Whether it is your first child or your fifth, every parent worries about the health and safety of their brand new baby. With the aid of baby safety monitors, these fears can be put to rest. Of course, you want your baby to get the best sleep possible each and every time you lay them down for the night or for a nap. When they are very small, you may feel as though the only way to insure their safety is to stand constant vigil over them. This simply isn't practical! As a parent it is equally important for you to get a good night’s sleep, too. Using a baby safety monitor will help insure everyone gets the best rest possible.

Auditory baby safety monitors work in much the same way a radio works. The monitor will come with a base that you plug into an outlet in the baby’s room. It will also have one, or sometimes two, receivers that you can either plug into an outlet in another room of the house, or power with batteries to make the unit portable. These receivers often resemble a walkie-talkie in size and shape, but they only transmit sound one way. The receiver allows you to keep an ear on the activity in the baby’s room while you work in other parts of the house or yard. (The individual brands of monitors will let you know how far from the base the receiver can be and still get a clear signal from the base.) The base will transmit sound from the baby’s room to the receiver, easing your mind and alerting you when the baby wakes.

One feature of audio baby monitors to be aware of- they can sometimes pick up sounds from other homes, transmitting activity from a neighboring house to your monitor. This can work both ways; someone else’s monitor may be picking up sounds from your house. If this is a concern for you, be sure to read the packaging closely and choose a monitor that includes extra security features to safeguard your privacy.

The video monitor works on much the same principle; the base is in the baby’s room and the receiver is placed elsewhere for you to use. Of course, the major difference is that the video monitor allows you to see the activity in your baby’s room. In this case, the base of the monitor is actually a small camera. The monitor will come with instructions on how to install and set up the camera to allow you a clear view of your sleeping baby. The receiver will be a small television screen that you plug in at a place of your choice, and that allows you to see your baby while they sleep. Video monitors will also have an audio feature that allows you to listen to the activity in the baby’s room. This allows you move about your home, so there is no need to sit and watch the monitor.

If you are planning on having in-home child care, such as a nanny, you might want to consider a nanny cam. A nanny cam works in much the same the video monitor does. However, the camera is hidden from view and the video monitor will record the activity for later playback. Some parents feel more comfortable having a nanny in their home if they can review the activities that take place while they are away at work.

When shopping for your baby safety monitor, choose the monitor that will work best for your family. Keep in mind that some monitors now have features that will alert you if the baby doesn’t move every so often (usually at 20 second intervals, or so), and some will even monitor their breathing. This type of monitor will include a sensor pad that goes under the crib sheet to detect movement and breathing.

As with any other important purchase, do your research. Ask friends and family members what they used and what their experience was like. There is a wealth of information on-line on the various brands available, and any baby-oriented retail store should have staff that is knowledgeable in the various features and functions of the different baby safety monitors.