Baby Monitor Safety

Since baby monitors often make the short list of your nursery item 'must haves,' deciding which monitor to buy can be overwhelming.

How do I select the right baby monitor for my family?

There are a wide range of monitors available at various prices. Ultimately, your monitor should meet the needs of your entire family, regardless of its features or cost.

Decide which baby monitor features are most appealing to you. Are you looking for a monitor with audio options only or are you looking for a video monitor that will allow you to see your little one? Are you looking for a monitor that will mount to the wall or do you prefer one that can be placed on a shelf? Regardless of which monitor you choose, be sure to always keep your baby monitor out of your toddlers reach. At least three feet away is where your monitor should stay!

What types of baby monitors are available today?

• Audio Monitors: Monitors that capture the sounds and coos of your baby or child.
• Movement Detection Monitors: Monitors that are placed under the mattress of the infant. The monitor picks up the baby or toddler’s movement including breathing patterns. If there isn’t movement for a certain period of time, an alarm sounds alerting the parent.
• Wi-Fi Enabled Monitors: Monitors that connect via the internet, allowing you to check in on your baby or child from various locations/devices.
• Wearable Monitors: Monitors that are wearable by baby or child to provide additional tracking, such as movement, breathing, heart rate, oxygen saturation levels and temperature. Some wearable monitors can even provide sleep analytics to help parents gain insight around baby's sleep patterns.

Should I use my friend's baby monitor now that their family is done growing?

New products meeting current safety standards are the safest option. However, if it is imperative to use older products, make sure they meet all current safety standards, have all of the manufacturer's labels and instructions and have not been recalled.

Whether it's by choice or it's a necessity, parents are increasingly finding ways to cut costs on baby gear by purchasing second hand products found at garage sales, auctions, thrift stores. While this may be a good alternative if you're on a tight budget, it is absolutely vital that you aren’t compromising safety for price. If you are unsure of the safety of a used product or it is missing hardware, labels, or instructions, remember--purchasing new, unused items is the safest option for both you and your baby.

Baby Monitor Placement