Every parent has done it at least once. You thought the baby was awake, you opened the door to peek and — oops, well, the baby’s awake now! It can be difficult to discern a baby’s moans, gurgles and murmurs from outside the door or through a walkie-talkie type monitor, which is why the wireless video baby monitor is becoming so popular. Anyone who has ever used one of the old-school, analog monitors and encountered a sudden, shrill shriek that unpleasantly startled them will no doubt agree that it would be ideal to have a video infant monitor where one could simply look up to see if the baby is awake, rather than listening for the (deafening) tell-tale signs of unhappiness.
When purchasing a wireless video monitoring system, you’ll need to consider how you intend to use it first. Some 5″ to 7″ video baby monitors attach underneath cabinets in a more permanent way, while others can be propped up on any nightstand or countertop. Another category of receivers are the handheld varieties, allowing you the ability to roam freely, while watching your baby on a smaller 1.8″ screen. The actual baby monitor camera may be mounted to the wall, attached to the crib or affixed to a bookshelf. Can you pan, tilt, zoom or get a wide-angle view of the room with your camera? These are all options to consider, and it’s important to note that they do not come one standard way, across the board.
Another feature to consider for your wireless video baby monitor is the resolution/picture quality you require. You’ll need to decide whether black-and-white will suffice, or if you want one in color. Some systems also come with night-vision so you can watch your baby in the dark, without disturbing him or her. Some of the older models have bulkier screens, whereas the newer models offer flat-screens, LCD baby monitor screens and high-definition technology screens. Your screen can range anywhere from 1.8 inches to 7 inches. Do you need an output to your computer or TV screen? These are all factors to consider.
There are many popular models of wireless video baby monitor systems to choose from. The MobiCam Color Video Baby Monitor ($117 at Amazon) offers night-vision, TV hookups, lightweight units and no cordless phone interference. The Safety 1st baby monitors ($186) have versatile crib/table/wall mount options, excellent resolution, zoom/pan and limited interference. Summer Infant video monitors ($105) come with large screens, color/night vision, audio-only mode and multi-room monitoring. Lastly, the Graco baby monitor, called the iMonitor, comes with a handheld unit, has great sound clarity and exports to TV.