I get asked all the time if my kids are twins, in fact, it feels like they are, but they have 14 months difference. But just by looking at my friends who actually have twins I know how crucial it is to optimize your time. That’s why choosing the right baby monitor can make a huge difference.
When you have twins, you need to get everything in double. That’s doesn’t mean you need two baby monitors. Maybe you don’t even need one. Before you just grab the first baby monitor for your twins, check out this guide I created.
If you’re seeking for the best baby monitor and hoping to find real reviews from real parents. You should check out this list I created of the top baby monitors.
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Do you really need a baby monitor?
Let’s address this critical question: Do I really need a baby monitor? The answer is probably not, but it can be that extra help you need. Especially with twins to take care of at the same time.
Our grandparents didn’t have baby monitors, and we are alive! In today’s world, it’s a little bit different. Parents are always under pressure, and they live a lot of stress. We try to achieve so much in one day. Like our life didn’t change since we have kids.
In my opinion, today’s parents need all the help they can get, before they burned-out.
Baby monitors help you watch over your kid and do chores at the same time
Your babies won’t be in your arms all the time. They will be sleeping or playing, and this is your opportunity to do achieves some tasks.
Your twins can be in one room, and you can be in another room and still keep an eye on them with the monitor. With the baby monitor, you will hear or see if they need your assistance.
During daytime naps
In my experience, it’s during naps that I was the more productive. Sometimes being productive meant getting a couple extra minutes of sleep.
My friends who have twins could tell you how much sleep becomes a luxury. Also, from what I notice, they look like they miss a couple of weeks of beauty sleep.
Also, daytime naps are the perfect time to do chores around the house or prepare dinner.
At night
Your babies will go to bed early, and they will sleep more than you. It’s so unfair, I know! This is also the perfect moment to finish chores around the house, read a book or watch Netflix. All this can be possible if you have a baby monitor.
It’s also a wise idea to catch some good sleep. Especially if you sleep in a separate room because falling asleep in a rocking chair is not as satisfying as your bed.
During playtime
When your babies become toddlers, they will play together without requiring your presence. Wich is the perfect moment to attack the enormous pile of laundry. Trust me, with two kids; dirty laundry will become part of your home decor.
With the baby monitor, the twins could be playing in their bedroom while you are doing something else in another room. But you still know what going one in their bedroom with the help of the baby monitor.
To watch over your baby while you take care of the other
Since you will have to take care of two babies at the same time, you will probably have to be in a room with one of them while the other is in another room.
It could be to change a diaper or to feed of your twins.
With the baby monitor, you will still be able to watch over the other twin, even if you not in the same room. Without the monitor, you will need to always carry both babies with you around the house. That look like a tremendous and unnecessary challenge!
How many monitors do you need?
If you’re having twins or triplets, does that mean you need more than one baby monitor? You could probably get away with just one baby monitor, but there are so many advantages to have a multi-child baby monitor.
Also, it depends on your answers to the following questions.
Are they be sharing a room?
If your babies are sharing a bedroom, you could differently use just one baby monitor.
On the other hand, my friends who have twins are using a video baby monitor with two cameras. It gives them the ability to see which one of there baby is awake. If they had a classic audio monitor, they would have to guess which one is crying and risk to wake up both. Look like the pure definition of double-trouble. I wouldn’t want to play that game either.
Are you planning on using separate rooms?
Maybe you want to use separate bedrooms. Which is a good idea if they need an uninterrupted night of sleep. It’s definitely an excellent solution to establish a healthy sleep pattern.
In this case, you would need two baby monitors. Or you could place the baby monitor in the corridor and try to guess who crying. Still look like a dangerous game to play.
If you need to monitor two babies, it doesn’t mean you need two separate baby monitors. Some baby monitor where specially made for twins or triplets.
For more information, check out my article on how to monitor 2 baby rooms.
What kind of monitor do you need?
There are mostly three kinds of baby monitors. Each has its benefits, but they also share many essential features.
Let’s start with the most common baby monitor.
1. Audio monitor
Being able to hear your baby is the most essential feature of a baby monitor. They work like a walkie-talkie and let you listen to what going on in your babies’ room. Some have a very sensitive microphone, so you don’t miss anything important.
Before you grab two audio monitors from the store, you must be aware that audio monitors are known to interfere with other wireless devices. In my experience, every time we showed up with our audio monitor and another parents were also using theirs; we could hear feedback coming out of the baby monitor.
But there’s a solution to monitor two separate rooms with audio monitors.
Audio monitor for two rooms
The multi-child version of the audio monitor is becoming rarer, but some manufacturers have a baby monitor for two rooms. Each kid has a dedicated unit and the parents only carry one receiver.
This is the best solution to monitor separate bedrooms with an audio monitor. There’s no chance that the monitor will interfere with each other.
2. Video monitor
From what I’ve learned by looking at my friends with twins, is a video monitor is the best solution to monitor two kids or more.
You can tell which baby is awake by looking at the screen. If your video monitor is equipped with a movement sensor, you can even be alert when one of your twins is awake. This will give you the ability to get one of your babies out of the room before he wakes the other one with his cry.
But Having only one camera in the room has its limit.
Baby monitor with two child units
Some video baby monitors were specially made to add multiple cameras. Now, your baby monitor becomes a little home surveillance system.
You can have one camera per crib, pointing directly at your kid. This will give you the ability to see who’s sleeping or not. Especially with little babies; their movements or cries can be very subtle, so having only one camera filming the whole room is not as precise as you would need.
One day, if I have twins, I will go for a dual cameras monitor and install each camera over each crib. That will be my number one choice.
3. Smart baby monitor
The smart baby monitors are the new high-tech generation of monitors. This category is always evolving, and they offer pretty cool features. Not all essential functions, but some are interesting enough.
If your twins are born prematurely or if one of them have a health issue, maybe a smart baby monitor could bring you extra peace of mind.
I have two kids with 14 months differences, and each one had to stay at the hospital for weeks when they were born. I remember the anxiety I felt when they were sleeping at home for the first time. I was always worried about their breathing, their coughing and if the temperature of the room was right.
Well, the new baby monitor use sensors and can monitor more than just the sound and the movement.
Smart monitor with breathing sensor
One of those sensors is monitoring their breathing. It can sense if the breathing pattern is regular or not. The monitor will alert you if he detects something wrong.
Still, those monitors are not medical devices, and you should never rely only on the monitor. They are just an extra safety level to help you watch over your babies.
Heart monitoring
Some smart monitors also have a heartbeat sensor. Just like the breathing monitor, it will detect the anomaly and inform you the second something is wrong.
Again there are not medical devices, and they can’t prevent SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome), but they can help you to keep your babies safe.
Room temperature monitoring
When your babies are finally asleep, you want to make sure they get the best sleep possible. Since babies’ cannot regulate their body temperature, it’s essential that you control the room temperature.
A baby monitor with a room temperature sensor will automatically alert your if the room is above or below a certain temperature.
If you’re seeking for the best monitor for twins and hoping to find real reviews from real parents. You should check out this list I created of the top baby monitors of 2020.
What features to look for into a baby monitor?
When you look at baby monitors, you will notice a massive amount of features, and most of them are not essential. But some features can be convenient, especially with baby monitor for twins.
1. Split screen / dual screen
If you decide to go for a video monitor with two cameras, I would also recommend you get one with the split screen feature. The dual screen enables you to watch both kids at the same time, without having to switch from one camera to another. It’s convenient to quickly catch who’s awake from his nap before he wakes up the other twin.
Split screen baby monitor with dual audio
Dual audio is similar to the dual screen because it let you hear both children at the same time. Some monitor requires to switch from a channel to another to listen to your kids.
2. Voice activated
When your babies become toddlers, and they can sleep through most of the nights, you don’t need to be listing all the time. This is when the voice activation feature is useful. It will detect louder noise and alert you as soon as one of your babies is crying. With this features, you are sure to know where they need your help, without having to listen to them snoring like little bears.
It’s convenient when you are having a late night dinner with friends at your house, and you don’t want to share with them the soundtrack of your kids sleeping the whole evening.
For more in-depth information, check out my article on what is voice activation (VOX) on a baby monitor?
3. Night vision
All good video baby monitor will have a night vision mode. I can’t underline more the benefits of being able to see in your kid’s room without opening the light. Even if your kids are sleeping with a night light, it can be difficult to see if their little eyes are open are not. With the night vision, you can see everything.
4. Movement monitor
Just like voice activation, the movement monitor will alert you as soon as one of your babies is moving. It’s beneficial because you don’t have to stare at the monitor screen all the time, waiting for one of your twins to wake up. The monitor will alert you as soon as he detects movement.
5. Range and signal
Depending on the size of your house, you will have to verify the signal range of the baby monitor. The manufacturer will advertise an “open field” range, which means the distance you can be apart from the baby units and still catch the signal.
The problem is this number gets divided by 3 when you consider the interference from your house structure, the furniture, the walls, and other wireless devices.
If you live in a large house with a backyard, I would suggest you go for a long-range monitor or a WIFI baby monitor. Some WIFI monitor uses your smartphone as a receiver, and it will connect to your baby’s room via the 3G network. Giving the power to access your baby monitor from anywhere as long as there’s an internet connection.
Be careful; it’s not because you can go far that you should go to the local pub while your babies are sleeping alone at home. A baby monitor is not a babysitter 😉
For more in-depth information, check out my article on the range you can cover with a baby monitor.
6. Camera control
If you choose to go for a video monitor with only one camera, I would suggest you get one that let you control the camera. Some cams can rotate, tilt and zoom. All of which can be useful if you are monitoring two children with only one camera.
Choosing the best baby monitor for your twins is easy
If you have read this guide, you know what type of baby monitor you will get. If you want to learn more about where you should install it, you can read this article I created about the best place to mount a baby monitor into a nursery.
Before you go to the next article, check this funny video of twins caught sneaking out of their crib at nights.
I wish you all the best with your twins!
P.S. If you’re seeking for the best baby monitor and hoping to find real reviews from real parents. You should check out this list I created of the top baby monitors.
To get the best insights and tips to find the best baby monitor, I read more than 300 reviews online and ask my friends or others parents. From all their insights and my own experience, I’ve built this list of the best baby monitors.
Still unsure about the monitor? Here is my review of the best baby monitors you should consider for your nursery: