Most of us know that baby monitors are designed to help parents monitor their little ones. However, when the baby monitor is not in use, there are many other ways that it could help you out.

What’s cooking? You may have something in the oven, and your baby is screaming for your attention or you need to take a phone call. You could simply set up the monitor near the oven in a safe place, and carry the parent unit with you wherever you go in your house so that you will still be able to hear the oven timer go off when dinner is ready!

Your other child is sick. If you have a child who is unwell and wants to stay in bed, you can set up the monitor near them and carry the parent unit around the house with you. This way your child can easily get your attention if they need anything, and you will also be able to hear other noises such as coughing which may indicate that they need your assistance.

Check the temperature. I have heard of mums who used the monitor (one with temperature display feature) for checking the temperature outside in the shade so they would know if it was too hot for their little one.

Your other child needs reassurance. For this one you are best to have a video baby monitor which allows for more than one camera. This means that you can have one camera in baby’s room and one in the other child’s room. When the other child goes to bed, they can then be reassured that they only need to speak if they require your attention. You will be able to hear and see them via the monitor.

I’ll finish off with a few benefits of using a baby monitor to monitor your little one. There are many benefits, but here are a select few of them:

• Can help parents to bond with their baby, especially if the monitor has talkback feature. This feature allows the parent to communicate with baby via the parent unit.
• Portable baby monitors allow parents to get on with the house duties, and if baby cries they should hear them easily through the baby monitor.
• Provides the parents with peace of mind, especially when baby has just started sleeping in her own room.

By Kerri Bullock, the owner/founder of the online baby monitor store, Baby Monitors Online