Baby monitors are an invaluable way to keep an eye on your little one while you’re busy or away. Not only that, but they provide a wonderful chance for you to capture fleeting moments with your infant that will be treasured in years to come.
No matter if you prefer Wi-Fi or non-Wi-Fi for your baby monitor needs, there are plenty of models to choose from. Some are more cost effective than others and come with various useful features such as two-way communication and room temperature monitoring.
Peace of Mind
A baby monitor can give parents peace of mind that their child is secure when they’re not present. It also enables parents to work, attend classes or complete other duties inside the home without worrying that they won’t hear if something needs doing.
Video baby monitors are the most popular type of monitor and offer a host of features that make them user-friendly and convenient. Typically, they boast a high-resolution screen, two-way talk and night vision capabilities.
Many of these monitors come equipped with other useful features like temperature monitoring, room-temperature indicators, time displays and remote pan, tilt and zoom capabilities. Some even boast multiple cameras which can be wall-mounted or on a floor stand for convenient storage.
Non-Wi-Fi models remain a great choice for many families, as they tend to be more reliable and secure than WiFi options. The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro monitor, for instance, features 1,000 feet of range with active background noise reduction and two-way talk capabilities. Plus it has a room temperature indicator plus white noise and lullabies preloaded.
Owlet is a wireless baby monitor that clips to a sock and connects via Bluetooth to an app. It measures your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels, alerting you when their breathing pauses or their blood oxygen drops too low.
It isn’t a replacement for standard safety procedures, but it can be helpful to have in case of emergency. While it cannot guarantee a baby’s safety and could even be hazardous, it gives tired parents peace of mind knowing their infant will be alerted in the event of an unexpected lapse in heart rate or breathing.
Other devices that can bring you peace of mind include pet cams and bird igloo baby monitors, which allow you to keep an eye on your pets when they’re at home. Some monitors have cameras connected directly to a smartphone or tablet so you can check in on your children while away at work or school.
If you find that using a baby monitor is increasing your anxiety, it might be beneficial to temporarily stop using it and observe whether symptoms improve. If not, then replacing or trying another type of baby device could be necessary.
Convenience
Baby monitors are an invaluable asset when you’re away on dates or working from home, allowing you to check in with your little one whenever desired. Plus, since so many baby monitors are actually wireless and don’t require physical presence in the room where your child sleeps, these devices can come in handy while traveling or taking vacations.
When shopping for a baby monitor, there are various types to choose from – audio and video options included. Some even come with features like temperature tracking, two-way communication, and WiFi connectivity. Before making your purchase, our experts suggest that you carefully evaluate each monitor’s functions and decide which features are most important to you.
If you’re uncertain which baby monitor to purchase, our experts suggest selecting a system with both video display and sound capability. These usually have HD screen resolution and various sensitivity levels so you can tell if your infant requires your attention or not.
Some monitors also feature motion detection and two-way communication, so you can hear what your baby is saying if they’re having difficulty falling asleep or waking up during the night. This feature can save you from a lot of heartache in early parenthood when it’s hard to tell if they need extra help or just need a quick lullaby.
Our testers were pleased with how some Wi-Fi-enabled models allowed you to check in with your baby anytime, provided both ends have a strong internet connection. However, it’s essential to remember that these monitors remain vulnerable to cyber hackers who could intercept the signal, potentially leading to major security concerns.
As with other home electronics, it is essential to regularly upgrade your baby monitor’s firmware in order to keep it secure and ensure optimal operation. Many systems automatically do this; however, some require manual intervention. Our experts also suggest setting up a password to protect your monitor so it won’t fall prey to hackers who may be scanning through your home WiFi network for information.
Safety
Baby monitors give parents the power to stay in control of their little ones even when they’re asleep or elsewhere. Not only do they help avoid common accidents like suffocation or drowning, but they can also record precious moments with your child so you can cherish them in the future.
Many baby monitors today come equipped with specialized features like thermometer and oxygen sensor. These can be particularly beneficial when monitoring babies’ breathing and heart rate while they sleep – an early indicator of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Although baby monitors cannot prevent SIDS, some models can help minimize its effects by alerting parents if a child is choking or inhaling too much air. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that parents use a baby monitor to help ensure their infant remains secure while sleeping.
Some parents worry about microwave radiation from wireless baby monitors, but research has demonstrated that it is unlikely to be an issue if you select one operating on an analog frequency band. Other worries include hackers gaining access to your Wi-Fi network and spying on your child through the device.
WiFi-enabled monitors may be vulnerable to hacking, so it’s essential that you disable remote setup on your router and use a strong password. Furthermore, updating the firmware of your monitor can further minimize its security vulnerabilities.
Some baby monitors also connect to your home Wi-Fi, giving you the ability to check in on your child from anywhere using a smartphone app. While these devices tend to be more costly, their benefits are worth it since you can remotely monitor your infant’s activities even when away from home.
Another advantage of baby monitors is their capacity to record and share videos with other parents or grandparents who might not live in your same house as you. This can be especially helpful on birthdays or other special occasions, providing a wonderful way to preserve memories of your children as they develop.
Security
A baby monitor is an invaluable way to stay connected to your little one, whether you’re at home or away. WiFi-enabled models that transmit signals directly to phones and tablets have become particularly popular among busy parents who want to check on their babies from work, errands, or anywhere else.
Unfortunately, these devices are not immune from hacking. Just like many other internet-connected devices, they’re vulnerable to malicious hackers who could access information and even steal your identity.
Security experts caution that Wi-Fi baby monitors do not typically come equipped with the same level of security measures as computers or mobile devices. They lack features like two-factor authentication or passwords that can be modified from factory settings, according to security experts.
These vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to remotely take control of your device, listening in on private conversations and stealing personal information. They also use the monitor to break into your Wi-Fi network, leaving your entire home vulnerable to cybercriminals.
Recently, The Summitt family shared a shocking account of their baby monitor being commandeered by someone unknown. When Jamie Summitt woke up in the middle of the night to hear her baby screaming, she plugged it in and discovered that it had started moving, talking to itself, and even asking for a new password.
Though it can be frightening, this type of prank has happened before – a 2015 case study of smart baby monitors conducted by security analytics firm Rapid7 revealed several vulnerabilities in their products.
Hackers refer to this type of hijacking as “Internet of things hacking.” According to Tod Beardsley, director of research at Rapid7, it involves exploiting a vulnerability in the product that doesn’t exist on modern laptops or smartphones.
He emphasizes that these types of vulnerabilities are uncommon on modern computers and the Internet of Things. He adds that they’re also easy to bypass without requiring complex programming skillsets.
Before purchasing any baby monitor, it’s essential to review its security record. Make sure the manufacturer has a good record for fixing any issues they uncover and change your passwords from factory settings as soon as possible. Furthermore, using a VPN is recommended in order to block anyone from accessing your network.
