A baby monitor shaped like a bunny made keeping tabs on my little one easier than ever
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- The Arlo Baby monitor and camera from Netgear connects via app to your phone, tablet, and/or computer for remote viewing and reports.
- The baby monitor provides real-time information on temperature, humidity, and more.
- Its motion and sound alerts immediately inform you of any disturbance in the nursery.
- A rechargeable battery allows for easy placement of the monitor, with no outlet access needed.
Choosing the right baby monitor is probably more important and more of a challenge than new parents expect. If you think that most baby monitors are more or less alike, then think again, friend.
My wife and I have been through no fewer than four different monitors so far, and our first child is just a little over four years old at the time of this writing. So think of this article as both a review and a PSA; if I can save you any time and heartache, then my own mild, but frequent frustrations will have been worth it.
At the most basic level, a decent baby monitor has to let you see and hear your little one even when you are not in the room. Most current units can do that, albeit with varying amounts of success. From limited image quality to limited range of view, and from poor sound clarity to limited range between the camera unit and the parent unit, the degree to which a monitor system fulfills its goals can be all over the spectrum, and unfortunately, often price plays a role. The pricier units tend to have better image and sound quality and better range, e.g.
Most people will consider $230 rather expensive, and $230 happens to be the price of the Netgear Arlo Baby monitoring system. But don't worry too much, because this system fits within my premise: With that elevated price tag comes elevated quality in the basic realms of image and sound clarity. And a host of extra features also come along for the ride.
But first, those basics.
Image quality? Try 1080p high definition video. That's the same image quality that was blowing people's minds just a few years back in $1,000-plus TV sets; now it's available on your baby's monitor. And you'll enjoy that image quality via your smartphone, tablet, or computer, because rather than use a dedicated parent unit, the Arlo Baby monitor connects right to your chosen device via an easy-to-use app.
After dark or lights out in the nursery? No problem. The camera has advanced night vision capabilities enhanced by built-in, near-invisible infrared LEDs that won't disturb a resting child at all but will allow your Arlo Baby camera to see in the darkness. The sound quality is also superb headed your way, as will be your own voice projected out of its built-in speaker as you talk (or sing or coo) to your child.
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Monitor-Two-way-Temperature-Quality/dp/B071RD1KSN/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512762961&sr=8-1&keywords=netgear+arlo+baby
But hey, lots of modern baby monitors let you use a phone or tablet to monitor the kid, and plenty of them have good video and sound quality. So let's talk about the extras.
First, don't discount the value of a monitor that looks more like a charming bunny than a miniature version of Big Brother. (There are also cat kitten and puppy options if you have a preference.)
Kids will welcome having an Arlo Baby close by their crib or bed. And parents will welcome all the data said monitor sends back. This thing can display a room's temperature and humidity level in real time and can track changes over time. It has a music player option that can soothe a child to sleep. It has optional sound and motion alerts that inform you if your child is crying, moving, or if someone else has entered the room. And perhaps best of all, the Arlo Baby monitor uses a built-in rechargeable battery instead of a wall outlet, so you can move the system around the room, around the house, or around the globe as needed.
And yes, by the way, we do have an Arlo Baby in our house. The struggle was real, but it had a happy ending.