baby monitors....are they an essential?

[DiannaQ]

I have the Angel Care Sound and Movement monitor - by far the best investment I have made - it gave me peace of mind knowing that it could pick up even the slightest of movements and breaths - admitedly I never really used the parents monitor but each to there own I say...

[mr dad of many]

i had a baby monitior for all my children , i always worry all the time . if you feel safe that u have to use one . also they can you peace of mind, if you worry alot

[JordieC]

we had one but only used it once cause it crackled too much (prob not a very good one!!). DD's room is sooo close to ours and if I hand out washing I figured she would only cry a couple of minutes and I would be back insed (our washing line is near her room). We are building though so will be interesting to see what I will do with next bub in new house cause rooms will be much further apart. I've heard of heaps of people having trouble with picking up other people's monitors and truckies conversations!

[Shellbelle]

i too have an angelcare movement and sound monitor. Has been a godsend. As everyone has said - not a necessity depending on your house design. I have found it useful during summer when DS is in the room with the aircon on, and I am outside etc I can hear him when he wakes, so he doesn't have to be screaming and distressed before I hear him.

[mbear]

We had one - didnt use it much. I got given ours from a friend, so luckily didnt waste my money. But if anyone ever asked me what was the one baby product you have that you never used/needed, it would be a baby monitor.
OUr babies slept with us till at least 12 weeks old, then we moved them in the room next to ours. They were always fairly good sleepers.

In saying that, if i had a two storey house, or a larger home, i could see they would be much needed.

[~Kim~]

I have an el cheapo fisher price one and it's fantastic. Basically used is because Darcy was upstairs and we were down - now she's at the other end of the ouse.

[tan32]

With my DD i didnt use one, our house was small and her room was next to ours and her window backed onto our backyard. With DS we used one as his room was down the other end of our new bigger house and i felt that i would not be able to hear him if he woke, we will use it again with this one, i picked it up on special from Coles its a fisher price and i payed $7 for it as it was clearance stock. However DD was the best monitor for me, she would come and wake me to tell me DS was crying......lol