On the parent unit
- Mains and battery operation, so you can take the unit with you in and around the house.
- A belt clip – but if you intend to use this feature, check that the weight of the unit isn’t too heavy to render it impractical.
- Volume control. Check that it’s not too loud even at the lowest setting – you only need to hear your baby in the middle of the night, not feel like you’re in the cot with them.
- A light display to indicate the sound level. This is handy if you want to see the noise your child makes, rather than hearing it – for example, when you’re watching TV or vacuuming, or if you (or a babysitter) have hearing problems.
On the baby unit
- Mains operation, and battery operation if you want to use it in areas without mains power (for example, if you go camping).
- If you intend to use a night light anyway, choosing a baby monitor with a built-in light can be handy.
On both units
- At least two different frequencies to choose from.
- Power-on light.
- Battery condition indicator.
- An automatic battery back-up feature is useful in areas where power failures are common.
- A cord long enough for your set-up.
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