Taking care of your baby can really be challenging. It takes a lot of patience, hard work, and presence of mind. Fortunately, there are available devices on the market. A baby monitor with camera can make everything a lot easier. These devices let you keep an eye on your baby from
a few feet away or in another room.
As your baby gets older, you begin to wonder how long to use a baby monitor. It can be challenging to know when to dispose of the monitor. As your child learns to sleep in his own bed, and as they gets closer to self-dependency, you can take that as a sign to stop using a baby monitor.
There’s no specific answer on when to stop using a baby monitor. It certainly depends on your family’s circumstances and what you feel comfortable with as a parent. To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), doctors recommend that your baby sleep in the same room as you for the first six months of their life. After that, you can decide to move your baby’s crib to their room and use a baby monitor to monitor them.
When to Start Using a Baby Monitor: Age and Developmental Stages
Your child goes through different stages in his life, and it is recommended to use a baby monitor from newborn to just a few years old.
-
Under 6 months
When your baby is younger than 6 months, using a baby monitor is essential. At this age of your baby will not be able to communicate his needs or ask for help.
With a baby monitor, you can see if they are safe, if they have fallen off the bed, or if they are crying. Babies this young are fragile, and ensuring they are safe at all times is vital. Investing in a baby monitor is a great option to do this.
-
Over 6 months
When your child has passed the 6-9 months stage, he will begin to understand things more and will be able to tell you something by crying louder, or crawl to you when in need of care and comfort.
At this stage, a baby monitor can still be used, as they are still young, but instead of purely for protection, the monitor will be used for you to know if your child is napping well and getting a good night’s sleep.
-
Toddler
Eventually, your baby will grow into a toddler. At this point, you should decide whether a baby monitor is still necessary for your child. As a toddler, your child will be much more independent and will be able to communicate well.
This is also where they start to have their own bed in their own room. You need to let your child know that you trust them and allow them to be themselves without being watched, for your child to grow and flourish.
Signs It’s Time to Transition Away from the Baby Monitor
Although there is no required age for how long to use baby monitor, most professionals suggest that you can stop using a baby monitor when your child is around 2-4 years old, depending on how sure you are of giving it up.
Here are a few signs to ditch the baby monitor, and some of these apply at any age.
-
If the baby monitor keeps you awake and makes you more anxious, then it might not be for you.
When you continuously use a baby monitor for a long period, you can become obsessed with keeping a close eye on your baby. Some parents who get little sleep find that their baby’s every subtle movement causes them to be awake at night, and this only leads to anxiety. When anxiety becomes so intense, you can end up having some sleep problems.
While it is normal to be sensitive as a parent, feeling alarmed at the slightest reason will not do you any good. When using a baby monitor, it is essential to differentiate between trusting your baby and the baby monitor. The best thing to do at this point is to stop using the baby monitor. It is much healthier not to be affected by the baby monitor, and if it does more harm than good, then it is better to stop using it.
-
You become addicted to watching.
Knowing your baby sleeps soundly in their room gives you huge relief. However, if you always watch your baby, and it becomes a habit, you might develop an addiction that your mind will not be at peace until you have checked on your baby before sleeping.
With a baby monitor, it is so easy to monitor your child without going into their room physically. You can decide to check on your baby anytime you feel like it at night to find out if something happened to your baby, even though you haven’t been alerted by the baby monitor. If you’re experiencing this, then it is suggested that to stop using a baby monitor.
-
You can hear your child.
For most parents, as their child grows older, they can hear their child without the need for a baby monitor. In this case, you do not need to keep hold of the baby monitor anymore. If you live in a bigger household, and you still find it difficult to hear your child, but they’re already in their toddler years, start leaving their bedroom door open or slightly ajar. This could work as a natural monitor, allowing you to hear if your child is calling for you or needs your help.
-
Your baby can now communicate.
If your child knows how to talk, listen, walk, and climb, then they can think for themselves. This means that if they need you, they will make their way to you. Even if your child cannot speak yet, they will cry or crawl towards you. As a baby, they are helpless, but as a toddler, they can turn to you for protection. At this time, a baby monitor is not necessary.
-
Your child is aware of being watched.
By the time your child is 3 or 4, they may become aware that they’re being watched. According to a parent coach, children may modify their behaviour if they don’t feel comfortable being watched in particular ways.
Your child’s room should be their safe space, so a baby monitor should never act as an infringement on their privacy. When your child starts to understand modesty and develop a sense of privacy, it’s time to consider stopping the use of the baby monitor.
What Are the Reasons to Continue Using a Baby Monitor?
Although there are many reasons for you to stop the use of baby monitors, there are also lots of reasons for continuing to use them. Here are some situations where using a baby monitor is still recommended:
-
If your toddler’s bedroom is also your baby’s room, you may feel to continue using the baby monitor. Yes, you don’t want your older children to feel like their privacy is being invaded. If they are aware of the baby monitor’s presence, talk to them about it. Explain that it’s there for you to keep their younger sibling safe, and not to invade their privacy.
-
Although your child becomes more independent when they turn 3 or 4, there will be times when they will call out for you at night. In case of an emergency, you need to be able to hear your child, and this is where a baby monitor can help. If you struggle to hear your baby without a monitor, it may be a good idea to continue using a baby monitor.
-
When your child becomes used to sleeping near you for the first six months of their life, it can be a struggle for your child to adjust to sleeping alone. To ensure you hear when your baby is in distress, it’s recommended to still use a baby monitor.
How to Phase Out a Baby Monitor
If you’ve decided to ditch the baby monitor, it can be difficult to know where to start. Here are ways that you can phase out a baby monitor in your home:
-
Start by switching it off at night.
If the baby monitor affects your sleep, you can switch it off when you get into bed. This way, you won’t be disturbed by every noise your child makes, and you may feel comfortable turning it off for good.
-
Switch it off, but keep it close.
If you’re anxious about going without a monitor entirely, you can try switching it off but keeping it nearby. You can turn it on from time to time when you want to check on your baby.
-
Switch off the audio, but keep the video on.
If your baby monitor has both audio and visual monitoring, try turning the audio off completely.
Final Thoughts
Deciding how long to use a baby monitor is entirely up to you. There is no specific age or date that can tell you it is time to stop using a baby monitor. If you feel like you and your baby are not yet ready for the change, there’s no pressure in stopping the use of a baby monitor in a snap. But if there are no situations that ask you to use the baby monitor, then it is necessary to switch it off for your child’s benefit.