Baby Monitors

Baby monitors are used by millions of families all over the world as a device to help them watch over baby while they are in a different room. A baby monitor is a special radio transmitter device with two parts: a transmitter and a receiver. If you place the transmitter close to your baby's bed and keep the receiver near to where you are, it allows you to keep tabs on your baby if you're wandering from room to room, or even popping out into the garden.

Some people think of baby monitors as an extra pair of eyes and ears watching over your baby, with the added ability to alert you if he needs your attention when you're in another room. No matter what your baby's age, the baby monitor will continue to warn you if he starts crying or becomes unhappy, whether that be in the middle of the night or during the day.

Need some advice on what baby monitor might be the best fit for your family? Why not Try & Buy at The Baby Show? You can compare brands and examine the very latest developments and innovations before making your purchase!

Features to look out for when buying a new baby monitor include:

• Size: nice and small means you could put the receiver in your pocket or handbag as you move around the house.
• Low power light: a warning to let you know when your battery is running down is a handy feature to have, although it's recommended you plug your baby monitor into the mains as often as possible.
• Light display: a sound-activated visual display can be a bonus if you're doing a noisy activity that might block the sound made by the baby monitor. Coloured lights flashing are a good way to catch your attention if the sound of baby crying is temporarily blocked out.
• Two receivers: this can be a good idea if both mum and dad want to keep watch on baby at the same time, or if you're worried you might lose a receiver! One can even be designated as a back up if the battery on the other suddenly fails.

With the advance of technology, baby monitors have been finely developed and now include a choice of frequency channels, volume controls, visual movement alerts, light displays, talk-back intercom facilities, room temperature indicators, out of range and low movement warnings. You can even find baby monitors with remote controls or musical alerts. Choose one which best suits you, the house you live in and your family environment.

Another useful development in baby monitors is the ability to show your newborn on television, allowing you to personally keep an eye on him from another room when the need arises. These are the video baby monitors, and can come with a cable connecting the camera in the baby's room to the television, or can be cordless. Baby video monitors work on the same principle as audio monitors. One unit plugs into the television in the room where you are, the other is positioned next to the baby's cot. The camera then films him as he sleeps and when he cries the programme you're watching on television is automatically interrupted, and switches to the view of the baby video monitor. You can also hear the sounds your baby makes through the speakers on your television.

Never position your new baby monitor near water because this could risk an electric shock, and avoid carrying baby monitors by their antenna, since although they're flexible and covered, they are relatively fragile. If you want to research baby monitors or baby video monitors further, come along to The Baby Shows and test drive them for yourself.

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