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Home » Family » Baby Monitors » Infant Video Monitors

Infant Video Monitors, Movement and Sound Monitor

Related Guides: Baby Carriers, Baby Swings, Booster Seats, Car Seats, Cribs and Diapers

Video is a popular feature, but you can spend $200 or more on a digital video baby monitor, or even an analog one. With analog models, video signals can be transmitted outside your home just like audio signals can.

If you think having a neighbor overhear a private conversation is bad, imagine how you'd feel if a stranger could see right into your nursery. Some moms on the BabyCenter online parenting network report being able to see neighbors' babies on a Summer Infant video monitor and realizing their babies could be seen as well. Several say they contacted Summer Infant and the company upgraded them to what it says is a secure model.

Infant video monitors have also become somewhat controversial due to concern about strangulation hazards. Unlike audio monitors, which you can place nearly anywhere in a child's room, infant video monitors generally require placing a camera (and its cord) closer to the crib, where your baby may be able to reach and become entangled in it. About 1.7 million Summer Infant video monitors were recalled in February 2011 so the company could provide new warning labels and instructions, as well as clips for mounting the cord on the wall.

Another pricey and controversial design is an Angelcare movement and sound monitor (starting at $85, Amazon). This series of baby monitors features movement sensors to alert you if your child has stopped breathing or moving. While that seems ideal for preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, monitoring is unlikely to prevent SIDS deaths, according to MayoClinic.com. Of course, some proponents still believe buying a movement and sound monitor couldn't hurt. Unfortunately, Angelcare baby monitors are notorious for false alarms, especially with babies old enough to move away from the pad that's designed to alert you if it stops sensing movement. While sites such as Amazon are filled with positive reviews from parents who interpret false alarms as evidence that a movement and sound monitor is working, others don't appreciate the panic and anxiety -- or just being woken up needlessly night after night. If you do decide to invest in, say, the Angelcare AC401-2P Movement and Sound Monitor Deluxe, know that your $114 will likely be going toward frills such as a thermometer and a nightlight, not SIDS prevention.

One important note: Each year, manufacturers introduce new baby monitors and discontinue older models -- even some that remain quite popular. Often a new model will have all the features of the previous model but boast different technology that promises less interference or enhanced privacy. All the models on our list have been widely reviewed online, but make sure the cheap baby monitor you're interested in is still available before getting too excited by reviews that may be out-of-date.

The good news is that even when manufacturers discontinue a cheap baby monitor, you may still be able to find it with a bit of effort, and often at a discount that will help you save even more. For instance, as of this writing, the Fisher-Price Remote Control Musical Audio Monitor, one of our top baby monitors, is not available in Babies R Us stores but is for sale at a reduced price on the Babies R Us and Toys R Us websites. (It is also marketed as the Mom Response Audio Baby Monitor.) An impressive variety of new and used baby monitors (and reviews) also lives on eBay and Amazon, as well as in consignment shops. Just ask about the seller's return policy before you buy so you can send back the monitor if it doesn't work well.

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Philips Avent
Angelcare
Graco UltraClear Analog Baby Monitor
Safety 1st Sound View Monitor
Graco iMonitor Vibe
Summer Infant Secure Sounds Digital Monitor
Sony BabyCall NTM-910
Fisher-Price Remote Control Musical Audio Monitor

 

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