As a first time mommy I worry all the time. I worry that my baby is eating enough and I worry that he’s eating too much. I worry that he’s using too many diapers. I worry that he’s not hitting all his developmental milestones. But most of all I worry about him in the night. He’s almost six months old now and while he has been dubbed “super baby” (among many other titles mostly related to his amazing intelligence, creativity, cuteness, and athleticism) he has not yet developed the ability to escape his crib. That doesn’t stop me from worrying that something bad will happen in the night. What? I don’t know, but I do know it is bad.

In any case, I knew I needed a monitor when he was born. For lack of a better or more reasonable option my husband and I settled on the Fisher Price Sounds & Lights. It was cheap at about $20 for the base and hand units and worked well enough. I did however find that the range was pretty pitiful (keep in mind we have a 1400 square foot bungalow) and we did get lots of interference from electronic devices with the 900 MHz transmission. Plus I was annoyed that it was impossible to plug it into a base and recharge the batteries.

And then along came the Philips Digital Baby Monitor with DECT Technology. Suddenly my world changed. Suddenly my son’s bedroom sounded less like a freeway and more like the tranquil space it actually is. Factor in the many (and by many I mean MANY) features and what you have is a very happy family.

Included in the $199 model is a single handset and matching base not to mention the lovely spherical unit to be placed next to your child’s bed or crib. In our case, we have some interesting wiring challenges (it’s a 110 year old house) so we have no choice but to put it on the floor next to the crib. I worried that the placement would hinder my ability to hear my son. I fortunately didn’t experience any problems of that sort. I also found that many of the “basic” features are very, very convenient. I was less impressed by the “bonus” features but truth be told I care most about those things I use most. Flourishes are nice but unnecessary.

The way Philips achieves zero interference (which is, by the way, the real great thing about their product) is via the aforementioned DECT technology. DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication) means that the unit picks a clear radio channel from over 60 available. This means that not only do you never get interference but you are always secure. If something bumps into the channel you are using it automatically switches to a different station. Cool, eh?

This monitor is much more than my simple Fisher Price. It is the Cadillac of baby monitors. Do you want to know the temperature in your child’s room? Look no further than the display on your handset. My son’s room, for example, is currently 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It is accurate according to the thermometer I placed upstairs to test the monitor. Want to turn the volume off but want to know if your child is crying? It’s simple! Just watch the lights across the top of the handset—depending on how intense the cries you’ll see more or less bars. I love this feature and would have no monitor without it (and yes, my cheap-o Fisher Price had it also). The other thing I love about this Philips baby monitor is that there is a base that allows parents to recharge the handset. At the same time I love this part of the product, I’m also annoyed. The battery only lasts “a minimum of 8 hours of cordless monitoring” according to the literature. I wish I got more time out of it. Still I can’t complain. Finally there is a sound alert that tells parents when there is a particularly loud sound in the child’s room. It goes off, in my experience, when the door opens or shuts.

There are many special features built in also. Want to use your voice to remotely comfort your baby? It’s simple to just press the “TALK” button on the left side of the hand unit and do so. Want to adjust the sensitivity of your unit to suit the situation? It can be easily done via the menu functions (I’ve got mine turned up all the way since my son is so far away from the monitor). Want to soothe your child with any one (or all) of five lullabies? You can activate them remotely. Finally, there is a “starry night-light” to provide some comfort at night. I don’t intend on using this function but it seemed kind of dim when I tried it.

I have been very, very pleased with the Philips Digital Baby Monitor. My only problems come with the battery life, the dim nightlight (which matters very little to me), and the exorbitant price. I am fully aware that my old faithful Fisher Price is far, far less amazing than this monitor but for $20 it is a good deal. This is a reasonable deal for $199 but I may suggest waiting a few months (or even a year) to wait for it to come down. Regardless it is everything that Philips promised—a reliable, convenient baby monitor solution.


Thank you to Hass MS&L for providing this Philips Digital Baby Monitor to me in exchange for my honest opinion.

Recommended: Yes