11.Baby monitors
Baby monitors are a modern day nursery accessory many parents rely on for peace of mind. They really come into their own if you've a two-story house, or baby's room is some way from the kitchen or living areas of your home. A monitor can also be useful if you're visiting with baby and want to put them down to sleep in an unfamiliar environment.
What to look for:
On the baby unit:
- Mains operation, and battery operation if you want to use it in areas without mains power (say, out camping).
- A night light, if you intend to use one anyway.
On the parent unit:
- Mains and battery operation, so you can take the unit with you in and around the house.
- A belt clip.
- Volume control.
- A light display to indicate the sound level, if you want to see the noise your child makes rather than hear it — while you’re watching TV or vacuuming, for example, or if you have (or your babysitter has) problems with hearing.
On both units:
- At least two different frequencies to choose from.
- Power-on light.
- Battery condition indicator.
- Automatic battery back-up is useful in areas where power failures are common.
- A cord long enough for your set-up.