Technology has improved the job of parents significantly. It’s hard to imagine life without all the electronic gadgets we have avaiable to us. Things like electric bottle warmers, educational toys, musical sleep companions, white noise machines and the ubiquitous baby monitors. It’s all there to make life easier and give us more time with our little ones.
There is a price to be paid however, which is our reliance on these technologies. Many parents have become dependant on their cool gadgets and that can spell trouble, particularly when it gets in the way of living life.
They’re Everywhere, They’re Everywhere You can find a million products to help keep an eye on your baby in their crib, it feeds our parental need to know what our baby is up to every second.
New parents are the most succeptible and often receive these as gifts early in their baby's life. The assumption being that they will need to monitor every movement. While we have them on camera all day taking pictures and video of their latest tricks, we seem to want to extend that obsession to night time.
A Watched Pot Never Boils
I won’t argue that they are certainly very helpful to keep an eye on your baby’s sleep habits without disturbing them, especially if you are transitioning them to their own room for the first time.
But at the same time, there is also a downside to these constant surveillance techniques. It can keep us from allowing them work things out on their own. Hearing every grunt or movement can also be a hindrance to parents trying to learn how to get their baby to sleep.
Alternative And Freedom
I’m not saying that you should close the door and ignore your baby, but at times it might be a good idea to turn off the monitor and just let your baby relax on their own. (Also, new parents need to relearn how to relax.)
There comes a point where all this staring into the baby monitor is more stressful and sleep-preventing than helpful for your baby. The baby will do what they are doing and you hearing every sound they make at night can keep you wide awake with the anticipation of more cries or demands from the crib. I know I slept better when I didn’t hear every sleep disturbance amplified through the static of our monitor receiver!
If you find yourself hovering over your baby monitor, breathlessly waiting for the next squeak or squawk signaling wake-up, just turn it off (or at least turn down the volume) and try to read, talk to your spouse or just get some sleep.
