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To find the best baby monitor you need to first think about what is important to you.
Do you plan to have multiple children and need multiple cameras? Do you expect to have a split screen where you can see both rooms at the same time? Do you prefer to be connected to Wi-Fi or not? Do you want to be able to peek into your home and check on your babies when you are out for the night and using a babysitter? What kind of budget do you have when shopping for a baby monitor?
Let’s dive into some popular features of baby monitors and try to figure out if they are important or not for you!
Wi-Fi or NOT
I am not going to act like a tech expert. I most definitely am not! However, some people feel that Wi-Fi connected baby monitors are easier to hack. Do your own research and see what you think about the risks.
We decided to go with a monitor that does not use Wi-Fi. Our monitor has a certain distance it can reach and communicate to the screen.
If you are not connected to Wi-Fi then you will not be able to see your baby when you leave them with a babysitter.
I do believe there may be models out there where you have the ability to turn the Wi-Fi on or off. If this is the case you could only turn the wifi on when you are away. For nights when you are home, you would keep the Wi-Fi off.
Multiple Cameras
If you plan to have multiple children, you are likely going to want multiple cameras. If so, look into it in advance. Consider actually purchasing two cameras from the start in case your model would be discontinued before you have baby #2.
When it comes to two cameras, the monitor screen may be split where you can see both views at once or it may be where you have to click back and forth between views.
Swivel camera
Do you need to be able to control the camera from outside the room? Are you going to be swiveling it to see something outside of the standard view?
If your baby sleeps in a crib you honestly don’t need to swivel if you set it in a location that has a full view of the crib.
If your baby is in a floor bed where they have more freedom or are old enough to be in a toddler bed you may prefer to have a camera that can swivel.
Sound & Image Quality of Baby Monitor
You want a monitor that has a decent rating for sound and image quality. Otherwise, what is the point of investing in a monitor?
The basic features are being able to see and hear your baby.
I don’t have much to say here except read the reviews.
Life Expectancy
Baby monitors can be cheap or expensive. It is completely up to you how much you spend. Ideally, though you are able to take good care of them and get a long life out of them.
We keep our monitor away from our toddler. It is not a toy to be played with.
We try to be gentle when removing the charge cord from the screen.
We also try to avoid pushing certain buttons sometimes. A lot of monitors come with a power button that may be different from the other buttons. This one is the most likely to wear down over time. If I check on my baby during a nap, I don’t turn the monitor off after. I just let it time out to a black screen.
Things wear down over time. If you can eliminate a little bit of use it is going to last longer.
We are still on our first monitor after 3.5 years of use.
The Vava Baby Monitor
We love our Vava baby monitor and have used it now for over 3.5 years. We did not want a monitor with Wi-Fi capabilities. Our theory is we do not use babysitters very often and when we do it is someone we truly trust with our children.
If we did not trust them we would not use them.
We started off with only one camera and then purchased a second camera when baby #2 arrived.
Overall, we are happy with the ability to swivel the camera up, down, and side to side.
The image and sound quality are great in our opinion.
And like I said, we take really good care of it and the effort is paying us back because it is still working 3.5 years later.
It was not a cheap option, but I feel like we got our money’s worth due to the length of time we have used the product.
How many baby products can you honestly say you are honestly still using from your baby shower 3.5 years later? Very very few!
I cannot recommend the Vava baby monitor enough!
Here is another review I wrote on it one year ago. You can see how my thoughts have changed or stayed the same. The Vava Baby Monitor Review! Why We Still Like It Two Years Later!
Conclusion
Find the baby monitor that is right for you. It doesn’t have to be the most expensive. It doesn’t have to include all the best features.
It needs to have the features you need for your specific baby and home.
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The Vava Baby Monitor Review! Why We Still Like It Two Years Later!