Introducing the Lorex LW2004 Monitor!

Video baby monitors are a great way to help reduce the everyday stress of keeping an eye on the little ones. Having a monitor allows a parent or caretaker to see exactly what baby, toddler, or young child is up to, while having the ability to relax. Just having a moment to concentrate fully on a separate task can be a feat unto itself when you have a new baby.

A video camera can be placed in the child’s room on a wall mount or shelf, while a parent unit- usually a convenient handheld screen allows you to see the child in another part of the house with real time video images. Baby monitors, like the Lorex LW2004 we are reviewing, also are great for night time use- they can help you get a better nights sleep knowing that the monitor will wake you up more quickly perhaps than if you were simply attempting to sleep more lightly to hear a child’s cry.

LW2004 Features

Lorex offers a couple different models of video baby monitors, and is an established company which specializes in security cameras. Right of the bat this should make you feel very confident with a Lorex purchase!

Some features of the Lorex LW2004 Video Baby Monitor include:

• Secure digital wireless signal
• Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum for added security
• Night vision
• 2 way audio
• ability to add up to 3 additional cameras

The frequency hopping spread spectrum is a great security feature as some other baby monitors on the market can actually be picked up by other people, or, you might actually pick up the signal of a neighbors child on your monitor!! It’s good to know that Lorex makes a baby monitor with professional security camera features!

This Lorex LW2004 also comes with:

• 2.4” LIVE view LCD Handheld Screen
• Rechargeable battery stand that doubles as a beltclip
• Audio and Visual Alert Mechanisms on parent handheld unit
• Camera Stand
• 2 Power Adapters

Amazon customer reviews

With so many video baby monitors out there, it really is a good idea to see what other customers say about a monitor you are considering for purchase. Research isn’t everything, but it’s half the battle!

Amazon users currently rate the Lorex LW2004 with 3.3 out of 5 Stars. There are 38 Amazon customer reviews so far.

One reviewer who gave this monitor a 4 star rating says:

This Video Baby Monitor works really well and has multiple uses. The video quality is very good and provides both daylight and night vision options which is perfect for situations wherein the camera is monitoring your baby while asleep.

Another Amazon reviewer who gave this monitor a 5 out of 5 stars said:

I purchased this baby monitor when it was on sale as a Gold Box deal. After seeing all of the negative reviews from people who also purchased this product as part of the Gold Box deal, I was very eager to receive the product and test it out for myself. After the first 3 hours, I’m very pleased with the product.

Our analysis

As mentioned earlier Lorex is one of the best companies in the entire world when it comes to secure video monitoring. Using the same technology they have transferred their expertise to the area of video baby monitors including the LW2004 monitor. Customers should feel confident as Lorex is a strong brand and is often quick to respond to any issues. Here is our list of Pros and Cons.

Pros:
1. Extremely clear color picture. Resolution and picture quality was excellent.
2. Low light and night vision quality was excellent.
3. The reception quality was perfect. I have Wi-Fi and a cordless phone system and there were no interference at all.
4. Look and Feel of the white plastic on both the camera and the monitor was great. It reminds me of my white iPad 2. I completely disagree with the other reviews that it felt like cheap plastic.
5. The stand for both the monitor and the camera works well. It had a simple, minimalist design. Again, this reminded me of the Apple products that I have. This over all “look and feel” was the reason why I purchased this monitor over the others.
6. VOX (voice activated sleep mode) works exceptionally well. The monitor and volume is turned off until the camera picks up noise. The monitor was completely quiet. I used this for hours, and there were no beeping sounds like some reviews stated (again beeping occurs only when the battery is low. Keep it plugged in at night and you’re okay. You can change the sensitivity of this, and in my test it picks up the slightest sound, which cases the monitor to turn on. I like the camera button that easily turns on the monitor for a short time when it is in VOX mode.
7. The buttons on the monitor was extremely intuitive to use. I have to disagree with the other reviewers who had a difficult time. It took less than 2 minutes to figure out all of the features on the monitor without even reading the manual.
8. Compared to my first video baby monitor 6 years ago, this is a huge improvement in technology.

Cons:
1. It can be a bit difficult to get the right angle for aiming the camera over the crib. Lucky for me, I was able to put this on a tall TV stand that was converted over to use in the baby room.
2. The intercom feature was poor quality because the audio on the camera isn’t very good. This is where I would agree with the other reviewers that this is more likely to scare the baby.

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Summer Infant Complete Coverage Set with 7″ LCD Screen

Video baby monitors come in all different shapes and sizes these days, and have an wide range of available features. With so many to choose from, it is a good thing to do some research first to find out what you need, and what others experiences have been. I myself have an older child as well as a baby, and have found that having a video baby monitor allows certain freedoms that I have never even been able to consider. The technology is here, so I figure it might be time to use it.

With a video baby monitor, such as the Summer Infant Complete Coverage, you can keep watch over what the little ones are doing while attending to your own tasks in another part of the house. These monitors also help you sleep better if you are constantly worried about your child sleeping in another room apart from you. The camera can be mounted on a wall over the child’s bed, or, can be placed on a shelf or high dresser in their room. Cameras these days also have audio, so that when you are sleeping, the monitor will wake you with sound, led flashing lights, and picture. It sounds like a lot at first, but, when you consider how lightly you sleep in order to hear sounds on your own- well, overall there is a good chance that you will be able to get a better rest if you have a tool like this on hand.

What features are included?

The Summer Infant Complete Coverage Color Video Monitor Set includes:

• 2 monitor screens- one 7 inch screen with carrying handle, and one 1.8 inch handheld portable screen with belt clip
• Range up to 350 feet
• Tilt and swirl design for accurate camera angle

It is one of the few baby monitors on the market today that comes with two different size screens. This could mean that two parents can use the monitor at the same time in different parts of the house, or, perhaps if a daycare wanted to implement the use of monitors.

Actual Customer Reviews

The Summer Infant Complete Coverage Monitor currently has 91 customer reviews. It has earned a total of 3.3 out of 5 stars.

One reviewer, who gave this monitor a 5 star Amazon rating writes:

This system is great. It has excellent audio and video definition, great range and the mobile flexability of the hand held second monitor. We use the large screen in our bedroom at night and the hand held unit when needed during the day. We had a problem with our hand held unit and the company replaced the entire system. Their customer service was a 12 on a scale of 0 to 10! We highly recommend this system. (read more of this review…)

Another Amazon customer reviewer who gave the Summer Complete Coverage Monitor 1 out of 5 stars wrote:

If you can live with the constant static and interference of this model (we have moved in the last year so it’s not just our house) then you will be fine. They are sending me the baby touch monitor which is listed at 249.00 retail ($50.00 less than was spent on this system) as I am at my wits end with this model. I figure, I am stuck with this company, so I may as well give it a shot. (read more of this review…)

Our Analysis

There are many things to like and dislike about the Summer Infant Complete Coverage monitor. On one hand it comes with a nice large screen which everyone enjoys. On the other hand some people have had some major complaints about the customer service they have received. Either way, please review all of the comments and make the best decision for yourself. Here are our list of pros and cons:

Pros: 2 screens for one system- one large, and one small

Cons: Recurrent problems with monitors that need replacing

Overall, the product has been received well, and has many good reviews. It is one of the few on the market that offers two screens of different sizes, and the 350 foot range is reasonable coverage for a baby monitor. Summer Infant has said that the channels are not secure, and that sometimes as with other baby monitors from other companies there can be signal issues such as picking up images or sounds from another monitor close by. It is important to review the security level of a monitor before buying.

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Introducing the Infant Optics Video Monitor

It’s wonderful that these days this technology is available at an affordable price. A video baby monitor is a great tool to keep an eye on my little ones while I have some time to myself, or, to do things like house or home office work. There are many different video baby monitors on the market today- and although they are hands down a better option than the older audio monitoring systems, it’s still a good idea to do as much research as you can to ensure you pick the right one for your money.

The Infant Optics 2.4 ghz Digital video baby monitor is made by GeneX ltd. who specializes in programming software. The company has a good reputation overall, but does not specialize in infant safety products.

Features of the Infant Optics Monitor

The Infant Optics monitor is one of the more user friendly models available as it only has the necessary features and boasts a lower price range as far as other monitors go. The easy set up is great, and is a huge time saver!

Some other features this monitor has include:

• Secure FHSS Data Encryption
• 2.4” Full-color TFT Screen with Infrared Night Vision
• Wireless range of up to 800 feet
• Voice Activated Power Saver Mode (Standby Mode)

The 800 foot range is the highest I have seen in video baby monitors. It’s a huge amount of space for a larger house or if you need to go out in the back yard for a bit. Secure data encryption basically means that no one else will be able to view anything from your system- this can happen unintentionally when a neighbor for example also has a monitoring system. The basic features are technology based, well thought out, and doesn’t leave much space for confusion. There are no bells and whistles so to speak that could lead to confusion.

The Infant Optics monitor also has:

• Up to 4 cameras can be added onto one system
• Streaming Video Feed at 30 Frames per Second
• 1-year warranty and 30 day money back guarantee

Customer Reviews

This is the first baby baby monitor Infant Optics has put on the market. It has earned 4.3 out of 5 possible stars with the Amazon rating system, and already 239 customer reviews have been made.

Some reviewers that gave the Infant Optics Digital Baby Monitor say:

I was nervous about this purchase because the price was so low & I thought it must be too good to be true. I stressed and researched for months over which monitor to try and ended up choosing this one. The unit was very easy to use – plug & play, and the colored screen was very large. A couple days later, I decided to set the camera up in the crib & see what the night vision looked like. (read more…)

Absolutely no audio or video interference even an approximate 125 ft. distance transmitting through 2 single family homes from the camera unit. Overall I am very satisfied with both this item and the customer support I received. (read more…)

Our analysis

We feel that the Infant Optics Digital Baby Monitor is one of the best choices available. Combine it’s fantastic feature list and ease of use with the price of $100, you can’t go wrong! Here is our final list of Pros and Cons.

Pros for the Infant Optics:
-Simple, easy to use setup
-Reasonable Price
-User friendly features

Cons Include:
-Reported bugs with voice activated power save mode
-Red lights on camera can be distracting to an older child

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Levana LV-TW502 Video Baby Monitor

A step up from audio baby monitors, video baby monitors such as the Levana Safe N’See allow me to actually see what my little ones are up to. Whether sleeping or playing in their room, I get to keep an eye on them while in another part of the house. This is a great little home gadget hands down for busy parents!! I am finally able to do the dishes, work on the computer, or EVEN listen to music on headphones and relax for a few minutes while watching everything the kids do upstairs. I can’t express how great it is not to be interrupted every few moments in the middle of something just to go and see what this or that little sound was- or WHY it’s “too quiet”. I can see them right on the little baby monitor screen right in my hand. Most screens these days are about the size of a cell phone which is great- I can clip it to my belt while walking around, or set it next to me on a tabletop.

While these monitors make life a lot easier, it’s important to shop around, and do your homework before buying. Baby monitors these days can be very simple, or, they can come with all kinds of features.

Safe N’ See Features

The Levana Safe N’ See is packed full of great features. Some of the better features of The Levana LV-TW502 Safe N’ See Advanced 3.5-Inch Digital Video Wireless Baby Monitor with Talk to Baby Intercom include:

• ClearVU Levana Technology with 100% secure connection
• 3.5 LCD screen
• Night Vision
• VOX voice activated control
• Range up to 500 feet

Monitor Range

The 500 foot range on this monitor is high compared to some others on the market. VOX voice activation means that you can turn your monitor screen off to save battery power- but it will automatically turn on if your little one makes a peep. The sound activation is a great feature so you can get some sleep too without the light from the screen on all night. If the baby starts crying, you will hear them. The VOX feature also allows you to push a button and talk to the baby from wherever you are in the house.

Cutting edge technology offers other features as well:

• Room temperature monitoring
• LED noise level indication lights
• All in one table stand and belt clip
• 5 built in lullabies that can be played for baby
• night light feature
• ability to add extra cameras onto system to monitor more than one room

All these are useful features that show some thought went into the Levana Safe n See monitor. The room temp monitoring is handy. LED noise lights help to catch my attention if the baby is making noise that I am not hearing. The ability to add more cameras to other rooms in the house is great because sometimes my child takes a nap in the playroom, or on the couch downstairs. Also my older child wanders from room to room and it’s nice to be able to see her wherever she goes.

Amazon Reviews

The Levana Safe N’ See Advanced has a total of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.com’s user reviews- which is very high. There are 26 reviews total so far.

One reviewer who gave a 5 star rating said:

We’ve used it for three weeks now and I have no complaints…

Another reviewer who gave this Levana monitor a 3 out of 5 star rating says:

This is the 2nd Levana monitor that I’ve had and, just like with my first one, it has several annoying issues. Number one: the picture freezes ALL THE TIME. Not just the standard way when there’s no movement. NO. Like when I hold and kiss the baby, put her in her crib, rub her tummy a minute, walk into my room, look at the monitor and the picture is a fractured image of me holding her from 5 minutes ago! Read more of this review from Amazon.

Our final Analysis

We think the Levana Safe N’Sound is one of the most underrated baby video monitor’s on the market today. No matter what situation you are in the Safe N’ Sound will provide you with the comfort you deserve. Our final Pros & Cons are as follows:

Pros: Large range, night vision, VOX audio, beltclip, additional cameras can be added.

Cons: Loud annoying beep from parent unit when you turn it on, no mute button, some users report short camera life with replacement under warranty.

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Lorex LW2003 LIVE snap Video Baby Monitor

Video baby monitors can help keep an eye on the little one while they play or sleep in their own room. It’s a great gadget to have around- especially when you have a lot to do- I know I always do! The video monitors are great because unlike the old audio components, you can actually see what your baby is up to instead of playing “guess that sound”. Even if your little one is totally quiet- either sleeping or possibly getting into something they shouldn’t you will be aware- peace of mind in an instant just by looking at your monitor screen.

Video baby monitors range in their features and price range, and whether you are a first time parent, or looking to buy again it’s a good idea to shop around and find what best fits your needs.

Main Features

Looking at the Lorex LW2003 LIVE monitor there are some features that immediately stand out:

• Snap, Store, and Share with MicroSD Recording
• Two-Way (VOX) Audio Communication
• Digital Signal for Security
• Auto Activated Night Vision

This is a portable system with rechargeable lithium ion batteries- so you can choose to go wireless, although there is also an ac adapter included. The monitor also has easy no hassle set up and is compact so you can take it when you go visiting.

There are many other items of interest in the Lorex live-snap monitor to help put a parent’s mind at ease. These include:

• Pocket sized parent unit with 2.4 inch LCD screen
• Wireless range of up to 450 feet
• Can handle up to 4 cameras on one system
• Take up to 4000 pictures which save automatically to built in SD card
• Quad Split Screen on parent monitor which allows you to actually view multiple camera images at the same time

The quad split screen will allow the parent to view up to four camera images on one system. This means that as your little one begins to toddle about, you can monitor multiple rooms and view them all at the same time instead of switching from one camera to another! This is a cool feature unique to the Lorex monitor.

Actual Customer Reviews

The Lorex LW2003 LIVE snap Video Baby Monitor has earned 3.1 out of 5 Amazon stars on it’s customer reviews, and there are 331 people that have given feedback on Amazon as well.

One reviewer who gave the Lorex 5 stars says:

LOVE this monitor. I have two boys ages 6 and 5 that share a room. They were misbehaving at night and had to be separated to different rooms. I told my husband I wished a baby monitor was made that I can see my boys, talk to my boys and they could talk back to me. This is an answer to my prayers! There is night vision on this unit as well. I am thinking about getting an add on camera for my baby. You can add on 3 additional cameras if you want. It is a must have for children of all ages that you need to keep a closer eye on. Amazon has this priced lower than ANYONE else so don’t hesitate..buy today!

Another reviewer who rated the monitor with 2 stars says:

We loved this camera initially. It was cheap, had all the important functions, and worked like a champ. Unfortunately, like some other reviews, the micro USB port on the monitor broke off after about 10 months. You’ll notice that it’s difficult to insert the monitor into the charging station. We recommended this camera to our friends and the same exact thing happened to them but after only 8 months.

All in all, although the reviews on this particular monitor vary, there are enough reviews to read through to get a good idea of what you are looking at with this Lorex model.

Our analysis of the Lorex Live Snap

Overall we are quite confident that you will get a lot of good use out of the Lorex Live Snap monitor. There are a few people who have had difficulties with customer service related issues while others have been able to use this monitor for life. Here are a few of our major pro’s and con’s.

Pros:
-Portable
-Simple set up
-Ability to take pictures
-Allows for additional cameras
-Digital system for secure connection

Cons:
-Possible breakage of parts
-No LED lights for audio
-No belt clip on the parent unit

It is important to test your monitor thoroughly after purchase, and check for any possible flaws regardless of which monitor you decide to go with. Having a video baby monitor is something that really does make life much easier- especially when it performs the way it should.

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Looking for Wireless? Levana BABYVIEW20 could be for you

Using a baby monitor can really cut down on stress and lack of sleep for first time parents, or for any family with a new baby for that matter. Monitors are easily mounted in any room of the house either on the wall with accessories included for mounting. There are alot of different monitors on the market right now, and all of them have features that are useful for keeping an eye on the little one while you are doing something in a different part of the house. It is a good idea to take a good look around and review different cameras and monitors before you buy, so you can get what you need at the right price.

Levana is a great company that has a reputation for excellent customer support. They seem to have a fast response time for any issues that might come up, including replacement units. They also make their products according to European child safety standards, which I like- they use less hazardous materials in their monitors than some other companies out there.

This particular monitor has some great features- especially when it comes to reducing the amount static and interference that you can get on a monitor when there is wireless internet and other devices running in your house at the same time.

What is Included?

Year after year consumers often look to Levana for their baby monitor needs. This monitor is no different as it is packed with many great features to make you happy. Features of the Levana BABYVIEW20 Video Baby Monitor include:

• Electronic interference free reception
• Digital video and audio signal between camera and monitor
• Night vision
• Portable and wireless capability
• Rechargeable batteries and ac adapters
• Range up to 150 feet indoors or outdoors
• 1 year warranty

With many parents complaining of picture and sound quality issues because of interference, this monitor was made to be clear at all times. Also, to the standby mode setting allows for your unit to stay charged longer, and will only activate when your child is crying or making noise.

There is a soft glowing night light feature as well as built in lullabies that can be activated on the camera to help baby sleep.

Customer Testimonials

This Levana Interference Free Monitor has an all time Amazon customer rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars with a total of 267 reviews. The interference free monitor has a quick set up, and a handheld digital portable parent unit. With a 2.36 screen, you get a pretty good sized image of your baby from the camera. This monitor has many great features, and is easy to use- something to consider when looking for a reliable user friendly baby monitor.

People that reviewed this monitor said:

The most important factor about these devices are not having any dropped receptions, etc. Carrying a video signal wirelessly seems like a pretty hefty task. The Levana Babyview20 *INTERFERENCE FREE* Digital Wireless Video Monitor does a good job carrying a consistent signal; I haven’t experienced any major freezes or losing video signal. (read more)

We purchased this baby monitor 2.5 years ago after researching many different monitors. For the price, we have been very happy. Overall, I would say that we are happy with this purchase. I’m giving the monitor 4 stars due to just a few issues and it not being perfect. (read more)

Our overall recommendations

Here are some of the pros and cons from our experience of the Levana Babyview monitor.

Pros:
* The price. For a video baby monitor, this asking price is pretty good.
* Durability. We have carried the monitor around all over the house and put it through its paces. So far, after 2.5 years, the monitor has held up and continues to work. The camera itself has taken a few falls off the top of a dresser onto carpeted floor without any issues.
* Range. We have been able to receive a link signal to the camera from everywhere without our house (3200 sq ft). This was pleasant surprise for me. It includes having the camera in an upstairs bedroom and the monitor in a finished basement. Still works great.
* Vox. The vox mode worked pretty well for us. It was not too sensitive for needs most of the time. Occasionally the fan would trigger the vox in the right conditions, but this is not a problem 90% of the time.
* Volume. The monitor can be turned up very loud. It’s great for if you want to leave it in a room and do some other stuff in another room and still hear it. We normally have it at just 1/4 volume, and it’s great.

Cons:
* Video quality. I’m not sure if this is due to the screen or the camera, but the colors are very washed out. For the price, I didn’t expect much as far as video quality goes. It still gets the job done to get a quick peek at your child while you are out of the room.
* Battery life. The battery has degraded over the last couple of years and does not last very long now. We have not yet looked into buying a replacement battery, so unfortunately, I can not comment on what that would cost. This hasn’t been a big deal for us as usually the monitor stays plugged in by our bed.
* Night light feature bug. There seems to be a bug with the system where every once in a while, the stars that light up on the camera will turn on without you pressing the button on the monitor. They are not terribly bright, so it’s not a big deal, but it could be an issue for some people. Perhaps its interference from other wireless signals or something. We haven’t been able to pinpoint the problem.
* Wireless interference. We initially hit some bad interference with our wireless internet router in our house with this monitor. After some channel switching, I was able to resolve the issue, but it was a pain for a while. If you have a 2.4GHz wireless router, be aware that you may have some issue with wireless speed while the monitor is active.

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Summer Infant Day & Night Baby Video Monitor with 5″ screen

There are many advantages to having a video baby monitor around the house when you have a little one. Keeping an eye on a sleeping child with a monitor gives you an opportunity for a little worry free time for yourself. For those who have not had a baby monitor before, the Summer Infant Day and Night is a moderately priced monitor that gives you a good idea what its all about. This monitor is simpler than most, with only a few features- Summer’s most basic, low priced model. There are some things to know before you buy to ensure you are getting the most for your money.

Features of the Monitor

Summer Infant is often consider one of the most affordable brands when it comes to baby monitors. The Day & Night model is no different and offers many great features including:

• 5” Black and White Monitor Screen
• Night Vision
• Range of up to 350 Feet
• 2 Channels for clear reception
• LED sound lights
• Can use up to two cameras on the system

This particular Summer Baby Monitor has a monitor screen that is not hand held, but is like a small television set. This unit does allow for a second camera to be added to the system to monitor a second room as the baby gets older, which means this monitor should get more than its fair share of use for the price- and the price is one of the lowest of all baby monitors Summer Infant currently offers.

The camera comes with wall mounts, or, can simply be set on a table or shelf top. It is also adjustable so you can get the angle you want.

Customer Reviews of the Day & Night Monitor

The Summer Infant Day and Night Baby Video Monitor System has a total Amazon rating of 3 out of 5 possible stars. There are 68 reviews on this particular monitor.

Feedback from other buyers:

I received this as a gift for my second baby. I was not really sure if it was something I really “needed”, but we borrowed the monitor we’d used for our first baby, so we needed something, and since we were given this, I figured I would try it out. My son is 11 weeks old and I have been using this since the third night he was home from the hospital. I could not get any sleep w/ him in our room, and out of desperation put him in his crib in his own room that third night. I hooked up the monitor and loved the fact that I could see him as well as hear him. (read more of this review).

We didn’t mind this product at first. It has decent video and decent audio. A neighbor nearby recently had a baby, however, and now I constantly pick up their monitor.. video and all! I regularly have to switch channels (there are only 3) to find the clearest picture/sound of my baby. Many times I have to listen to static all night long!
(read more).

Our final analysis

This baby monitor is one of the lower end models, and might be the right one to suit your needs. Here are some of the Pros and Cons:

Pros: Affordable, reports a clear picture, can handle up to two cameras on one unit.

Cons: Can pick up interference, might pick up the signal of another baby monitor nearby, is not portable.

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Levana ClearVu with Color Changing Night Light

Having a small child around the house can present some issues when you need to get things done! A video baby monitor is one way to give you an extra pair of hands so to speak by allowing you to keep an eye on your little one in one room while you are working in another part of the house. Levana, the maker, is specifically in the business of child safety monitors, and also supports the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, which I find impressive. They sponsor a widget on their page from which users can make donations directly to that center. Levana makes more expensive, top of the line baby monitors as well.

The ClearVu Digital Video Baby Monitor with Color Changing Night Light is a lower end, less expensive model in their line which makes it more attractive for first time buyers who are up to try a monitor, but aren’t ready to invest in a higher end model. No matter what your reasons, it’s good to find out what you are paying for before you take that first step.

What comes in the box?

Depending on the monitor you are looking at one of the key decisions that can be made is what is included when purchased. For instance, some monitors do not come with a battery which can factor into your decision. The Levana ClearVu monitor includes:

• Parent Unit w/Li-Ion battery
• Baby Unit
• Camera Mount
• Parent Unit Rechargeable Base
• 2 Power Adapters
• 1 Year Warranty
• Lifetime Live Support

ClearVu Features

The Levana ClearVu comes with many amazing features making it one of the top monitors available. The ClearVu Digital Video Baby Monitor features:

• A range of 310 to 350 feet
• 2.4 inch screen with 320×240 resolution
• Digital wireless frequency
• 2.14 GHz channel frequencies
• Audio activation
• Ability to add up to four cameras onto the system

This monitor does have a built in multicoloured LCD nightlight that glows softly in the dark. I wish I had had this feature for my oldest child, who absolutely loves stuff like that! It’s a comforting, pretty glow. The main features of the camera include:

• Night vision up to 10 feet
• Max wireless range of 350 feet with an optimum range of 175 feet
• 640×480 resolution
• Viewing angle of 60 degrees

Amazon Reviews

The Levona ClearVu has earned a total Amazon rating of 3 out of 5 stars, and has 96 reviews- a pretty good amount of feedback is available with these reviews to help you make an informed decision. One of the reviewers who gave the monitor an overall grade of 3 stars had this to say:

The Levana Clear-Vu digital baby monitor does exactly what it says it does, and it does it well. It sets up easily and transmits a clear picture in both light and dark. It’s a cute little unit that is attractive and easy to use. The nightlight feature is pretty and soothing. However… i feel it is lacking in a few features, and could use a few basic design adjustments. First, the quietest sound level that it will adjust to is still VERY loud. I don’t need to hear EVERY SINGLE breath that my baby takes, i just want to know when she’s crying. Read more of this reivew at Amazon.

A more positive reviewer who gave it a full 5 out of the 5 stars had this to say:

Contrary to what everyone else says about this monitor, we have had nothing but a positive experience with them. We have been using two monitors tied to two cameras (viewable on either monitor) for over a year now. The average battery life on the monitor leave s a little bit to be desired, but will last 3-5 hours, depending on volume level/lcd display. We get an average of 2.5 hours with both the LCD and volume on. For the price, the picture, especially the night mode, is great, and the sound is crystal clear. I highly recommend these to anyone! View more of this review.

Our Summary

The Levana ClearVu video baby monitor is a great choice for those looking for a monitor having a high quality camera at a reasonable price. Here are some of our final pros & cons.

Pros: You can build up to four additional cameras onto the system, and many people report less wireless interference than many other monitors out there. Good image quality, and the nightlight feature is fun.

Cons: There is no belt clip or other way to attach the parent unit to you, and it seems that the unit needs to be on the charger a lot of the time. Also the audio has been reported not to pick up softer sounds, which may give the child more alone time than you want when they are starting to wake up, or are already upset.

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Philips AVENT Digital Video Baby Monitor

Philips is well known for it’s audio monitors, so it seems to go without saying that they would make a great video monitor as well. The Philips Avent Digital Video baby monitor has a simple set up- just set it on a shelf and plug it in- which is a huge plus as far as time and effort. A monitor is a great tool to keep an eye on the little ones while they play upstairs, or, while they are sleeping..The idea of having a video monitor for their sleeping is good for me because if they wake up, I will be more likely to hear them on the monitor before they toddle their way to trouble!

Having a baby monitor that you can see and hear the children on really helps me get a better quality of sleep. Just knowing that I will not have to sleep lightly or wake up multiple times to check just in case one or the other child wakes up and starts wandering around is a HUGE PLUS. The Philips Avent monitor will give me a heads up when they begin to stir even though we are on different floors in the house. There are a lot of different monitors on the market right now, many of them similar, so it’s important to read up on things like features, possible product issues, and product longevity, before running out and buying the first thing you see.

Features

There are many important considerations to be made when purchasing a video monitor for your child. Things from screen size, frequency, range, and picture quality all factor into the decision. The main features of the Philips Avent are:

• Digital picture quality
• Range of up to 492 feet
• Works well getting a signal through several walls
• Infrared night vision
• Easy set up
• Automatically searches for reception channels with the least interference and highest privacy- Phillips says they are 100% secure.
• Remote activation on night light and lullaby music

More detailed overview of the main features

Reception Range: The range is impressive, up to 492 feet. Over and over again people are saying that they are having great experiences with the Avent’s range, even when outside at night. It works on many different floors, and throughout several walls at the same time.

Wireless Capability: This monitor boasts a 2.4 gig frequency band. The camera doesn’t seem to have many of the wireless interference problems I have read about with other baby monitors. The reception comes in clear, and it will automatically search for a new channel if it senses any connection problems- so I don’t have to worry about reconnecting and finding channels myself.

Set Up: This is a really user friendly, uncomplicated set up. You basically just set it down where you want it and plug it in. It doesn’t come with wall mounts, but the screw holes are there so you could mount it easily with a wedge from the hardware store. Otherwise a shelf or dresser top will do just fine.

Power Supply: This Phillips Avent monitor plugs in, or, it will also run on the rechargeable battery pack. The parent unit clips easily to your belt, and has it’s own charging station.

Amazon Reviews

Thankfully, this particular monitor has 83 amazon customer reviews to browse. Also, it has an Amazon customer rating of 3.6 out of 5 stars – not too shabby for a monitor that is pretty reasonably priced as far as some other units on the market right now.

A five star reviewer says:

How often does a product perform exactly as advertised? Not often in my book so I was thrilled when this baby monitor worked just like it said it would. Setting this monitor up is very simple. Included instructions are not necessary to read. The base needs to be plugged in and positioned for maximum viewing. The portable monitor is light enough to carry around and the clip keeps it secure but I like to use a pocket, if available. The monitor stands alone nicely and the range is good enough for my backyard (1/4 acre). (read more…)

On the other side of things, a reviewer who gave this monitor only one star said:

What they fail to tell you with this monitor, is that it only outputs noise in the parents handheld when it “detects” a noise, rather than constantly streaming through everything heard. Maybe the assumption is that most parents only want to hear when their child cries out loud, rather than the deep sighs or moving around. But, I definitely want to hear it all. The reason for a monitor is the sense of comfort it gives you, in hearing what’s happening in your child’s room. I had my husband go into my son’s room, and move around the room to see if the handheld would pick up that noise and turn on. It did not! (read more…)

Our final analysis

Pros:

• Reasonable mid priced unit
• Extremely clear digital picture during day and night time hours
• Incredibly easy set up
• Great range of up to 492 feet
• Less reported wireless interference than other baby monitors in its category

Cons:

• Rechargeable power pack reported to have short life
• Automatic audio feature is not as responsive to smaller noises than some other monitors
• Does not include mountable wall unit
• Does not allow multiple cameras to be added on

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Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Color Video Monitor

Keeping an eye on the little one can create quite a challenge whether you have things to do around the house during the day, or, you are trying to get a worry free night of rest while in sleeping in a different room. A baby monitor can be a big help these days with so much to do, and so little time. Video baby monitors are great compared to the old style audio monitors because you still get the audio feature to hear whats going on, as well as the extra benefit of actually watching your child sleep or play without running back and forth from where you are to where the little one is!

I need to make sure that my child is resting peacefully so I can concentrate on the tasks at hand without worrying. It can also be helpful to keep an eye on my older one while she is playing upstairs. Before choosing which monitor to go with, it is important to me to do as much research as I can before buying.

Summer Infant has a wide variety of baby safety products including video monitors. They are a popular product, and are reasonably priced in the market.

What makes this monitor so good?

The Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Color Video Monitor has an edge on many others out there because it works like a smart phone with a touch screen.

Features Include:

• 3.5 color digital video display
• Touch screen
• 2 way talk back audio
• Range of up to 400 feet
• Camera pans, scans, and zooms in and out
• Docking station for parent unit
• Remote Activation
• Night Vision

This monitor has wireless capability, the ability to add up to three additional cameras, and can be plugged into your television screen for a larger image. The camera is very quiet, and can be turned on remotely if you forget to activate it in the room- which is great so you don’t disturb baby fumbling around in a dark room looking for the button!

There is an a/c adapter as well as a rechargeable battery pack, so you can go wireless. Camera mounts are included, and the parent unit does have a belt clip so you can walk around hands free. Volume control is a great feature if you are trying to get some sleep- you can turn it down so you can still hear your child, but not be blasted out of bed by an uncontrollable sound system feature!

Customer Reviews

This monitor has an Amazon rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars – a great competitive rating in monitors right now. There are 190 customer reviews to date, and here is what some people had to say about the Summer Baby Touch Monitor:

This thing is great. I’ve got two girls who are fresh from the crib and now are in their own beds… in the same room. Trying to get them to sleep has been extremely difficult. At one point, they got out of bed, climbed up the front of their dresser and managed to pull it down on themselves. That was it… time to get a monitor.

I stuck it up on the wall in their room in about 1 minute. Walked into the other room with the monitor, turned it on… that was it. 100% configured.

Here is the best part: Sound. The thing is so good, I can hear them breathing as they sleep if I turn it up. AND… it gets better. There is a speaker on it, so you can really get big-brother on them. I wish I could give the product more than 5 stars.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Below we have summarized the major good and bad points associated with the Summer Infant Baby Touch monitor. Overall we believe that this monitor is one of the best available and should provide you with some great relief!

PROS: Completely portable, great overall design, ability to add cameras, and cutting edge touch screen technology.

CONS: Picture quality is lacking according to some when compared with other Summer monitors. The monitor has been reported not to have an alarm feature before the battery runs out.

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