when do you switch the video monitor off?
I had a little debate with myself the other day: What could the outcome be on my child, knowing that from birth 'someone' (for real) is watching their every move. And when will I be comfortable with putting the monitor away. Before 1 years of age you have to be sure they are breathing ALL the time. Then the 2nd year comes round and you want to be sure they are not getting their foot stuck in something or climbing out and falling on their head. I know when the 3rd year rolls round I will want to be sure they are not drawing on the wall or peeing in the corner............so when does one just give up and say now is the time for some privacy? What effect does this have on my child for adulthood? Will they just be ok with 'someone' watching all the time?
When do YOU plan to put that video monitor away?
Tags: monitor, newborn, parenting, toddler, video
Views: 170
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Krista McAdam on -
When Parker had transitioned out of his crib and into a toddler bed (around age 3) we got rid of the video camera. At this point he was potty trained and old enough to get out of his bed on his own and open the door. I felt since he was able to get out of his room and walk downstairs on his own there was no need for a camera anymore. I have to admit the decision was kind of made for me when Olivia was born. We figured we could either buy a new video camera so there was one in each room. Or we can just get rid of the one in Parker's room and transfer it into her room. I have to say there was never a time where i regretted moving the camera out. It really was never a big deal. I think the time was right for us. :)
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Mills on -
I have two in one room - like full-on surveillance LOL! - for my 4 1/2 year old and 2 year old boys who share a room in bunk beds. I don't 'need' it, but it sure is nice to be able to know exactly what they're doing in there and how much time I have before they come down in the morning...it never even crossed my mind that 'being watched' might be problematic 'til seeing your post - I think my older one actually feels safer that I can see him and hear him...
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Permalink Reply by Sivan Kochinski on -
I don't have an answer for you, but you made me laugh when you talked about peeing in the corner...geez, I hope we don't go through that one! ;) For now, we don't keep the monitor on each day (which reminds me, I need to find it since the girls probably put it in some drawer after playing with it a few days ago) but use it as needed, like when there's the sudden "BOOM!" from upstairs and I want to verify if a little munchkin climbed out of the crib or not.
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Permalink Reply by Samantha Brook on -
I turned it off when two things occurred.
1. I stopped actually watching. I found it was only on to be able to hear her better.
2. She asked me to turn it off. She knew what it was for and the camera scared her a little. (It had a green light for night vision and she didn't like that).
My LO is just a little over 2 and I put the camera away probably 1-2 months after she turned 2 and everything has been fine. I didn't even use it during potty training, though I debated turning it back on.
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Permalink Reply by Holly on -
If anyone is selling a video monitor, let me know. The AC adaptor broke on mine :(
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Permalink Reply by natalie garcia on -
LOL Holly!!!!!!!
Thank you all for your input! It has made me realize that I use my monitor a lot! I will have to wean myself off of this comfort. It is largely because I do not feel like going upstairs to inspect or even listen at the door to be sure all is ok and Gigi is a very light sleeper, so if/when I do go in her room there is a 50 % chance she will wake up! This all said, I do think it probably is not necessary to be on all the time. Wish me luck! :))
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Permalink Reply by Holly on
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I loved mine! I don't have the video on all the time but it is nice to be able to turn it on if I hear something and don't want to risk waking up Q if he isn't already awake. :)
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Permalink Reply by Tatiana on -
Hahaha. When I first saw the question I was going to answer "When they are 18"... haha. I had not actually thought about it either! We have one and I honestly don't think my son "knows" it's there or that we can "see" him. I like having it mostly so I can hear him better, although it is a video one. You can turn off the screen and just have sound, but I do like looking in there from time to time because there's that "THUMP!!!" from time to time and so far it's just him kicking the crib slats... but I guess seeing that he didn't actually fall out makes ME feel better... haha.
Good post. I guess if he asked me "Mommy take that thing down" then I'd take it down. :) Or when he's off to college so I don't spy on the guests when his room becomes a guest room... Hahaha. Just kidding!!!!! lol
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer on -
We actually never used a video monitor. After reading some of these posts...I'm really glad we never got one 'cause now we don't have to wean ourselves off of it! lol Our LO started sleeping in her own room at about 3 months and she's a very good sleeper (we now put her down between 8:15-8:30pm and she doesn't wake up most nights until between 7-8am). So, I guess I trust her and myself to not have to look in on her. Plus our sound monitor works really well, so, I don't have a problem hearing her from our bedroom. It also has an intercom on it so if I feel the need to talk to her because I hear sound, I can. That's come in real handy on those nights where she wakes in the middle of the night (I just talk to her over the monitor and it soothes her enough to put her back to sleep).
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Permalink Reply by Mary Stewart Oliver on -
My girl is 17 months and we hardly use the video part of the monitor anymore. She has been sleeping in her own room since she was 2 weeks old and slept through the night at 10 weeks. I have only found myself using the video portion when she was sick and the hubby was out of town. I had tons of stuff to do for work, I took the monitor in the office and watched her from a far.
On the flip side, it is sometimes really fun to watch them playing in their crib when they discover something new. I honestly really just love to hear her talking away in her room.
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Permalink Reply by Nicole G. on -
When Kevin starts paying rent, he can have "privacy" in his own room. Until then, I'm keeping my eye on him. :) Tee hee. Seriously, I imagine that if we have another child, I'll use the monitor for that baby and just listen for Kevin. It has been handy since he's a toddler now though to make sure he's not getting into trouble in his room...
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