As a parent, you’ll never stop worrying about your child, but there comes a time when you’ll have to stop video-monitoring them. A common recommendation for when to stop using a baby monitor is when the child is 4 years old. However, there’s no global standard; the decision to remove the baby monitor in your child’s bedroom is typically when the child can express distress and has a sense of its own privacy and space.
Reasons to Stop Using a Baby Monitor
Your Baby Is Past the Age When SIDS Occurs the Most
Many parents install baby monitors to reduce their child’s chances of suffering sudden infant death syndrome. While there is no solid evidence for this use case, it is a fair premise.
SIDS is pretty common in the first year of a child’s life – especially the first 4 months. So, once your child is older than a year, you may choose to stop using the monitor.
Your Baby Can Sleep Through the Night
One of the earliest times when you can stop using a video baby monitor is when your baby sleeps through the night without difficulty. Of course, this depends on your conviction. For one, if your baby’s room is far, you may be reluctant.
Your Baby Can Leave Their Own Room Without Your Assistance
When your baby can get in and out of their own bed and bedroom with help, you may stop using a monitor. At this point, you know they can come to you if uncomfortable.
But then, if your child is typically energetic, you may use the video monitor longer. You’ll want to ensure the kid does not do something dangerous.
Your Bedroom Is Close to the Child’s Room
If you can hear the baby from your bedroom, you may not need an audio monitor. In fact, having a baby monitor may affect you since you’re more likely to react to the slightest sound the baby makes.
The Monitor Puts Your Baby At Risk
If your monitor is putting your baby at any type of risk, you should stop using it. The risk could be things like radiation, rashes, irritation, or obstruction.
Your Monitor Has Become A Distraction
Your mental health could be another reason to stop monitoring your baby’s sleep. So, if having a monitor has become a needless distraction, stop using it.
It Increases Your Anxiety or Keeps You Awake
If the monitor has turned you into a sleepless or anxious parent, you should consider stopping it and getting an alternative. Extreme anxiety can affect your parenting style.
When to Use Your Baby Monitor
Generally, if you have a healthy baby over 1 year old, you may not need to watch the baby sleeping. However, even with those conditions, you may keep using a monitor if:
- Your bedroom is far from the child’s bedroom.
- A younger sibling sleeps in the same room.
- Your child is sick or teething.
- Your kid sleepwalks, has nightmares, or has any other sleep disturbance.
- Your child hasn’t had sleep training.
- You’re traveling.
How to Stop Using a Baby Monitor
Going off a baby monitor can be a bit rough; you may even start second-guessing your decision. But that feeling is pretty common – it’s normal for parents to worry.
To make the changes that come with disconnecting the monitor easier, effect the change gradually:
- Switch the receiver off first. This way, you can readily use it if you feel compelled to.
- Then after some days or weeks, if you feel less need to use the receiver, pack it and store it away.
Benefits of Using Baby Monitors
- They offer anxious parents some assurance that their sleeping baby is fine.
- They can help with toddlers’ sleeping training.
- They help parents connect with their babies even when far away.
- They make it easy for parents to multitask while monitoring their babies.
