Most parents ask the question ‘When to stop using baby monitor?’ when they are confused about when to stop using one.
There is no single answer to this question – some parents stop monitoring their baby once it sleeps through the night, while others continue for a bit longer.
In this guide, we will cover:
- 5 reasons when to stop using the baby monitor
- 5 reasons why you may want to continue using the monitor
- Benefits of using the baby monitor at different stages
- And more…
When To Stop Using Baby Monitor?
Some experts recommend stopping the use of baby monitors by the time your child is 4 years of age. Other experts recommend stopping by 2 years of age. Some of the reasons for stopping are that your baby is used to sleeping in his/her own bed or that he/she is aware of you watching them.
What is the Best Age to Stop Using the Baby Monitor?
The best age at which to stop using the baby monitor is entirely a personal decision. Some parents monitor their baby up to 4 -12 months of age as this is when they are most susceptible to SIDS.
Some parents stop using the monitor when their baby is about 6 months of age. This is the time period when most babies learn to self-soothe and sleep for at least 6 to 8 hours at night.
Sleep consultant and registered nurse Katie DiMonico recommends that parents use a video baby monitor until the baby is about 4 years of age. This helps ensure peace of mind – especially to parents concerned about SIDS.
DiMonico believes that by the time toddlers are 4 years old, they are able to leave their room and go to the parents’ room should they need help.
Ideally, parents should discuss the matter with their pediatrician before stopping the use of the baby monitor.
5 Reasons When to Stop Using The Baby Monitor
#1. When your baby has surpassed the age of developing SIDS
SIDS is most common between the age of 4 months to 1 year. While there are no hard and fast rules here, you could always speak with your doctor about discontinuing the use of your baby monitor once your child has surpassed that age. Parents may note that SIDS is more common in male babies.
#2. When your baby starts sleeping through the night
Some babies start sleeping through the night fairly early on – at least once they start eating solid foods – about the time they are 6 months of age.
If you are one of those blessed parents that has a baby that sleeps well throughout the night, then you could consider weaning it off the baby monitor.
Discuss the matter with your pediatrician in case you are concerned about SIDS.
#3. When your baby could be at a risk from the monitor
Depending on the kind of monitor you use, you must periodically evaluate its safety. For example, some monitors for SIDS are worn on the baby’s foot where it continuously monitors the baby’s heart rate and breathing.
However, there have been concerns that such monitors cause rashes and blisters on the baby’s delicate skin. Also, some monitors could increase the child’s risk of radiation exposure. If you are concerned about such issues, then it may be time to stop using the monitor right away. (You can always switch to basic audio monitors if you want to hear your baby crying).
There is also the fact that babies start standing up in their cribs and are at risk of pulling the cord of the monitor. They could chew the cord or wind it around their necks leading to serious strangulation hazards. The moment your child is old enough to stand in the crib, either stop using the monitor or change its location so your baby cannot reach it.
#4. When you find yourself getting overly anxious instead of feeling reassured by the monitor
Many babies are noisy sleepers. They dream, move, roll, scoot, and even crawl in their cribs; all the while when they are fast asleep.
If you are the anxious sort of parent that rushes into your child’s room at every alert from the monitor, it may be time to stop using it.
Not only is this detrimental to your sleep, but you might also even disturb your fast-asleep baby by turning on the light again and again when checking on it.
There are some parents that start getting anxious when the monitor remains silent. ‘Why isn’t my baby crying?’ ‘Shouldn’t she/he make some noise?’ If this is you, then you may be better off without monitoring.
#5. When you are sure you can hear your baby
If your baby’s room is situated right next to yours and your home is relatively small, then you don’t really need a baby monitor if you can hear it loud and clear. If the sound doesn’t travel well in your house, you can choose to leave your bedroom door and that of the nursery open. In this case, you can easily ditch the monitor.
5 Reasons When to Continue Using the Baby Monitor
#1. If you live in a large house
If you have a large house where you won’t be able to hear your baby in your bedroom, then it may be a good idea to continue using the baby monitor even after your child is over 2 years of age.
A video baby monitor can save you a lot of legwork as you can check on your baby without disturbing it – all from the comforts of your room.
#2. When you are sleep-training your child
Sleep-training a child will definitely be a lot easier with a baby monitor. Babies just want attention and, sometimes, they learn to manipulate parents through their cries, wails, and tears. However, more often than not, they are fine.
As a parent, one would naturally worry whether there is something really wrong with the baby when it cries in the middle of the night. A video baby monitor can help reassure you and also enable you to make a sound judgment whether your baby really needs you or if it can self-soothe.
#3. When you have multiple kids
When you have two toddlers sleeping in the same room, a baby monitor can come in handy when you want to break up those fights and arguments.
Also, you can use the monitor as a reminder for kids that they are being watched. This can greatly reduce misbehavior and prevent a lot of tears.
#4. Monitor older/naughtier kids
A video baby monitor can be especially useful to monitor older children who use the nighttime to do other activities instead of sleeping.
For example, if you have a 3-year old that escapes out of bed and sneaks off to watch TV or eat something, then a monitor can help you check this. Once the child knows s/he is being watched, they might even give up this game altogether.
#5. When you have a toddler with a health issue
Parents with kids having health issues – minor or major – can greatly benefit from the use of a baby monitor. You can check on the child to assure s/he is breathing normally. Many untoward incidents can be avoided when the video monitor is put to good use.
Benefits of Using a Baby Monitor at Different Stages
Here are some benefits of using a baby monitor at different stages of your child’s growth:
0-6 months
At this stage, it is best to co-sleep. Pediatrician Dr. Noah Schwartz recommends starting sleep training around 4 months of age.
During sleep training, a baby monitor can be a useful tool. It helps you check on your baby while you quickly complete chores as it naps during the day. You can also make sure it sleeps well at night and you can attend to it for the night feedings.
As your child weans off the night feed, you can check on the monitor to see if it self-soothes and falls back asleep.
Most importantly, you can keep checking on your baby without switching on the night light or disturbing it with creaking floorboards and noisy doors.
6 months – 1 year
Most babies in this age group take 2-3 naps during the daytime. Tired mommies can catch up on their household chores or themselves take a nap in their own rooms or simply relax with a book while checking the baby on the monitor.
Another fantastic advantage of using a baby monitor at this stage is its white noise feature. Many baby monitors play soothing sounds like beach waves or falling rain or soothing music. This masks ambient noises like traffic, construction noises, and even noises made by older siblings that do not nap during the day.
Many parents continue using the baby monitor for the white noise feature; after all, a well-rested baby is a happier baby.
At 2 years
The terrible twos set in and most toddlers keep hopping in and out of bed instead of napping. If that happens, you can use the monitor to remind them that they need to take a nap.
You can also use timed interval features of the baby monitor to engage your toddler in a ‘quiet’ activity like reading or playing on their own until the monitor stops playing the music. This can help kids become more independent.
Are 4 Years the Gold Standard in Stopping the Use of Baby Monitor?
Anywhere between 2 and 4 years is a good age to stop using the baby monitor. This is the age when a toddler should ideally be sleep trained and can sleep through the night.
Most toddlers in this age group are also able to self-soothe. They can manage small issues and fall back asleep should they wake up in the night.
If they can get out of bed, they can even walk to your room if they have a nightmare.
Having said that, there are no hard and fast rules here. It can vary based on individual circumstances too. For example, an older child with health issues like seizures or respiratory problems will benefit from the continued use of a baby monitor. It can certainly give much-needed peace of mind to the parents and caregivers.
Also, in multi-kid households, a baby monitor can be used to ensure that no bickering or fights occur and that they are broken up before it comes to blows and tears.
Is it OK Not to Use a Baby Monitor?
Yes, many people living in small apartments do not need a baby monitor. They can hear their baby next door and do not need to depend on electronics to do that.
Even people living in larger houses have raised kids quite easily without ever needing a baby monitor.
Should You Turn off The Baby Monitor at Night?
In the first few months of your baby’s life, you can use the baby monitor at night to rouse you for those night-time feeds – especially if your baby isn’t co-sleeping with you.
Later on, as your child starts sleeping through the night, you can turn off the monitor at night. This can help with sleep training and teach your baby to self-soothe. You can also start weaning yourself off checking on your baby, should you happen to be ‘addicted’ to over-checking or are an anxious parent.
The exact age when you stop using the monitor at night depends on your circumstances. You can always consult your pediatrician – if in doubt – so you know exactly when to stop using the monitor – especially if you’re concerned about SIDS.
Do You Need to Consider Your Child’s Sense of Privacy When Using a Baby Monitor?
Using a baby monitor for surveillance of an older child is definitely an invasion of their privacy. However, for a young toddler under the age of 4, using a baby monitor during naptime and bedtime could ensure good sleeping habits and even help parents monitor the health of a sickly child.
In short: it all depends on your intention. What are you using the baby monitor for? If you are using it to spy on your older children then it could be an invasion of privacy. Therefore, you may want to stop using the monitor once your children are independent and no longer need monitoring.
