A baby monitor can help you keep an eye on your child even when you’re not in the same room. You can ensure your baby sleeps safely while doing other things around the house. However, these devices are only effective if they are in the right place. You may be monitoring the floor or ceiling instead of your baby when you put them in the wrong place, or they are incorrectly angled.
You might be wondering where to put baby monitor to get the best video and sound. While a regular baby monitor is perfect for video monitoring, you may also consider using a baby breathing monitor to track your baby’s breathing patterns for extra peace of mind.
Ideal Placement: Finding the Best Spot in the Nursery
Baby monitor placement is crucial to ensure your child’s safety and to give you and your babysitter a proper view. Improperly placed baby monitors can cause direct physical harm to your baby and also prevent you from seeing or hearing your baby well. Since 2002, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reported seven deaths and three near-suffocations caused by entangled baby monitor power cords.
Organizations like the CPSC and the Baby Safety Alliance (BSA) advise parents to keep monitors at least 3 feet away from babies. To prevent infants and toddlers from the danger of monitor cords, the CPSC and the BSA urge parents to:
- Thoroughly check the location of all monitors and other products with electrical cords, including those wall-mounted, to ensure that the cords are out of your child’s reach.
- Place cords at least three feet away from any part of the crib, bassinet, play yard, or other safe sleep environment
- Do not place a monitor inside or on the edge of a crib
- Remember, at least three feet away is where your monitor should stay.
So, where to put baby monitor? Read on to know more.
Things to Consider When Deciding Where to Put Baby Monitor Safely
When deciding where to put baby monitor, you should consider the following to ensure your baby’s safety:
Safety: The safety of your baby is the first thing you should consider. Most baby monitor advertisements feature monitors placed on cribs and rails. However, placing the baby monitors on cribs or rails can be a significant threat to your baby.
Especially if your monitor comes with a cord. If the cord is too close to your baby, there is a risk of strangulation or choking. It is essential to pay attention to these cords and make sure your baby can’t reach them.
Distance: Baby monitors might be small devices, but they still emit a small amount of electromagnetic radiation. This radiation may affect your baby’s brain development, immune system, and sleep cycle. Studies show that baby monitors placed 3.2 feet or closer to your baby emit the same level of electromagnetic radiation as a cell phone tower when you’re standing 500 feet away.
Baby monitors must be placed at least 6 feet from your baby, which is the minimum safety distance recommended to limit exposure to electromagnetic radiation. You should also consider whether your baby monitor can sense clear audio and video at long distances.
Viewing angle: Another vital aspect you should consider when placing the baby monitor is its viewing angle. It should be placed in an angle free from any obstruction from the baby’s crib so you can get a clear view of your baby while sleeping.
The viewing angles of your baby monitor may differ depending on the kind of baby monitor you’re using. Most baby monitors come with several features, such as a zoom and tilt option that allows you to have a birds-eye view of your baby. You may also use a wide-angle lens on your baby monitor to let you see a broader view.
Place the baby monitor at a higher angle for infants and lower it as your baby grows. This will give you the best view of your baby throughout their growing stages.
Recommended Placements for a Baby Monitor
You should place your baby’s monitor at least 3 feet away from the baby so you can have a clear view of them, with the monitor able to tap sounds from your baby. Cords and cables should also be placed in safe positions to prevent the risk of children strangling themselves with them.
Mounting a baby monitor on the wall
The most recommended location for a baby monitor. The wall is the safest place to attach your baby monitor. Placing it on the wall also helps you to have a better view of your baby’s whole nursery and the crib.
Most baby monitors’ mounts are built-in, while others come with a separate attachment. If the monitor is designed for wall installation, it has a secure system that makes it easy to install. Others have a small hole, which is also easy to install. Before you mount the baby monitor, check the camera and microphone angles. Don’t forget to secure any cords and cables since they are safety hazards. You can buy cord covers for the wires on the wall and floor.
Test the viewing angle and microphone by having someone hold the baby monitor in the spot where you plan to mount it. This way, you can make sure you can see and hear your baby clearly from that location.
You can mount your baby monitor by following these steps:
- Test the viewing angle and microphone by having someone hold the baby monitor in the spot where you plan to mount it. This way, you can make sure you can see and hear your baby clearly from that location.
- Mark the screw placements where you want to place your baby monitor. Most baby monitors have holes in them where you can drill holes.
- Now, drill the holes in the wall.
- Screw the baby monitor base to the wall
- When the monitor base is properly placed, attach the baby monitor by simply clipping it to the monitor base.
Install your baby monitor on a shelf
Placing your baby monitor on a shelf is more convenient and safer. This also allows you to have easy access to your baby monitor. By placing your baby monitor on the shelf, you can change the camera angle for a better view of your baby’s environment while they are sleeping or playing in their room.
Ensure that the shelf is about 6 feet from the crib and the baby monitor is high enough to keep toddlers out of reach. This is your best option if your monitor does not have zoom and tilt features, as you can quickly move the camera when needed.
Place your baby monitor on the furniture
This placement is only recommended if it is hard to mount your monitor on the wall or if there is no shelf in the room. You can place the baby monitor on the dresser, next to your baby’s crib.
Locations to Avoid For a Baby Monitor
There are rules for the safe placement of your baby monitor, and it is essential to follow safety tips to ensure your child is safe at all times. Here are the locations you should avoid when installing your baby monitor:
In the crib
Your baby may get tangled in the cables if you place the baby monitor in the crib, or the monitor may fall on your child, or worse, may choke on small parts.
Near the crib
If you place the baby monitor too close to the crib, you may not get a clear viewing angle. Most likely, it will jeopardize your child’s safety if your baby can reach the monitor or the extension cords and cables.
Unbalanced surfaces
Placing your baby monitor on an unstable surface is also not recommended. The monitor can fall, and your baby might get hurt. Make sure you place the monitor on a flat and even surface.
How to Hide Baby Monitor Cord?
Power cords and cables of the baby monitor can bring dangers to your baby, which is why it’s essential to hide these cables to keep them out of your baby’s reach. Here are ways you can hide the baby monitor cords.
- Hiding the camera behind a wall
- You can use the curtain rod to hang the baby monitor. Once you have installed the camera, you can hide the cord behind the curtain.
- Cable covers can also help in hiding the power cords safely, without the baby noticing.
- Other than cable covers, you can also use a cable sleeve. To access the power cord, all you have to do is unzip the sleeve.
Baby Monitor Placement Tips as Your Child Develops
You may want to place the baby monitor elsewhere once your child starts growing up.
For infants: If you have a newborn, placing the baby monitor at a vertical angle will give you a full view of the crib and your baby while they’re sleeping.
For toddlers: Once your child starts growing, it is recommended to place the baby monitor at a bit lower viewing angle. This will give you a good view of the room and your toddler’s activities.
Final Thoughts
A baby monitor keeps you connected to your child. Now that you know where to put baby monitor, you can properly place it for maximum optimization. Proper placement helps keep your baby safe while giving you confidence in your monitoring setup.
