I received one of those video baby monitors for my baby shower. I registered for it because a friend recommended it to me, but I had no idea how much I would come to depend on it. And love it.
I know there are those that think the video monitors are obsessive. That watching your child like that is just too much. But for me, this monitor has made my life so much easier. When we first moved her to her crib, I was so afraid of SIDS that I, like many (all?) new mothers, would go in and check on her many, many times a night. Touch her tiny body to make sure she was still breathing. I would watch the monitor, waiting for her to move, telling myself that I wasn't going to go in there again. It always seemed like just as I was at the end of my patience, when I was sure something was wrong, that she would finally shift. Now that she is older, and those worries have lessened, I can click on the monitor when she makes noises, to see if she is actually getting up or if she is just rolling around or talking in her sleep, a trait she inherited from her father.
At the end of the day, it is our custom to spend a couple of minutes, as we settle in to bed, to watch a little Sophie TV. I love to see her little body in the various positions she takes up over the course of the night. I can watch, unobtrusive and unseen, as she rolls around with her blanket or cuddles her lovey. I can chuckle when her feet stick through the slats without worry that I will waken her.
Watching my daughter sleep is one of my great pleasures. While standing over her bed or holding her in my arms would be my preferred mode, that is just not realistic. This wonderful little gadget allows me to feed my addiction from any room in the house.
Now, how long can I keep watching her? Is 18 too long?
I think that I will always sneak in to watch my children sleep. Even if it mean crawling on the floor and peeking up at them and then flattening myself on the floor so that they don't see me. There is nothing like the peace of a child sleeping. (I wish mine would sleep right now.)
ReplyDeleteHummm, I wonder if I can get something like that installed our car that my daughter drives....
ReplyDeleteIts been so long since I've had a little one in the house, I had no idea they even made something like this! VERY COOL! What a nice way to go to sleep every night!
I love to snuggle with my sleeping babies. Aside from actually crawling into their crib, silently watching them seemed like a more reasonable approach.
ReplyDeleteAnd no, 18 is NOT too long. I am 30, have 3 kids of my own and my mom and dad still admit to worrying about me endlessly. But then again, who wouldn't worry about me? I am a hot mess.
Actually, I think you need the baby monitor the most during the teenage years. Then you need to find one that works remotely so you can watch her in college! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm paranoid w/ the monitors too! I don't have the video one--but the one that will beep if it doesn't detect sound/movement.I slept SO much better once I got that! Pickle is 2 and I still have it in her crib!!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to watch my babies sleep until their wedding night.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin'.
The teenage years are going to be when you'll have to start watching closer!
ReplyDeleteWhy can't they stay little????
Sleeping babies are quite possibly one of God's greatest gifts to mothers...it allows you to forget (if only momentarily) how crazy the babe made you in his/her waking hours. I love to watch my babies while they sleep too (what a great evening ritual you have!). My oldest is 8...I don't see it stopping anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteMy brother, who works for a company who makes video monitors, hooked me up with one for baby #2. I don't know how I made it through the first child without one! I love it. It's so nice to watch for a chest-raise rather than hover and risk waking the baby! Apparently, you can buy a second camera and do split screen if you have two to watch.
ReplyDeleteI've said it many times over the past 18 months -- it was the best $100. spent.
ReplyDeleteA wise investment, indeed!
I LOVE watching my son sleep too. Its precious and angelic. Its hard not to reach into the bed and snuggle with him.
ReplyDeleteI think I told you this before, but I have one of those monitors too! Best thing ever!! I watch Addi right before night too and always go in to check on Cohen, sleeping babies are the best! I still sleep so much better with the monitor and always wake up in the middle of the night to check on her and she is 18 months!!
ReplyDeleteI have my video monitor on right next to me watching my (almost) 2 year old sleep. We didn't have a video monitor at first but after a scary choking episode, we rushed out and got one. What a piece of mind! We LOVE it and couldn't imagine him being in his crib without us having the monitor with us in the house.
ReplyDeleteSo you just keep watching your Sophie TV. Nothing wrong with that!
How sweet! And there is nothing wrong with watching your baby!
ReplyDeleteI stopped by to thank you for coming to my blog yesterday and for your dear comment!
It was a great day for me...
Ah, I miss my video monitor. It was something my husband rigged up, actually, and not a baby monitor per se. Probably because of that, my boy ruined his end of the monitor by playing with it and throwing it.
ReplyDeleteMan, was I missing out! I never had one of these things.
ReplyDeleteCan I confess something to you all in good fun? I thought I was over the edge--OCD with my kids...until I started reading your blog. Turns out that I never knew just how laid back I am. Thanks for the perspective!
(PLEEEZE know that I am just totally ribbing you, here! I'm totally jealous that I never had one of these camera deals!)