Video or audio baby monitor – Your questions answered!

As you know, we have four children…
  Life is busy with four kids, and it reminds us to stop, look, and listen to our children so we don’t miss out on the simple moments!  It came as no surprise that a LOT of you have asked me questions about which products we use, which books we love, which shows we watch…

One of the biggest questions that I get asked, via e-mail and Facebook (besides how to potty train in three days) is “What do you use to keep an eye on our baby at night or during quiet time, if you don’t co-sleep?”   The question really is asking- do you use a regular monitor or a video monitor? 
So, today I am answering that question.

I have never been able to co-sleep.  I would be a nervous wreck and my husband has told me that he would have sleep on the couch because he would be too nervous, too!   So- to solve this issue of seeing/hearing them, while not being near them, I just always had a video monitor.  It was the most logical thing for me and I love it!

I actually tried the sensor monitor (the one that makes a sound when your baby doesn’t breathe) but it had so many false alarms that sent my flying into our daughters room, that I had to change it.   I had the regular audio monitor (no videos) but I didn’t know if they were crying because they were tired or crying because their arm was stuck, so I ended up in their room (disturbing them) more often than not.  Our kids often fussed in their sleep, which the doctors have said is just the transition from non-REM sleep to REM sleep.

So, I invested in VTech’s Baby Monitor  – it is (still) an easy way to keep an eye on our mobile toddler who is able to crawl, jump in her crib, walk, enjoy play time in her room, etc.  I always have my eye on her, even when I am not in the room with her, during quiet/nap time or bed time.  

One of my favorite things is to watch them when they don’t know that I am watching!  I love hearing them sing to their stuffed animals, pretend to read a book to their toys, spin in circles with their siblings… the VTech video monitor allows parents to look, listen and check in on their children – whether they are sleeping or having play time in their room.

My other favorite thing: I can keep one in the playroom, too!

• You can view of up to 4 total cameras from one parent unit. You can use single view(one camera only), split view (cycles through cameras on single view before stopping on split view) and patrol mode (single view that transitions to a different camera every 7 seconds).  Plus, it zooms and pans the room!
• I also love it because it is small.  When our son was born 7 years ago, we had one that was the size of a small TV  My friend Hillary  teased us that it looked like a boom box from the 80’s that you carry on your shoulder.  haha!  This new VTech monitor is much smaller, sleeker and more discreet!  (you can see it below)
  Ok- I think that about covers it for your question of which monitor I like the best- the answer is definitely video!   Now, you might have a completely different take on this than me.  My friend, Samantha, used an audio monitor because she didn’t like feeling like she needed to check the monitor all day.   My friend, Kristy doesn’t use one at all.
  Different strokes for different folks.  For me, I like knowing that it is there when I want to take a peek, or watch them play when they don’t know that I’m there.Tell me…  what do you use in your house?