I’ve just posted a review our new Y-Cam HomeMonitor video monitor and it got me thinking about how reliant I was on a video baby monitor in the early months when my first baby was born.
I didn’t invest in a video baby monitor straight away but let me tell you, when I did it made a much bigger impact on my days and nights with Miss M than I thought possible.
I was a fairly anxious first time mum and I liked to be able to see my baby at all times – which meant life was quite difficult sometimes as you can’t possibly be with them all the time.
Here are the 5 benefits of baby video monitors that I loved best:
1. You can have a shower!
All new parents (actually, not just new ones) know how difficult it is to part from your newborn long enough to have a shower in the morning.
I have to start each day with a shower, I just don’t feel right without one. So I used to get up in the morning, feed Miss M and then as she drifted off back to sleep for her morning nap, I’d race into the bathroom and have the quickest shower known to man, all the time terrified that when I turned it off I would be greeted by piercing screams from her demanding to know where I was. That rarely happened of course but it made the whole ‘getting up’ process pretty stressful.
Until I got a video baby monitor! Just being able to see her fast asleep was massively reassuring. I could even judge whether or not I had time to wash and condition my hair – it’s the small things that make me happy!
Yes, I could have easily survived without a shower but the video monitor really helped me relax about it. You can read about what else to expect as a new parent here!
2. You can nap!
We moved Miss M into her own room at 4-5 months old, and as she had started napping for a little longer and at more predictable times, I did my best to “sleep when the baby sleeps” and get some shut eye myself.
I didn’t want to risk not hearing her when she woke up if she was upset so again, having the monitor next to me when I had a rest meant that I could see her at all times and relax which meant there was more chance I would actually nap myself. Bonus!
3. You can stay up at night!
By some kind of miracle, Miss M decided fairly early on that she would sleep through the night from 7pm to 7am. Mini M hasn’t got that memo yet but he seems to be on the way to it :)
This was brilliant! We could have a full night’s sleep ourself or, we could really push the boat out and STAY UP! You know, after 7pm. Like grown ups!
At that point we were living in a 2 storey house and when the nursery door was shut, she couldn’t hear any noise we made downstairs but of course we couldn’t hear her either and I didn’t like that.
So every night, after she had gone to sleep, out came the video monitor next to me on the side of the sofa and my second TV show became watching Miss M sleep – very reassuring.
4. No need to wake them to check on them
An obvious one but for those with very light sleeping babies, the last thing you want to do it wake them up unnecessarily.
As an anxious first time parent, I worried when my baby made too much noise and I worried when she didn’t make any noise at all. I lost track of the amount of times I checked on her when she was sleeping just to check she was still breathing.
The video baby monitor made this so much easier, it just gave me constant peace of mind that I could see her and she was fine.
5. Two way communication
This will depend on the type of video baby monitor you have but with Miss M, we had the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor
So as well as us being able to hear her, we could talk to her too – from the comfort of wherever we were and without having to turn her nursery lights on or risk waking her up fully. Perfect!
Do you have a video baby monitor or do you manage happily without one? If you do, what benefits have you found from using it?
Read next:
- When to stop using the Baby Monitor
- Motorola Wi-Fi Baby Monitor Review
- How to Host a Baby Shower on a Budget
- VTech VM9900 HD Pan & Tilt Monitor with Remote Access Review
Great list! I keep saying that I want a video monitor but still don’t have one. I’m going to show this the OH to convince him I need one X
Thank you! I don’t think you’ll regret getting one :) x
I wan’t going to get a monitor. I kept rolling my eyes and insisting that babies have a built in one. My mum insisted on buying a video monitor I loved it (but don’t tell her). It meant that I could see him stirring and get prepped for when he woke up rather then waiting for a cry. Now I use it when he’s in the living room and I’m making a snack to check there’s no mischief. #brilliantblogposts
Ha I won’t tell her! Once you have one it’s a bit addictive to use it :) x
We loved out monitor and I miss it really! Might dig it out again. Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts
It’s so nice to watch their little sleeping faces! x
I totally agree with your points.
I wouldn’t be without ours and was exactly the same with my first born too :) x
Ah thank you – I just couldn’t be without ours too! x
This has helped me make up my mind to get one with bean number 3. They didn’t have these readily available with the first 2.
They’re so brilliant – an investment definitely although not cheap unfortunately x
Totally agree! We got one because my sister recommended it and we’ve loved it! I think one of the reasons she sleeps through is because we were able to check on her through the screen rather than rush into her room at every sound she made :) #brilliantblogposts
That’s so true – some babies are such light sleepers aren’t they and the last thing you want is to be the cause of them waking up! :)
I spent ages agonising over what kind to get. Didn’t go with video monitor in the end as I’m so neurotic, I was convinced I would just obsessively watch it to the point that I may as well have just sat next to the crib all the time & stared directly at the baby! I did not however think of the being able to shower benefit! Sounds like they can be pretty good. #brilliantblogposts
Ha ha that is always a worry definitely! :) x
We love our video monitor. It’s just so reassuring to check on H without risking disturbing her. All your points are spot on with our reasons for recommending them #twinklytuesday
Thank you! It’s so reassuring, I couldn’t be without it now :) x
We never had one for any of the kids. :) The youngest still sleep in my bed as well, and our house is good at letting noise travel, which is good, so we never had them. :)
Would be fun though to have one of those video things, but they are just so so expensive. :)
They are expensive – and there are so so SO many other things to spend money on with kids aren’t there :) I held off getting one for ages and then became completely dependent on it :) x
We never had a video monitior, just the normal two way one, i kind of wish we did get a video one, but then i think when he was newborn i wouldnt get any sleep anyway as i would be constantly watching him! haah! Thanks for sharing! Suz x Beauisblue.com
Ha ha I know that feeling well, especially with my first baby! x x
We didn’t have one because in a tiny flat there was kind of no need! Also, he wouldn’t let me put him down so was always with me! That said, when we moved into our house and suddenly he was upstairs, I was questioning whether we should get one. Luckily for us, one of the other halfs colleagues was just getting rid of theirs! They are old…like little mini televisions but they do the job and as I sit here typing I can see him rolling over in his sleep! Having now read this…next time round I am totally going to get a new one, that I can take into the bathroom with me…genius! Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
Aww it is nice to be able to have a look at them whenever you want isn’t it! x
Our monitor has been such a lifesaver due to all your points. For baby girls first 6 months of life she slept in our room, we didn’t use a monitor and I went to sleep when she did which left NO alone time with my husband. When we moved her to her own room we started using one and I can’t believe it took me so long x #twinklytuesday
That’s exactly how I felt too – if only I’d gotten it earlier :) x
We never got a video monitor with my son, only a normal audio one, but now that he’s a toddler and can get out of bed and up to mischief a video one would be very useful! We do have the talk back feature though which I love – sometimes just a few words from me is enough to get him to relax and possibly go back to sleep.
#twinklytuesday
It’s so good to be able to talk to them without actually going into the room, isn’t it :)
Totally agree. We have one and although I don’t need to use it so much now S is older, it was brilliant when he was a baby. He was a light sleeper so waking him up by accident was an issue, it was great to be able to have a peep through the monitor instead. Worth every penny xx #twinklytuesday xx
I think the same – I only wish I’d gotten one from day 1 with Miss M, lifesaver :)