Customer Reviews

Safety 1st 900 Mhz Sight And Sound Nursery Monitor System

5 star:		(42)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(39)
1 star:		(58)

 

 

1. Video: clear during daylight and more than adequate at night (complete darkness). Reception is great at 75 feet away through two (2) walls.

2. Audio: even better than the video! The separate, additional audio-only receiver has really good reception and clarity.

3. Love the ability to selectively turn off the video and listen to only audio with the larger monitor.

4. The tilt/swivel of the camera works really well to target the baby in the crib / Pack N' Play.

5. We have 2.4 GHz cordless phone and wireless 802.11g network at home. This 900 MHz baby monitoring system causes NO interference at all - a BIG consideration for those with 2.4 GHz devices at home. Keep in mind that 2.4 GHz will be more directional and more likely to have problems with reception through walls and around corners.

6. If you have a radio scanner or an amateur radio receiver and can tune into 900 MHz, you just got an additional audio receiver! I tune my scanner to either Channel 1 or Channel 2 (see manual for exact frequencies) and carry that around the house with me whenever I am away from the video monitor. Allows both wife and myself to be productive at the same time - she carries the audio-only monitor and I carry the scanner!

7. Installation was extremely easy. Simply plug and play.

March 6, 2005 Update:
The infrared emitters on the camera has now malfunctioned TWICE within 5 months. It is the only problem we've encountered. Once you have this device it becomes indispensible, so I hated not having "night vision".

For replacements, call 800 544-1108, give them a credit card number, and they will ship you a new unit. You won't be charged anything unless you don't destroy/return the defective unit (they paid for shipping both ways).

We still love our monitor despite the problems.

We bought this product after trying the camera and monitor system from Summer Infant product, which is rated higher than this Safety 1st product. We bought the Summer product over this one based on the reviews but when we got it home, over the next few days, it got more and more static and couldn't get a clear picture. We returned it to the store and bought this Safety First product, despite the bad reviews. We tried it out and the picture was very clear and barely has a hum in the background. We could hear our baby breathing and see him throughout the night which put us at ease. This product also has an extra portable monitor which can be put elsewhere in the house and the sound is just as clear as the main base. This product also has infrared lens on the camera and can be used in a totally dark room. We have experienced no interference even though we have several cordless phones on the same 900 mhz frequency. I would recommend trying this product out to see if it works for you. We would never have tried it based on the other reviews but we did and it worked well for us!

It's great to watch my baby sleep...it keeps us from having to run and down the steps after every peep. It allows us monitor his sleeping habits without having to stand over his bed. We occasionally get some interference and would have to smack the monitor a few times to get our picture back. The picture is pretty clear, even at night. We love it and wouldn't use another monitor.

~*~*~*ANOTHER UPDATE - JUNE 6, 2006*~*~*~
Almost 3 months since my last update and my monitor is still going strong. I have been using it every day for about a year now with no complaints. I'm really starting to think you either get a good one or a bad one with this product. My daughter will be 13 months on the 8th and sleeps 11-12 hours straight at night, but I still can't seem to turn this thing off! LOL It's just so great to be able to keep an eye on her without going in her room - especially during her naps! I really suggest trying this monitor and just keep your receipt and return it if it doesn't work out for you.

~*~*~*UPDATE - MARCH 10, 2006*~*~*~
***Two more months have gone by and our monitor is still working! I still worry that it's going to go out, but we use it everyday without a problem. As I mentioned below, we leave the camera on at all times even though the owner's manual recommends turning it off when not in use. I would still consider buying another one (or at least attempt getting it replaced) if it does decide to konk out on us!***

I love this monitor! After reading some of the horrible reviews, I was afraid ours was going to do the same thing. We have been using ours for 6 months without a problem. ***Knock On Wood!***

Our master bedroom is downstairs (kids' rooms are upstairs) and we get perfectly clear reception for both the audio and video. The night vision works great and I love the fact that I can use the brightness control on the back of the monitor to dim the picture at night while I am trying to sleep. That way I can still see my daughter but our room isn't quite so bright.

We also took our monitor on vacation with us. We stayed in a 2-story villa and got perfect reception both upstairs and downstairs.

All in all, this monitor has been indispensable. I am very happy with it and hope it continues to work! If it would quit I would first try to get a replacement from the company, but if that didn't work I would seriously consider buying another - I like it that much.

Also, we leave the camera on at all times and turn the monitor on and off as needed. I wonder if that has anything to do with preserving the life of the eye. Just a thought.

Like many other reviews listed, I too loved being able to watch and hear my daughter while she slept. The night vision was great until the darned thing stopped working. At first it just flickered from time to time, then the video portion stopped working altogether. My husband and I would have to stand there for sometimes 10 mins switching channels and messing with it to get a picture. Then it would go off again, then on again, just a headache. For $150 bucks you think it would last more than a few months. What a disappointment.

Initially I was absolutely delighted with this monitor and like others have said, it was a life saver. Our daughter's bedroom is on the main level and our bedroom is upstairs. With that being said, after about 3-4 months of using it the night vision went out completely. I returned it to Babies R Us with minimal problems. They tried to sell me a 6 month warranty for it and I said I shouldn't have to buy a warranty for a $150 item that has only been used for a few months. So the replacement monitor just went out as well. I tried to return this one to Baies R Us as well today where they gave me the manufacturers phone number. That's it, no exchange, credit nothing. They asked if I had the box and I replied why would I keep the box if it worked when I got it? So 2 monitors within less than a year? I have a 14 month old and am 7 months pregnant. Who has time for this kind of crap? So yes, while it works it is awesome.....but seems like overall product is lacking.

after using the unit for eight months the night vision broke

Like others, my husband thought this was a great idea. We had a traditional sound-only monitor with our first child and we were OK. I admit I was slightly disappointed with this product in the beginning. The TV got poor reception in our bedroom, and at best the night-vision was a little fuzzy. So we decided to keep the audio monitor in our bedroom and move the visual monitor into our kitchen/living area. For 10 months now, that arrangment has been great. The audio monitor does catch some static, but after finding an interference-free spot, it does its job. It also has a long range -- I can hear my baby clearly whenever I am outside, even when I am a good distance from baby's room. Once we found the right place for it, the video monitor has been fabulous. I can see my baby just fine with ample light, and at night, I have learned how to see my baby. It takes a little getting used to, but with a nightlight in the baby's room, you can see the baby clearly enough to check on him. I was so glad to have this monitor when my baby was only a few months old and my 3 year old went in his room while I was cooking supper. I looked up at the monitor and saw that my older child had climbed in the bed with the baby! Never would have HEARD that happening while I was cooking. Definitely made me happy I could see what was going on!

Update: April 24, 2008
We have now used this monitor system continuously for over 4 years, and we still like it. I'm sure there are updated models on the market now, but this one has been worth the money. Every part of it still works except the video monitor's sound can come and go. But the video is like the day we got it and the "dots" that indicate sound still work, so I know what's happening even if I can't hear the audio. I still highly recommend this product.

BUYERS BEWARE!!! My husband wanted this monitor the minute he layed his eyes on it. With having 3 other children and a newborn, we wanted to thank the creator of such a product...until we got it home and actually TRIED to use it. Our bedroom is 2 doors down and we get an awful reception. The screen jumps up and down and 99% of the time, we see more snow on the screen then we do baby. You practially have to stand right infront of the monitor and hold the antenna in order to see the baby for a qucik second. The handheld monitor makes AWFUL noses. You cannot set it anywhere on the counter or even on your belt to go check the mail. Both monitors seems to get interferance from cordless phones, microwaves, computers and even the radio!!!! THIS IS AWFUL and definitely not worth the $150.00. Unfortunatly I had to give it 1 star cause the NO STAR was not an option :o) BUYERS BEWARE!!!

I have read a lot of reviews and have to tell you that those that have only been using this monitor for less than 1 year are unaware that is about how long it will last. I was given this monitor at my shower in June 2003. By January 2004, the video had stopped working. However, Safety 1st did replace it. I happened to save the box but we needed to send it to them first before they sent the replacement. Then, sometime in November/Deceber 2004, the video monitor went again. Again, Safety 1st replaced it because it was within the one year warranty. However, since early December 2005, our video monitor is slowly going and it is only a matter of time before it stops working. I now have a 5 month old and my husband and I are looking for another model since, Safety 1st will now not replace it. I wouldn't buy it.