Is there anything scarier for the parents of a newborn than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? Your baby shows no signs of illness and is by all standards completely healthy. You put her down to sleep, and she never wakes up. I can’t imagine anything more horrifying.
If the fear of SIDS keeps you awake at night, then you need more than just the standard baby monitor. You need a more advanced baby breathing monitor that sounds an alarm if it doesn’t detect any movement from the baby. Perhaps the most popular infant monitor of this type is the Angelcare AC401 Baby Movement and Sound Monitor. As we researched various types of baby monitor for this site, we were impressed by the number of satisfied customers who simply raved about the peace of mind the Angelcare monitor gave them. And while we take issue with people who say that the monitor actually prevents SIDS (no monitor can do that), we understand that a breathing and movement monitor could alert you of a problem in time to do something about it.
Let’s go over some of the features and benefits that make the Angelcare AC401 so wildly popular with parents…
Angelcare Monitor AC401 Features and Benefits
Under the mattress sensor pad detects all baby movements and sounds an alarm when it detects no movement whatsoever for 20 seconds. The AC401 Deluxe comes with two sensor pads which you can either use together at either end of the crib, or individually for twins or for separate sleeping quarters. If you use only one sensor pad it should be placed directly in the middle of the crib. But many parents choose to use both sensor pads simply because baby can wiggle his way off a single pad.
A variety of sound alerts lets you choose what you wish to monitor. The “tic” sound is like a pendulum that tells you when your sensor pad is detecting movement. The “sound” function can either be set to transmit continuously or to be activated by the sound of your little one’s voice. The “movement” function is activated whenever movement is detected by the sensor pads. It remains silent as long as it detects movement but makes a continuous beeping sound if no movement is detected for 20 seconds.
The Angelcare monitor can monitor the nursery’s room temperature and let you know if it gets too hot or too cold. If the temperature reaches levels outside of the chosen range it you’ll hear a warning sound of three loud beeps. Vibration mode warns you 1.) when there is no movement for 20 seconds, 2.) when the minimum or maximum temperature level is reached, or 3.) when the units are out of range. The vibration mode is optional and in addition to the audio alerts.
Long range of over 800 feet means you can walk all around the house doing chores and even slip into the backyard to do some gardening while your little one naps. It also comes with a handy belt clip so you can have your hands free for other things. By the way, this is where the vibration mode really comes in handy…if you can do laundry or even mow the lawn without having to worry whether or not you’ll hear your little one crying through the monitor.
Soothing night light to keep your toes safe when you go to check on baby in the middle of the night.
Eight channels to choose from means you shouldn’t have to worry about interference and static.
What’s in the Box
Included in your Angelcare monitor model 401-2PU-US-2SB:
- 1 Nursery Unit
- 2 Parent Units
- 2 Sensor pads
- 2 Charging Bases
- 2 AC Adapters
- 8 NiMH Rechargeable Batteries
Customer Reviews – Angelcare AC401 Baby Monitor
With over 50 customer reviews listed on Amazon, the response is overwhelmingly positive. The few negatives we read about were 1.) that the temperature is only listed in Fahrenheit instead of Celsius which is kind of strange unless the reviewer is from outside the US, and 2.) that the sensor pads didn’t work properly with a co-sleeper, which is to be expected because the product manual specifically states that it is only intended for use with a crib. On the other hand, one customer after another raved about the peace of mind that the Angelcare monitor gave them. And while we still don’t like people insinuating that any baby monitor can actually prevent SIDS, we do understand why they’d appreciate something that could give them an early warning signal.
Read actual customer reviews here.
The Bottom Line
The Angelcare AC401 Baby Movement and Sound Monitor is perfect for parents who are concerned that something will happen to their baby during nap time or overnight. In addition to standard audio monitoring it also includes under-the-mattress sensor pads that monitor the slightest movement and alert you if it detects no movement at all. And while we want to make it clear that no baby monitor can actually prevent the threat of SIDS, the Angelcare monitor’s sensor pads do provide a bit of peace of mind to concerned parents.
Add in the fact that so many parents who have used it themselves rave about it, and we have no problem recommending the Angelcare monitor as a solid buy. Right now you can buy it on sale from Amazon and you’ll even get free shipping too.
