Wireless Baby Monitors - Here's What You Need to Know NOW

• Wireless baby monitors constantly emit EMF microwave radiation while switched on (both the base and the parent handset)   

• Wireless baby monitors come with warnings in their packaging: Keep them at a distance like 20 cm or just under 8 inches from the body

• Don't believe the marketing for Nanit. It is NOT sending "no radiation" towards the baby. This Nanit camera is over 2 feet AWAY from the meter.  So with the Nanit right above the baby, the Nanit is exposing the baby to EXTREME amounts of wireless radiation!  

• Babies' brains are just developing. Children absorb more RF (radio frequency) radiation than adults from wireless baby monitors because their brain tissues are more absorbent, their skulls are thinner, and their relative size is smaller. 

• Wireless baby monitors are one source of EMF your baby does not need to be exposed to.  

Owlet Baby Monitor EMF Radiation Levels Are TOO HIGH

• There are privacy issues with wireless baby monitors as the signal may not be secure.

• Currently, there are no wired baby monitors on the market in the US. (We have a DIY wired baby monitor option!)

• If you choose a wireless baby monitor, take some precautions. 

Bebcare Ultra Low Emissions Monitor Has HIGH EMF Radiation

Baby Monitors and EMF / Wireless Energy

The majority of the wireless baby monitors sold in North America use transmission technology that's constantly emitting some form of radiation. This is so the receiver equipment can maintain a secure connection and stream communication.

You wouldn't put your baby's crib with your sleeping baby next to the microwave, would you? Of course not! That's when their little brains are growing and rejuvenating. Yet baby monitors use the exact same frequency (2.4 GHz) that microwaves use.

You can't see them, smell them or touch them, but invisible EMF radiation waves are quite powerful and when it comes to our health and not in a good way. In fact, the Kaiser Study found that women with higher electromagnetic and RF radiation exposure were three-times more likely to have a miscarriage.

Even in the womb, mothers who are exposed to a lot of wireless technology are at risk for a possible increase of autism spectrum disorders and behavioral/attention disorders for their child later on in life. 

We have this link to the National Library of Medicine study and the Kaiser Study in our Research section.

Analog monitors that use the FM radio band are considered to be safer than digital monitors because they don't transmit via Bluetooth, WiFi energy or DECT. But at Tech Wellness, we think all forms of RF radiation, or wireless energy, negatively affect our body's energy.

With our panel of experts, we have been researching EMF wireless radiation for decades and invite you to learn more about EMF in our EMF Guide.

Understanding How Much EMF Radiation Your Baby Is Being Exposed To

SEE The Invisible EMF Radiation In Your Babies Environment With Our Easiest Home Meter

We advocate what’s referred to as the Precautionary Principle. Basically, this means that because there’s research (lots of it actually) saying the energy that powers our cell phones (RF radiation) could be causing health concerns including tumors and cancer, then we ought to take care when using our cell phones (and all devices that emit RF) and use them mindfully.

WHY More Precaution With Wireless Baby Monitors is More Important For Our Kids

We talk about how to know when your child should have a cell phone or smartphone of their own in our Parent's Guide To Giving Your Kids A Phone.

But children are susceptible to RF radiation simply from all wireless devices - even if they're just holding Mom's or Dad's phone.

The illustration below is from the MID-90's (yes, parents have been concerned about wireless radiation for a loooong time). It's a picture of how kids' brains absorb more radiation than adults because of their thinner, developing skulls.  This was done by Professor Gandhi who was actually working for Motorola and the Department of Defense at the time and, according to Devra Davis, lost his funding after he published this 2 dimensional modeling. 

Children's little bodies are different than ours.  Their skulls are thinner and the fact that their body systems are rapidly developing makes them more vulnerable to microwave exposures. Devra Davis of the Environmental Health Trust reminds us that this information is scientifically accepted.  She also lead a research study confirming that because children’s skulls are thinner and tissues of a child’s head, including the bone marrow and the eye, they absorb significantly more energy than those in an adult head. The illustration below demonstrates the greater exposure absorption for a smaller head. It's done with 3D modeling used for the Environmental Health Trust.

Angelcare Audio Baby Monitor Review

Baby Monitors Aren’t The Only Source of EMFs

All wireless devices emit RF radiation: a type of EMF. Today in our wireless obsessed world, our radiation exposures to EMF have never before been this continual and intense. Here's a list of what's in a typical home--a list of things baby shouldn't be too close to:

• Cordless Phones
• Smart Meters
• Smart TVs
• Nest Wireless Air and Heat Controls
• Wireless Security System
• Wireless Printers
• WiFi Routers
• Wireless Modems
• Digital Alarm Clocks
• Anything with Bluetooth
• Smartphones and Cell Phones

Detox Your Home of EMF From Other Sources 

Being EMF sensitive (or ES), I've created an EMF-free home. I use these fabulous RF and EMF meters to guide my electromagnetic radiation exposure. You can work toward a more RF radiation-free environment by wiring up as much as possible.  Let's start with the baby's room as EMF can be hidden in things like temperature sensors and wireless speakers. 

Wireless = Not Secure

There's another reason you don't want to use a wireless baby monitor:  WiFi transmissions are prone to hackers. The internet connection and smartphone capability make these devices easy and ideal for hacking - and it's happening more and more. In fact, in November of 2016, a Washington couple were alarmed to discover that a stranger had hacked into their Foscam baby monitor and was spying on their toddler, sometimes screaming profanities at the baby. The hacker was using the night-vision lens controls to follow the parent's movements, narrating them to the baby i.e "oh look, daddy is walking into the room!" How creepy and utterly gross and invasive! A masked invader inside your most vulnerable room in the house - the nursery. In reality, the hacker was probably just using a laptop or smartphone app. Unfortunately, it's that easy.

 

A Wired Baby Monitor Is A Safe Baby Monitor

The safest solution is to install a wired intercom. With a wired setup, the data from the camera will be sent via your copper in-home power lines rather than through a pretty powerful DECT/WiFi connection.

Since no one is offering a wired baby monitor, we show you HOW TO CREATE  A WIRED BABY MONITOR using a WIRELESS CAMERA HACK. We have links to all the supplies you'll need and step-by-step instructions to get you set up!

 

How to Use Your Baby Monitor More Safely

No matter what system you use: Place the baby monitor at least 10 feet away from the crib. The best distance would be the "furthest" distance from the baby. We've done some measurements ourselves and even we wouldn't go more than 10 feet away from them. We are grown adults! Baby monitors are just notoriously strong for EMF. See August's video. If the baby monitor has a plug rather than batteries, ensure that the adapter is plugged in at least 6-10 feet away from the crib.

If you must use a wireless monitor, make sure...

• It's voice-activated.
• Buy a secure device. There's plenty of consumer reports on security/privacy ratings of these devices.
• Use a strong password and change it every six months.
• Register your product and update software and applications regularly.
• Just like all wireless devices, our favorite TechWellness advice is to turn devices off when you are not using them! Only use monitors during naptime.

Another semi-low tech idea, the Snuza Hero Baby Movement Monitor. It's an attachable device and it detects the movements of your baby. And of course, without the harmful energy. We got your back! 

The Snuza Hero is the one WITHOUT Bluetooth or any wireless connectivity. The other Snuza models DO have a wireless connection.

Click on the photo below to see a video of how it works:

To all the wonderful mommies, soon to be mommies, and those who are in the childcare industry - here's to keeping your bundles of joy happy, healthy, and safe! 

XO 

Be Well!