Right now, your baby is probably still sleeping in your room with you. Sleeping in the same room as your baby for the first six months can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Room sharing is thought to reduce the risk of SIDS by as much as a third. For this reason, experts recommend that you don’t move your baby into her own room until she is six months old. Well, six months is very nearly upon you (where has the time gone?) and you may be thinking of moving your baby into the nursery in the coming weeks.
If your baby will be sleeping in another room, you may be wondering whether you need a baby monitor. There’s no right answer for this one, it totally depends on your situation and how you feel. If you have a small house with paper thin walls, you might feel that a baby monitor is an unnecessary expense. However, if your baby will be out of earshot, a baby monitor is definitely a good idea.
If you’re the sort of parent who can often hear imagined crying, a baby monitor might be useful just to stop you running across the hallway ten times a night for no reason. Baby monitors can offer you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll be able to hear your baby if she cries. A baby monitor may also be useful for when you are downstairs watching television in the evening, it will allow you to hear your baby waking up long before the crying starts.
Which baby monitor should I get?
No matter what your budget, you’ll be able to find a baby monitor to match. You may even be able to borrow a baby monitor from a friend or family member. Baby monitors range from simple audio devices to more expensive movement monitors which alert you if your baby has been still for an unusually long time. The type of monitor you choose will be dependent on your situation and budget.
A good thing to do is speak to friends and family members to see which monitors they used and whether they would recommend the brand. This will help you to narrow down how many monitors you need to choose from. A baby monitor might be a useful thing to have, but it’s not a necessity. Think about your own situation and whether you need a baby monitor in your life before forking out money.
Do you have a baby monitor and, if so, which one did you choose?
Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
