Although baby product manufactures are adopting newer technologies
to enhance a baby monitor's functionality, being a parent, it is your
responsibility too, to adopt a few safety measures while using it for
your baby.
How to safely use a baby monitor
How to safely use a baby monitor
Caution!
According to Powerwatch, a wireless baby monitor placed right next to the baby's head, inside the crib, at a distance of less than 1 meter can cause adverse effects on the developing brain of the baby.
If you want to keep an eye on your little bundle even when you are at the other end of the house, doing some work, a baby monitor would come in handy. It is a device that is meant to record even the slightest noise made by the baby, and alert you if you are two-three rooms away from the kid. The latest models are also equipped with a video facility, which keeps a track of every move made by your enthusiastic kiddo, along with sounds.
Although these devices cannot protect the babies directly, they have the ability to assure your child's safety by making you aware about a possible danger.
Through a good audio-video signal, you can stay assured that
your baby is having a safe nap, without having to peep into the nursery
after every few minutes.
Correct placement of the baby monitor
Appropriate positioning of the device will help you reap the benefits of the baby monitor to the fullest. There are two important things to keep in mind while placing the device at a particular location.
» Firstly, it is necessary to place it at least 3 feet away from the baby. Whether asleep or awake, the baby should not be able to reach the monitor. Moreover, if the device has a power cord, extra care should be taken to ensure that the baby does not reach it, for there have been cases wherein, accidents have occurred due to babies getting entangled in the cords.
» Never place the device at the edge of the crib, just because you think that the baby won't reach there. To be on the safer side, keep the baby monitor away from the baby at all times because those curious hands have the potential to twist and turn even the neatly secured cords of the baby monitor.
» Special precautionary measures have to be taken while placing a wall-mounted baby monitor because the cords of the device should never be kept dangling along the wall, near the crib within the baby's reach.
Choosing the right frequency
A baby monitor is a kind of radio, which records the sounds created around it, and sends it to the receptor. So, it should face the baby, to enable it to pick even the slightest sound made by the baby, and transmit it to the receptor without any interference.
» The frequency at which the baby monitor is set, determines the clarity of sounds, and ensures an interference-free operation of the device.
» It is important to choose a frequency that does not match with any of your neighbor's device's frequency, with certain cordless phones, and Wi-Fi networks, which would create a chaos of noises in your house.
» The most common frequencies at which most baby monitors function are 49.300, 49.830, 49.845, 49.860, 49.875, or 49.890 MHZ.
» These frequencies are just above the frequencies used by analog cordless phones. However, to rule out the possibilities of eavesdropping, it is recommended to turn off the baby monitor when not in use.
Portability
A wireless baby monitor is always beneficial because if you have planned to complete your household chores while your little one is sleeping, you can clip the wireless receptor to your body, and move around with ease. This will help you move around the entire house, and yet, stay within hearing range of the monitor's transmitter at your baby's end. Several latest baby monitor models have multiple receptors that can be placed in every room of the house.
Read the user manual carefully
Every baby monitor kit comes with a user manual, and it is essential that you follow the instructions provided, to avoid incorrect as well as risky installation of the device. Some kits also provide a video clip showing step-by-step instructions for the safe use and proper installation of the baby monitor.
Modify the monitor's position as the baby grows
It is extremely important to understand that your kid is in a rapid growth stage, and hence, the previously safe position of the baby monitor may not be safe anymore. Keep an eye on your growing baby, and keep changing the placement of the baby monitor accordingly.
While making efforts to secure your baby from possible hazards of a baby monitor, make sure that you also examine other potential dangers present in the room. For instance, keep the cords of the window blinds out of reach. Also, do not underestimate your baby's potential to reach out to the electrical sockets and cords that are lower in height, and hence, use electrical outlet covers to cover them.
Correct placement of the baby monitor
Appropriate positioning of the device will help you reap the benefits of the baby monitor to the fullest. There are two important things to keep in mind while placing the device at a particular location.
» Firstly, it is necessary to place it at least 3 feet away from the baby. Whether asleep or awake, the baby should not be able to reach the monitor. Moreover, if the device has a power cord, extra care should be taken to ensure that the baby does not reach it, for there have been cases wherein, accidents have occurred due to babies getting entangled in the cords.
» Never place the device at the edge of the crib, just because you think that the baby won't reach there. To be on the safer side, keep the baby monitor away from the baby at all times because those curious hands have the potential to twist and turn even the neatly secured cords of the baby monitor.
» Special precautionary measures have to be taken while placing a wall-mounted baby monitor because the cords of the device should never be kept dangling along the wall, near the crib within the baby's reach.
Choosing the right frequency
A baby monitor is a kind of radio, which records the sounds created around it, and sends it to the receptor. So, it should face the baby, to enable it to pick even the slightest sound made by the baby, and transmit it to the receptor without any interference.
» The frequency at which the baby monitor is set, determines the clarity of sounds, and ensures an interference-free operation of the device.
» It is important to choose a frequency that does not match with any of your neighbor's device's frequency, with certain cordless phones, and Wi-Fi networks, which would create a chaos of noises in your house.
» The most common frequencies at which most baby monitors function are 49.300, 49.830, 49.845, 49.860, 49.875, or 49.890 MHZ.
» These frequencies are just above the frequencies used by analog cordless phones. However, to rule out the possibilities of eavesdropping, it is recommended to turn off the baby monitor when not in use.
Portability
A wireless baby monitor is always beneficial because if you have planned to complete your household chores while your little one is sleeping, you can clip the wireless receptor to your body, and move around with ease. This will help you move around the entire house, and yet, stay within hearing range of the monitor's transmitter at your baby's end. Several latest baby monitor models have multiple receptors that can be placed in every room of the house.
Read the user manual carefully
Every baby monitor kit comes with a user manual, and it is essential that you follow the instructions provided, to avoid incorrect as well as risky installation of the device. Some kits also provide a video clip showing step-by-step instructions for the safe use and proper installation of the baby monitor.
Modify the monitor's position as the baby grows
It is extremely important to understand that your kid is in a rapid growth stage, and hence, the previously safe position of the baby monitor may not be safe anymore. Keep an eye on your growing baby, and keep changing the placement of the baby monitor accordingly.
While making efforts to secure your baby from possible hazards of a baby monitor, make sure that you also examine other potential dangers present in the room. For instance, keep the cords of the window blinds out of reach. Also, do not underestimate your baby's potential to reach out to the electrical sockets and cords that are lower in height, and hence, use electrical outlet covers to cover them.
Author,
Snehal Motkar
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