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After purchasing a brand new baby monitor, you may be at a loss as to where you’re actually supposed to put and which mounting option is the best. It can be tricky to find the right compromise between seeing enough of the room and having it close enough to pick up all the sounds. We’ll focus on mounting baby monitors in the baby’s room since that is the most common choice, but most of the tips in this article can apply to other areas of the home as well.
What To Consider When Installing An Audio Monitor
Since audio monitors do not have the added sophistication that video baby monitors do, they are a lot easier to place in the nursery. Most baby units can be plugged in anywhere in the room as long as it is 6 feet away from the crib if it uses radio signals, and their audio detection will be good enough to transmit clear audio to the parent unit as long as it is in range. Since you don’t have to worry about camera angles/distance or long dangling wires, an audio monitor is the simplest type to install with its plug and go method.
What To Consider When Installing A Video/WiFi Monitor
Baby monitors equipped with video capabilities and the extra features that come with a WiFi connection are a bit trickier to place in a nursery than simple audio-only monitors. You’ll want the best view possible to maximise your peace of mind, but the best baby monitor placements for viewing your baby may not also be the best for picking up audio. Camera angles and distances are important so you can actually see your baby sleep, and you have to consider any objects that may obscure your line of sight as well. Since video monitors can almost never be mounted directly in an outlet due to the need for a proper viewing angle, you’ll also have to think about cord management to avoid accidental strangulation when placing the monitor close to the baby’s crib. If you have a night vision camera in the monitor, you’ll also have to ensure that there isn’t anything in the room that can affect performance that way.
What Are The Different Mount Types For A Baby Monitor?
Deciding HOW to mount your baby monitor is almost as important as deciding WHERE. There are a few different options for mount types, and you may not even get to make a decision depending on the type of monitor you buy. Let’s dive into what makes each type of mount beneficial and what drawbacks they have, if any.
Wall Mount
Wall mounts for baby monitors are one of the most popular kinds out there. Mounting a baby monitor to the wall is a very secure option and it allows you to choose a precise location without worrying about shelving space. Plus, it ensures that the monitor itself and the cords will be far out of the baby’s reach. One of the issues with a wall mount is that it is a fairly permanent fixture, so you won’t be able to make adjustments easily if you move some furniture around or wish to place the monitor in a different room for a little bit. Plus, the dangling cord may be an eyesore depending on what’s around the location. Just like a security camera, you may have to get pretty creative trying to hide the power cord. Wall mounts are the best for cameras that have a zoom and remote pan and tilt feature to ensure you can always get a clear view without moving the camera.
Tabletop Mount
A tabletop mount is another fairly versatile mounting option. A tabletop mount can be placed on any shelf or other flat surface around the nursery, so you can still get a pretty clear view and adjust the angle of the camera depending on your ideal view. Since most cameras have zoom features, you’ll be able to place the tabletop mount anywhere in the room and still get an adequate picture of your child. Since a tabletop mount is a lot easier to move around than a wall mount, this is a better option if you will need to monitor different rooms or areas of the room on one day. One concern with a tabletop mount is that they aren’t as secure as a wall mount. You will need to ensure that it is out of reach at all times and maybe even think about a DIY tape job to make sure it can’t be knocked over and damaged.
Clip Mount
Clip mounts allow you to attach your baby monitor directly to a crib or bassinet. The attachment hardware is usually quite flexible and therefore able to adjust to every type of crib style. You could even use a clip mount to secure wireless baby monitors to a curtain rod or other similar structure. The versatility of a clip mount is excellent and it also lets you get a close up view of your child without any objects in the way. However, it is usually recommended that baby monitors are farther than 3 ft from a crib to ensure child safety. Since clip mounts are used most often for cribs, the risk of strangulation is a lot greater with this mount option. If you choose to mount a monitor to a crib, be vigilant that your cord management is stellar to keep your baby safe. Many types of baby monitors will come with a clip mount, so make sure you know what type of mount you’re getting.
Baby Monitor Install Locations To Avoid
Securing a baby monitor to a wall or high shelf will result in the best performance and security, especially if you’re using a monitoring system with video cameras in place. Crib mounting also has its benefits, but there are some locations for baby monitors that you should really try to avoid. If you are new parents with a first baby, you may not be aware of these.
While some baby monitors are equipped with clip mounts and are designed to be attached directly to the baby’s crib, this can be a dangerous choice even if there isn’t a power cord attached. Baby monitor cameras can be damaged by children if they start playing with them, and 100% functionality is necessary for you to ensure your child is safe. It just isn’t a good idea.
Placing a table or wall mount camera that leaves a cord accessible from a baby’s crib or a toddler’s play area is an absolute DON’T when it comes to mounting your baby video monitor. Cases of strangulation have sadly been reported by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), so it is best to avoid the risk completely by keeping all gadget components far away from children.
How And Where To Hide Baby Monitor Cords
Since hiding the cords from your baby monitor is important for safety and aesthetic in the baby’s room, we’ve gathered a few safety tips and creative solutions for hiding the cords from your monitors.
Cord covers are one of the top recommendations for hiding baby monitor cords. There are many styles and lengths to choose from so you can easily blend it into the current decor of the room, and it is a very secure option that your toddler will not be able to disrupt even if it is within reach. Of course, this will be a bit of an added expense, but for security’s sake, we think it will be worth it for most parents.
If you are using a wall mount or table mount, your cords may be able to be hidden by a bookshelf or other decor item to keep them out of reach of your children. If using a clip mount on a changing table or other piece of furniture, you may be able to use some of your baby items to block the cord from view.
