Dennis Jaylon asked:


It is amazing that baby monitors, which is actually a relatively new innovation has taken the parenting world by storm. It has become a necessity for parents with a new born babies and even infant kids. In such a short span of time, it has emerged as a necessity for all parents who wish to monitor their kids all the time.

These days there are a number of baby monitors available in the market. It is important for buyers to survey the market well and collect all information about baby monitors and the technology that is used before finally buying the gadget. Parents, especially mothers can get to know when the baby needs them, even if they are busy in some chores in the house. They can hear, and in some devices even see the baby’s movements. Some baby monitors are so sensitive and are equipped with a sensor technology, that can even help parents in monitoring their baby’s breathing. These are also called sensor monitors or respiratory baby monitors.

Baby Monitors that are only audio in nature also fall into two categories; analogue and digital. Analogue monitors usually face a lot of interference and disturbance in transmission, while digital monitors guarantee a crystal clear transmission. But, these days even analogue monitors come with more than one channel that help you in choosing the channel that is free of interference.

Some costlier models of baby monitors use the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology). This technology enables the gadget to automatically select a channel from the numerous channels available. It selects a channel where there is no scope fro interference and hence prevents eavesdropping. One can collect all information on baby monitors from the internet, and choose the one that is most suitable for you in terms of the frequency range and the prices.

Paul Wise asked:


Purchasing the unique baby gift may be viewed upon in two manners. Some people see it as a perfect pleasure while others see it as an impossible task. The task remains the same whether it is a family member, friend, or work colleague bearing the new bundle. But with our already time consuming schedules how are we suppose to find the time to think up extravagant gift ideas? It is simple with a few small seconds of thought and a little personalization every baby gift may become a unique baby gift. If you still don’t have enough time for a seconds thought follow a few of the gift ideas below and you will be guaranteed to satisfy.

1. Personalized gift baskets: Gift baskets are probably one of the most popular present ideas available, so how will you make sure yours is unique? Everyday items such as diapers, wipes, lotion, and talc can be presented in a stylish diaper bag keeping both mommy and baby happy. Themes help evoke inspiration for your baskets. Choose to design your basket around specific themes including bath time, bedtime, or educational toys. An innovative idea for a bath time basket would be to use a portable baby bath as the basket and fill it with lots of baby products such as soap, shampoo, baby oil and bubble bath, also add a few relaxing treats for mommy as well to receive extra appreciation.

2. Nursery Furnishings: When it comes to decorating a nursery a parent wants items that combine with their chosen theme or color scheme. Inquire what their design intention will be then look for unusual gifts such as clocks, lamps, wall hangings or baby mobiles that would compliment this. A more practical idea like a baby monitor is always a welcome gift to any new nursery.

3. Milestone Keepsakes: Specialized books designed to hold all your babies first moments make wonderful gifts for parents and baby alike. The unique opportunity to store all their precious first moments such as first hair cut, footprint and lost tooth together with a vast amount of snapshots ensures they receive a gift that is priceless.

4. Engrave Gifts: No matter how small or large a gift is, making the effort to customize it with personal details like their name, date or time of birth and weight will always add that extra special touch. Great gift ideas for engraving are picture frames, identity bracelets and small keep sake boxes.

5. Open a personal savings account . When thinking of a truly unique and smart present for any baby why not consider opening a personal savings account for them? By depositing the money you would usually spend on the child in the form of presents you will help teach the child the benefits of savings from an early age. Opportunities such as Birthdays, Christmas, and other special events in the Childs life may be used to make additional deposits into this account. Try ensuring the child will not have access to the monies deposited in the account until they reach the age of 21, this way you will be guaranteeing them an extra boost when they are starting out in life. This truly is a unique gift.

6. Invest in Shares Investing in stock shares is a great way to teach young children an amazing lesson. Simply by purchasing one or a couple of shares holding interest in the Childs life you will lead them on the correct path of investment. Stocks in child orientated business such as Disneyworld or a Cartoon Network are great ideas for young children as they are able to associate with it. You can continue to purchase shares in companies for them on special occasions until around their 18th birthday including the child on investment decisions as they get older. The amount you spend on stock investment need not be substantial it is the teaching method and investment awareness that it will instill in the child that makes this gift truly unique. It is overwhelmingly evident that finding the unique gift for any baby need not be as difficult as it may first appear. Investing just a little effort and research, you are guaranteed to give a great gift.

Matt Smith asked:


Parents to be are bombarded with products that are a MUST to keep their baby healthy and safe. New parents are faced with weird and wonderful things that before never knew existed and knew little about, some of which are vital and some just a waste of money, sold by companies playing on the fears of overly cautious newbies in a scary and stressful time.  This brief posting looks at the Baby Monitor – do we really need them? What beneficial features do they include?, and does one choose between the many on the market?

A baby monitor also referred to as a baby alarm come in all shapes and sizes; generally, in its most basic form it is a simple radio system similar to that of a walkie talkie.  It has a transmitter with a microphone that is placed next to the infant with a corresponding receiver with a speaker that is kept near to or on the person of the parent.  Some are uni-directional allowing sound to go only one way, some are bi-directional allowing the parent to speak back to the child, some are packed full of features such as thermometers and music players.  The main function of all of them is to allow the parents to hear the baby when it wakes or is distressed whilst they are in a different room or out of earshot.

One of the main selling points claimed by the manufacturers is that the baby monitor can be a tool used to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIDS. It is suggested however that there is no real evidence that monitors prevent SIDS, and some doctors believe it can offer a false sense of security.  This said a parent cannot be with the child 24 hours a day, nor should they be, they also need to have an environment where the child can be undisturbed and is the correct temperature.  The monitors then can provide piece of mind that the child is sleeping normally without having to constantly enter the room to check every little thing, some more advanced monitors even have motion detectors which can alert the parent if the child has not moved for a period as it is normal for the child to have some movement whilst asleep, no movement could be a sign of something wrong.  Therefore I boldly suggest that the monitor used in combination with good old fashion common-sense, whichever model you choose, can only be a useful thing to have as it provides piece of mind, and has other features that are aimed to assist the parents in an already difficult job.  It is not a safeguard against SIDS but combined with a sensible approach certainly can’t hurt in helping to alert one to the dangers.

So how does one choose which is the best one to buy?  The first thing to consider is your budget, if you cannot afford the top of the range with a night vision camera, a motion detector and the longest range then don’t be concerned that you are risking the health of your child by not getting the best.  The monitor is not a replacement nanny or parent it is a tool to help and not all the functions are essential, this is where common-sense plays a role.  On the flip side you don’t want to get a set that is likely to go faulty because you bought a reconditioned cheap model from an auction site.  The best advice is look around the independent consumer review sites and checks to see what the existing users think of each model and gets a balanced opinion.  Contact the sellers and ask them which ones have the least rate of return and stress to them that their honesty in this matter is important.  Check the returns policy of the seller to ensure if you do have a fault that they will replace the item swiftly and with little fuss.

Having done some of this work as an exercise for this article we found that one of the monitors often recommended by consumers and by the consumer review company Which is BT Baby Monitor 150 that they have badged as a best buy.  It is perhaps middle of the road in terms of features but the quality and reliability of the product is highly praised.  It does have the following features – crystal-clear sound quality with no interference. A range of up to 300 metres (in ideal conditions) and an Intercom feature means that a constant link is maintained between parent and baby. It features LCD, five lullabies, a temperature monitor, torch, MP3 player input and voice recording.  They are sold at Big Box Shop who have a good return policy and seemed to be the cheapest at the time this artice was written.

Craig Anders asked:


 

Owning a hidden nanny camera can be a very effective way of enjoying your parenthood. In a time where most parents cannot afford to stay at home with their young children past the normal maternity leave time-frame, nanny cams can create a sense of security. Hiring a nanny is a serious fete for most parents, but trust can be earned using technology that used to be something that was totally out of reach.

You’ve found a nanny that you’re confident will take care of your bundle of joy. But most parents are not sure that they trust just anyone around their children. Forget worrying all day about what’s happening with your nanny at home with your newborn. Now you can watch on tape just how much you should trust your child’s caretaker.

Not all parents watch these tapes and are horrified that their nanny is destructive and abusive. This is not the point of this surveillance. The point is to find a true sense of security with what’s going on with your child when you’re not there. Finding a nanny cam and watching the footage can bring happiness knowing that your nanny is trustworthy. Earning someone’s trust can be so hard these days, especially because of the scary footage that the news plays constantly. But, when you have actual recordings of your nanny taking great care of your child, you can be certain that you’re not going to end up as one of those horror stories on television.

More importantly, you are aware that your child will never show up one day with signs of abuse. With the use of a nanny cam, you know that you are doing everything possible to make sure your child is safe.

Now, let’s talk logistics. Having a baby can take a large toll on a family from a financial standpoint. However, owning a nanny cam will not put your family into poverty. Thanks to increasing knowledge in technology, you can find a spy shop with extremely reasonable prices. Plus, there are so many options to choose from that you should have no problem finding the best product for your needs. You can either hook up your camera to a VCR or DVR in order to record the footage. Or, if you’re looking for something more advanced, there are wireless models that can take a lot of the hassle out of the whole experience and create a more subtle set up.

Also, when searching, there are so many choices that you will not be forced into spending something completely outrageous for the items you want. You don’t have to be an expert, because most of these spy camera outlets offer pretty detailed instructions on what you should be aware of before your purchase.

It may be weird to understand this now, but in the future, nanny cams will be so common that they’ll be listed under baby monitors in any family’s registry. This is just how much technology is coming into the parenting age. Most companies do not mean it as a scare tactic, but want us to be aware that they are becoming a reality as an everyday household item.

Kim Proulx asked:


Baby showers are a time for celebrating motherhood and helping an expecting mother get prepared for her new parenting adventure. The best way to do that is to give a gift that will make parenting easier. Gifts that are practical and useful make the best baby shower gifts and the expecting mother will be forever grateful. The first step is deciding on your budget. Then think about items that moms use most and make a list. I’ve created a top 5 best baby shower gift list below to give you some great gift ideas that will be the hit of any party.

Gift #1 Baby Monitor – A baby monitor is a device that allows mommies to keep an “ear” out for their little one when baby is in bed and mom is in another room. Baby monitors come in many different variations from being only audio to audio and video. If you give one of these to an expecting friend she will definitely get peace of mind when she’s able to monitor her baby’s coos and cries from a far.

Gift #2 Baby Bouncer – Baby bouncers are a great baby shower gift. Moms can put their newborn in the bouncer and their baby will have a comfy place to nap and play. Bouncers come in many shapes and sizes. Most come with a toy bar that includes dangling toys that baby’s just love to touch. It’s amazing how long a cute little toy on a string can occupy a newborn. Once the baby gets tired of playing, the bundle of joy can nap in the bouncer. Some bouncers have a battery operated rocking mechanism that gently rocks baby to sleep. Other bouncers have adjustable seats so you can change the seat height for fun bouncing time, play time or lay it down for nap time. You can also find ones with a built in music box. Baby’s and moms love bouncers so this makes a wonderful gift.

Gift #3 Baby Bathers and Tubs: A baby bather is a soft seat with mesh that keeps a baby safe during bath time. You use the bather inside a regular tub and you can use a wash cloth to clean your baby’s gentle skin. A baby tub is an infant size tub that you place inside a regular tub. The mom fills the small tub with just enough water to use during bath time. This prevents the chance of accidental drowning. Your friend will thank you for getting this. It’s one of those things that many expecting moms aren’t aware of until they start experiencing the challenges of baby bath time.

Gift #4 Diaper Pail: This may sound like a stinky gift, but it’s actually one of the most used items in a nursery and your friend will thank you greatly for it. A Diaper pail is exactly what it sounds like; a pail that holds dirty diapers. Diaper pails are fancy diaper trash cans where you toss dirty diapers after every diaper change. The pails are designed to trap odor to keep the nursery smelling fresh and dirty diapers go in a bag that is later removed from the pail and thrown in the trash. This is a must have for every nursery and makes a wonderful baby shower gift.

Gift #5 Diaper Bag and Accessories – A diaper bag is used to carry lots more than just diapers. Moms use diaper bags to carry all the little items that baby’s need throughout the day and believe me baby’s need a lot of stuff such as bottles, wipes, diapers, burp clothes, blankets, change of clothes, little toys and more. Diaper bags come in many shapes, sized and colors so you might want to pick out the accessories before the bag to make sure that everything fits. You can also select one that comes in your friend’s favorite color. If you give a mother-to-be a fully stocked diaper bag she’ll be ecstatic! You’ll prepare her for her first day out on the town with her newborn and she’ll be so grateful. This is a wonderful baby shower gift.

Remember, when picking out a baby shower gift it’s important to get an item that you know will make your friend’s life as a mom easier. Adjusting to parenthood can be a challenge and having the items that make caring for a newborn simpler can make all the difference. If you choose an item from our top 5 gift list your friend is sure to get off to a good start as a new mom and your gift will be a hit at the baby shower.

Nicholas Tan asked:


Nightmares and night terrors can be equally frightening for both child and parent, especially when they start happening frequently.  Nightmares occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep.  They might vary in length, but the child will usually remember what the nightmare was about.  Night terrors, on the other hand, happen about an hour or two after the child has gone to sleep, and can last anywhere from a few moments to an hour.  They happen during the non-REM part of sleep, and even though his eyes are wide open, the child is asleep the entire time.  When he awakens though, he’ll have no memory of it.

But there are things you can do before your child goes to sleep and after he awakens from one of these to help calm and comfort him.  Ensure that the period before bedtime is a calm, quiet and relaxing time for everyone.  Babies find the voices of their parents very soothing, so talk quietly to your child before he goes to sleep, perhaps by softly singing a lullaby or telling a short story.  This will also help after the child wakes. 

It’s important for mom and dad to remain calm.  If you’re tense, your baby will sense that and it will make it even more difficult to get him settled down again.  Be sure your can clearly hear your child if he cries out in the night.  Baby monitors work great for this reason.  It’s important to get to your little one as soon as possible in order to comfort and reassure him.  If you should hear him cry out, don’t wake him if he hasn’t woken up on his own.  Stay with him to make sure he goes back to sleep peacefully, or wait for him to wake up. 

Don’t let him sleep with you after a nightmare, either.  This may end up having a negative effect and giving the impression he should be afraid of his own room and bed. If it becomes habit, it could become a difficult one to break.

Dennis Jaylon asked:


The best of care comes with the best quality products and that holds true for baby monitors as well. There are a range of baby monitors available in the market today. However, it is always recommended that you go for the very best of brands. A good brand brings along with it – a guarantee of good quality and loads of good features. The features would help in the overall care for the baby while you are away.

One of the highly popular baby monitors is the Digital Baby Monitor Plus from BT. Available in a happy and soft apple green colour, this device promises you complete protection of your baby and therefore allows you to attend to other important work. This model is the first baby monitor from BT. In the very first product in this category, BT has loaded additional features along with the baby monitor, that makes it more useful and thereby good value for money. Some of the features are: an LCD screen in both the parent unit and the baby unit, five lullabies and a temperature monitor.

BT Digital Baby Monitor Plus gives you the benefit of high clarity, crystal clear sound due to its digital technology. It also has a ‘night-light’ that can be remotely activated. Besides, this device has sound sensitive lights and also microphone sensitivity. This baby monitor has a phenomenal range, that can even go up to 300 metres in propitious conditions. Wait there is more! This device also has an Intercom feature that will help you keep in touch with your baby constantly.

BT Digital Baby Monitor Plus comes with a highly protective travel pack that makes it easy and safe to carry during journeys. The device itself is quite resilient as the plastic is not brittle, plus there is added rubberised protection.

Together all the good features in one device, makes this model one of the best baby monitors from a good brand. In short – worth your money.

Nick Hampton asked:




Respisense Buzz Baby Monitor

This revolutionary product is designed to be used anywhere that baby may sleep.  There are already monitors on the market that rely upon sensor pads, which need to be placed under the mattress in the cot.  This monitor addresses the problems which some other monitors of this type have.

It can be used with twins It can be used with co-sleeping It can be used in a moses basket It can be used in a travel cot It can be used in a pram or pushchair

 

This monitor can clip on babys nappy or clothing and monitor breathing effort.  If no effort is detected by the monitor, after 15 seconds, the monitor “buzzes” to stimulate baby in an effort to recommence breathing effort.  If this happens and still no movement is detected, then an audible alarm will sound.  This is to alert parent/carer to the situation.  The alarm increases in volume if no effort is detected.

 Respisense:

can differentiate between rythmic or general movements has an audible system to know when the monitor is being switch on or off, and also to inform if the sensitivity has been increased. displays the remaining battery level, from less than 20%, 20-40%, 40-60% and over 60% has an optional low volume “tick with movement” sound which is sometimes reassuring to parent/carer.

 

In the UK, Respisense is supported by a UK office which are there to help during normal office hours, whether to help with a purchase or give some instruction.  They can be contacted on 01473 256076.

To find out more, visit Respisense UK Website

AMANDA ISBITT asked:


How does the Doppler work ?

The Doppler listens to the reflections of small, high frequency sound waves that are reflected from within the womb. These sound waves are picked up by the probe and amplified through the hand held speaker so that you can hear them clearly. There are a variety of sounds that can be heard, including the fetal heart beat/tone, each of which is distinctive and so are easily identified. You can hear kicks and hiccups when your baby grows larger. Sounds can generally be heard from 10-12 weeks of your pregnancy.

Is the Doppler safe ?

All the Fetal Doppler’s available through reputable internet stores are the same, or use the same technology as the Doppler’s used by your midwife or doctor during your examinations throughout your pregnancy. Ultrasound technology has been used for many years without any adverse effect on either the foetus or mother.

Fetal Doppler’s have an incredible safety record. They have been used daily for the last thirty years around the world. It is estimated around five million are in use every single day. No adverse effects to either mother or baby have ever been reported.

Please do not confuse Doppler’s with ultrasound scanners used in a hospital to show images of your baby. Our Doppler’s use ultrasound in an extremely low power output. This is why they are run on a household battery alone.

What if I can’t find the heartbeat ?

Finding the heartbeat can be daunting at first as your baby may be lower than you expect. Make sure you have used a generous amount of coupling gel and position the probe low down on your abdomen. If you do not hear any sound at first, move the probe slowly until you pick up the heartbeat. The fetal heart beat sounds like a galloping horse and is very fast at 120-160 beats per minute. If you still have difficulty then refer to the leaflet enclosed with your Doppler.

How can I tell it’s not my heartbeat I can hear?

The sound of the fetal heartbeat is distinctive, but can often be confused with other sounds at first. You may well have heard it already during your antenatal appointments with your midwife or doctor. It is a regular fast beating sound, not to be confused with the swishing sound of the placenta.

- A roaring sound, like waves on a beach, is the sound of your placenta.

- A ‘whooshing’ noise is the sound of the blood supply to the placenta.

- Your own pulse! Don’t forget that your baby’s heartbeat is about twice as fast as this.

- A pulse that is more high-pitched than your baby’s heartbeat, but at the same speed. This is the pulse through the umbilical cord; a very pregnant and reassuring noise !

How many heartbeats per minute will I hear ?

The fetal heartbeat is much faster than your own and is usually between 120 and 160 beats per minute. However, the heartbeat is not likely to remain constant and will vary depending on the time of day and amount of activity. The readings from the Doppler should not be used for self-diagnosis as any interpretation is complicated and requires detailed medical training.

Do I need a special lotion or ultrasound gel ?

The probe on your fetal doppler needs a dense liquid to pick up the sound waves from the womb. The coupling gel that is provided with your Doppler is to be used to ensure the high quality and clarity of the sounds you can hear.

Doppler Tips

- A very easy way to find the heartbeat is to take your Doppler with you to your next prenatal appointment. Your OB or midwife can help you locate your baby’s heartbeat and provide you with helpful doppler tips.

- A full bladder may help, especially in early pregnancy.

- Early in pregnancy, start your fetal doppler in line with the belly button right above the pubic hair. As pregnancy progresses, your fetal doppler will find the heartbeat higher up the abdomen.

- Move the doppler probe VERY slowly – it is quite easy to go over the heartbeat. Also, if you move the probe too fast it may cause interference noise.

- Tilt the doppler probe downward toward the pubic bone.

- Be sure to use plenty of Doppler gel. If you run out of gel, you can buy additional doppler gel from us.

- The baby is normally positioned far deeper in the pelvis than you would imagine.

- Do not panic if you do not pick up the heartbeat immediately, some days you will it and other days the baby may be in hiding.

CASE STUDIES/TESTIMONIALS FROM HTTP://WWW.RETAIL-THERAPY.COM

“The Fetal doppler is a nice way of feel secure of that your baby is ok. My baby’s father thinks this is quite fantastic. You can really hear the baby tumbling around in the belly…noises from kicking, and the strong heart beats, Regards, K”

“received my fetal doppler today and wow its really good I am 14 weeks and have never heard the baby’s heartbeat before, although I have 2 other children I wish I could of had one in my previous pregnancy’s its so clear and easy to use. thanks x”

“Very, very excited. Able to hear heartbeat but not as clear – only 10 weeks today. This fetal Doppler is going to create a more relaxed pregnancy. Looking forward to the rest of my pregnancy with my new companion that will be reassuring me. I believe this product is a must have in pregnancy. Regards R”

Dennis Jaylon asked:


One of the most common issues that worried parents of infants get caught up in every often is the safety of their little angels. What with the professional engagements of the parents demanding considerable time from them, it is almost like a tug-of-war between the inspection of the babies and work. Now, if the pressure is a bit more on the hassling side, there is a perfect solution that emerges for just the problem in the form of baby monitors.

Baby monitors are nothing but two way radios or walkie-talkies that can enable you to constantly monitor your baby even as you sink in your usual work. There is a catch, however, which appears in the form of a operational distance condition. These monitors can function properly within a particular distance like 300 meters, which can somehow restrict you to stay within that perimeter to carry on your multi tasking process.

Tom take the utility of baby monitors towards a more enjoyable level, they have been endowed with various special abilities like temperature monitor with alarms, night lights, lullabies, musical playback, parent talkback, volume control and low power indicator. These monitors come in various shapes and sizes with highly adorable patterns to complement the innocence of the babies. With these highly useful devices, busy parents can now easily keep a tab on their babies even when they are not in front of them to be roused by the slightest discomfort faced by the baby.

As the popularity of baby monitors have taken precedence in the electronic market these days, big names like Philips, Doro, BT and iDect have capitalised on the success to bring out newer and better stuff every now and then. Getting your hands on these devices is quite easy too, with various benefits tagged along with your online purchase.