When Jade was born, we didn’t bother getting a baby monitor. At first, she slept either with us in bed, or right beside me in a cradle. Later, we still didn’t need one because her room was on the main floor of the house, where we spent most of our time, anyway. And I was so tuned into her cry, I could even hear her from the yard outside. (Or perhaps that’s just a sign of poor windows…)
At some point, though, it did become necessary to have a monitor, so we conceded grudgingly by buying the cheapest one we could find. I did pretty close to zero research. I spent $20. I brought the thing home, plugged it in, and it worked. I could hear Jade’s very breathing, even if she was in her basement room at the back of the house and I was in the front yard.
About two months ago, the darn thing started acting up. Sometimes I’d turn the “Parent Unit” on and a loud buzzing sound would ensue. We’d plug it in somewhere else, we’d change channels, we’d go set up the transmitter unit, all to no avail. Sometimes a sharp whack on the counter would get the Parent Unit working. Sometimes not. I finally decided never to turn it off, just to turn the volume all the way down when the thing wasn’t in use, but that didn’t seem like a good solution, and I didn’t really trust the set-up.
I made a visit to Canadian Tire one day to find a new monitor. There was the $20 model again. Then there was a $45 dollar model by the same brand. Being disgruntled (because I figure a baby monitor should last more than 18 months or so) I didn’t want to use the same brand again. Instead, I picked up the only other available non-video monitor. It was made by a famous baby products brand and cost a whopping $99 — plus tax!
I was excited, though. The transmitting distance was supposed to be something like 1000 feet, and it promised the clarity of all! new! digital! sound! The thing came with a rechargeable base so that we wouldn’t have to hunt around for 9V batteries when we wanted to take the Parent Unit with us.
Unfortunately, it required 16 hours of charging before the first use. I put the unit on the charger, and three days later finally remembered to set up the transmitter.
It was a disaster. Instead of Jade’s breathing, all we could hear was static. When she would talk we’d hear “*crackle* …?” and then “*crackle* …!” We could tell Jade was saying something, but not what. In vain, we set everything up again, tried different outlets, changed the channel… nothin’ doin’. By this point, I’d thrown out all the packaging, but fortunately, I still had the receipt. Canadian Tire took it back without batting an eyelash. (The clerk didn’t bat an eyelash, that is…)
I was starting to think 18 months of clarity sure beat out the expensive monitor I’d been fortunate enough to get rid of, so I decided to try out the $45 model. What I really liked about this one was that it had TWO Parent Units. Once Jade moves to her new room, this will be very handy. We can keep one upstairs in the kitchen, and one in our bedroom, which will now be at the other end of the basement from her. (I know she’s a toddler, but she’s a toddler with epilepsy, and I don’t like the idea of not keeping tabs on her at night.)
I brought the thing home yesterday, plugged it in, and it worked. I could hear Jade’s breathing again. Haha! Cheap triumphs over expensive! Analog triumphs over digital! Mama triumphs over the evil baby monitor!
Until tonight, that is.
The gremlins are back. Something is causing static on the Parent Unit. I’ve tried changing the channels, resetting the transmitter, turning both ends on and then off again. There seems to be interference coming from somewhere, but I can’t figure out what it could be.
It’s almost enough to make me think we need to exorcise the house. Argh!
