The importance of baby monitors!

I really needed to let you all know what happened last week with Nina.
Last Thursday night Nina started coming down with gastro. She'd been vomiting during the night, while still asleep. We were also in bed, and could hear her through the monitor. She was sound asleep each time this was happening.
During the night, I awoke to hearing her vomiting again, except it sounded like she was struggling for breath. I went it, and she was sound asleep, on her back, and choking on her vomit. I quickly sat her up so she could get it all out.

Fortunately, I'd heard this happening through the monitor and was able to react quickly. If it hadn't of been for that, I don't know what would have happened.

So I'm urging you, please use your monitors!! Even at 10.5 months, she could have easily choked in her sleep.

Jodi that just happened to my friends little boy also... she woke in the morning to find her little 14mth old boy had vomited all over himself whilst on his back and she found him with it all over his face, hair and chest in the morning... he didnt wake her in the night to tell her or perhaps he did and she just didnt hear him cos' no baby monitor i dont think.... scary thought hey..she normally hears him but he was so quiet that night... she never heard a peep or perhaps she was just fast asleep buggered.
he's had gastro etc too
I'm glad Nina is okay :)

Thisis why I always have DS either sleeping on his side or with his head to a side... he now automaticaly does it. But it's so scary when this happens - happened to DS while we were still in hospital.

Jodi- I'm glad Nina is okay! What a scarey thing to happen. My DD is 23 months and I use her monitor - it just makes me feel so much more secure!

where can you buy them from Caro? I haven't heard of them? I'll tell my friend about it she'll be interested in it

Oh Jodi, how awful. Thank goodness she's ok. I hope the gastro has passed too.

Ryn, unfortunately once they start to roll, they often will end up lying however they want. Many become tummy sleepers which worries mums due to SIDS. Both mine have like sleeping on their tummies at various times. This is why I love the movement monitors too. It just gives me some peace of mind.

I've never used a monitor, I personally can hear my babies in their own rooms. I dont think a monitor is a necessity, but that's just my opinion, as I can hear them without one & have never had a problem... But I am glad Nina is fine..

Caro, yeah I've got the Angelcare, it's great!
I can hear Nina only if she's crying, as her room is at the other end of the house. But as she was asleep, she didn't cry any of the times she was vomiting.

We used a monitor for a while, but then started co-sleeping. That's the best way to hear if something is wrong ;)

Well Caro,
I know you cant hear them stop breathing, but I know of many ppl whom have been given those things that tick all night etc & EVERYONE of them have taken it out as it's annoying.. I choose not to have 1, that's my choice & I personally dont see the need for them..

why does it tick all night? can't it just alarm if something happens? That would be annoying. As it was I had the monitor turned down as low as possible coz I couldnt' stand the noise. LOL.

I read somewhere that monitors have had nothing to do with the reduction in SIDS over the years. Can't remember where (maybe when i looked up the sids&kids site the other day?)

Just wondering - do people still use a movement monitor if the baby is in their room? or only if bub is in anohter room?

My girlfriends Mum was hugely involved with SIDS prior to her passing away from a form of cancer about 5yrs ago...

She told me similar about monitoprs & those movement/breathing sleep devices as you've said Liz! They havent played any part in reducing SIDS.
She also explained that the majority of babies whom have passed away from SIDS have had breathing issues, or been resused in hospital at birth or between birth & being sent home.

I visited my friend who's inlaws had bought the breathing/movement thingy & it was like a clock ticking back & fourth & if the baby stopped moving/breathing an alarm went off, but the noise was annoying like a tap dripping & so after about 5 or 6 days they had removed it!

Zyon will be in a hammock in our room, but both the girls went straight into their own rooms & I have never used a monitor, I can easily hear when my babioes need me & I adhere by all the SIDS info, but I personall;y dont think a monitor or the other thing are necessities!!!

OMG Tracey - just saw how close you are to having Zyon! Got lots of boy nappies ready to go? ;)

We have a monitor for when Ashley goes into her own room (not sure when that is... what did everyone else do)... and although i can hear her scream throughout the house it is comforting to know she is making little noises in her sleep when she is in there during the day!
i find if bub is sickly and vomiting to place on their side with a antiroll device. i know it isnt sids appropriate to sleep in side but then if she vomits then it will be easier for her to spit up and cry so you hear it. because it is too easy for a baby that is restricted from rolling off his/her back to choke on vomit :)

so sorry you had this scare! big hugs xx

Monitors are purely an invention for the peace of mind of parents. Let's face it, when it comes to bubs, most of us get sucked in to every new product which helps us feel our children are as "safe" as they can possibly be. SIDS does not endorse monitors and the monitor companies themselves offer no actual evidence as to if and when their product has ever saved a bub from SIDS (or anything else, for that matter). Experts still don't know what causes SIDS so it follows on that no one can say that a monitor is a cure.

That said, if you live in a large house, I'm sure they're really helpful. And as I approach first time parenthood and spending money hand over fist in excitement, you KNOW I bought an Angelcare. :) But I'm not naive to think that it is anything more than a tool to help me sleep better at night.

But Jodi, that takes nothing away from the fact that the monitor worked brilliantly for you and little Nina the other night. Great to hear! :) But equally, if a parent, like Trace, chooses not to use one, I certainly don't think she's making a dangerous choice.

princessmya, I used that antiroll device (can't remember the name) when Nina was younger. It's great while they're not moving around.

With the Angelcare monitors, you can turn the tick off at the back of the monitor.

ETA: lil MG, well said, and thanks everyone for your thoughts. I'm just thankful she's ok.

Lil MG - true - I mainly used the monitor through the day so I knew if he woke up, not so much as a 'monitor' if that makes sense. Bub was asleep upstairs most of the time, and if I was out at the washing line or something I wouldn't hear him, so I took the monitor with me.

TBH - I considered getting the angelcare, but thought it looked uncomfortable for bub, so just grabbed a 'normal' monitor.

Oh dear Jodi.. how lucky.. my heart nearly stopped reading that. Im glad Nina was ok and you were able to get there quickly, how scarey. We dont have one.. makes me scared now..

Our little one sleeps in a cot next to our bed so we don't use one. I doubt we will move him out of our room before he is 18 months and our house is tiny anyway so for us it really would be a waste of money. So I think it is dependent of your situation.

Hi Jodi,
I am so relieved to hear that Nina was alright,
I have a movement sensor Angelcare monitor, and James has stopped breathing in his sleep ONCE so far. I was able to rush straight in and once I called out his name he started breathing again. he has never had breathing probs at birth, or an other time.
James sleeps in the room next to us, so I dont keep the actual radio part of the monitor on overnight, but I do put the sensor on in his room,. Mine has the option of turning the "tick" off, but it will still alarm if it cannot sense movement within 15 seconds.

I agree if you have a large house, it is a very useful tool. I spent a lot of time outside, so I take the monitor out with me, so I can hear what James is up to.

Jodi I'm SO glad to hear Nina is okay, that must have been so scary for you :(

I personally have never used a moniter at all, either did my sister. I don't think its something I would use, but thats just me.

:hug: Jodi, that must have been so scary for you.
Yasin nearly choked on vomit one night when DH was sleeping next to him and it scared DH no end.

A friend of MIL's had a baby that passed away from SIDS. For her next baby, she did get a sleep apnoea monitor for the bubs, and found that it majorly added to her anxiety and stress, and it seemed to go off all the time. It just wasn't good for her mental state.

That being said though, I do have a baby monitor, and I quite like it. I can still hear Annika in the other room if she cries, but it just gives me the extra security I guess. It's just a basic model but it does the job for me. When Annika was a newborn, she would power vomit a good 3-4 times a night in her sleep. Whilst I was always worried, and barely slept, she never once choked. She would always turn her head on her side. It's published in all those SIDS brochures that we get these days, that even if baby does vomit in her sleep, it is still safer for bubs to sleep on her back.

I'm so glad the monitor helped you with Nina though! I hope the gastro passed quickly too, poor little girl.

Jodi - Thank you for posting this. I'm 15 weeks pregnant and have just bought everything we need including the baby monitor but a few people told us they are more trouble than they are worth. Thanks to your post, I will definitely use the monitors now so matter how annoying they can get.

I don't think anyone is saying that anyone who chooses not to use a monitor is "dangerous or irresponsible." It is a matter of what works best for you. There are pro's and cons for everything, and we all make choices every day.
There is always someone who will disagree with the way we are parenting. All I can say is everyone is doing what they think is best for their bub.

Well said Meg!

Jodie I'm glad Nina is ok!

I've found our monitor to be a lifesaver too and good for peace of mind!

*hugs*
Cailin

Meg, I agree, well said.
I didn't start this thread for it to become a debate, just to let those who were interested know what had happened in my situation, that's all. Just like everything in life, people don't always agree on things. I have personally found the monitor peace of mind, but that's just my opinion.

I'm glad Nina is okay Jodi.

Hugs to you both.

Jodi! What a scare! Glad to hear El Nino's okay, phewf!

-Something I did when I was tossing up getting a baby monitor, was to sit in Riv's room when he was very young and watch him sleep. I would watch him roll, and then move his head again when breathing was hard, I would watch him cough to clear his airway (and he's totally not a spewy baby so no worries there really). It really reassured me to see that he was able to react to situations where breathing was difficult to help himself. Helped with my peace of mind quite a bit.

For those who don't think moniters work, I personally don't agree. When my son was 7 months old the moniter woke us to find him face down (I mean totally face down) and not breathing. Who knows what could or would have happenned if we didn't have a moniter.

My first son had his and it never went off once and he had it until he went into a bed at age three. Parkers has gone off about 5 times, we get the warning tic a lot, but rarely goes off now. He has also been diagnosed with sleep apnea through the moniter.

He will be three in September and we won't be removing it until he gets into a bed. For those who get false alarms I recommend the angelcare moniter with two pads, it covers the whole cot, so you don't get the alarm when they are up either end of the cot.

No in some cases it wont save them, but if it gives you a heads up at least you have a chance isn't it worth it?

Thanks for sharing that scarlet. It's good to hear stories of them working and saving young lives. I too plan of having the monitor for a couple more years to come, and with our next baby/ies too.

bit OT: regarding reflux.

Caro, I remember reading you bought a hammock...I was wondering if you found that it helped with your DS's reflux and did he get used to sleeping in it?