If you are about to have a baby, or just had a baby, one of the things that you need to consider is whether or not you want to get a baby monitor. Now, baby monitors haven’t been around for that long, at least not in the grand scheme of things, only a few decades.
However, many parents now find baby monitors to be extremely useful tools that allow them to keep an eye on their babies no matter where they are. Many baby monitors come with some really advanced features that allow people to keep an eye on their children to ensure their safety.
They often come with high-definition video feeds, night vision, two-way audio, motion detection, voice detection, temperature sensors, sleep analytics, and so much more. With that being said, this is a relatively recent invention.
This therefore begs the question of whether or not you need a baby monitor. So, do you need a baby monitor from birth? Well, the jury is still out on this one, because there is of course no solid answer. This is a somewhat subjective question that requires a good deal of consideration.
Whether or not you need a baby monitor from birth, and whether or not you need a baby monitor at all, really depends on your specific situation. It depends both on the baby and you as the parent. Where the baby sleeps, where you sleep, how deep you sleep, if you are often separated from your baby inside of the home during the day, health conditions, and more, all need to be considered.
Therefore, although we aren’t going to tell you definitively whether or not you absolutely need to have a baby monitor, we can talk about all of the factors that you need to consider when deciding this for yourself. Let’s take a closer look at all of the different factors that you need to consider when deciding whether or not you need a baby monitor from birth.
Do You Need a Baby Monitor from Birth?
Just to be clear, it’s not like this is a mathematical question that has a 100% empirical answer. There are two sides to this story. There is a school of thought that says that you should only use baby monitors if absolutely necessary, such as if your child has a health condition that requires constant oversight. This does of course seem to make sense.
However, there are other people who say that baby monitors are absolutely necessary to keep an eye on your child at all times no matter the situation. Many people say that newborn babies require constant oversight, and if you can’t spend 100% of your time in the room with the baby, then you should have a baby monitor.
We think that a good bit of common sense is required here. When it comes down to it, no, you probably don’t need a baby monitor right from birth 100% of the time. Generally speaking, if you spend most of your time in relatively close proximity to your baby, and the baby is healthy, then you shouldn’t have need for constant oversight.
However, if you are often in a different room from your baby, especially out of earshot, your baby has health conditions, or you just have a lot of anxiety about leaving your baby alone, then getting a baby monitor might be a good idea. As you might notice, however, as far as the parent is concerned, a baby monitor may sometimes actually be more for the comfort of the parent than for the child.
A baby monitor can provide a parent with some peace of mind that their baby is doing just fine, even if they aren’t in the same room.
What it really comes down to here is that no, a baby monitor is probably not necessary to keep your baby alive, although baby monitors do have benefits.
Let’s move on and take a look at all of the factors that you should consider when deciding whether or not you need a baby monitor from birth. Yes, there are many reasons why a baby monitor can be a good idea and a useful tool, although whether or not you absolutely need one is a decision best left to you, the parent.
Factors When Considering the Use of a Baby Monitor – Reasons to Get a Baby Monitor
Let’s take a closer look at all of the factors that you need to consider when deciding whether or not you want to use a baby monitor from birth. Below are all of the different reasons as to why using a baby monitor is a good idea.
1. Health Conditions
One of the main reasons why doctors will recommend getting a baby monitor is if your baby has any sort of health conditions that require constant oversight.
For instance, if your baby has prolonged or regular episodes of pauses in their breathing, a slow heart rate, some kind of breathing disorder, a rare medical condition, or have ever needed to have been resuscitated, then a baby monitor is recommended.
What it really comes down to is that if your maybe has a health concern, then a baby monitor is definitely a good idea. If the health of your baby is in question, then yes, a baby monitor is recommended.
2. Where the Baby Sleeps
You should also consider where your baby sleeps. If your newborn baby sleeps in the same room as you, then chances are that you’re always going to wake up as soon as you hear any kind of sound or sense motion.
If you sleep in the same room, you really don’t need a baby monitor, because you’re probably going to wake up anyway. However, if you have a separate nursery for your baby, especially if it is more than just one door down from your room, then you may want to consider getting a baby monitor.
Although your baby should be fine sleeping through the night, especially if they don’t have any health conditions, if you aren’t in the same room and you feel as though your baby needs oversight, a baby monitor can help give you peace of mind.
The bottom line is that if you sleep in the same room, you don’t really need a baby monitor, but if you sleep in separate rooms, then it is something to consider.
3. How Busy You Are
You should also consider how busy you are throughout the day. Do you have plenty of laundry, housework, yard work, and other chores to take care of? If so, then you might want to consider getting a baby monitor.
This will allow you to put your baby in its crib or in a small and secure play area and still keep an eye on it, even if you are running around the house taking care of the various tasks.
If you are going to spend more time running around your house taking care of various chores and tasks than you are actually with your baby, then getting a baby monitor may very well be a good idea.
4. How Deep You Sleep
Going back to sleep, how deep you sleep is another consideration that you should keep in mind. If you are a very light sleeper that wakes up even from the smallest of noises, then you probably aren’t going to need a baby monitor.
This is especially the case if your baby sleeps in the same room as you, or even if it is in the next room over. If you are very noise sensitive, chances are you’re probably going to pick up on those sounds before the baby monitor does.
However, if your baby does sleep in a different room, and you are a very deep sleeper who isn’t easily woken up, then you might want to get yourself a baby monitor with a fairly loud alert feature. A good baby monitor with an alert feature can make noise and wake you up if it detects your baby moving around.
5. Age of the Child
What is interesting to note is that many people don’t recommend having a baby monitor right from birth, but many parents will want a baby monitor when their children turn into toddlers. Toddlers can cause a whole lot of trouble, and a baby monitor is a great way to keep an eye on them.
6. How Well the Baby Sleeps
When considering whether or not to use a baby camera from birth, something else to keep in mind is how well the baby sleeps.
If you have a baby that sleeps through the night without any fuss, then your need for a baby camera is probably fairly limited. However, if you have a baby that constantly wakes up during the night, cries, wants attention, and causes trouble, then you might want to consider getting a baby monitor.
7. Travel Plans
The other thing to consider is if you are a parent that travels a lot. If you are a parent that travels a lot and leaves your kids with babysitters or relatives, then getting a baby monitor might be a good idea just so you can make sure that your baby is safe at all times.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, whether or not you need a baby monitor from birth really depends on your specific situation. If you sleep in the same room, aren’t too deep of a sleeper, and your baby is healthy, then no, you probably don’t need one. However, if you are a deep sleeper, sleep in a different room from your, are constantly busy, or if your baby has health conditions, then yes, a baby monitor could be a good idea.