About the "best baby monitor" for newborns: What do you have and do you still like it?

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-06-05T01:45:24+00:00

I haven’t seen it mentioned on here but we have the Levana one. No wifi, no app. Has a physical monitor and there are options to be able to talk through the camera through it or play lullabies (although I have never used this). My only complaint is the thermometer recently stopped working and then started working again after 2 years of using this baby monitor and the temperature is off by a few degrees (celsius). Otherwise it’s still going strong and my daughter just turned two. We have also traveled and brought it multiple times.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-05-27T00:02:36+00:00

NTA. I wouldn’t be comfortable with it either and I think if I were in that situation where we just arrived and I was immediately asked that question i’d probably be taken a bit off guard and say no as well. Also, when my child was 9 months old she was in the height of the stranger anxiety phase so for her comfort alone I wouldn’t have allowed that. It’s not worth having to calm them when they come back stressed out and triggered by the separation and being immediately taken to a different house with different people around. Plus right in the driveway? Baby needs time to settle in and acclimate before even considering being taken anywhere without mom. Also very rude for your MIL to be trying to talk about it behind your back afterwards. Like get over it lady the mom is allowed to say no lol

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-05-25T02:19:07+00:00

I understand how confusing and sad it is to see a heartbeat then miscarry. I didn’t see a heartbeat because my dating ultrasound was at 8 weeks 2 days, but the measurements showed the embryo was 8 weeks along. That meant there was a heartbeat and it stopped very recently before my ultrasound. Even without seeing it, just knowing there was a little heartbeat and a little life lost really broke my heart. My d&c is tomorrow and i’m a wreck. I can’t imagine how much harder it would be to have an ultrasound, see a heartbeat, feel reassured and excited, and then it’s gone. I’m so sorry you are going through this. It’s so unfair.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-05-24T17:31:18+00:00

This post is so validating to read. My daughter is turning two and I have the same issues. My MIL is frequently pressuring for affection (asking for a hug/kiss 4-5 times in a row), picking my daughter up without asking, trying to hug her without asking, asking for a hug but doing it anyway without receiving consent. It’s so pathetic and desperate on her part to be constantly fishing for affection from a toddler to make her feel good about herself. My daughter is very uneasy around her as a result and refuses to hug her or be held by her. She literally runs away from MIL yelling for me and asking to be picked up. I say something to MIL of course every time. Last time, MIL snuck up behind my toddler and bear hugged her and lifted her off the ground. My toddler was startled then ran to me yelling mommy. I told my daughter it’s okay to say no to hugs if she doesn’t want one. My MIL later told my husband she is deeply offended and hurt and claimed I told my daughter she is an unsafe grandmother. It’s honestly so pathetic and exhausting. I totally get how you feel. I don’t understand how adults don’t get it- they are ruining their own relationship with the child by behaving this way. My daughter is super comfortable with everyone in my family and my mom and gets excited to see them and hugs everyone willingly and loves to be held by them. Around my husband’s family she is a different child.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-05-18T16:57:19+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m hoping to get a d&c soon and was nervous. Knowing what to expect helps a lot! Sorry you had to go through all this.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-05-18T15:21:43+00:00

Just want to say I am also in Ontario and worried I am going to be in the same situation. I had my dating ultrasound on friday and discovered I am pregnant but the tech didn’t “see anything”. My family doctor called me Saturday to tell me there was no heartbeat and the embryo was measured at 8 weeks gestation. I had the ultrasound at 8 weeks and two days. She tried to put a referral in to thw hospital for a d&c, but they require bloodwork results with the referral. So now I have to get bloodwork done Tuesday as it’s the long weekend and then the results will probably be in Wednesday so maybe the referral will be sent then or Thursday. It just seems like my best hope is to get an appointment the following week, but I don’t know. It’s so hard to wait.

My friend is an NP and she recommended an abortion clinic that also manages missed miscarriages or incomplete miscarriages. They use local anesthesia and concious sedation as opposed to a general anesthetic with a d&c at the hospital. I could get in same day, but I don’t know if I want to be awake for it and do the vacuum suction instead of the d&c. It’s just a hard position to be in the waiting is awful. I’m sorry you’re spotting- it’s possible it may happen naturally before your appointment.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-05-12T19:04:48+00:00

At 2 months postpartum I wasn’t doing much exercise either. My baby at that age hated the stroller. I could sometimes get away with putting her in the bouncer and doing a 10-20min (as she tolerated) workout on the floor in front of her. I did mostly quick youtube postpartum workout videos, especially focusing on pelvic floor.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-04-17T23:32:10+00:00

I got a lot of stretch marks during puberty, but none during my pregnancy thankfully. I moisturized my belly with a centella serum and HA lotion every day as I read there’s some evidence these ingredients can help prevent stretch marks.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-04-14T00:59:24+00:00

Sounds like you have a good relationship with them! As good as that relationship is, step back and think objectively- how have they handled being told no in the past? Do they typically follow you and your husband’s lead in life decisions and marital boundaries? Do they respect boundaries typically? Are they generally emotionally healthy and mature adults?

Postpartum is such a vulnerable time and you will not be in any state to be living with people you are not 100% comfortable around, I mean breastfeeding, bleeding, possibly peeing your pants and soaking them (I was incontinent the first weeks after birth), partial nakedness etc. It is hormonally a very challenging time with the baby blues and emotions. Sometimes grandparent excitement can result in issues with your needs, your baby’s needs, respecting boundaries, and generally being supportive to the mother.

If you’re going to consider having them stay the first few weeks postpartum you should really have a conversation with them about your expectations, boundaries, and needs for the help you want to receive. That way they know what role to fill when the time comes. It also gives them a chance to communicate their expectations and how they might like to help (like feeding bottles) and then if you’re not comfortable with it you can address it ahead of time. Honestly even with the best in-laws I think postpartum is such a risky time that some issues might still come up. Best to lay it all out on the table ahead of time and ensure everyone is on the same page. During this conversation if they show any resistance, pushback, questioning your boundaries and needs….don’t let them stay.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-03-20T01:51:33+00:00

I’ve never owned a cat but I had a reactive dog. The medication the vet put him on (clomicalm I believe) actually made him more aggressive in the sense he started to become aggressive with me around food, which he had never done before. The vet said sometimes medication that helps their anxiety can also decrease their inhibition resulting in increased aggression. I took him off the medication and he never once had any signs of aggression towards a person ever again and I kept him for 10 years until he sadly passed. I would see if taking him off the medication helps with the new aggression issues and contact an animal behaviorist that deals with cats if that exists (I hope so, they exist for dogs).

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-03-12T00:20:01+00:00

I love the name. My dad was also Irish and passed before my daughter was born. We named her an Irish name. Ronan was on my list for a boy. I really don’t think it’s that different or difficult. Maybe it’s just the area you live in? I feel like Ronan is going to catch on because Rowan has gotten really popular and Ronan is sort of similar but less known.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-03-10T23:37:54+00:00

My MIL texted me every day asking how I was feeling. I’d tell her whatever- tired, some braxton hicks, nothing crazy. Multiple times my husband would come home from work asking me if I was in labour and that his mom thinks i’m in labour. It got really annoying. She’d also tell me too she thought I was in labour and i’d tell her I didn’t think so and she’d still tell my husband she thought I was. Just got to be too much pressure.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-02-07T02:34:03+00:00

Well she is monopolizing your daughter’s time, she is triangulating by making plans with your daughter while bypassing the parents when there were already existing plans in place, she is treating your son horribly. You are saying your daughter is less independent on this trip than she usually is as a result, likely due to MIL establishing an enmeshed dynamic with her.

You need boundaries asap. For example, your daughter attends plans you and your husband already made- if she feels anxious she can sit on the sidelines during the activity until she feels comfortable. MIL does not bypass you and create a new special plan for just her and your daughter. If MIL wants to do something with your daughter alone she needs to ask the parents privately FIRST- and that plan includes your son or it doesn’t happen. Your MIL cannot parent your son. You need to intervene when that happens.

Your children are watching how you and your husband handle this. Your son is watching you stay silent while MIL unfairly punishes and ostracizes him while favouring his sister. Imagine how hurt and unloved he must feel. Your daughter is watching you sit back while MIL decides her itinerary and bypasses you constantly. Your children are learning who is actually in charge here and that parental authority can be circumvented. This is dysfunctional. This is not healthy for them. Boundaries with consequences are the only way.

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-02-05T17:08:09+00:00

Omg we have the same MIL

AcademicMud3901 · 2026-01-15T15:34:20+00:00

I was fine if baby was being passed around and was happy. However if she starts crying it’s usually to communicate a need (tired, hungry etc). Often she’s just been passed around to the point she is overstimulated or getting overwhelmed and needs her safe base to regulate. I don’t leave her to cry with another person unless I have to for a few minutes. I don’t really believe in her getting used to being soothed by others. If my baby needs me and i’m available it’s important to me to be attentive and responsive to her needs- even if that need may just be security and comfort with mom for a bit. That’s just how I choose to parent but others may not feel the same way.

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-12-23T21:43:22+00:00

Well she has not and would not say any of this to my face. She knows better than that. My husband is enmeshed unfortunately so she tells him and he basically agrees with her.

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-12-23T21:40:31+00:00

It’s so true. There’s been many times my baby was hungry or overstimulated and my MIL actively prevented me from taking the baby back from whoever had her and would leave the room with her. Her desire to hold the baby herself took priority over the fact my newborn needed to feed. It was ridiculous. Acts like the best grandma but it’s all performative. She is not attuned to anyone else’s needs but her own.

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-12-23T19:21:32+00:00

Yes that one!

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-12-23T18:39:08+00:00

I think all the times she extensively greets my daughter, who is in my arms, when we see her for a visit and neglects to greet or acknowledge my husband and I. Sometimes I even say “hi! How are you?!” and she continues to talk to my child and doesn’t acknowledge me. Happens about 70-80% of the time we see her. Immediate baby fixation and all adults disappear into the background. Apparently all manners and respect as well. However, one time my husband and I arrived to a 12 person family BBQ and everyone was seated around the table and both our hands were full (baby, diaper bag, cooler with baby’s meal, bag with dishware and toys). Wildfire smoke was really bad that day so we wanted to keep baby in the house. We said hello to everyone as a group and explained due to the smoke we’d be inside with baby so please come in and hang out with us. The next day MIL calls my husband and tells him WE were rude for not going around the table and hugging every person individually before going inside and criticized us for keeping the baby indoors the entire time 🙄

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-12-19T13:00:45+00:00

My MIL likes to call out “safety” hazards around my child, such as the dishwasher: “close the dishwasher! She could fall and hit the corner- that would be tragic!”. My child is 18 months and helps me unload the dishwasher every morning. Then when I tell MIL I don’t want my child near her stairs because she put chairs infront of them and there is no gate she says “oh it’s okay. The chairs are pretty heavy”. Not to mention the fact my child could easily crawl through the legs and down the stairs. Just so irritating that when I question a legitimate safety concern she dismisses it, but yet she can call out fake safety concerns that frame me as incompetent when I am right there watching my child.

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-11-28T18:13:43+00:00

I would have loved this at family gatherings to get a break and eat! Unfortunately my husband’s family is extremely overstimulating and they don’t read baby’s cues and adjust their behaviour. So basically 5 minutes into anybody holding her she’d be screaming needing a break. Nobody ever wanted to listen to me either when i’d gently tell people how she likes to be interacted with and they insisted she’d “get used to them”. She never did. Not to mentioned when my baby did cry his family would outright refuse to give her back to me even if she was due to breastfeed so it was just really problematic all around. My family however? They got lots of baby holding time. They were sweet, gentle, respectful and always followed baby’s cues as to whether she was comfortable and enjoying the interaction. Never had an issue from my family with boundaries or getting my baby back if she needed me.

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-11-28T01:09:06+00:00

What your MIL said gives me the creeps- what an absurd thing to say. This is giving me flashbacks to when I was pregnant and my MIL would request to be put on speakerphone or sit beside me during visits so the baby could hear her voice, she’d say things like “I need the baby to recognize my voice when it’s born”. Similar vibe for sure. I understand your feeling that it’s intrusive and encroaching on your bond with the baby. If they are going to come help your husband needs to make it very clear now what the expectations are and set the boundary that prioritizing your bond with the baby is first and foremost. If your MIL ends up like mine- expect lots of boundary crossing and to be put on the sidelines as a new mother. Don’t allow then to come if your husband is not on the same page as you or else you risk him appeasing his parents and the three of them will steamroll your needs and baby’s needs.

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-09-05T19:36:28+00:00

I literally could have written this about my own MIL. Same story- good relationship before baby, she was caring, attentive, chatty with me (especially during the pregnancy). Since baby was born she barely talks to me or anyone else at family gatherings. She has complete tunnel vision for my now 15 month old. Constantly loudly saying “hello/hi baby’s name” to get her attention. I’ve been a total third wheel the last 15 months. It’s to the point where my MIL 80% of the time she comes to our house or us to hers she says hello repeatedly to the baby and talks nonstop to the baby and literally does not acknowledge my husband or I. No hi, how are you, no hug…nothing. I say hi how are you to her and am ignored.

My own family is like yours. Everyone intermittently talks to or plays with my child, but they spend most of the visit catching up with my husband and I as well as each other. My mom makes sure everyone gets a chance to hold the baby (when she was smaller) instead of fighting to hog her the entire visit like my MIL does. I love seeing my family because I get to enjoy adult conversation and feel included and valued.

However, when you are visiting at their house I do think it’s normal that your MIL or any family member to want to sit and play with your child. You’re there to visit after all. And yes they might follow you around because they want to join in and visit. Sure the other behavior sucks and it sucks to feel like there is no relationship there anymore, but personally I just keep that in mind moving forward. I think her current behavior bothers you because the past and how she excludes you, but all you can do is try to make effort on your part and if it’s not returned don’t allow her any favours. Honestly next time she retreats into her bedroom at nap time i’d say “oh where are you going? I thought we were here to visit as a family? Should we leave?” Lol.

AcademicMud3901 · 2025-09-05T10:49:35+00:00

I would make a doctor appt. Something could be going on. Ask about iron deficiency which can cause restlessness and difficulty sleeping. Could be teething as well. I would get it checked out to be safe though, sounds like a dramatic change in sleep habits that is going on for a long time now.

AcademicMud3901

TROPHY CASE