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Many parents-to-be have baby monitors on their “must-have” list, but are they right for you?
It may depend on your parenting situation. If you live in a large space, it might be nice to have a monitor or even multiple monitors because there will be times when you can’t always hear your baby. If you live in a 600 square foot condo, then you might be able to hear your baby from everywhere in your home.
After you decide that a baby monitor is going to be on your wish list, you then have to look at what kind is right for you. With all of the options out there, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one is best. There are monitors that keep track of your baby’s vitals, ones that can be hooked onto your wifi, cameras that alert you when there is movement, and the features list go on.
Audio Monitors
The original baby monitors consisted of one-way audio that included a unit that picked up sound from the baby’s room, and also a separate remote unit for you to listen to. Today’s audio monitors also come with features that may allow you to speak to your baby when you’re not in the same room.
We chatted with Canadian baby monitor makers, Angelcare, to get an idea of the latest technologies that are available. For the past 20 years, this company has been a part of the revolution of the infant care industry.
“Today’s parents want baby products that fit with how they live and technology has taken a huge role with adding extra functionalities to the monitors,” said Mylène Therrien, Angelcare’s Trade Marketing Manager. “Many of our baby monitors have enhanced their core usage with additional features such as a temperature sensor, two way audio and more."
Video and Wifi Monitors
Video monitors give parents a better idea of what their child is up to. Noises can be hard to distinguish and with the addition of video, it might be easier to tell if your child is actually sleeping. Depending on your budget, you can choose from different screen sizes on your remote unit, as well as options like night vision or touchscreens.
Wifi cameras have also become popular in many households. These cameras typically don’t include a remote unit because a downloaded app on your smartphone or tablet becomes your receiver. An advantage for this type of camera is that you have the ability to monitor from anywhere with an Internet connection, however power outages may disrupt these systems. Higher-end wifi cameras will include a receiver as well to give parents more flexibility and the best of both worlds.
Movement Monitors
Movement monitors are now also available. These operate with a sensor device to keep a record of your baby’s motion and breathing sequences.
“Our products with Vital Sign Monitoring is the ‘plus-value’ that are popular with millennials,” said Therrien. “This new generation is willing to invest more money to make their life easier.”
When the sensor pad monitor is active, it will alert parents if the baby stops breathing for a prolonged period of time, or if there is any strange movement patterns. Therrien notes that Angelcare partners up with organizations that assist families with premature babies, as the added movement monitoring features can be helpful with keeping an eye on babies that need extra care.
Whether you decide on an audio, video, wifi or movement monitor, all of these tools are designed to help new parents have a better peace of mind.
We invite pregnancy experts and other moms-to-be to join in on the conversation! Reach out if you have topic suggestions for this column on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook (my social media platforms are all under @weslawong), or email me at KelownaNow.
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