warning about monitors

[tiredbuthappy]

Recently featured on our local news, and I know I have experienced it- Video monitors are on a frequency that can easy been viewed by other products. On the news segment, the guy drove up a street and could easily identify homes that had a baby, and knew right away if the baby was in the crib, sleeping, awake, etc... The implications are scary... a burglar might know if you are home, if everyone is asleep, if there is a baby in the home, etc...

Once my handset and base were accidentally on 2 different frequencies, but I didn't know. I kept hearing a baby fuss, and I kept running upstairs to find the baby sound asleep. I looked closely at the monitor and realized I was looking at someone else's baby!

I'm not sure what to do with this info. The video monitor was a lifesaver. My 2 are old enough to switch to a regular monitor, but if I have another, I'd have to do some serious thinking about this.

[Djan2011]

Wow that's really frightening! This will be my first baby.  My moms going to get me one of those SIDS movement monitors for me. Have you heard of these being harmful to the baby at all?

[JoyRenee]

Another issue with monitors (video or regular monitors) is that they emit radiation just like cell phones, microwaves and other devices. If the monitor isn't at least 10 feet away from baby they are getting radiation that can cause cancers.

We just threw ours out and I keep my bedroom door cracked to hear her now. I sleep light enough now that I'm a mom to hear her if she wakes up. Another idea if your rooms are too far apart is to put the monitors right outside the bedroom doors.

[chantal21]

I saw this on the news as well. We used a monitor with our first, but then it broke, so with my second we never used one. Our house is set up in such a way that no matter where you are, you can hear pretty good. I have decided after watching that, I will not be getting another monitor. Totally not worth it!

[5n1]

yes, I watched that the other morning on the today show...it is very unnerving...I am glad that I dont have the need to use a monitor..it is very scary, that you can go buy one at any store and drive around until you find a house that has any kind of one, and see their baby and who all knows what else

[rdh1981]

Wow, this is quite bothersome! I do not own a video monotior but I still find this post very alarming!

Sometimes I wonder if all this technology is fully worth it!

[avaortega407]

wow that is so scary im glad i wont be using one i live in a small apt. and there is no need for one.

[diamondintherough79]

Oh my goodness, That is terrifying!
I know with my older children I had just the plain monitors as they didnt have the video ones as of yet. I would pick up other babies or people conversations. I really wanted to get a video one with my youngest (was given 2 reg ones as gifts, so didnt bother) but was really thinking about getting one for the one I am expecting....I have changed my mind now, thank you for posting this!