A monitor is a must have for anyone with an infant. You need to be able to hear the ear piercing screams of a desperate child from whatever room you may be in. When Christopher was first born we kept him in our bedroom so we didn’t need one: he was right there. Then at five months he grew too big for his Moses Basket so he finally got to have his own room.
Being heavy sleepers, hubby and I were anxious we might not hear him when he cried at night. We were so used to having him there in the room with us at night. It was time to go out and buy a baby monitor. So this began our long search for a baby monitor.
~~ WHAT IS A BABY MONITOR ~~
… I hear you cry. The Fisher Price Sounds ‘n' Light baby monitor is a durable, reliable baby monitor which allows careful monitoring of your baby activities in his/her room while, you, the parent can safely be away in another,
doing chores or engaged in other activities - lol.
~~ WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE ~~
This monitor consists of two units, one is left near Christopher and transmits sound (via a microphone), and the other is kept near you and receives sound (via a speaker or the amplifier), both of which weigh next to nothing. They are made of plastic and are light blue & white in colour. Both units have a flat bottom so they will easily sit on any surface. The transmitter is approximately six inches wide by four inches tall, with a carrying handle on the top. The receiver is approximately five inches tall by three inches wide, and has a clip on the back of it perfect for attaching it to your clothing should you be moving around a lot when using it. Both have a soft-covered flexible antenna approximately three inches long at the top. This is non detachable or removable and could be a hazard to infants and young children. The transmitter has an easy to see on/off switch. This feature is on both units and is rather self-explanatory. You turn the switch to the on position when the monitor is in use and you turn the switch to the off position when it is not going to be in use. A very small red light comes on to signal that the transmitter is on. If you don’t want to get a lot of static when you are turning the monitors on, then you should turn the baby unit (transmitter) first, and when you switch the units off turn the parents unit off first.
The receiver has an easy to use dial, which can be turned on to the volume you desire. I can’t actually imagine the need to turn it up to full volume because it can be pretty loud, but I suppose if you were an extremely sound sleeper this would be a benefit. You also have the option of two channels, (A and B), but keep in mind that both the transmitter and the receiver must be set to the same channel for them to work properly. I used to consistently pick up the neighbour’s conversations on the “A” channel, not a very interesting couple, so I switched it over to “B” and had no more problems with it - rofl. A word of warning though, no comments about the Mother in Law!
The receiver also has what to me is one of its biggest selling points, a light bar which “shows” the sounds coming from the area you are monitoring. If Christopher is quiet I will just see one light, which shows the receiver is actually turned on. Movement, talking, and crying will all cause this light bar to move according to the volume of what is creating the sound. So if he is just adjusting his position in the cot, then there will be very little movement of the light bar. If he is crying the light bar will advance accordingly. The lights are very handy. When Christopher is napping and I am vacuuming or doing another noisy chore, by noticing the lights, I can easily determine whether I need to attend to him.
Both units can be run on battery power, but I have not had much need for this feature. I imagine if you spend a lot of time outdoors when your child is sleeping then having the battery ability would come in handy, as it would if you were to go camping. I imagine the cost of batteries would run rather high if you were to choose this option on a regular basis. I always use the included AC adapters. The cords on the adapters are average in length: they serve their purpose, but you may need to use an extension cord in order to reach a plug point. They are not too bulky, so it wont take up a lot of plug space.
~~ DID WE MAKE A GOOD BUY? THE BOTTOM LINE ~~
The Fisher Price name is highly regarded in our home. I have found their products to be of the highest quality, durable and very dependable. I would have to say we most definitely made a great buying decision with this product. It has done everything we have wanted it to do for us. This monitor has been dropped on more than one occasion and I have not yet had any damage done to it. It has been used almost constantly since we received it, and still works like a charm! In fact, the other night I was desperately trying to figure out just what the sound was I kept hearing when I was trying to fall asleep. It turned to be the ticking of the Winnie the Pooh clock I had just put in Christopher’s room! Maybe this monitor works too well?
Pictures of Fisher Price Sounds 'n' Light baby monitor
Fisher Price Sounds n lights monitor catalogue picture
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
I couldn't live without a monitor, although we may be likely to wake up anyway if Louis woke up its just reassurance to have one. Jens x
Tickly 30.10.2004 13:20
He he - picking up the neighbours, sounds like something I would enjoy! Seriously though .. We've bought Tomy ones, and have had great fun trying them out. Shona
Multtinems 16.09.2004 09:51
Aren't these great? Makes you wonder how you managed wthout one Sonia xxx
Radial arc lights easier to see from greater distance Crystal clear reception picks up ... more
even quiet sounds baby makes Portable receiver lets you take baby with you around the house or garden 49 MHz technology with durable, flexible antennas for greater r...
Postage & Packaging: £5.35 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Radial arc lights easier to see from greater distance Crystal clear reception picks up ... more
even quiet sounds baby makes Portable receiver lets you take baby with you around the house or garden 49 MHz technology with durable, flexible antennas for greater r...
Postage & Packaging: free Super Saver Delivery Availability: Usually dispatched within 1 to 2 months...
This sounds and lights monitor has 2 channels and a 5 light display which will let you see ... more
baby as well as hear him. Also included is a belt clip, a built in nightlight, volume control, a low battery indicator and a portable receiver. The monitor requi...
Postage & Packaging: £5.95 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Jul 12th, 2004
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