A Dad's Journey Through International Adoption

We used a baby monitor the first day we brought home Angelika. It was a Fisher Price model and worked really well. I still use it and even purchased a monitor with 2 receivers one for upstairs and one for downstairs. I find it very useful and really do think it is essential to have. By hearing the monitor it alerts me when it's necessary to return to the room if I hear her crying or doing something in her crib she shouldn't be (such as jumping on the bed!). It also helps to know when she wakes up in the morning or still asleep.

- Nina

 

We actually installed cameras instead of baby monitors. Then we can see if they're getting ready to fall off the bed, etc. Also, they've been HIGHLY useful in seeing how somebody's behavior changes when we leave the room. Got them at Lowe's.

 

Didn't vote since we don't have a use yet. But I figured we wouldn't get one since our kiddo's room is right next to ours. But after reading the experiences that others have had with sleeping I'm thinking I might get a small one. Just so that I can not be in the room but still hear how he's doing. (which is the purpose I suppose) But that way I can see if the rocking or whatever behaviour stops or worsens when we are not in the room. So I would vote, Yes we will have one. But I'm not doing the camera one as our apartment is only 1100 sq feet.

 

I like to use it if I'm going to work outside in the yard during naptime.

 

We got one and it turned out that we didn't really need it, but it has been wonderful to just listen to her at night. She sings, talks to herself and practices her counting. You may not really "need" it, but there is alot that you could miss without it.

 

As a new and first-time parent, I can't tell the number of times I went to check on Christian because I was just paranoid something was going to happen. I just wanted to make sure he was breathing. Now, the kid was 19 months old so of course it was irrational but still the piece of mind of having a monitor where I can just hear in an instant crying was great. I had a phobia that he'd cry and sleep through it. It also gave me the freedom to do things downstairs while he napped or slept. You'll need the largest range possible. I don't quite remember which we got but I can show it to you. You just want to make sure it has the amount of range needed for your sq. footage.

 

I did not use a baby monitor when my kids were little. We had a real small house when the (bio) kids were little I kept the baby(s) (newborn infant) in our room until they slept through the night, after that they would just have to cry loud enough to wake me from the other room. (Mother's are light sleepers anyway, you know) I wan't worried about hearing them so I never wished I had a monitor. Since we have a two story house now I might use one if we had a baby/toddler.
I really like Rhonda's cameras - that's pretty hi-tech and a GOOD way to watch over the toddler or young child. Since the child we are adopting is already 9 I don't think it's appropriate for us though. Since you guys are techy geeks maybe you want to rig something up like that with your computer, that would be cool.

 

We just got an inexpensive one and we used it even though our daughter's room was right across the hall. I still use it when she is sick and she is 6 years old.

I say get one, but it doesn't have to have all the bells and whistles. My friend bought the one with the video monitor and it's sound doesn't work nearly as well as our inexpensive set, plus the picture is awful.