Reader Courtney V. writes in today with a review of one of our top baby monitor picks, the Fisher Price Sound N Lights:
I was reading your reviews of baby monitors and wanted to make you aware
of an issue with the Fisher Price Sound and Lights monitor since you
gave it such a high rating.
I have gone through a number of monitors
trying to find a good one, and found this to be by far the worst
experience I’ve had with a monitor to date. Beyond the fact that it got
horrible interference, and tended to pick up radio stations, I actually
had the receiver go out on me completely one afternoon. It simply
stopped working. I had it about 5 months.
I keep my monitors stationary (plugged in) so this is not due to mistreatment, it is due to
poor quality manufacturing. As you can imagine, it was a very upsetting
experience. I put my son to sleep, and laid down myself because I was
sick. He usually plays with his toys when he wakes up, which wakes me up
so I did not set an alarm. The monitor stopped working, and I did not
wake up until almost 5 hours later when my husband called me. I was
mortified that my son was left by himself so long, but he was fine.
I talked to Fisher Price about this and they said they would refund my
money, but did not seem alarmed or surprised by this happening. After
some research on web sites like target.com where parents give reviews of
products, and talking to other moms I know, I’ve found this to be a
common problem with this monitor, and not an isolated incident. I hope
that you will look into this matter as well, and take this into
consideration when giving ratings in your next book.
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I have the same monitor and have experienced terrible interference with it. I pick up other babies, radio stations and one night there was some strange chanting sounds that were very scary. The problem with the interference is that it isn’t my baby plus the radio, it totally cuts off my baby and I only get the other transmissions. The static is terrible, even when I keep it plugged in.
I hate this monitor and am looking to replace it in the very near future.
I have the same monitor and have experienced terrible interference with it. I pick up other babies, radio stations and one night there was some strange chanting sounds that were very scary. The problem with the interference is that it isn’t my baby plus the radio, it totally cuts off my baby and I only get the other transmissions. The static is terrible, even when I keep it plugged in.
I hate this monitor and am looking to replace it in the very near future.
Well the sony monitor was reviewed well and had many frequencies to choose from, but was also much more expensive.
I’ve had the sound n lights for 4 months, with only moderate interference. we switched to channel B, it was a bit better. It was also plugged into the same circuit that our chest freezer was on, and when the compressor turned on it would induce some hum in the monitor.
My only gripe is, I wish it had an on/off button, instead of having to turn to volume all the way down. At night I take time to dial the volume in just right so I can hear crying but not whimpering or mumbling, and I have to reset the volume every time I turn it off.
Oh, and the power light is so bright at bedside that it keeps me up. I had to put electrical tape over it. the bottom volume light stays on when the power is on, so the power light is redundant.
Well the sony monitor was reviewed well and had many frequencies to choose from, but was also much more expensive.
I’ve had the sound n lights for 4 months, with only moderate interference. we switched to channel B, it was a bit better. It was also plugged into the same circuit that our chest freezer was on, and when the compressor turned on it would induce some hum in the monitor.
My only gripe is, I wish it had an on/off button, instead of having to turn to volume all the way down. At night I take time to dial the volume in just right so I can hear crying but not whimpering or mumbling, and I have to reset the volume every time I turn it off.
Oh, and the power light is so bright at bedside that it keeps me up. I had to put electrical tape over it. the bottom volume light stays on when the power is on, so the power light is redundant.
Although the Sony monitors are more expensive, they are worth it. We get no interference and the range is great. Sometimes you get what you pay for!
Although the Sony monitors are more expensive, they are worth it. We get no interference and the range is great. Sometimes you get what you pay for!
I have had the same experience with the FP Sounds N Light Monitor system. After only about 6 months we had one monitor completely go out on us and another one have such bad interference that we have switched to Sony. I would agree with Deamme – you get what you pay for.
I have had the same experience with the FP Sounds N Light Monitor system. After only about 6 months we had one monitor completely go out on us and another one have such bad interference that we have switched to Sony. I would agree with Deamme – you get what you pay for.
We got the sounds & lights monitor for our baby shower. I have used it for 3 months & getting something else already. It shuts off on it’s own all the time & The interference is horrible. Horrible product.
We got the sounds & lights monitor for our baby shower. I have used it for 3 months & getting something else already. It shuts off on it’s own all the time & The interference is horrible. Horrible product.