A baby heartbeat monitor is a device that uses Doppler technology to create an audio representation of the beating heart of your unborn baby. Not only can listening to the sound of your baby’s heart be a powerful experience that helps you bond with the baby, but it can also help you to prevent certain medical problems later on in the pregnancy.
Shopping for a baby heart beat monitor can be a tricky experience if you have little experience with these devices. After all, there are quite a few baby dopplers available with all manner of features, many of which most people never actually make use of. How can you possibly know which one is the best one for you? Luckily, the selection process boils down to a few simple things to watch for when you are comparing models. Just stick to these basic guidelines and you will have no problem finding the perfect baby heartbeat monitor for you and your family.
Ease of Use
The best baby dopplers are also going to be the easiest ones to use. Most of them function in a very similar manner. You spread ultrasound gel over your abdomen, then press the head of the monitor wand against your skin and move around until you are able to locate the baby’s heartbeat. In a clinical setting, it is found that models that operate at a frequency of 3GHz tend to be the easiest to use. You also want to look for a model whose wand feels comfortable in your hand and whose controls are simple and straightforward.
Battery Life
Battery life is important whenever you are shopping for any electronic device. The battery life is going to vary somewhat, but most will have a battery life of about 100 to 200 hours, depending on the type of battery used. Just choose a baby heartbeat monitor that uses a 9 volt battery to ensure the best operating lifespan.
FDA Approval
Any device that is intended to be used for health or medicinal purposes is going to fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA, be it a baby heart rate monitor or a new prescription drug. Choosing a model that is advertised as having been approved by the FDA ensures you that it has passed the necessary government safety tests and is recommended as safe for both you and your baby.
Audio Recording
When you are shopping for a fetal heart beat monitor, one feature that may seem questionable at first is the ability for you to record the audio being played. Many devices allow you to record either directly to a CD, or to a USB port so the audio can be transferred to your computer. Having a CD of your baby’s heartbeat can become a wonderful memento for the future.
Should You Rent Or Buy Your Baby Heartbeat Monitor?
This can be a tricky question for some people, given the expense of some of the baby heart monitors out there, which can range from $100 and up. If you are planning on only having the single child, it may be in your best interests to find baby heart monitors for rent, as the cost of renting one will be significantly less than the potential purchase price.
If, however, you plan on having more than one child, or if you have any friends who are also expecting, it may be worth your while to seek out fetal dopplers for sale in order to find one that can be used time and again with each new pregnancy.
With the wide variety available, sometimes finding the best baby monitors can seem far more difficult than it needs to be. Simply locate a baby heartbeat monitor that is: easy to use, FDA approved, has a good battery life, and has recording capabilities, and you will do just fine. Below, you will find several such units that are considered to be quite good.