We've seen it all before, people trawling the internet and high street shops trying to track down the ideal baby monitor for their child. But the fact is there are just countless available on the market these days to even begin to decide! You have the choice between audio, audio visual and even touch sensitivity, not to point out the ones with the flashing lights, vibrations and god knows what else!
Looks
The look of your baby monitor plays an important part and to some parents a vital part! Although looking great is an integral part you need to make sure that the safety side of things add up first.
Some present models on the market today come with a slick looking design and can fit nicely into the decor of your home. Philips and Tomy are the leaders in baby monitor design and produce some of the most eye-catching baby monitors around.
Features
It is all about the features and what the baby monitor has packed into it that counts. One feature that you need to take into consideration is a prominent low battery light. If your baby monitor has run out of juice then you are in trouble, even looking for a monitor with light and sound will be more of help to you.
Sound activated lights are very helpful and offer you a way of knowing when your baby is crying if you are vacuuming or even listening to music. A light will blink or flash when the monitor detects the slightest sound or movement.
Build
Although baby monitors come with a 12 month warrantee and sometimes an even longer guarantee, depending on the retailer and manufacturer. You should always be careful as to which baby monitors are built to last and which ones break after 2 days of using them.
The way in which to tell is to go to as many forums and support groups as possible and do some research, ask parents that have that kind of monitor if it is a good one. Another way is to read customer reviews on retailer websites.
Value / Price
Depending on how much you are willing to spend, the cost of a monitor can sometimes be a little bit expensive but when your child is concerned, money shouldnt really be an issue. Some baby monitors can be picked up for as little as ?16.00 but if you want a lot more for your money then going wireless is the way forward.
Wireless monitors are fast becoming the thing of the future, simply tune the parent and child units into the same frequency and away you go! Make sure the monitor comes with a belt clip so you can move freely around the house and carry on with the daily chores.
Technology
If you are a complete techno person then you should try a video baby monitor. You can tell at a glimpse if your baby is ok by hooking up the monitor to your TV screen. Make sure you do your research though as some video monitors do have poor picture.
Choose a monitor with a frequency higher than 900 MHz and if you can find one which is digital or DECT. This will decrease the interference and enhance the sound quality.
