I apologize if there have been threads on this already, and please feel free to direct me to one - I can not figure out how to search through tapatalk on my phone. Just curious what all you have purchased. We had/have an Angelcare for DD that we still use, although we never used the sensor pad, but I'm wanting a video monitor this time. I feel like I've heard both great and bad about Motorola - some that love theirs, and others that have had multiple ones that have gone bad in one way or another. I've heard a lot about Summer Infant too. Of course, there are a million variations of each one. I would like 2 cameras. We are also looking into plain old security cameras like Foscam. We are both steering away from anything that is connected through WiFi to view on our phones; just our personal preference - many love that feature. Anyway, just a place to discuss features and stuff. And again, if this has been discussed recently, feel free to share the link below. Thanks!
We have a Philips avent monitor that we bought for DD. it's worked well for us and has a video aspect to it. It super sensitive (picks up almost all noises) and the monitor springs to life whenever the noises are picked up. The only issue we have had it with the one power cord... It stopped working about 2 years into using it but I was able to find a replacement and it's worked great ever since. Its not that great if you get too far away from the camera. It cuts out if I'm working outside... I have a few friends that have the monitor that uses their iPhones... They've been really happy with them but they're expensive. They have a longer range and are also fairly sensitive.
We bought an Infant Optics DXR-8 based on Amazon reviews (4.5 stars; 1,056 reviews). It's the top seller in security monitors/displays. We set it up and tested it out. Seems to work well! Pretty sure you can add additional cameras, but we haven't tested that. It doesn't broadcast via wifi.
Our friends have a Babies R Us brand monitor. It works, but only okay. They ended up using a separate monitor for audio because the BRU one was too loud even at its quietest setting.
I have had one of the Motorolas for about 4 months and I love it so far (been using it for DS). You can add more cameras but I only have one. It has the ability to move the camera position around from the receiver which is really nice-you can pan the camera around the room to get different views. My best friend also has a Motorola, but the more expensive model which has a larger screen. She loves hers as well.
My co worker has the infant optics one that PP mentioned at our office (she brings her baby to work). It has terrible battery life and she already had to return it once because it quit charging completely. I can just tell you having physical experience with both, the Motorola is hands down much better quality.
Post by billyhorrible on Apr 9, 2015 23:40:53 GMT -5
With my first we had a Summer Infant Best View - which we loved. Some of the features we really liked were the super long battery life, and also the ability to turn off the video feature at night (DH is really sensitive to things like that - we can't even have an alarm clock in the bedroom because of the light). It died after 2ish years, but honestly, I don't know anyone else who used their monitor as long as we did, so its hard to compare how long theirs would have lasted.
We got another Summer Infant monitor this time around. (Baby Touch)
We have a Samsung one. Pluses are long battery life, great night vision, minuses are it was expensive and it makes a beeping noise when you turn it on so when I would put DS to bed I would then switch the camera on and have to muffle the sound with a blanket so it wouldn't wake him back up.
Since DS slept in our room in the bassinet then crib next to our bed for the first 4 months we didn't use the camera until he moved into his own room at 4 months
We have a Motorola monitor that I've only used a handful of times in the last nearly 2 years, but I do like it. I agree with you the wifi thing is a no go. There was a CSI cyber episode about someone hacking into baby monitors with wifi that scared me even further. The thing about monitors is I believe the warranty for many run out the year after they are purchased so you might want to wait as long as you can to buy one, unless you see a really great deal of course
We have a Summer Infant for DS that has been going strong after 2 1/2 years so far. I purchased a dual camera multi view from Summer Infant during the 50% off sale and we will continue to use the single camera unit when we travel.
Edited to add: As far as video monitoring goes it was pretty unimportant the first few months but once my kid approached toddlerhood and could quietly get in to mischief it's been worth it's weight in gold.
junch817 if you do go with foscam-please be careful. I just read an article about people hacking those monitors because they aren't very secure. Creepy.
Post by baytosa2013 on Apr 10, 2015 8:58:28 GMT -5
We also got a Summer infant monitor during the 50% off sale. IT was too good of a deal to pass up and it got really good reviews on several sites. DH likes that it is color during the day, that you can zoom and pan around with it and you can add more cameras if you want. It is not WIFI capable because that was important to us as well. We've tried it out a few times and so far so good.
Post by laurenlou83 on Apr 10, 2015 9:32:44 GMT -5
We registered for a Samsung video monitor and DHs parents gave it to us. We haven't used it yet, but it had good reviews and playing around with it in the store it was the one we liked best. You can add up to 4 cameras, has a good size screen, two-way talk, night vision and a 900ft (I think!) range.
mathistm thanks for the info. I definitely don't want to worry about that. I really like our Angelcare monitor. We've had it for 3 years, and somehow it is still working. We NEVER turn it off. And I mean never. Terrible yeah, but we would always forget in the beginning, and then it just turned into a habit and we honestly never even think about it. Both the monitor and the receivers (2 of them) are on 24/7....for 3 freaking years!! It's kind of amazing. So anyone looking at Angelcare, I would definitely recommend. But like I said, we want a video one. More for DD than baby for the first year, like tatersalad said. You always want to know what those kids are up to!
We bought an Infant Optics DXR-8 based on Amazon reviews (4.5 stars; 1,056 reviews). It's the top seller in security monitors/displays. We set it up and tested it out. Seems to work well! Pretty sure you can add additional cameras, but we haven't tested that. It doesn't broadcast via wifi.
Our friends have a Babies R Us brand monitor. It works, but only okay. They ended up using a separate monitor for audio because the BRU one was too loud even at its quietest setting.
We have an older Summer Infant video monitor we bought when DS1 was born. We are upgrading to this exact monitor for when DS2 is born. We will also buy the additional camera for DS1 and link the 2 to the parent unit.
Am I the only one who doesn't have a video monitor? We've never had one one with either kid. They are so much more expensive and I know I would probably just sit and watch it non-stop if we did have one. For my own sanity I like just the audio ones.
@jemomma - I truly don't think they are necessary, esp in the beginning. But my 3 year old is in her own bed now, and there are times when I hear something and want to know what she's doing. Or if I hear a loud noise, rather than open up her door and risk waking her (she is a very light sleeper), it'd be nice to just look and see and say she probably just hit her arm or leg against the wall. Just things like that. I really don't know how much we will use it on the baby for a long time.
Am I the only one who doesn't have a video monitor? We've never had one one with either kid. They are so much more expensive and I know I would probably just sit and watch it non-stop if we did have one. For my own sanity I like just the audio ones.
@jemomma - I truly don't think they are necessary, esp in the beginning. But my 3 year old is in her own bed now, and there are times when I hear something and want to know what she's doing. Or if I hear a loud noise, rather than open up her door and risk waking her (she is a very light sleeper), it'd be nice to just look and see and say she probably just hit her arm or leg against the wall. Just things like that. I really don't know how much we will use it on the baby for a long time.
Yep. We just got ours and while it's true that I find myself watching it a lot, it's so nice to not have to open the door and disrupt anything if you don't have to. DS fussed himself to sleep a lot as an infant and it would have been great to confirm that he was safe and sleeping without having to open the door. Plus now I love watching him lay in bed and read his books and seeing his eyes slowly droop to close. It's super cute! I really didn't think I needed one before DS but after I had him I always told myself it would be one thing I would invest in for baby 2.
It's funny. A video monitor was one thing my SIL recommended to us as when we were pregnant as something she wished she had bought. And she said the same thing; she didn't need it for our niece as a baby, but as she got older, she wishes she would have had one to see what she was up to. My husband and I both rolled our eyes at it. Soon enough, we found ourselves saying the same thing to each other; how we wish we knew what she was doing in her room. So we decided if we ever had another, we would get a video one.
Post by silv3rlining on Apr 12, 2015 10:04:56 GMT -5
We have a Summer Infant color something of other. It has worked well for DS. We plan to purchase a 2nd camera for LO. Ours allows multiple (up to 4 I think) cameras. Overall we've been very pleased with it.
Post by sidneyvicious on Apr 12, 2015 21:28:53 GMT -5
So we were getting ready to buy the Anglecare monitor with movement sensors when I realized it won't work with a double sided mattress. Does anyone recommend another video monitor with movement sensors?
Am I the only one who doesn't have a video monitor? We've never had one one with either kid. They are so much more expensive and I know I would probably just sit and watch it non-stop if we did have one. For my own sanity I like just the audio ones.
We have the standard sony babycall. Worked fine with DS1, no reason to switch it up now.
Am I the only one who doesn't have a video monitor? We've never had one one with either kid. They are so much more expensive and I know I would probably just sit and watch it non-stop if we did have one. For my own sanity I like just the audio ones.
We don't have one either. So far we've felt fine without one..we are just trying DS in his new room tonight for the first time and while so far so good, ask me by the end of the week if I still don't mind not having one lol!
Just out of curiosity, is anyone getting a snuza or something similar? Part of me feels like it's one of those things that preys on new mom fears but if it does help me to sleep better then it might be worth it.
We're getting the Snuza. I wanted the Anglecare monitor with movement sensors but it won't work with our dual-sided mattress. I don't care if I'm being preyed upon as a new mom. I'll pay $99 for peace of mind:)
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