If you read the previous post, you may have figured that tiny babies – even up to six months of age are really light sleepers and that their sleep occurs in rhythms of about one hour. This is no solace when you are trying to either get used to motherhood or to juggle your time with another toddler. Hopefully these tips may help.

You can expect a newborn infant to sleep for between 15 and 18 hours a day. But that sleep can be broken into as many as seven periods. Wouldn’t we just love it if the longer sleep periods were during the night! Unfortunately it just doesn’t necessarily work that way. From between two to six months your baby will get into some form of routine and your aim is to try to make it so that they only wake once say between 10pm and 6am. However, if you make baby’s wake times during the day more active and feed more often through the day, the greater the likelihood that you can gradually get into a routine of making night time “quiet time”.

Establish A Routine

Even if you think it’s too early to establish a night time routine, it is a good practice. Somewhere between four and six months, you can expect your baby to have one long period of sleep of maybe six, even eight hours if your one of the rare lucky ones. Make sure that no sleep is too long during the day. When it comes to the long sleep, begin a different routine. Dim lights, quiet surroundings – maybe a certain lullaby. As your little one gets older, you might begin to tell a story – even if they don’t understand it. As your baby gets older you can adapt the routine to fit, but do your best to create a routine series of events as early as possible. After a while, your little one will associate the routine with bedtime.

You have a few options to try to get the schedule to suit you…

Try A Baby Blanket With A Silky Edge

Babies seem to love a silky feel against their cheek. All the better if it smells a bit like Mom. Once baby is a couple of months old, try using one particular little blanket with a satin edge with your little one during the day and then if it is near them in bed, they have a bit of “Mom” to snuggle to. Of course it would have to be safe and not a chocking or stifling hazard!

You Don’t Have To Change Baby Every Time!

It may seem horrifying to leave a baby in a wet diaper, but your aim is to create as little disturbance through the night time hours as possible. Keep the lights dim and noises down – especially if they have awoken for a feed. Make the feed as quick and as gentle as possible. Of course if your baby has dirtied her diaper, that’s a different story, but if you make a point of putting a good layer of diaper cream on late in the evening, you may get through the night without having to do a change, even if you have to give your bub a quick feed.

Dream Feeding

If you can bear the thought of possibly disturbing a sleeping baby, you could actually give them a feed just before you go to bed yourself. Some Moms swear by this method. They manage to gently lift their baby from the crib and give them a feed while the baby still sleeps and then put the sleeping baby back to bed. At least you know that they won’t wake up from hunger in the next two hours! The possible problem, of course is if the baby has wind and then is disturbed anyway. But it may be worth a try.

Make Sure Your Baby Doesn’t Get Over Tired

Newborn babies sleep erratically and lightly and it’s really hard to get a routine until around two months. But by then you will know how many sleeps your baby has during the day. Make sure that they get those naps – both for your sake and theirs. If your baby has been awake too long, adrenalin kicks in with over tiredness and then it becomes really hard to settle them down. So keep your baby’s day time naps regular and then their night time sleeps should become more that way too.

Swaddling

Some mothers swear by the ancient practice of swaddling – and others shout the idea down. It really depends upon the baby. It’s possible that babies awaken themselves with their own movements because, remember that tiny babies are light sleepers and they are used to the confines of the womb. Some experts say that swaddling a baby helps them feel secure and they are therefore less likely to awaken as easily. You can read more about swaddling XXhereXXX . Certainly you wouldn’t want to swaddle your baby for more than a few months, but they will give you the signal by attempting to wriggle out of their blanket.

Don’t Over React To A Baby Monitor

With today’s parents relying heavily on a monitor to alert them of any disturbances in the child’s room, it is very easy to over react and want to rush in at the slightest sound of disturbance. Babies sleep lightly and can be quite noisy. Use the monitor to make sure that your little one is really disturbed. Don’t use it as an excuse to jump in fear at every little murmur. In fact a video baby monitor can be a really useful tool to help you determine the situations when it is best NOT to respond to your baby because in fact, he may be able to sooth himself back to sleep. If your monitor has a lullaby feature, maybe using that at a very low volume may help.

With any luck these tips may help you. Unfortunately we can be our own worst enemy by setting our standards too high or by fearing the worst rather than trusting our own wisdom. We’re rarely as cruel as we think we are. If your baby has sleep problems, it is more likely their personality than your parenting. It is so important to look after your own well being so that you can be really there for your baby. You need your sleep, so do what it takes to get it.

Baby Sleep Is Different To Adults

It is just so difficult as a new parent to have to deal with a baby that will not settle when you know they’re ready to sleep. The hardest thing is that over the first three to six months, babies naturally sleep lighter and for shorter periods – just when as a new mother you need any breaks that you can get.

I remember with my first baby that I used to get so exasperated and even get cross and yell at my poor little three month old when he wouldn’t sleep. But along the way I learned a lot more and made a conscious decision to be more patient to give more of myself the second time round.

Practice Observing

Some parents are just blessed with easy babies. But every baby has a different sleep personality and you can’t expect your bub to behave like any other. Careful observation is the key. Watch your newborn’s behavior after a feed. Look for patterns so that you know what to expect. Some newborns suffer a lot from wind and it’s worth taking note to see if there is a regular pattern. Once you have a better understanding of what is stopping your baby from settling easily, you stand a chance to respond more effectively.

Babies Take Longer To Fall Asleep

It is worth knowing that newborn babies take longer to fall into a deep sleep. If they fall asleep on the breast or at the bottle and you attempt to put them down, it is no surprising that they wake up the moment you put them in the crib because they are still in “active sleep” mode and still quite aware.

This is one reason why many experts recommend not putting your baby to sleep when they are still in a sucking mode. Some suggest that you stop feeding if you see your baby drifting off. Even from the early months it is good to try to get into a regular and consistent routine for sleep time. Changing a diaper then burping your baby might be two activities to signal that it is bedtime. As you burp your baby it is a good opportunity gradually change your back rubbing to more of a caress as you place your little one in their crib.

Make a point of observing your little one as they fall asleep and over time you will learn to recognize specific movements that signal light sleep as compared to sound sleep. It can take up to twenty minutes for a newborn baby to fall into a sound sleep, but in later months infants will fall asleep more quickly.

Newborns Are Not Heavy Sleepers

Also, newborns don’t fall into a deep sleep like adults do. That’s a fact. They need to protect themselves from becoming hungry, getting too hot or cold or from a discomfort that may threaten their well being. A little baby’s sleep cycle lasts only about an hour and during a lengthy sleep if you watched, you would notice that each hour or so your baby going through a cycle of more shallow sleep where he is quite active with twitches and little movements. This is the period that even the slightest external noise may waken him fully.

Where A Baby Monitor Could Help

Infants’ sleep cycles mean that your little one may wake up after about an hour when you are expecting them to be sleeping soundly. But in actual fact it may just be the “light” part of their sleep cycle. This is where the use of a baby monitor would help.  You are able to observe by your baby’s movements from outside the room with a video monitor and see whether she is comfortable and may fall back to sleep or if in fact something is causing her distress. If there is nothing obviously wrong, you may be able to assist your little one return to sleep by either keeping everything in the house really quiet or on the other hand possibly tiptoe in and just offer a silent yet soothing hand.

The two most popular video baby monitors are the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor and the Summer Infant BabyTouch. You can read an in depth review of each model and even compare features side by side on other pages of this site.

Here is one little baby too excited for bed any time soon!

Objective observation is a good habit to foster. In the end however, patience is the key.

Since you’re arrived at this page, you have probably decided that one of these baby video monitors is the best video baby monitor for you … but which one? They are both top of the range baby monitors so you can be confident that you’ve made a responsible choice. If your baby makes noises in the middle of a nap time when you are expecting that they should be sleeping soundly, you can know exactly what is going on – by sound AND sight.  You may be able to settle them by using the monitor rather than having to go in and disturb them. There are just so many advantages of owning a video baby monitor.

You will find all the details for both the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor and the Summer Baby Monitor (BabyTouch) on other pages of this site. There are many similar features. This post however is looking more at the differences between the two very popular baby video monitors.

May 2013

Compare Features Here…

Motorola 3.5″              Summer Infant

*Amazon is still running a special promotion on both of these monitors giving you 90 days to return without paying shipping costs.

The Motorola Video Baby Monitor – Four Different Sizes

The price displayed above reflects that for the 3.5″ monitor. However the 2.8″ monitor costs quite a bit less at around $180. The 2.8″ model has all the same features as the larger monitor except that the camera on the smaller model doesn’t have the pan, tilt and zoom features of the 3.5″. Motorola then have two much cheaper video monitors again: 1.8″ and 1.5″.

Click here to get the full rundown on all four Motorola video baby monitors.

 The Summer Baby Monitor Has Touch Screen Technology

The touch screen technology for the Summer Baby Monitor is a nice feature if you like the idea of swiping the screen to manipulate the camera.  You still need to use buttons to reach the menu, however.

In fact some people have expressed concerns about activating the monitor by accidentally touching the screen, however this would not happen. The touch screen can only be activated by pressing a menu button.

Check Here to read a full review of the Summer Infant BabyTouch Color Video Monitor

Other Special Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor Features

• The Motorola Baby Monitor is reported to have a much more robust feel to it, particularly the docking cradle.
• The Motorola signal has data encryption technology which makes it more resistant to interference from other wireless devices around the house. More the point – it will interfere LESS with those other devices. There have been reports that the Summer Video Monitor, among many others will interfere with your router and even slow internet download speeds.
• The Lullaby feature is especially handy if you want to leave your little one with the soothing sound of a lullaby as you leave the room.

Check out this review of the Motorola Digital Baby Monitor

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BEST PRICE ONLINE FOR THE MOTOROLA DIGITAL BABY MONITORS

Other Special Summer Video Monitor Features

• The Summer baby monitor is reported to have much easier buttons to use than the Motorola – especially if you are awoken during the night and want to feel for buttons in the dark.
• The fact that the camera view is wider than the Motorola baby monitor means that you don’t need to pan the camera at all to get a good view of a larger area of the baby’s room, compared to the Motorola.
• Having the belt clip is reported as being extremely handy.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE BEST PRICE FOR THE SUMMER INFANT BABY MONITOR

You will find further discussion on the differences between the two best video baby monitors on the home page.

Press Release

Amazon.com is currently running a special promotion whereby certain items in their huge range are eligible for Free 365-Day Returns. One particular range of products in the promotion includes baby monitors. One of the most technologically advanced baby video monitors on the market today is the Summer Infant BabyTouch Color Video Monitor. This particular model is one of the two most popular video monitors on Amazon.com.

April 20, 2012

As part of its role in reviewing baby monitors, Inland Digital has uncovered that Amazon is running a new promotion for certain baby products such as the Summer Baby Monitor where your product may be returned without shipping costs for up to 365 days from the date of delivery as long as the product is returned in new and unopened condition.

Amazon’s promotion provides people the opportunity to purchase items such as this baby video monitor as a gift and not be at all concerned about making the wrong decision. People could take advantage of the promotion to purchase baby items such as a baby monitor for Mothers Day in May, for example.

The Summer Infant BabyTouch Color Video Monitor is labeled as the “next generation” in video baby monitoring due to its touch screen technology. It comprises of two units: the camera, which transmits the audio and visual data from the baby’s room and the receiver or parent unit, which is not much larger than a smart phone.

The 3.5” LCD screen on the Summer Infant video monitor provides a clear color image during the day which automatically reverts to a monochrome infrared display as the lighting conditions in the baby’s room fade. It has a good range of up to 400 feet allowing the carer to move quite a distance away from the baby’s room with the assurance that any disturbance can be easily heard and seen remotely.

The touch screen on the receiver is used to remotely manipulate the camera. The carer is able to tilt, pan and digitally zoom the camera by swiping the screen as one does a smart phone. With the Summer Infant BabyTouch Monitor you are able to hook the receiver up to a TV screen so that the image can be easily seen from afar. You are also able to add up to an extra three cameras to the system to enable scanning if you want to monitor more than one room. These monitors are not only used by parents, but could be quite useful for a small business with an office at the front of a home, for example.

To find out more about the Summer Infant BabyTouch Video Monitor and the Amazon Free 365-Day Returns promotion, visit inlanddigital.com where you can compare the most current popular baby monitors on the market.

By now, I guess you may have decided that the Summer Infant BabyTouch Color Video Monitor is the best video baby monitor for you. Here you will be able to get a rundown on all the features as well as detailed pros and cons so you can be sure you are making an informed decision. You can also do a price comparison to ensure that you buy your baby video monitor at the best price.

You also might want to check out the features of the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor, as it is the other most popular video monitor for different reasons.

With it’s smart phone touch screen technology, this particular Summer Infant baby monitor is labeled as the “next generation” in video baby monitoring. Instead of having to press buttons on the parent unit to manipulate the camera, you just bring up a menu and touch the screen to reposition your viewing angle. You can tilt, pan and zoom the camera in your baby’s room remotely just by swiping the screen.

May 2013

Click Here for a GREAT price on the Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Color Video Monitor

Compare Prices

• Amazon.com               $189.99          Free shipping- click above
  
• Target                           $224.99          Free shipping – but you’re still paying more
• BabiesRus                    $209.99          OK – but is it worth opening an account?
• Walmart                       $214.99           Free to store – more to your door

If you want to be sure that your little one is settling OK or sleeping peacefully, a video monitor can mean that you can rest assured that your baby is comfortable.  You are able to assess what is happening if they begin to make noises in the middle of nap time when you are expecting that they should still be asleep. A boon for busy or fatigued parents.

Main features of this Summer Infant baby monitor    

• 3.5” LCD color screen – a good size to view with an automatic time-out feature after 3 minutes
• The receiver weighs 2.5lbs, is just a little larger than a smart phone – easy to hold
• Automatic activation of infrared black and white night vision in dim light
• The touch-screen menu remotely controls the pan, scan, zoom and brightness features of the camera
• 100% digital technology automatically seeks out the best frequency channel
• A good signal range of up to 400’
• LED lights on the parent unit indicate the sound level in the child’s room
• A two-way talk back function allows parents to communicate with the baby in the room
• Parent unit has a 10 hour rechargeable battery with A/C charging base
• The camera has it’s own battery pack
• Ability to add three extra cameras for different rooms
• A USB audio visual jack to hook to your TV screen if you want to benefit from the big screen
• Handy belt clip and flip stand on the receiver so you can sit it up or carry it with you
• One touch video on/off button that is easy to find in the dark

The Summer Infant BabyTouch in more detail

Pros

Touch Screen Technology

This Summer Infant baby monitor is unique in that it is the only baby video monitor on the market in June 2012 with touch screen technology. You are able to adjust the camera settings remotely by touching the screen on the parent unit. If this feature is important for you, there is no other choice!

Camera Range

The Summer Infant Baby Monitor has a terrific wide angle lens, possibly wider than any other baby video monitor. This means that you don’t need to use the panning function as much as other monitors in order to view a larger area of baby’s room.

Easy to Manipulate Raised Buttons

The layout and raised nature of the buttons on the parent unit of the Summer Infant baby monitor are really easy to use. Even if you are awoken from your own sleep, you can feel for the video button or the volume control very easily in the dark.

Belt Clip

This Summer Infant Video Monitor had a very convenient belt clip which enables you to carry the receiver around with you if you are on the move around the house or garden. This feature is not available on the other most popular models of baby video monitors.

Summer Infant Extra Camera Capability

If you have more than one infant to keep an eye on, you are also able to organize up to three extra cameras and scan either different rooms or areas of the same remotely from the Summer baby monitor receiver. You will see the price of the extra camera when you click the link above, but it is approximately $90.

Two-Way Communication

The talk back function is a terrific feature to have, particularly if you want to tell your toddler to get back into bed, for instance. It’s also handy for times when your partner is in the baby’s room and you need to converse with each other. It functions like a walkie-talkie, where you hold down a button to talk.

Cons

After reviewing dozens of comments from owners, here are the main drawbacks that this Summer Infant Baby Monitor has compared to other monitors.

The Signal

The digital signal in this Summer video monitor is reported as less secure than the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor. Although the manufacturers say that the monitor will find it’s own frequency, many users have complained that the monitor interferes with wireless signals to your router – even reducing Internet download speed.  The answer to this problem is to see if you can change the channel that your router uses, or if all else fails buy a better quality router. This is a less expensive alternative than replacing your monitor, especially if you have extra cameras as well!

Battery Life

The rechargeable battery on the parent unit of this Summer baby monitor supposedly lasts up to 10 hours, but many reviews dispute this, citing that the battery only lasts five hours or so. So it will easily last for daytime naps, especially if you don’t over-use the video function – and then you can charge the unit at night if you keep the charging base near your bed. The manufacturers recommend however, that you allow the battery to lose it’s charge before recharging again.

No “Low Battery” Warning

Fortunately or unfortunately, this Summer baby monitor doesn’t give you any low battery warning. On the plus side, if you leave the receiver in the charger over night, this won’t be a problem because some owners have complained that they don’t want to be awoken by a “low battery” alert in the middle of the night. On the other hand, it could be quite a problem if the battery runs out unexpectedly and you find that your poor baby has been distressed and your baby video monitor didn’t alert you because of it’s flat battery. The Motorola does have a low battery warning. Click here to compare the Summer Infant with the Motorola Video Baby Monitor

Some have stated that the base of the parent unit is very light and being magnetic tends to lift off the surface when you pick up the receiver,so you need two hands to grab it.  Others have just suggested that you solve this problem by not resting the receiver’s charger in the base.

Overall the Summer Infant BabyTouch Color Video Monitor is unique in it’s class by offering touch screen technology along with a wide angle lens, easy to use buttons and a handy belt clip.

Click Here to buy the Summer Infant BabyTouch Color Video Monitor At The Best Price Online

Compare Prices and Models Here

Now there’s no need to be concerned that you can’t see your baby while they’re asleep out of sight in their room.  You probably know that the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor is one of the most popular baby monitors on the market because it has the most advanced and secure wireless signal

Motorola run four models of their video baby monitor. The two larger models, the MBP36 and MBP33 have the longest range and more advanced wireless technology.  Read about the two smaller (and less expensive) models – MBP28 and MBP20 by scrolling further down. 

May 2013

<-This is the MBP36 3.5″ model

CLICK HERE to see the price on all sizes of the Motorola Baby Monitor. This is a Promotional Product! *

*Receive FREE 90-Day Return! (check the product return conditions)

COMPARE ONLINE PRICES

3.5″ Model (MBP36)

• Amazon           $239.97 Free shipping – with 90 Day Free Return Offer*
  
• Walmart          $239.99 Pick up at a store after shipping
  
• Buy.com          $239.99 Save the money – spend it on you
• ToysRus.com $249.99 Why would you?

2.8″ Model (MBP33)

• Amazon              $179.97 Free shipping – click above
  
• Walmart             $179.99 Delivered to store (pay more to your door)
• Toyrus                 $189.99
  
• Barnes & Noble $199.95
  

The 2.8″ monitor is actually the same size to hold, but notice the display is actually smaller in the frame.

Hundreds of users have gone to the trouble to write in to Amazon and report their experience which is a good indicator of a quality product. By popularity, the Motorola rates as the most reliable and the best value baby video monitor. However, the other very popular video baby monitor is the Summer Infant BabyTouch, which is also an extremely popular model.

You can read all about it here.

A Baby Monitor Means Peace Of Mind

If you have a baby, of course you are going to want to know that all is well when they are in their room – hopefully sleeping peacefully. Baby monitors comprise of a transmitter which is placed in your baby’s room and the receiver which you keep near you. With the top three models you are able to add extra cameras for different rooms. If you have already decided on the Motorola brand, you can go straight to the merchant’s page from here and be assured of the best price online. Otherwise, read on for price comparisons and more information on the different models.

A digital baby monitor strategically placed in your infant’s room means you can rest assured that you will hear noises and see movement coming from the crib, whether baby is fussing before going to sleep, or just beginning to wake up.

Advanced Sound Technology

The two Motorola models illustrated above come with 2.4Ghz FHSS radio technology which results in a much clearer sound without the distortions of cordless antennas that other models use. There is no chance of a signal being interrupted by other wi-fi equipment in the house such as a router, for example.

A Long Range Up To 650 Feet (200 Meters)

With the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor you are able to move around a large house – end even out into the yard. Two hundred meters is quite a distance featured in the MBP36 and MBP33 above.  However all Motorola baby video monitors give you an “out of range” alert so you can relax, knowing that you are never out of earshot.

Color LCD Screen and Strong Infrared Night Vision

As well as being able to hear your baby clearly, you can see exactly what your little one is up to with a real-time color video display with all four models. At night, the display uses infrared black and white night vision meaning that you don’t need any lights that may disturb your bub.

Five Lullabies and Two Way Communication

All four video baby monitors allow you to communicate between rooms if need be. You may want to  talk with your partner if they are in the other room or perhaps just offer some assurance to pacify your little one – maybe just the sound of your voice is all that is needed.

Pre-programmed Lullabies

The two monitors above come with five polyphonic lullabies programmed into the camera unit which can be remotely control from the receiver. You may find that a particular lullaby will do the trick. The MBP28 is a new addition to the fleet (in the US) and comes with three lullabies. However lullabies are not featured on the MBP20 (1.5″) model.

Room Temperature Monitor

You can always know the temperature in your baby’s room as the monitor’s transmitter has a temperature sensor which is reported on the receiver’s display.

5 LED Sound-Activated Lights Alert Noise Activity

Three of the Motorola video monitors come with five LED lights on the receiver to alert you of the level of sound coming from the baby’s room. So if you have the volume turned down when you are asleep for example, a sneak peek at the lights will alert you to the level of sound activity in the baby’s room.  Such a feature is also really handy for the opposite situation – where you might be in a noisy situation and cannot hear the monitor. This feature is not available on the MBP28 (1.8″ screen), unfortunately.

The Battery

The monitors all come with a non-standard battery that has a reasonable life between charges, depending on how much you use the video function. If the video on the larger MBP 33 and MBP36 is kept constantly on, you could expect the battery to last about 3.5 hours. But if you don’t rely on the video as much, the receiver battery may last up to eight hours before needing to be recharged. Probably the best time to charge your receiver would be at night during your sleeping hours.

However the battery life on the two smaller models is quite different. Read below for more details on each model.

Another handy feature is the fact that the Motorola baby monitor charger is multi-voltage capable, so you can use it overseas if you are lucky enough to take your baby traveling!

Additional Cameras and Parent Units

You can to connect up to 4 additional cameras (optional extras) to the MBP36, MBP33 and the MBP28 so that you are able to monitor different rooms or view your baby from a number of angles. Note that the camera for the MBP33 (2.8”) model is different to the MBP36 camera (3.5″) model.

You will see the additional cameras on the same page as the monitor you choose. The model numbers are different for each of the above models, but the price is the same.

Additional Features of the MBP36 – 3.5” Model

This larger model has a few extra features that you may decide are worth the small extra outlay.

• Camera Tilt, Pan and Zoom means you are able to control the transmitter’s camera remotely from the receiver so that you have even more control over what you see.
• The video can be played back at 25 frames per second
• There is a convenient wall mount and sturdy flip out kick stand which is very handy
  

Features of the MBP 33 – 2.8” Model

The 2.8″ model of the Motorola Baby Monitor has all of the same features as the 3.5″ model except for the ability to remotely tilt, pan and zoom the camera.

Check out this review on YouTube

New To The US Market (May 2012) – Motorola MBP28 (1.8″ screen) Model

The main features of this model have been described above. However here is a summary of the differences to be aware of:

• Range is 490′ (149m)
• Three pre-programmed lullabies
• Ability to add four additional cameras for other rooms or areas
• A wall mount which is not included in the smaller model below
  
• A belt clip not featured with the larger models as well as a flip-out stand
• Re-chargeable battery with a life of 16 hours!

Features of the MBP20 – 1.5” Model

The smaller model of the above has just a 1.5″ display screen. It still has a range of 490′ (149m) and features infrared night vision, two way communication and the room temperature sensor.

The MBP20 features the visual noise level alert, not carried in the larger MBP 28. It has the belt clip which can be rotated to become a kick stand. However it does not have the ability to add extra cameras or feature the wall mount.

One surprising negative of this model is that it only has a battery life of 2 hours.

Nevertheless, if you like the portability and don’t need the “Full Monty” this model of the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor could possibly serve you well.

 Click here to get a great deal on whichever size you choose. Buy the Motorola Video Baby Monitor with 365 Day Free Return Offer