading back to work, you might want a wireless network monitor that allows you to check in from your smart phone or computer. If you have multiple kids or if you'd like to monitor several rooms at once (i.e. "The Nanny Cam"), choose a monitor that can be expanded to three or four cameras. If you know that constant surveillance will keep you on edge, opt for a basic audio monitor. If you want to know what's going on at all times, find a monitor with features like movement/temperature/humidity sensors.
Most importantly, always check in with customer service before writing off a monitor. Sometimes electronics have glitches - and those are unfortunately unavoidable across the gadget spectrum.
All of these baby monitors were tested in up to four different homes, looking for clarity (both audio and visual), ease of use, battery life, range, and unique features. If we missed one that you love, please nominate it here! - Michelle Horton
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Readers’ Choice | Levana Melody Digital Baby Monitor
You can get this excellent bells-and-whistles audio monitor without dropping too much cash – especially because it has features like a two-way intercom, room temperature monitoring, and soothing lullabies. You can even choose a custom wireless range (up to 2,000 ft. for big spaces, or opt for the ECO-mode to conserve unnecessary energy). Beyond the clarity and reliability, we love the attention to detail in this monitor – like a built-in feeding timer (or nap timer!), LED volume levels (to monitor your baby without the sound), eco-friendly features (i.e. voice-activated technology that hibernates until noise is sensed), and safety measures (like out-of-range and battery-low warnings, plus a built-in flashlight). The only notable downside we found was that the LED lights are very bright.
Get it from Amazon, $69.99
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I have the summer infant touch screen monitor and it is fantastic! As a 1st time parent I was scared to have my baby sleep in his room at first but this helped ease my anxiety since I could see him at any time.
I had to tell my prenats I am an atheist and they hate me for that. Then I had to tell them Im going to the military after college which I did, now they even hate me more for it.LOL what a life