We are advancing and evolving in all aspects of our lives and the same is true for parenting as well. We created so many new pieces of tech with the aim of making our lives easier. When it comes to babies and parenting, there is a myriad of things that parents can use. These range from all kinds of smart baby equipment, including swaddles, changing pads, high chairs, and wearable baby monitors. On the other hand, our parents raised us without high tech, and we all turned out fine. Hence, a question imposes: is it really necessary to use all of these tech pieces to raise a child and how safe are they?
The aim of this post is to pinpoint some benefits and drawbacks of using baby monitors and other gadgets. Indirectly, it aims to help parents grasp the whole picture and decide whether and what they actually need.
Benefits of using baby monitors
Baby monitors have gone long way since we (you) were children. Nowadays, baby monitors have built-in cameras and the possibility of two-way communication. Besides these features, they allow us to see our baby 27/7, hear what it’s doing and to even zoom in and take photos or record videos. They can also monitor your baby’s vitals and alert you when the baby is crying for more than 3 minutes. Or whatever time you set it to. These all sound quite good and promising. And they are good in the sense that they allow parents to sleep, knowing that their phone will alert them if something odd was happening. Wi-fi enabled baby monitors are truly handy for working parents as well as date nights and travelling. They are comforting and reassuring.
Drawbacks of using baby monitors
However, even though the benefits sound compelling, we need to take a look at the other side of the coin as well. As with all the other things, there are some downsides to these monitors that people have noted by using them. Namely, consumer baby monitors are not so advanced to claim they can diagnose and treat disease. So, they might not be accurate when showing you some info on your child’s health. In order to use a gadget to accurately measure some medical indicators, the gadget needs to be FDA-approved. In that way, you can be sure that it was properly tested and that it is safe to use.
Furthermore, baby monitors can even cause overdiagnosis. It is a state where certain abnormal conditions are detected, which in fact have nothing to do with the health of the infant. And that can lead to unnecessary checkups and exams. Also, another potential problem is that parents can get so used to reading the app and taking it for granted as an indicator of health. That can result in parents not seeing the baby actually being ill as the app says it’s fine.
How to decide whether you need a baby monitor
Now that you have insight into some of the benefits and drawbacks of using baby monitors, it is a tad easier to make a decision. However, if you are still not sure whether you need a baby monitor, you should consider a few additional aspects of your life. It’s natural to want only the best for your child. You want the best stroller, organic and natural baby clothes, such as that offered by 3 Little Crowns and so on. The same goes for the baby monitor. If you decide to go for it, opt for a quality one.
Ask yourself these questions in order to decide whether you need it:
- Where will the baby sleep – in the nursery or your room?
- What kind of sleeper are you?
- How can you use it after your baby grows up a bit?
Your need for a baby monitor will hugely depend on these things. If your baby will sleep in the nursery, then you should get a baby monitor. It is crucial in the first few months to prevent SIDS. If you are a deep sleeper, notifications on your phone can alert you loudly if something is off. You can also use it after your baby grows up a bit as a way to keep an eye on it during playtime.
Essentially, there are both pros and cons to buying a baby monitor as well as other gadgets. The biggest advantage is the fact that you can keep an eye on your baby 24/7. On the other hand, the biggest disadvantage is the fact that we can rely too much on it and disregard some real-life signals the baby is giving us. We should be very careful with it and use it along with our natural feel and keen observations.
