April 2007
Features to consider Baby monitors
Frequency band. As we mentioned, the closer your monitor’s frequency is to that of another device, such as a cordless phone, the more likely you’ll hear static or cross talk. One manufacturer, Philips Electronics, has addressed the interference issue by using a new frequency band: 1.9GHz. The new frequency, reserved exclusively for voice-only applications by the Federal Communications Commission, is called DECT technology, for digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications. The Philips SCD 589 baby monitor ($200) is the only one we know of that uses the 1.9GHz frequency band. And as far as we know, there’s only one cordless phone that uses the 1.9GHz band, also made by Philips. In our tests, the Philips monitors and its brandmate cordless phone, didn’t interfere with each other. Overall, the 1.9GHz frequency band is lightly used, at least for now, and can improve your chances of privacy and no interference. Learn more about the Philips SCD 589 and wireless interference.
Multiple channels. Some monitors offer only two channels; others, as many as 60. Multiple channels can be an advantage. If you’re getting interference, you can change channels and try to get rid of it. Some models use an “auto-select” feature to automatically find a free and secure channel, which is handy.
Sound lights. With this common feature, a monitor’s lights turn on when the baby makes a sound; the louder he cries, the more lights light up. Consider this a must-have. It’s helpful in a noisy room, plus it lets you turn the volume down and still know when your baby is crying. Some new models have a "vibrate" feature, similar to that found on cell phones or pagers, to quietly alert you that your baby is awake or crying.
Out-of-range indicator. This common feature is a light or beep that lets you know you’ve reached the range limit of the monitor. Models that lack this feature may let you know you’re out of range with static, but that’s not as definitive as an out-of-range indictor.
Low-battery indicator. Look for a monitor with a light or an icon on an LCD display that lets you know the batteries in your parent unit are running low.
Extra parent unit. If you have two parent units, you can keep one receiver near your bed and carry the other around with you during the day, or both you and your spouse can listen for your baby at the same time.
NICE BUT NOT NECESSARY
Walkie-talkie. You’ll find this feature in models with more than one parent unit. It lets you talk to each other via the receivers.
Talking remotely to your baby. At least one monitor we tested, the Philips SCD 589 baby monitor, has an “intercom” that allows you to speak to your child in his crib by pushing a button on your parent unit.
Auto playback or music. Some baby monitors, such as the Sony BabyCall ($50), let you record a voice message for your baby or play lullabies or other soothing music.
Expandability. Some monitors let you add more cameras, a VCR, or webcam so the system covers more areas in your house. Other models have additional parent units you can buy.
DEFINITELY NOT NECESSARY
Attaching the monitor to your baby’s crib. All of the monitors we tested could easily detect baby’s sounds from 5 or more feet away, so there’s no need to put the monitor directly on the crib rail.
WORKS BETTER IN THEORY
Pager or parent-unit finder. If you’ve lost the parent unit, you can press a button on the child unit to make the parent unit beep. Unfortunately, the parent unit must be turned on for this feature to work, and if you leave the parent unit on, the batteries may go dead before you find it.
Frequency band. As we mentioned, the closer your monitor’s frequency is to that of another device, such as a cordless phone, the more likely you’ll hear static or cross talk. One manufacturer, Philips Electronics, has addressed the interference issue by using a new frequency band: 1.9GHz. The new frequency, reserved exclusively for voice-only applications by the Federal Communications Commission, is called DECT technology, for digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications. The Philips SCD 589 baby monitor ($200) is the only one we know of that uses the 1.9GHz frequency band. And as far as we know, there’s only one cordless phone that uses the 1.9GHz band, also made by Philips. In our tests, the Philips monitors and its brandmate cordless phone, didn’t interfere with each other. Overall, the 1.9GHz frequency band is lightly used, at least for now, and can improve your chances of privacy and no interference. Learn more about the Philips SCD 589 and wireless interference.
Multiple channels. Some monitors offer only two channels; others, as many as 60. Multiple channels can be an advantage. If you’re getting interference, you can change channels and try to get rid of it. Some models use an “auto-select” feature to automatically find a free and secure channel, which is handy.
Sound lights. With this common feature, a monitor’s lights turn on when the baby makes a sound; the louder he cries, the more lights light up. Consider this a must-have. It’s helpful in a noisy room, plus it lets you turn the volume down and still know when your baby is crying. Some new models have a "vibrate" feature, similar to that found on cell phones or pagers, to quietly alert you that your baby is awake or crying.
Out-of-range indicator. This common feature is a light or beep that lets you know you’ve reached the range limit of the monitor. Models that lack this feature may let you know you’re out of range with static, but that’s not as definitive as an out-of-range indictor.
Low-battery indicator. Look for a monitor with a light or an icon on an LCD display that lets you know the batteries in your parent unit are running low.
Extra parent unit. If you have two parent units, you can keep one receiver near your bed and carry the other around with you during the day, or both you and your spouse can listen for your baby at the same time.
NICE BUT NOT NECESSARY
Walkie-talkie. You’ll find this feature in models with more than one parent unit. It lets you talk to each other via the receivers.
Talking remotely to your baby. At least one monitor we tested, the Philips SCD 589 baby monitor, has an “intercom” that allows you to speak to your child in his crib by pushing a button on your parent unit.
Auto playback or music. Some baby monitors, such as the Sony BabyCall ($50), let you record a voice message for your baby or play lullabies or other soothing music.
Expandability. Some monitors let you add more cameras, a VCR, or webcam so the system covers more areas in your house. Other models have additional parent units you can buy.
DEFINITELY NOT NECESSARY
Attaching the monitor to your baby’s crib. All of the monitors we tested could easily detect baby’s sounds from 5 or more feet away, so there’s no need to put the monitor directly on the crib rail.
WORKS BETTER IN THEORY
Pager or parent-unit finder. If you’ve lost the parent unit, you can press a button on the child unit to make the parent unit beep. Unfortunately, the parent unit must be turned on for this feature to work, and if you leave the parent unit on, the batteries may go dead before you find it.
