Baby Safety & Security | Home & Garden Classifieds

The arrival of a baby in the family is a time of mixed emotions, especially if it's the first arrival. New parents especially can be filled with a mixture of excitement and terror at the impending responsibility! It is a very special period which only those who have gone through it can fully appreciate.

This is also the time to buy some essentials that will be needed. It is very easy to remember clothes, nappies and healthcare toiletries, and, in any case if you forget one or two items, you're sure to get them as gifts. However, it's very important to consider buying safety items essential for your baby's well being; the kinds of items that may not be given as gifts and that you might want to choose for yourself.

Here is a selection of the different equipment that you might like to consider.

The Baby Carrier
Generally you'll have a choice between 'Soft Front Baby Carriers', 'Baby Slings' and 'Child Carrier Backpacks'.

Soft Front Baby Carriers
Soft front baby carriers are a good choice for parents who want to spread the baby's weight evenly across both shoulders so that there isn't any discomfort in carrying the baby for long periods. These carriers have soft fabric seats and openings through which the baby can stretch his or her legs. The straps of the baby carrier crisscross across your back and give you ample flexibility.

Your baby then sits against your chest with his or her head being supported by the carrier and legs freely stretched outside. When the infant is four to five months old and the head does need so much support, change to an outward- facing baby carrier which allows the baby to see where you are going.

Baby Slings
You may also choose 'baby slings'. A sling is just a wide band of cloth which fits over your head and across your torso with the baby snuggling comfortably against you. Since the sling can be positioned in any way you like, these slings allow you to discreetly feed your baby too, without having to move him/her around too much.

The only drawback with slings is infants tend to curl up when placed inside. So, if you're particular that he or she should stretch his or her legs, you should go for a soft front baby carrier instead.

Child Carrier Backpack
When the infant is about six months old and is able to sit upright without any assistance, you may opt for a child carrier backpack. These backpacks are very convenient and comfortable for carrying a child on a long walk or hike. They usually look somewhat like conventional backpacks with straps that fasten around your stomach. Pouches, pockets and zips are usually found on these and provide essential storage spaces to carry the baby's knickknacks.

Baby monitor
No matter how much you'd like to, you can't be with your baby the whole day! Other domestic chores and professional obligations are bound to keep you away from your baby for long periods of time.

Baby monitors are the ideal way to keep in touch with your baby even when you are not physically close by. They come in three broad categories, Audio, Audio and Video and, Video with 3G.

Audio Monitors
There are several Audio type monitors available in the market and they are priced from about £45.

They are discreet and you are able to hear your baby even when you're not nearby. Some models allow for two way communication so you can make soothing noises to your baby even when you're not in the room, perhaps to get them back to sleep.

Some audio monitors come with built-in night lights and room thermometers and raise an alarm whenever the temperature goes beyond set limits. Other devices can also play lullabies to help settle the baby to sleep.

The costlier versions have a working range of up to 3 km and have over 300 channels to enable uninterrupted communication throughout 24 hours. These come in a wide range of colours and attractive shapes so that you can choose one which enhances the decor of your baby's nursery.

Audio + Video Monitors
These are a combination of Remote Camera, to be connected to a TV or a Monitor, an Audio Receiver and Transmitter. They are reasonably priced but only have an operational distance of about 50 meters.

The costlier option is to choose a Wireless Baby Monitor. The latest variety in the market is based on wireless connectivity at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. There are two grades of these devices available.

The more economic among these is a model whose camera is connected to a Receiving Station which is connected to a TV set or a monitor. The monitor can then be set up in which ever room is convenient.

The more expensive version consists of a number of cameras which are connected to a portable monitor with its own screen and speakers. The receiver has its own stand and you can keep a close watch on your baby while you move back and forth between various rooms in the house. These are also known as Video with 3G.

However there can be certain technical snags in these types of audio and video wireless monitoring. While you move about in your house, the concrete walls and the wood and plastic furniture can reduce the signal strength by up to 40%. Furthermore the signals from other equipment such as TVs and cordless or mobile telephones can interfere with the signals sent by the cameras to the receiver unit. In this case, though it is possible to buy cameras whose frequency can be specifically configured so as to relieve this problem.

Conclusion
Parents will always worry about the safety and security of their new baby, naturally. It is possible though to buy equipment that will, when properly used, give the reassurance that is needed when we can't be in the same room. These give peace of mind and allow us to juggle other every-day tasks safe in the knowledge that the baby's needs are being well taken care of. As always when buying these types of products look for equipment that conforms to current safety regulations to be sure of its quality standards.