Is Baby Monitor Worth Buying for Your Infants?
For most parents of young children, baby monitor is regarded as a necessary tool. Since it is impossible to watch over your child constantly, having a device that lets you see and hear your child while you are not in the same room as them is priceless.
However, not all baby monitors are created equal, parents have various demands and lifestyles, and as baby monitor technology has advanced, parents have begun to wonder about the security features and vulnerability of these devices to cyberattacks.
To better understand what to seek in a baby monitor, the benefits and drawbacks of baby monitors, and the safest and most efficient options available, we consulted professionals and parents with parenting experience.
Also Read: Baby Monitors- Types & Buying Guide
Baby Monitor: What to Consider?
There are numerous varieties of baby monitors available. Childproofing experts outline several important factors parents should take into account when choosing a baby monitor.
Range
For your specific environment, parents should look for a monitor with a good range capability. Depending on the size and layout of your property, you might need greater range. This should not be a problem if you live in a small house, but if you have a big house, you need make sure you can still pick up a signal even if you are two stories above your baby’s room.
Multiple Channels
Choosing a monitor with many channels will help you prevent disruption from your neighbours’ equipment. Typically, parents want this. Additionally, it appears that parents prefer monitors that are battery-operated over those that plug into an outlet. Although plug-in monitors are more dependable, you still need backup batteries.
Smartphone Supported
These days, you may observe your kid from your smartphone using several video baby monitors that can link to your Wi-Fi. This can be useful if you want to peek while you are away from home or are engaged in other rooms of your house.
Mothers revealed that they were quite interested in smart technology when looking for a baby monitor. If a mother had an evening job, was out and about, or her child was being watched by a sitter, she enjoyed the concept of being able to stream photographs of her kid.
Despite the fact that many parents like baby monitors with more bells and whistles, they have significant disadvantages. In particular, expert advises parents to conduct research before purchasing a baby monitor that may connect to a mobile app. Mobile monitor apps are practical, but do your research before using them. Some don’t have a solid performance history.
Smart devices that track your infant’s breathing, heart rate, or other health indicators are the one feature you don’t actually need and that the majority of specialists advise against. The Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP) has cautioned against the use of monitors and stated that, contrary to what many advertise, they do not provide protection against SIDS.
Also Read: The Features You Need to Look for in Your Baby Audio Monitor
Baby Monitor: Advantages
The majority of parents will tell you that their baby monitor is priceless, and there are a variety of reasons why they value having one when taking care of their infants. We contacted parents to get their thoughts.
Trustworthy and Comfortable
A first-time mother, using a baby monitor since the birth of her toddler son claimed that it has most importantly given her comfort and reduced her anxiety. She appreciates being able to check her son’s temperature of the room and always be aware of what is happening there thanks to her monitor. She explains, “It gives me peace to know that if anybody tried to break in, I would know.” That’s an awful concept, but that’s the world we live in.
Midnight Wakeups
For the first six months of life, and up to a year if possible, babies should sleep in their parents’ room in a separate crib. The theory is that having your child share a room can lower their risk of SIDS.
However, not all parents find room sharing to be beneficial. After six months of being a working parent, many mothers discovered that she they needed to get some sleep. Additionally, it was more difficult to teach your kid to fall asleep on their own as they become older if you sleep in the same room with them.
Mothers claimed that having a baby monitor gave them the impression that they could maintain a close eye on their child even in the middle of the night. If your baby wakes up in the middle of the night and their bedroom is far from yours, you can listen for them using this method. Additionally, it provides you with the serenity that all mothers so sorely need.
Traveling
A mother of three young children and lactation specialist says her baby monitor has come in handy on date evenings. She said, “I’ve used one that connected to my phone and it’s fantastic for checking on your baby when you’re on a date and they’re with a sitter.”
Reason discovered that a baby monitor is a great tool for families travelling because being in an unknown environment may require more caution. She preferred a less sophisticated audio monitor for travel. Since you won’t have to worry about the quality and security of the network where you are staying, using a monitor that doesn’t use Wi-Fi is simpler while travelling, she said.
Permanent Eye
Baby monitors are useful for a mother not just at night when her child is sleeping, but also during the day. This has proved useful to her as a working mother, she claims.
Since our business now operates from home, it’s simple for a mother to watch her son whether he’s playing or sleeping and yet complete her work.
Also Read: What are the Essential Newborn Baby Products for New Parents?
Baby Monitor: Disadvantages
The usage of baby monitors is frequently seen as having few drawbacks by parents. Despite this, parents do worry about a few things. We asked for their candid critiques of using these tools as well as suggestions from experts on how to address some of these problems.
Being able to stay in constant contact with your child may seem like a benefit, but some parents find that part to be occasionally too much and stressful.
The worry that predators would take advantage of the monitor or network when employing baby monitors is a major issue for parents. According to some mothers, they are concerned that someone would be able to break into the system of her baby monitor and observe their son or overhear a discussion.
Reason feels the same way. Security, in our opinion, should play a significant role in monitor selection, Reason stated. Our top aim is to keep hackers from connecting to my baby monitor.
According to a cybersecurity analyst, parents’ worries are reasonable. Cyberattackers may try to install malware and remotely run code in an effort to take control of your baby monitor in addition to breaking in and viewing your video stream. Baby monitor users run the danger of having their personal information compromised and of having their gadgets damaged by hacks.
However, expert argues that you are not helpless in these circumstances. They gave parents some advice on how to avoid situations like this and maintain the safety and security of their baby monitor use.
First, remember to update the software on your baby monitor when it’s necessary. Experts urge parents to constantly update baby monitor software to install the newest security patches, which help safeguard baby monitors from intrusions.
Also, parents must use any password security options that are available and to be meticulous with their passwords. They advise parents to use a variety of letters, numbers, and unique characters when creating passwords for their baby monitors. Use encrypted connections and, if available, establish two-factor authentication.
Summary
Remember that there is no one “best” way to monitor your child when you think about what characteristics to look for in one and how to balance the benefits and drawbacks of the gadgets generally. We all have various house configurations, sleeping habits, technology and cybersecurity worries, and childcare arrangements. You may need to test a few different baby monitors until you find a system that meets your needs because what works for one family might not work for you. The reward will be both your calm mind and your baby’s sound slumber.
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Safe-O-Kid is a brand of Baby Safety Inc, a research-based organization committed to make world a safer place for kids. Baby Safety Inc has dedicated itself to study of changing landscape of hazards that surround our kids and accordingly test new solutions to safeguard our children from these prevailing risks.