We need to buy a new baby video monitor for the NewOne. We have two options. (Well, obviously, we have way more options than that. But we have two better than other options.)
Option One: Buy an identical monitor to Elizabeth’s. Yes, we still use a video monitor in Elizabeth’s room and it is one of the most valuable parenting tools I have. You can pry it out of my cold, dead fingers. If we buy an identical monitor, it will pair up with hers and I can use one screen upstairs and one downstairs. The two feeds will cycle in and out, so that I can watch both rooms on one screen.
Option Two: It seems like most of the internet is getting the Wireless IP cameras lately and using them as video monitors. And the people who have seem to love it. I am not totally sold because it doesn’t come with a separate screen (you view it on your iPhone or your computer) and I really like having the dedicated screen. But the quality seems to be better and our current video monitor interferes with our wireless internet. A monitor that runs on the wireless internet shouldn’t interfere with it. Also, the internet usually knows what it is talking about. (This is my main plus, to tell you the truth. Because the internet says so.)
Opinions? Anyone who has both and can offer a comparison?
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t have a monitor at all since Tatoe won’t sleep unless he is touching one or preferably both of us. (How, again, did you get the Dibits out of your bed? Inquiring minds wish not to be kicked in the face by a sleeping toddler.) But here is what I’m thinking:
For the video monitor:
*You like the dedicated screen. And you really can’t beat the convenience of having a screen for each floor and the feeds cycling.
*Sure the video quality would be better with the IP camera, but I assume you’re happy enough with the current one or you would have replaced it already, right? If it’s not broken, why fix it?
*The IP camera wouldn’t interfere with your wifi, but you’d still have Elizabeth’s monitor interfering anyway (unless you replace that one too, which I’m assuming is not an option), so that isn’t really a reason for it. You’d just have an IP camera that gets its connection interfered with thanks to the other monitor.
For the IP camera:
*Matt could check in during the day if he wanted to. Or if you were out and left the kids with someone, you could check in too.
*Likely cheaper.
It’s possible that I could use an old iPod as a dedicated screen. And if we liked the IP monitor, we’d probably replace Elizabeth’s monitor as well, so neither interfered with the wireless. And both are about the same price. So I still have no idea.
I used two iPods on face time when we were on vaca, and I forgot the monitor. ;)
We just got a video monitor (well, a second one as the first ended up interfering with our wi-fi too much) and got it with two cameras for when baby girl arrives. We debated getting an IP one but when it all came down to it, this one came with the two cameras already and was ready to go. If I were you, I’d just get an identical one to the one you have (it seems to me that the hardest thing out there is finding one you like)–either adding another camera or a whole new monitor to it. Eventually–when we can trust LM, haha!–I’d like to use his camera in a playroom. But we’re a long long way away from that!
For you it sounds like option 1 would work best! Don’t mess with what works.