Infant Baby Monitor

I really think that it should be based on what you are comfortable with. We used a monitor for my oldest until he was 6 and we still use one for my 4 year old. Why worry about whats going on in his room if you don't have to. Eventually you will get used to his noises and wake up when he needs you. I have had many nights where my kids have woke up sick in the middle of the night and if it weren't for the monitor I wouldn't have heard them when I did.

Yes, definitely get rid of the baby monitor. That was the best advice that my mom ever gave me when we first came home with our baby - that we would hear her if she was really up. The phrase, "Sleep like a baby" doesn't really apply as they make so much noise and periodically wake and even cry a tiny bit in the night. If he really needs to get up, you'll know it. I just leave our bedroom door open at night and I can hear her just fine. I also sleep very well!

I listened to my kids until they were 4 so I could sleep. - I couldn't fall asleep because of worry unless I had the monitor by me. It was totally for me and not for them. I think 15 months is still a little young to not be listening. Most of my friends stopped when their kids were 2.

I stopped using the monitor entirely, because if my baby wanted attention at night, she'd let me know it by crying or hollering loud enough. Those little noises she made while sleeping, sighs, snores and uneven breaths alerted me awake all night long. I removed them entirely. So,...in short, I totally agree with you!

I'm not sure that we even started using the moniter again when we moved our daughter back out of our bed. That was somewhere between 12 and 15 months. But we had her sleeping on mattresses on the floor and in the room next to ours, so if she'd wake up either she's start crying or just walk into our room and poke at us. I would think you could also stop using yours especially if it's causing you continual lack of good sleep. But if you worry that you wouldn't hear him, try a night or two without it as a test and see how it goes.

If it doesn't bother you to wake up occassionally when he makes noise, what difference does it make? If you feel that you aren't sleeping enough and want to sleep through the night without being woken up by the little noises your son makes in his sleep, then turn it off.

Personally, I still have the monitor on in my sons' room. My kids sleep in the same room together and I'd rather check in on the one making some noise and making sure he's alright than let him get to the point that he wakes up his brother before we hear him. Because when that happens, I'm up trying to get both of them asleep instead of just one.

Do what's right for you. Your son's pediatrician doesn't have to live with him. :-)

Our babies room was right next to ours. We used the monitor for maybe a few months, but had no need after that. (we have a smaller home). When they cried we could easily hear them. Really, I guess we didn't need the monitor at all....

Hi D....In all likelihood, if your child really needs you during the night, you'll hear him (assuming your rooms are reasonably close to one another). With that said, you need to go with your own gut instinct and what you'll be comfortable with - and if that means keeping the monitor on for now, than keep it on!

My own son is almost 2 and I haven't used the monitor for nap or bedtimes since he was around a year. I had the same problem you did - I heard every little sigh and squeak and it made for sleepless nights...

My son is nearly 30 months and we still use the monitor. If he calls for us and we don't respond quickly he gets upset and inconsolable easily. At 2 AM I want to know about it, get there quickly, and solve it so I can get back to bed. I have the monitor turned down very low so that I only really hear him if he hollers, but sometimes he talks in his sleep and wakes me up. I've got myself trained to roll over and go back to sleep, smiling that he's in the next room sleeping normally. If you need the monitor, use it. You will hear your son without, I'm sure, but I feel pretty strongly that my son needs to know we'll be there and be there fast if he needs us at night. Good luck!

My room is just down the hall from my son's, but we stopped the monitor at about 4 months. I'm a fairly light sleeper and didn't really need the additional background noise. He has fun with the monitor now opening it up to see what's inside. ;-)

I think if his room is close and you could hear him if he cries than you probably dont need it. If it makes you feel better to be able to hear everything than keep it because you wont sleep any better worrying about him. I have my monitor stop working a couple of times and my kids have told me when they need me.

What kind of noises does he make?

I've been a paranoid parent myself because my daughter was a preemie and wheezed alot so I was always trying to listen for wheezing or respitory problems well into her toddler years. My daughter also had night terrors but I could hear that loud and clear.

If it's a weird breathing or respitory noise he's making keep the baby monitor on, if it's a snoring or funny noise be done with the baby monitor.

I know a mom that used a baby monitor with her teenage son because his asthma was so bad. So if it is a breathing noise I say go for it.