Baby Monitoring: The YI Dome Review
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When I was pregnant with my son, one of the first items on my mom-to-be-list was a baby monitoring device. I was fortunate enough to be the recipient of a baby shower where guests gave generously, and I became the proud owner of what happened to be a state-of-the-art nanny cam. Now, when I was thinking baby monitor, I envisioned one of those traditional systems that resembled a plastic walkie-talkie and essentially just picked up static from the other room. I had no idea how this little item had evolved into a phenomenon that now has its very own large positioning in the mom and baby market.
Not only can you monitor your baby while at home, you can keep in digital proximity with your little one, wherever you are!
There are many reasons why parents may feel the need to purchase a baby monitor. Most families in Beijing consist of working parents who have been charged with trying their best to select a suitable candidate as an ayi to care for their little one. The stress associated with choosing right is often compounded by how we can ensure we have a handle on what's going on behind our closed doors when we're not home. The situation can be worse for single parent families who have no choice but to work full-time.
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Leaving your precious little baby or child with a stranger for long periods can be stressful for both you and your partner. My ayi was hired three months after I gave birth, and this was one of the most frightening aspects of new motherhood for me. I wanted to go back to work, but with the certainty that my child would be cared for in the same way in which he would be if I were home.
Our priority is the health and safety of our child, so installing a baby monitor in the home can be one way of ensuring that you can keep on an eye on them and your ayi while at work. It's important to note that a remote baby monitor is more of a preventative tool than a measure taken to show proof of undesirable behavior or at worst employee misconduct, and therefore the idea is not to hide the baby monitor or nanny cam, but for you to use it in partnership with an ayi or baby care provider who has full knowledge that you are aware of what's going on.
There are a few good reasons to install a baby monitor in your home, which may not be as obvious as some. I'll start with the ones we're all familiar with, and hopefully the last few will have you thinking about other ways you can use a nanny cam:
To protect your child and ensure that they are being treated with the love and care that they deserve when you're not home.
So you don't miss out on precious moments. I spend ten hours outside of the home each day. I don't want to miss out on baby's first smile, hesitant steps, or any ad hoc moment that will fill you with joy.
To soothe your baby if they're upset. I can speak to my son any time and he will hear my voice (see review below). I can sing him a song, or have a quick mom and baby chat, so that he feels comforted by the sound of my voice.
To interact with your child and the ayi. You can join in with family activities remotely, such as play time or homework time, depending on the age of your kids.
So you can chat with your partner in the play area, from the office or hotel room, if you're working on location. You can watch and interact as baby is feeding or settling down for the night.
There are many different cams on the market, so how to choose the right one for you and the family? My recommendation is the YI Dome (yitechnology.com), which has the following features:
SD Card Slot
2-way Communication 1080p Resolution
112 degree-wide angle lens
Pan & tilt (345 x 115 degrees)
Digital zoom on app (x4)
IR night time vision
Cloud storage option
Motion detection
Multiple mounting options
Fairly easy to set up. You will need to connect the dome to your internet, and then the devices you wish to have access to its camera
Well priced
Nice design
Sometimes there can be a sound delay
For me, this is one of the best options for a remote baby monitoring system that can also be used when you're in the home but perhaps preparing dinner, or winding down in the evening and still want to keep an eye on baby. You can receive live feeds to all your devices, and as long as you have Wi-Fi you can be in constant contact with your child anywhere in the world. To top it off, you can share snaps from these live feeds with friends and family using your smart phone.
Final Score: 9/10
Photos: Pixabay
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