Related Sponsors

Types of Baby Monitors

Home » Child Safety » Baby Monitors » Types of Baby Monitors

Choosing which type of baby monitor is best for you can depend on how close of a check you want on your child, where the baby’s room is in relation to your bedroom, the type of building you live in and what features your budget allows. A few different types of monitors are sold in the marketplace today:

• Audio Monitors: This most basic monitor allows you to listen for your baby from another room. The transmitter sits in your baby’s room near the crib and the receiver goes with the parent. The receiver can either broadcast your baby’s cries or light up when baby becomes fussy. In most cases, the receiver can work off of batteries and be carried around with the parent while working around the house, or it can be plugged into the wall by your bed. These basic audio monitors can come with additional features, such as having two receivers so that one can be mobile while the other remains stationary.

• Audio and Movement Monitors: This type of baby monitor comes with three parts instead of two. The transmitter and receiver are the same as the basic models, but these movement monitors also come with a pad that lies underneath your child’s mattress that detects sensitive movements from your baby such as breathing. If the movements stop for ten seconds or more, an alarm goes off alerting the parents. This feature is becoming increasingly important, as parents are learning more and more about sleep apnea, or the sudden stop in baby’s breathing, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

• Audio and Video Monitors: Parents can actually view their babies sleeping or playing on a television screen with these high-tech types of monitors. A small camera attaches to the wall or sits on a piece of furniture near the baby’s bed while the small television screen sits on the parent’s end. The picture is usually black and white and the television comes with an adapter to plug into the wall. Some models come equipped with infrared cameras that allow parents to more easily view their child who is sleeping the dark. The more money you are willing to pay for these monitors can dictate how clear of a picture you will receive.

• Temperature Sensitive Monitors: In addition to the features listed in the basic audio monitors, these monitors can detect a change in temperature in the baby’s room. The monitor will alert you if the room becomes too cold or too warm.

Next Page: Things to Consider When Shopping for the Monitor

Related Baby Monitors Articles