“Is it safe to use a car baby monitor?”
If you plan to drive with your baby, whether for a short distance or over a longer one, this is an important question to consider.
This guide will cover:
- 5 reasons why you need to use a car baby monitor?
- 6 Features to look for in a car baby monitor
- And more…
Is It Safe to Use a Car Baby Monitor? (The Short Answer)
It is a lot safer using a car baby monitor than using a baby car mirror to check on your baby. A car baby monitor can show you your rear-facing baby so you don’t have to turn around while driving. This can definitely make driving a lot safer.
Is It Safe to Use a Car Baby Monitor? (The Longer Answer)
1. No more mirror adjustments
Many parents wonder if the car’s rearview mirror is a suitable replacement for a car baby monitor. The answer is definitely no here. You’d have to frequently adjust the mirror and despite that, you might still be unable to see your baby, especially in a larger van or SUV. A car baby monitor is also more useful when your baby is in a rear-facing car seat.
And that brings us to the next point…
2. Helps you see your rear-facing baby
The current recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the CDC are that you must keep your baby rear-facing until it meets the maximum height and weight requirements for a front-facing car seat (and this is only after the child is between 2-4 years of age.)
The recommendations further state that your baby must be strapped in a harness and rear-facing seat in the back seat of your car or SUV.
Naturally, in this case, a car baby monitor will be handier than your car mirror and can clearly show your baby in its rear-facing car seat.
3. Beneficial for parents having a large van or SUV
In a large van or SUV, a car’s mirror can end up being virtually useless. A baby monitor that is strategically placed can show you the entire backside of the vehicle – including the corners or peripheral area.
Imagine the convenience – you won’t have to stop your large SUV by the side of the road every time you want to check on your baby.
4. Useful for watching over multiple kids
Sure, an older kid can be the driver’s helper and can answer those “Are you OK? And ‘Is the baby OK?’ questions that you ask from the front seat while driving.
However, multiple kids also mean fights and bickering in the car, especially on those long drives when toddlers invariably get irritable. By placing the monitor strategically in the backseat, you can let your babies know that they are being watched in the front. This can be convenient in deciding who actually started the argument and also breaking up fights before they escalate.
Also, for very young twins and triplets, the monitor can cover all kids strapped in different corners of the vehicle’s rear-side thanks to a wide-viewing angle.
5. Can prevent many dangerous movements while driving
With a car baby video monitor attached to your dashboard you need not turn your head behind, nor do you have to leave the steering wheel and reach out to the baby.
The monitor will provide a steady feed of your baby so, in the event, there is an issue, you can always stop the car when it is safe to get out and check on your child.
Some monitors with night vision are especially useful during night-time driving and show you your infant even in the dark or low-light conditions without having to turn the car’s light on.
When Do You Need To Use A Car Baby Monitor?
1. First-time parents
As new parents, you’re likely to be more anxious while driving with your baby.
Also, your young baby will be in a rear-facing car seat – and that can make a car baby monitor a useful tool to keep checking on your baby.
2. When you are driving long-distance with your baby alone
Long-distance car journeys with a baby definitely need a car baby monitor. You can take rest stops based on your child’s waking hours. You will know exactly when your baby starts to stir so you can safely stop the car at the next rest area with a feeding and changing station.
Some baby monitors also have the night vision feature so you need not turn on the night light in the car and disturb the sleeping baby during nighttime driving.
3. When your baby is not well
While on the way to the doctor’s, you can check on your baby and make sure it is comfortable and not choking or experiencing breathing issues. You won’t have to turn around to do this which can endanger both you and your baby’s lives.
A baby monitor with a video feed is just what you need to ensure your child’s health and well-being.
4. When you have twins or multiple kids in the backseat
Checking on one baby is difficult enough. If you happen to have twins or triplets you can check on each child. Even if you have an older kid along with the baby, a baby monitor can help you prevent fights and make sure the kids are behaving and not up to any mischief.
What To Look For When Buying A Baby Monitor For Car Seat?
When looking for a car baby monitor, look for the following features:
1. Camera with a panning feature
All car baby monitors come with a camera. They just have different specifications and resolutions which decide the quality of the image. Look for cameras that give you a clear image of your car’s backseat and have a wider angle – in case you have multiple kids. You can also go in for a 360-degree rotating camera base so you get a peripheral view in the case of a larger van or SUV. This is also useful if you have multiple children in different rows at the back.
2. Night vision
If you happen to drive frequently at night time with your baby, then a night vision camera is what you need. Night vision cameras clearly show you your child in a rear-facing seat without having to turn on the night light.
3. Wireless and cordless
Almost all car baby monitors are wireless as it just does not make sense to have a wired monitor in a car. Wireless monitors are safer too as you needn’t worry about dangling cords and power plugs running along the entire length of the car.
In case you choose a corded monitor, do make sure first that your car has a 12 V cigarette lighter to plug the monitor in.
4. High-definition images
This is not a must-have but a nice-to-have feature in your car baby monitor. 1920x1080P HD resolution image on a 4.5-inch screen can clearly show your baby. This can guarantee peace of mind while driving – no more turning around and endangering yourself. High-definition combined with night vision also means an overall safer driving experience at night time or in low-light conditions.
5. Is stable and non-wobbly
For a safe, fun, and stress-free driving experience, you need a non-wobbly and stable monitor. The last thing you want is a monitor that vibrates and shakes. High-quality monitors have cameras that are designed to remain stable no matter what the driving surface is like.
6. Easy installation
Choose a car baby monitor that is easy to install and does not require any special tools for the task.
Look for a monitor that easily attaches to the headrest of the driver’s seat and has a stable sucker bracket that you can place on the windshield or in the center console between the driver and passenger seat. (Note that different states have different laws regarding the installation of monitor devices, so follow these rules. We will discuss these shortly).
It is important to install your monitor’s screen based on your driving habits too. For example, if you have a GPS/navigation already attached to the windshield, then you might want to place the baby monitor in the center console. Alternatively, you can look for car baby monitors that also have a navigation function so you don’t need to buy one separately.
Are Car Baby Monitors Legal?
In some states like California, you are only allowed to have monitors with screens inside the vehicle as long as they are not visible to the driver while driving. This means that any baby monitors that you use should be placed behind the driver’s seat – which does not make sense, really. The exception to this law is the use of screens for navigation, parking assistance, and vehicle information.
Here are some other states having strict rules against the use of screens inside the vehicle while driving:
- District of Columbia – No TV equipment to be installed inside a vehicle in a manner that makes the screen visible to the driver while driving.
- Florida – No motor vehicle operated on the highways of this state shall be equipped with television-type receiving equipment so located that the viewer or screen is visible from the driver’s seat.
- Maine – Only law enforcement personnel can use video monitors and related equipment for sake of law enforcement.
- New Jersey – It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle on any public highway equipped with a TV set so that the screen is visible to the operator of the vehicle while operating it.
Is A Car Baby Monitor Better Than a Baby Car Mirror?
Nothing is more important than your baby’s safety when it comes to traveling in a car, especially when using a rear-facing car seat. How can parents know whether their baby is safe, breathing normally, and not choking?
The debate also invariably comes to making a choice between baby car mirrors and baby car monitors.
Here are the pros and cons of baby car mirrors:
Baby Car Mirrors – Pros
- Easier to install – no complicated cords or wires to deal with. Simply attach to your headrest.
- Wide-angle – special baby car mirrors are convex and come with a wider coverage so you can even see your rear-seating baby.
- Convenient and safe – Shatter-resistant mirrors keep things safe for you and the baby.
- Legal – There are no laws against using baby mirrors in vehicles in all states.
Baby Car Mirrors – Cons
- Can require some adjustments. For example, some users have had to stuff in tissues and paper napkins to adjust the angle of the mirror to clearly see their baby.
- Straps tend to loosen over time. Also, when traveling over road bumps, the angle can change.
- Not suitable for all models of cars – especially cars with small headrests.
- Do not have night vision.
- Not suitable for parents having twins – you might only see one baby.
Let us now discuss baby car monitors:
Baby Car Monitor – Pros
- Come with night vision – allow you to see the baby in low-light or dark conditions.
- Not much assembly required
- Great for watching multiple kids thanks to the camera panning feature
- Firm and stable – do not shake or vibrate.
Baby Car Monitor – Cons
- Might not be legal in all states – especially attached to windshield or dashboard
- Could face some installation challenges
- Some monitors with night vision are still rendered useless once night falls
- Many have annoying cables and need to be constantly plugged in a 12 V battery charger. Cables can run through the length of the car.
- Can fail – sometimes, won’t turn on if the ambient temperatures drop. Some need the Internet to operate.
Verdict
Both, baby car mirrors and baby car monitors come with their set of pros and cons. However, given the fact that the number of parents who have bought car monitors is significantly higher than those who have purchased baby car mirrors does say something.
This shows that parents love features like night vision and the fact that monitors are more reliable than mirrors. Also, for larger cars, it is just not possible to get that wider angle with a baby mirror. Adjusting the mirrors can also be tricky and they may not be suitable for all car models.
These factors make baby monitors clear winners in this debate.
