Is it safe to use baby monitor and IP cam?

V

vivianhui

Registered User
My friend told me I should not use baby monitor since baby "absorbs" radiation twice as easily as adults. But I don't feel comfortable leaving the baby to sleep in the nursery by himself if I don't put the baby monitor on.

The same for IP cam. I am planning to install 2 IP cams at home (one in the living room and another in the nursery) when I return to work. I was told that the wireless connection will also affect the baby. But again, I don't feel comfortable not installing the IP cams when I have to leave my baby at home with the maid by themselves.

Any ideas?
 
I can't see how baby monitors would be so popular if there was a problem with radiation. Doesn't make any sense - they've been used for years.

i also wouldn't be concerned about wireless. We have it, it's never been a problem and I've never heard any one else express any concerns about it.
 
So confused...

From the Independent:

23 May 2007 13:16 Home > News > UK > Health Medical
Radiation from baby monitors 'poses risk'
Infants being harmed by safety devices, say scientists
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Published: 20 May 2007
Baby monitors, bought by parents to keep their children safe, may instead be harming them, some scientists fear. They warn that the devices are bathing the infants in radiation at an age when they are most vulnerable to it.

The radiation, similar to that given off by modern cordless phones, is part of the increasing electronic smog to which mobile phones, their masts and Wi-Fi systems also contribute. The monitors use the same digitally enhanced cordless telecommunication (Dect) technology as cordless phones.

Over recent weeks The Independent on Sunday has exclusively reported growing concern that the smog may be damaging human health. The paper reported that Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, has been privately pressing an investigation into the effects on children of installing Wi-Fi networks in schools.

Baby monitors are typically placed close to infants, who are particularly at risk from radiation. An inquiry by Sir William into mobile phones seven years ago reported that a one-year-old child could absorb about twice as much per kilogram of body weight as an adult.

Babies are especially vulnerable because their bodies and nervous systems are still developing and because they will have more time to accumulate exposure to the radiation and for any delayed effects to develop.

Professor Denis Henshaw of the University of Bristol said the monitors are "being marketed without any checks and balances or even studies into their effects".

Professor Olle Johansson of Sweden's Karolinska Institute said that the cells of a growing baby are "very susceptible". Powerwatch, an information service on radiation, says: "A Dect monitor placed in your baby's bedroom will expose them to more pulsing microwave radiation than living near to a mobile phone mast would do. We have had a number of reports from parents that their babies did not sleep well and cried a lot when they used Dect monitors." It added that older wired and analogue monitors do not raise the same concerns.

Dr Roger Coghill, who runs a laboratory specialising in the radiation, suggested that the Dect monitors should be placed at least 10 feet from infants. He said, "You want to hear what a baby is up to, but you don't want to harm him or her."

A spokesman for one company which sells the monitors said it did not believe that there was any danger from the monitors, which more than meet international safety standards.

From TedhDirt
Forget About WiFi, You're Irradiating Your Child With The Baby Monitor
from the tinfoil-beanie dept
Newspapers and TV shows are having a great time fueling the freakout over the supposed dangers of WiFi, following the formula of technology paranoia + kids = gold. Over the weekend, the story was given a new twist, when one paper reported that radiation from baby monitors could be hurting babies. This is the sort of stuff the papers live for: the conflicts of modern life! Do you bathe your child with radiation and run the risk they'll grow a third arm or something, or not use the baby monitor and run the risk of missing out when the child needs you? Meanwhile, those laggards at the BBC are still worried about WiFi, with a new program claiming that radiation from a WiFi access point is three times greater than that from a mobile phone base station. Of course, never mind that the claims don't stand up to scientific scrutiny, and plenty of scientists -- without a vested interest in selling papers or attracting viewers with scare stories -- say it's safe. Some businesses, however, are lining up to capitalize on the fears, such as a Swiss company that's selling underwear woven from silver, which it says will ward off cell-phone radiation from the wearer's groin.
 
I guess it depends on your priorities but monitors have been around for years. I am not so about the wi-fi but if you use wires instead then you won't be using wi-fi.
 
I think that last article was spot on- targetting our fears as parents always sells papers and creates a good stir. Not to mention that the people who come up with the studies get their name in lights. For me I would rather spend my time worrying about things that have been statistically proven by many, many sources- things like SIDS. For me having a monitor on gives me piece of mind. I couldn't think of anything worse than losing a child to SIDS.

As for the article that claimed some parents reported babies that didn't sleep well - i think that laying blame on a monitor is a bit ridiculous. Some babies sleep, others don't. We used a monitor from day one and our son has never had problems sleeping. Perhaps the best thing to do is do some research and work out the best monitor to buy.

I know that being a first time mum (I'm assuming you are) fills you with worry about doing the right thing or the best thing for our babies. Try to relax and not read too much into articles that are designed to sell papers or products. Remember, everything also goes in cycles - one minute breastfeeding is bad, then it's good, one minute bread is good for you, then it's bad. Do what feels right for you and let's you sleep at night.
 
I agree with Aussiegal. I'm a first time mother with a 10-month old son and already I look back and chuckle at the things I worried endlessly about when he was "younger". If you want to use a monitor, then go ahead. If you wonder about the radiation, then put it 10 feet away like that one article said. But beyond that, don't worry and think about it anymore. You have much more concrete things to occupy yourself with :-) And I always remind myself that nothing is newsworthy nowadays unless it's speculative and negative. Just thank your friend for informing you of what she heard and leave it at that :-)
 
Thanks for the advice...

Aussiegal, so which brand and model of baby monitor do you use? I have not bought one yet so would like to get some recommendations on baby monitor.
 
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