Pros
ConsThe details
VTech DM221 Digital Audio Baby Monitor provides good and clear transmission, eliminating the background noise that comes through analogue monitors. So the parents won’t be disturbed by the white noise throughout the night and get better sleep. With the talkback feature through both parent and baby units, the child can listen to the parent’s voice which will help the baby to soothe. The company claims that the module will take 12 hours to recharge the battery fully, and would ideally work for 16 hours. The baby unit is also equipped with a gentle nightlight and if no sound is detected for 15 minutes, turns off automatically.
This baby monitor has been very well received by the parents as it addresses most of the requirements. It has quickly become , amazon’s bestseller as well. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best baby monitors available in the market. Now let’s take a closer look if it’s worth the money.
Features
Vtech DM 221 Audio monitors come with a clear audio transmission, excluding white noise in the background. One can work and move around the house freely and yet give attention to the child, as the parent unit has 16 hours of battery life. Also, with up to 1000 feet range in the open field and 100 feet indoor range though 5 walls, one is assured to get good a signal.
It also has 5 levelled sound indicators on the parents’ unit, which indicate the level of sound in the baby’s room. It helps in virtually monitoring the noise level even if the parent unit is muted.
Thus, you can choose to hear the sound from the baby unit at all times or to only hear sounds that exceed a certain level. This feature can be activated through the parent unit, to adjust the microphone sensitivity of the other unit.
Nightlight on the baby unit is an additional feature provided in this monitor. A soothing light neat the baby illuminates a dark nursery without disturbing the baby’s sleep. It can be turned off through both parent and child units.
The parent unit runs on rechargeable batteries. The parent unit can cordlessly run for a short time only. The parent unit is lightweight and includes a built-in belt clip, to move around. It also has a good backlit display which is easy to read even in the dark. One can also opt for a two-parent unit version. So that both the parents can talk to the baby.
Ease of use
The VTech DM 221 Audio Baby Monitor is easy to handle and has a user-friendly digital screen. It also comes with all the necessary cables and a user manual; allowing the parents to easily assemble the product. It connects both the units within a minute after the power is on. The DECT 6.0 technology is used for better reception. Though it is advised to keep away the units from cordless phones or other electronic devices for good reception. The parent unit is pre-set to play an audio Safety reminder when it is connected to a baby unit. You can turn it off after your initial setup.
Two improvements can benefit the device.
- At present the baby unit has to be plugged in with the power supply. The baby unit should also be able to operate on rechargeable battery.
- The battery backup of the parent’s unit should be enhanced.
Although it has good quality plastic body, durability becomes an issue. It should come with a more robust body which will be able to survive through rough and tough use.
Effectiveness
This audio monitor enables two-way communication from the child and the parents. This product is not only used by new parents but also by the elderly. As it is easy to use, it has few buttons, and doesn’t need any additional purchases and it can be used to keep a check on the elderly that are not able to move.
As this is a digital monitor hence the signal is private, unlike analogue monitors which ensures privacy. One thing should be noted here that, if the frequency of the baby monitor is same as of the wi-fi router, it might cause a bit of signal interference.
Value
VTech DM 221 Audio Baby Monitor is very cost affective. Considering the range of facility provided by this baby monitor, the pricing is affordable and reasonable. No doubt, one can find cheaper audio monitors online, but they may hardly provide as attractive features and utility as compared to this one.
Final verdict
This is a good product at an affordable price. It will be useful for new parents. VTech DM 221 Audio Baby Monitor is easy to use and recommended by many. One can focus on the daily routine while giving proper attention to their little ones. It will definitely make parenting easier and enjoyable.
