Digital technology has saturated the marketplace. You will find digital features on everything from alarm clocks to watches, and that includes products that are used in close proximity to babies and small children. This technology is now a feature of modern society and consumers often assume these products are safe or they wouldn’t be available in stores. Let’s take a closer look at the technology to determine whether it is really safe to use a digital baby monitor around your baby.
What’s to Fear With A Digital Baby Monitor?
Is your baby really safe around a digital baby monitor?
Digital products emit electromagnetic energy in order to send and receive signals. This energy is referred to as electro-SMOG. Researchers have looked into the potential health risks associated with absorbing this energy into the human body, and there is a concern that too much exposure over time could lead to damage of the nervous system.
Potential signs of such damage may include:
- Headaches
- Sleep complications
- Chronic fatigue
- Abnormal childhood behavior
Baby monitor receivers are often placed close to the sleeping location of babies, so some parents worry that they are exposing their children to too much of that electro-SMOG emission. While there have been no studies proving that a digital baby monitor is a health risk to children or adults, the concern about digital technology in general is still a concern for some parents.
Is the Danger Real?
Manufacturers selling digital baby monitors maintain that their products don’t emit enough electro-SMOG to harm children in any way. For example, Phillips baby monitors are leaders in the market, and the company claims that all monitors they manufacture emit 10,000 times less electro-SMOG than is considered safe for the international market.
The company’s recommendation is for parents to place the receiver of their system at least a 1 meter away from their child. With that distance, the product is considered safe for all children as well as parents.
Most parents feel comfortable using digital technology while watching the research for updates on the safety implications. This is especially true for baby monitors because they increase the safety of children by allowing parents to monitor their sleep and get to them quickly if there is a problem or concern. The immediate safety benefits far outweigh the slight chance of harm at this point.
Are You Still Concerned?
If you are still worried about using a digital baby monitor around your children, there are some things you can do to limit their exposure while still benefitting from the conveniences of modern technology:
1. Place the receiver in your baby’s room as far away from the crib or toddler bed as possible. You will have to experiment to determine the furthest point that doesn’t compromise the reception and amount of noise picked up.
2. Limit the number of digital products in your baby’s room by eliminating those that are not essential. For instance, does your newborn really need a television? You can sing to your baby rather than playing the radio. The fewer digital products in the room, the less electromagnetic energy emitted in the room. You can adapt this tip to the entire house if you are seriously concerned.
3. Research the digital baby monitor before making your purchase. Read labels and manufacturer websites to determine if the product you purchase features low electro-SMOG emission rates.
If you still aren’t comfortable using a digital baby monitor near your child, consider the conveniences and safety benefits. If those benefits don’t outweigh your fear that the emissions may harm your child, then you may find a more natural way to monitor your baby’s sleep.
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