Going back to basics, the 300 boasts, among other things, HD digital sound, 2-way talk back, a built-in thermometer and an adjustable nightlight. It is not, however, a video monitor, which has become so popular with parents who want to see their baby as well as hear them.
First impressions?
I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box as both parent and baby units are very compact and have a very simple and inoffensive design. You can place them in your home and have them seamlessly blend into the background.
You can buy the BT 300 at Asda, Tesco, John Lewis, Boots, Kiddicare or Amazon.
How do you set up the monitor?
Setting it up is quick and easy - simply charge the batteries for 24 hours before you use the parent unit and then away you go. To start, switch both units on and once the units are ‘linked’, a light on each unit will come on.
Is it easy to use the monitor around the house?
Yes, the baby unit needs to be plugged into a mains power source but the parent unit is hands-free, so you can take it around the house and garden with you, thanks to its 300m wireless range. It may have been handy for both units to be wireless but the parent unit is so small and light, it is simple to move around the house.
And thanks to the ‘find’ button on the baby unit, it can be easily located if you can’t remember where you put it. Also, if you happen to drift out of range of the baby unit, there’s an out-of-range warning, for peace of mind.
What is the sound quality like?
The digital sound quality is great, it is much clearer than other monitors I have used in the past. I heard each baby gurgle, moan, twist and turn due to the monitor’s ability to pick up and emit sound clearly.
However, you don’t always want to hear each noise your baby makes - you often only want to hear if your baby is crying or has woken up and the ‘mute’ button on the parent monitor makes this possible. You won’t hear your baby cry but the monitor will bleep and the red light comes on.
The mute button is handy for those days when you may have a window open - mine were open one day and I could clearly hear the birds tweeting away outside, which soon became annoying!
Saying that, I had no complaints about the background noise in general, because it doesn’t really pickup much. The sounds I need to hear are loud and clear!
Do the batteries last?
Yes, the rechargeable batteries of the parent unit are quite long lasting – on average, 18 hours. I have heard the battery power of similar BT baby monitors fade quickly over a few months, requiring more frequent charging. But this product comes with a one-year guarantee, so I am not worried about that happening.
The ‘talkback’ feature is really handy for those times when your baby is unsettled - press the ‘talk’ button on your monitor and say a few soothing words to help your baby to nod off again.
I quite liked the visual volume display on the parent monitor too, as it makes it simple to see what noise level you have set the monitor at.
What did you think of the nightlight?
I found the nightlight handy; I used it on my four week-old baby and it gave me the confidence and peace of mind to be able to leave her alone upstairs if I had to.
Is it value for money?
Yes, it is. Retailing at £39.99 it won’t break the bank and is great if you can’t afford a video monitor.
What’s in the box?
- Monitor parent unit
- Monitor baby unit
A compact, practical device that serves its purpose well. The monitor is lightweight, fuss-free and simple to use. I would recommend it.
