Once the novelty is over...
Written: Nov 04 '03 (Updated Nov 04 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Transmitter sensitivity. Inexpensive prenatal monitor, price
Cons: Receiver generates background noise and buzzing
The Bottom Line: If you must have a prenatal monitor and a baby monitor on a tight budget, this is the way to go.
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| chretiensucks's Full Review: Fisher-Price Prenatal Nursery Monitor 71636 |
Once upon a time two parents wanted a baby monitor with two receivers, especially since they have A LOT of stairs in their house. One receiver could be located in their family room while watching movies or playing video games, the other could be left in their bedroom.
Instead, due to an impulsive buying decision, they purchased the Fisher-Price Prenatal nursery monitor which also doubles as a one receiver baby monitor. Now they have to take the receiver everywhere they go.
Unfortunately we are the two parents.
Description
The receiver doubles as a prenatal monitor, and it is pretty mediocre but we weren’t expecting that much considering the price range this product falls into. After all, this is not advertised as a medical device and should not be treated as such. It includes a pair of headphones. We could hear the baby’s heartbeat and if you’re the type of person who’s anxiety has to be constantly placated while you are pregnant, this is product for you. Unfortunately, it fails miserably as a baby monitor.
The white and yellow colored transmitter has a little red LED to indicate that the power is on. There are two broadcasting channels in case you run into some interference with electronic components from your neighbors. The transmitter has to be plugged into an outlet. There is no battery compartment. However, it is adequately sensitive as you can hear even the slightest background noises such as cars passing in front of the house.
The receiver which can be plugged in or run off a 9-volt battery has 5 red LEDs indicating the level of sound. As your baby cries louder, the number of LEDs lit increases. We have no problem operating it at distances of up to 40 feet. We haven't had an opportunity to carry it even further. The speaker level can also be variably adjusted via a dial but as someone else has complained about, the background buzzing is quite annoying. It can be a nuisance when you’re trying to sleep.
Conclusion
If you can get over the novelty of having to own a prenatal monitor, you are better off owning a baby monitor which produced no ambient noises. It is a creative product but there may be no cost effective way to have a prenatal monitor effectively double as a high quality baby monitor receiver as well.
I'd like to give this 3 and a half stars but in the end, I settled on 4 just because there is no other alternative out there unless you spend a lot more money for a separate prenatal monitor and a baby monitor.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
chretiensucks
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Member: joe unpronounceable
Location: GTA, Ontario, Canada
Reviews written: 42
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
How do people with more than one child do it?
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