Basic baby monitor for older baby's daytime naps

Hi all

I'm thinking about buying a baby monitor so that i can do a bit of gardening while DS has his daytime nap. He's in our room at night, so haven't needed one until now.

As he's older, I don't need a movement pad or anything like that, and I don't really want to spend $250 or so.

Are there cheaper, basic models that will just allow me to hear him when he wakes up? If I get a cheaper one, will it be reliable? I wouldn't want to be outside if it's not going to let me know when he's woken up.

Any recommendations?

Thanks very much!
xx

I have a non-expensive one (like $30) that I got second hand from the Round n Round store (google it- has the benefit of being run by a lovely BBer- hope I can promote that here!), and it works great (said lovely BBer checks them all thoroughly). I only needed a basic one too. I think the thing with the less expensive ones is that they give more 'static'- ie- there is a constant kind of hiss coming from your end of the monitor- bubs end is perfectly silent. This would probably drive me crazy if I was trying to sleep with it, but for daytime naps (all I use it for too), its no problem at all.

Actually, the monitor picks up waaaaay more sounds than I ever heard even being pretty close to his room!

Great! Thanks Jessica. Will google the store you mentioned. Glad to hear that you can get cheapies, and I'd definitely be happy with second hand.

xx