infant optics dxr-5 video monitor system - two will win!

There are lots of video monitors out there. A video monitor was one of those things I researched the most when I was pregnant, desperately and frantically interviewing anyone I knew who had a child on which one I should choose. In the local mom circle, there are a couple big-name brands that are thrown around a lot and, without knowing any better, I went for one of them. At first, the monitor worked beautifully. It wasn't until one night shortly after Ethan had been transitioned to his own room and crib that I woke up. I'm not sure why I woke up, but I did and I swore I heard the faintest sounds of a baby screaming from down the hall. The picture on our monitor was there and there was no noise coming from it, it simply displayed Ethan fast asleep on the screen. The screams got louder and clearer. Ethan was most definitely screaming in his crib, all alone -- the monitor had frozen on an image of him sleeping soundly! I was horrified and the horror only intensified as the monitor continued to offer everything but security and reassurance. Soon it wasn't even turning on. After an upsetting conversation with customer service in which it became apparent no one was willing to do anything about anything, my husband and I did quick research on Amazon and overnighted a new monitor: the Infant Optics DXR-5.

And you guys? It was the best decision we could have ever made.

There are many features of the DXR-5 that I want to share with you, but let me first point out that the above photograph of Ethan asleep in his crib? It was taken at eight o'clock at night in a pitch-black room. Ethan has no nightlights, no lamps, blackout curtains on his windows. The contrast is set to 0, the lowest possible setting, and still the picture on the screen of Ethan fast asleep is super clear and super bright, thanks to the amazing automatic night vision feature of this monitor. In the event you use your monitor to supervise a busy playroom or a room that isn't dark enough to require night vision, the monitor is a full-color video monitor in light situations!

Also? I set this monitor up myself. Keep in mind I'm fairly certain I don't really know how to do anything by myself (here is where I admit to calling my husband while he's at work and asking how to turn the dryer on a certain setting or if he's seen my favorite jeans or where the crockpot ended up) but this was simple. From the time you open the box and remove the monitor, here's what you do to set it up: plug it in and turn the handheld on. That's it. There's no configuration, no set-up, no putting anything together or drilling anything anywhere. We have a ukelele hanger on Ethan's wall for his miniature guitar and I easily mounted the camera on top of the hanger. It's nowhere near his crib or within reach of him but is still able to capture a full-crib view thanks to the DXR-5's vertical mount stand so you can tilt the camera any which way you please, even downward!

The handheld monitor is portable. It can clip onto your pocket or fit into your pocket and it stands upright beautifully if you're sitting in one place. You can adjust the contrast, you can adjust the volume, you can even toggle the camera to the voice activation battery saving setting so all white noise is automatically muted until the noise level changes.

Here's my absolute most favorite feature of this monitor: the durability. I can't tell you how many times the handheld monitor has been slammed onto the tile floor from the table it was resting on. We're all guilty of it around here. We have cats who seem to excel at knocking the handheld off of my nightstand and causing it to tumble to the hardwood floors now and again. Ethan has thrown the handheld onto the floor and against a wall in protest of naptime. I've tripped on the cord and been the reason for the charging handheld to tumble down to the tile myself several times and it's never faltered. It's never chipped. It's never been reluctant to turn on or to perform flawlessly. It can only be magical or truly a product for real life and the real world, at least one with toddlers in it.

The DXR-5 monitor has the capability to connect up to four camera units, making it perfect for parents wanting an extra camera for a playroom or for families with more than one child. Though there are no plans for future children in our immediate future, there's already no question that this will remain the monitor for us, just with extra cameras.

On our local mom's forum, I read a lot of complaints about other video monitors that interfere with phone lines, internet or even intercept the neighbor's monitor system. The Infant Optics DXR-5 is an interference free unit which also boasts an 800 foot open reception area. Sometimes when Ethan is napping, I'll go out in the backyard and prepare an art project for him or I'll need to go out and grab a package from the mailbox. As a neurotic first-time mom, this monitor unit lets me watch Ethan continue to sleep even if I'm not physically inside the house at the time. It also beeps and warns you when you've stepped out of signal bounds, not just shutting off quietly without giving you any notice that your monitor has stopped working.

TO PURCHASE: Infant Optics DXR-5 monitors are available for purchase through Amazon.com, as well as additional cameras!

TO WIN: That's right, I said win. Two of you will have the opportunity to win an Infant Optics DXR-5 video monitor of your own! Here's how:

a Rafflecopter giveaway