Baby Monitors

[Duckdawg10]

i have never had the video. With my first child we jumped up and ran up the stairs everytime we heard a grunt. Great exercise. I lost a lot of weight. With the second child, my wife and I know what the sounds are so we don't panic everytime. I just dont see the need for a video. Also, +1 on the Diaper Genie. I have told friends not to get one and they don't listen and get one. They have all said "what a waste"

[Ducklord]

Thanks for the advice!!! I know that this is a hunting forum, but I also know there are some experienced dads on this forum. This is our first, so trying to get everything lined up before duck season. Hopefully, I get to see the duckhole at least once or twice this season. Again, I appreciate the help...

[Dutch Dog]

GREAT idea asking advice!!! My ex had to have EVERY gosh damn gadget made for babies. Friggin diaper genie...all they do is collect diapers in one location and REALLY stink up that area if the house!!! I'd like to kick the $#!+ out of whatever rich sombitch invented those things.

[Duck Picker]

but one pretty cool thing about the standard ones is that if you turn the transmitter off, you can intercept cordless phone call conversations near your house.

You can also pick up transmissions from alien space ships.
I'm a fan of the two tin cans and 20lb test Stren

[Williefb]

My wife and I went to Baby'sRUs to register the other day, and we looked at baby monitors. Well, there is like a million of them out there, so need some suggestions as to which ones work the best. I like the ones where you can actually see the baby on the monitor. Any suggestions?

Also, any other things that is a "must have" that I may not know I need, will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Bless your heart, your world is about to change forever. Kids are the best thing that will ever happen to you. Get lots of diapers, wipes, and the small stuff. Don't sweat the stuff like a monitor. Trust me, after you have the 2nd child most of this stuff won't be abig deal. Congrads and all the best.

[ACEINTHEHOLE]

Also another bit of advice. We tried all kinds of diapers that came in diaper cake shower gifts. The white cloud and huggies are the best. From what I have heard they are both made at the same factory and put in different packaging. As far as wipes you are better off getting the more expensive huggie wipes over the wal mart brand because you will use less.

Make the first week easy on your wife and you get up with the child every time. If either your or her parents offer to stay LET THEM!!! And when you get tired of her mom just remember she is going through a very very very emotional time and needs her mom! She will experience mood swings in the first few months that will make you want to shoot yourself! Tears will flow often adn for no reason, dont ask her why she is crying too many times because she really does not know. Have as much sex as you can right now while she is craving it.....cause you sure as heck wont get it much the next few months!!! Most of all have fun with this whole process.

[Seymore]

If you have a laptop, go to the bookstore and get a book called "ten cool things you can do with a laptop" It talks about how you can set up a home security network through your laptop and these little webcams. Much better than those little baby monitors and can serve all sorts of purposes around the house? Even lets you keep an eye on things when you aren't there.

[hawkeye]

Just my .02 worth...We tried every kind of diaper under the sun, found swaddlers to be hands down the best. Diaper genie=trash can with a lid...don't waste your money. Stock up on every size battery you can. Invest in a good automated swing, up to at least 20 lbs, best babysitter you can ask for. We never used a video moniter, only the audio kind. The best one we found was actually a 15 dollar thing from Wal Mart...it beat the crap out of the expensive ones that catch interference from cell phones, dish washers, washing machines, that kind of crap. If you buy any kind of baby linens, don't just buy one, buy two or three, cuz you will need them.

[rustypjr]

We did not use the video thing either. The only advice I ever give my buddies is this. Don't put thim in the bed with you. My son is 15 months old and has never slept with anyone. I have several buddies who I watched put there kids in the bed with them and now they have a five year old or a 2 yearold that can only sleep in the bed with them. Now if that is what you want more power to you. Other than that the diaper genie wate of time and money. If you don't believe me I will give you mine for free. It has been in the attic since he was about 2 months old.

[Duckdawg10]

If you don't believe me I will give you mine for free.

+1

[hntrpat1]

I would suggest one that takes a throw to the wall cause you gonna end up chunkin that thing!

[bobo5]

I have a boy that is 20 months old and a little girl that is 4 months old, so I can also help shed a little light on this situation i hope. The video monitor is a good thing. We were given one as a gift before our first and it sits on my wife's nightstand. It has three separate channels, so we just bought an extra camera and we can look into both beds. We also have some Sony audio monitors because they too were gifts, but they have better volume control than the video monitor, so we keep the video muted; and the smaller audios are ac power w/ rechargeable batteries (easy mobility).

Diaper genies aren't worth wasting the money. And the thing about having plenty of sheets and changing pads is right on.

The most important advice that I can try to pass on to you though would be to purchase the book Healthy Sleep Habits; Happy Child before the baby arrives. My little boy started sleeping through the night b/w 3-4 months with 2 or 3 2-3 hour naps per day. My little girl does the same now. She goes to bed around 530pm; we usually have to wake her up between 830 and 930 to feed her, and she goes back down until 630 am. Then usually 3 naps of 2-3 hours. Little boy's schedule is down to just one afternoon nap of about 2-3 hours, but he still gets about 12 hours per night (7pm-7am). I have also heard the book Baby Wise is good, but it was a little more strict on schedules.

Never wake a sleeping baby!!

This comes from the Healthy sleep book. Hope it all helps, and enjoy everyday of it, because time really speeds up and it will all be over soon.

[bobo5]

http://www.kidshealthnotes.com/2008/01/10/healthy-sleep-habits-happy-child/

[peewee]

Get ready for a life change. There has been some good advice given. I have a 3 year old little girl and a 10 month old boy.

The diaper genie is junk like they said, save your walmart and kroger bags and throw them things outside in a 5 gallon bucket and haul them off in the back of the truck.

We dont use a baby monitor with my son. We had the audio type with my daughter but it didn't matter we were up every two hours for the first 2 years of her life. She was collic and has asthma so it wasn't fun. My son sleeps all through the night usually and if he wakes up I am a light sleeper so I hear him.

If you are not a sam's club member become one and buy the huggies in the big boxes and the wipes. This is probablly one of your biggest cost. You may want to open up a savings account now that you dont touch and call it your formula and baby food acct. This stuff aint cheap and you dont know which one will fit your baby until he/she shows you. You remember the problems I told you I had with my daughter, after trying every thing in the book for 4 months the only thing she could keep down we found was goats milk. It wasn't cheap but it worked.

[manning]

The only thing a baby monitor is good for is getting yo booty in a bind! The first time u go to the babys room at 2 am pissed off cause yo old lady made you get up an call her a stupid bitch that six week no "BEARDED CLAM" period will turn to 12!