A baby monitor must be one of the best inventions for motherhood since disposable diapers. A monitor is not just a device to help you know the baby has woken up. It’s a safety tool as well as a sleep training aid.
A baby monitor will keep your eyes and ears in the baby’s room while you carry out other chores in the house. It primarily reduces movement that may cause distractions in the room while the baby is sleeping. With a baby monitor, tiptoeing, whispering and ninja tricks of trying not to wake the baby up when you peep to see if they’re still sleeping will be gone. If you’d like to buy this wonderful baby gadget and are wondering how much is a baby monitor, you’ve come to the right place. Follow through as we discuss the price of different baby monitors.
How much is a baby monitor?
An analog monitor will cost between $15 and $60 depending on the brand other factors such as size and whether it’s new or used.
Digital monitors cost is between $50 and $80 with some hi-tech one’s going for as high as $100.
A monitor with less interference and signal crossing problems will cost more than an analogue one.
Your choice should be dependent on the size of your house, the number of gadgets fighting for the signal and how much damage your pockets can withstand.
Extra features that might increase the cost of baby monitors
If the baby monitor seems to have an extra zero on its price tag, chances are it’s because it has the following extra features:
- Room temperature and humidity checker – the temperature in the baby’s room is supposed to be between 20 and 22 degrees Celcius. Some monitors, like the Motorola Video Baby Monitor, come with a built-in thermometer and barometer to detect changes in temperature and humidity.
- Night-vision lenses – these can be manually operated or automatic sensors. An automatic sensor will switch on the moment the baby’s room gets dark. This is a wonderful feature that helps you see what the baby is up to at lights out in black and white. The VAVA 720P 5″ HD Display Video Baby Monitor comes with this great feature.
- Motion indicators – this feature comes in handy when you want to turn the monitor voice down but still need to know if and when the baby is awake. A motion sensor is able to detect even slight movements such as flaring arms and feet. If you’re lucky, it may catch some naughty moments, especially with toddlers.
- Zoom button – sometimes you just need to see if those eyes are closed or not. Or if you closed the curtains in his room. A zoom button enables you to span the room without physically going there.
- Special talk-to-your-baby app and built-in lullabies – some monitors, such as the Moonybaby Baby Monitors, are fitted with an app that allows you to talk or sing to your baby remotely. Some are fitted with built-in lullabies that you can play while your baby drifts off to sleep and turn off when he falls asleep.
What to expect in the baby monitor package?
Your digital baby monitor package should at the very least contain:
- A monitor
- A camera
- An adaptor
- Instructions manual
Check the descriptions for what to expect in the box before making the purchase. Also, be sure to confirm that the instructions manual is in a language you understand for ease of installation.
Some monitors may contain more than one of the above items such as the camera. Confirm with the manufacturer if the description and the actual contents in the box do not tally.
Safety
The safety of the baby and how much you want to spend will advise what kind of monitor you will need.
Many parents are especially concerned with the possibility of radioactive rays emitted from the wi-fi and the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Communications) monitors.
All monitors are considered safe with no chance of the signals causing any harm to the baby. Digital monitors will have stronger signals than analogue ones. However, the signals are considered safe and are not associated with any form of cancer or impairment.
Questions to ask before you buy a baby monitor
How many receivers do you require?
One receiver is sufficient but two or more receivers are better. An extra receiver allows you to have more than one person monitoring the baby at the same time. It would also be ideal for the parent who frequently oscillates between two or more rooms in the house.
It allows for movement without the need to carry a monitor around. This also reduces the chances of losing the monitor in the movements
Do you work from home and how big is your house?
If you have an office at home then a baby monitor is a must-have. It’s paramount to have your peace of mind when the baby is out of sight. And that’s what a baby monitor gives you.
If you work away from home, a baby monitor that has an inbuilt video recorder that recaps the baby’s day or night hours would be ideal. This way you don’t miss the little firsts that give immense joys to motherhood. The first roll, the first sit-up or even the beaming smile when daddy walked in in your absence.
If your house is not very big and the rooms aren’t very far apart, you may actually not need a baby monitor.
Is your house likely to experience frequency interference?
Analogue monitors will tend to pick signals from more than just the baby’s room. Noisy neighbours, the dog that won’t shut up, your son’s blasting music might all be captured in the monitor making it impossible to monitor the baby well.
For the house with lots of background noises, consider buying a DECT monitor. It’s programmed to filter background noises, giving you the sounds and sights from the baby’s room only.
Is there an easy return policy where you’re buying the baby monitor?
As is with any purchase, you need to get value for your money when you by your baby monitor. It’s therefore paramount that you inquire from your seller what the return policy is and after how many days will the item not be accepted back.
Should the monitor not be a good fit for your home, are you allowed to exchange it for another one that suits you?
How long will you use the monitor?
A good baby monitor should serve you long enough without the battery dying. Once fully charged, the monitor should run for 8-10 hours before needing to be plugged in again.
The whole point of baby monitoring is to avoid interruptions in the baby’s room while they sleep. Having to check and plug the monitor every couple of hours is counter-productive and exhausting.
Check for battery life before making that final payment for your baby monitor.
Finally
Baby monitors come in various types. They can either be audio or audiovisual, analogue, or digital. The different types may overlap in some instances; you may have an audio analogue or an audio-visual digital monitor. Therefore, you can choose the one that best works for you depending on your needs and what you want to achieve.
When choosing your preferred baby monitor, the cost should not override other important aspects such as clarity, longevity, and convenience. A pricey monitor that has more improved features is better than a basic but cheaper monitor in the long run. We hope we have answered your question how much is a baby monitor.