Baby Monitor Summer Infant Monitor Review

Before the birth of our son, my husband and I made the journey to our local baby superstore to begin our gift registry.  One of the items on the list was a baby monitor.  To say we were overwhelmed is an understatement; these things have come a long way.  At first we looked at the traditional audio only monitors assuming the video models were more of a novelty and too pricey.  Then we stumbled onto the Summer Infant Flat Screen Color Video Monitor with its large 7” LCD screen and decided to put it on our registry. The portable hand-held unit was another attraction perfect for our two –story home.

Summer Infant was founded in 1985 by a dad who wanted to create a safe spot to place his baby daughter (Summer; hence the name of the company) so he invented the baby bouncer seat.  He sold the company in 2001 and the new management expanded the product portfolio to include monitors, bath accessories, nursery & sleep products, feeding, health & safety, travel, and baby gear.

We received the monitor at the baby shower and wasted no time setting it up in the nursery.  The package includes the main monitor consisting of the 7” color LCD screen, the day/night camera, and a portable audio only hand-held unit.  Setup was a snap; simply place the camera in the nursery on a tall object close to the crib or bassinet that provides a clear shot of the baby and then plug in the main monitor in the bedroom.  The video quality is excellent and we were especially impressed with the picture at night.  It is so comforting to be able to “see” what our son is doing at any given moment.  Like most new parents, we were ALWAYS asking each other “is he breathing?”  Now we could simply turn on the video display and watch for movement.  Beware that “baby TV” is addictive and hard to turn off!  Often times we find ourselves so caught up watching him breathing, rolling and cooing.

The portable unit is very convenient; it can be placed in another room that is frequently occupied or placed on your belt if you need to move from room to room.  I’ve found the kitchen to be a great central location. When I want to go outside with the dog or in the garage; I just clip it on and go.

The only complaint (AND IT IS A BIG ONE) is that the unit frequently emits loud audio pops! We call it “SNAP, CRAKLE, and POP!”  This is especially frustrating when it’s on your nightstand a foot from your head.  We have tried repositioning the monitor on our dresser across the room and still no luck.

Overall, it’s a nice quality monitor. However, if you are a very light sleeper you may find the noisy interference “snap, crackle, and pop” hard to live with.