Baby Monitors
UPDATE: currently using The Nanit and the HelloBaby Monitors! Anthony is almost 2 now.
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love this monitor. Yes it’s pricey, but if you ask me, it was totally worth it. The quality is incredible and so are it’s features.
Some features include:
Sleep tracking and guidance: This right here is a game changer for me. It is so helpful that the app keeps track of Anthony’s sleep patterns. I thought he was sleeping a lot worse than he actually is. I love that it provides the ability to look back and see his wake-ups throughout the night.
Safe Cable Management: So important when you have a curious little one who is always trying to crab things. The last thing you need to be worrying about is that your baby is grabbing for the cable in the middle of the night while you are fast asleep.
Two-Way Audio: Love that I can talk to Anthony through the monitor. Sometimes all he needs a little reassurance that we are here and he will go back to sleep.
Temperature and Humidity: Real-time notifications keep you updated. I didn’t think I would be the person worrying about the temperature of the room, but it’s actually a great feature to have.
Overhead Clear HD Video: the positioning of this camera is PERFECT for right over your crib! It also has the ability to be set on a travel stand!
I love that the app gives you the ability to give your family members access to the camera too. Whether it’s while they are babysitting, or if it’s just to take a quick peek at him asleep! I really can’t say enough good things about this camera!
Previous Post:
The idea for this post came about while I was talking to my friend who is also a new mom and a PA. We were discussing baby monitors and how we both wake up basically every hour, on the hour, to check on our babies. Now, I don’t know if this is just part of being a mom, or if it has something to do with the fact that we may know too much from PA school, but the paranoia that comes with our child sleeping is exhausting in and of itself.
I would love to hear if other moms feel this way, too - medical background or not - so leave a comment on this post!
Starting at around 3pm when he starts to turn into the Tasmanian devil, I’m counting down the minutes until bedtime. Here’s the irony, when he’s finally sleep, what am I doing? Watching him sleep. Not just because he’s so freaking cute, and I can’t wrap my head around the fact that this little maniac/Energizer Bunny of a human can actually transform into a little angel who can be so tranquil, but also because anxiety overcomes me.
What if something happens to him in the middle of the night and I don’t hear it? What if he happens to vomit and begins to choke on it? What if some kind of insect crawls into his airway and blocks it? What if someone breaks into his window? Husband’s response to this question: “Sam, it has hurricane shutters on it” … (yes, I am this mother). These are just a few of the scenarios that play out in my mind the second I get into bed at night.
So, what did I do to minimize the anxiety? I bought a backup for my backup camera. That’s right. I have not only the Cocoon Cam above his bed and the HelloBaby Monitor in the corner of the room, but I also have an old-school Vtech Audio Digital Monitor. I know what you’re thinking, this b*#ch is crazy, but hear me out.
The Cocoon Camera requires WiFi. I don’t know about your house, but I wouldn’t put my life on the fact that it won’t go out. In fact, it goes out quite often, but that’s a story for another time. The other nice feature that the Cocoon camera has is that it tells you the number of breaths per minute, which saves me some time because I usually count these myself anyways (again, total psycho, I am aware). It also has a vision mode that denotes the level of baby’s movement (red for lots of movement, purple for slight movement). My favorite part about this monitor is that it connects to an app so I can literally see him whenever I want, even if I’m not home. It also has a two-way talk option, so you can speak into the monitor. Downside to this camera: you cannot rotate it from your phone, you have to physically do it. So, if for some reason it tilts, you have to go into the room and fix it. (This shouldn’t happen often; it really only happens when our cleaning lady comes and accidentally bumps the wire). It also does have issues with connection sometimes, and whether that has to do with my WiFi or the product itself, I do not know.
The HelloBaby Monitor does not require WiFi. It has the ability to attach more than one camera, either for different views of your child’s room or, if you have multiple children in separate rooms, you can connect them all to the same monitor. I love that this camera doesn’t require WiFi because not only do I not have to worry about connection issues, but it makes it easy to pack up and bring with me anywhere if we go on vacation or to someone else’s house. You literally don’t have to do any setting up, you just plug it in and it’s ready to go. I also love that you can rotate this camera without having to touch it. It’s all done with the display remote. It also has a two-way talk option and - ready for this - it has a temperature gauge. I LOVE this. I am always wondering what Anthony’s room temperature is like. Downside: you obviously can’t see the baby if you leave the house, because it is not an app and doesn’t connect to your phone. The battery life on the actual LCD display remote doesn’t last very long, but as long as you can plug it in, you should be good.
Here’s where I probably go overboard, but whatever. I also have the Vtech Audio Digital Monitor. It’s one-way and there isn’t a visual of the baby, but it’s just an added option in case all other technology fails. Just the basic monitor that my parents probably had for me; that, or they left the door open and called it a night.
I will say that I used the Owlet Smart Sock when he was actually napping on his own (very rare) and when I started sleep training around 7 months old. Full disclosure: I co-slept with Anthony until he was 7 months old. He either slept next to me or on top of me. I don’t need any of the negative comments about this or the judgments. They will be ignored. I did what I had to do to get any amount of sleep. He was eating every two hours and I was exclusively breastfeeding at night because it was easier for me than getting up and making a bottle. I know the negative connotations that go along with co-sleeping, and honestly - plain and simple - I don’t give a f*#k. This is what I chose to do and that’s that. [End Rant]. This sock gave me peace of mind, and if you go to my “Registry Favorites” post, you’ll find more details about this there.
I will say that, had the Owlet Baby Monitor been available when Anthony was born, I would have probably bought that one instead of the Cocoon camera. But it wasn’t out yet when I needed it, and the Cocoon Camera has really been great.
I hope this was helpful for all you sleep-deprived moms!
I’ve linked all the mentioned items within my post above, but here they are again: