VTechCommunications DM221 Audio Baby Monitor with up to 1,000 ft of Range, Vibrating Sound-Alert, Talk Back Intercom & Night Light Loop, White/Silver

I bought this baby monitor over 10 years ago. We moved into a new house built of cinderblock and didn’t realize we could not hear our children on the second floor. They were no longer infants but the youngest was four. One of our children got frightened in the middle of the night and sat on the staircase crying, and we did not hear them. The next day I searched through baby monitors and settled on this one. I had an old set but they just didn’t quite cut it - the sound was patchy and would cut out and I couldn’t differentiate between different sounds of that distance because of the cinderblock. One unit has sat in the corner of our hallway for 10 years, with a parent unit being on the desk in our room. The only time it has not worked is when we had a power outage and I forgot to replace the batteries. The kids forget it’s there and don’t feel intrude upon it at all. We even asked them if they wanted us to take it down as they got older and it made them feel comfortable to know we were just a button click away if they needed us. Communication between the two unit is very clear even if they’re whispering. It’s very easy for both of us and them to use. This became even more important as two of our children were diagnosed with cardiac in rheumatological conditions. The kids rooms are across the house and a flight of stairs from ours- a distance many monitors couldn’t handle through cinderblock. The two way talking has been a great perk, and the sound quality is excellent. The unit sits in the corner on the second story landing but will pick up the TV from the third floor as well. The belt clip is nice when I need to go outside and one of my kids was sick or had just has surgery. I used this in conjunction with a video monitor because while it was nice to see them, I couldn’t always hear the best. Being able to adjust the volume with just a click of a button, and hearing a beep each time the volume was changed as very helpful. The moment communication is lost with the other unit, the monitor will beep to let you know there’s a problem, so I never worried that communication would be lost and I wouldn’t know it. I felt confident that with this monitor I would hear anytime they called for me, or even just whimpered.I’ve had other monitors when my children were little, including a video monitor which I really loved. However, this one has lasted the longest with the best performance. Now that we have a grandchild who was over often, we’re just going to keep it running to see how many more years it will keep going strong. I know that video monitors that connect to the phone are highly preferred, but if someone is looking for something to continuously monitor and doesn’t need a video screen, this is the first one I would recommend, and the first one I’d buy for a baby shower.

This unit is awesome. Baby unit needs to remain plugged in. Plenty of cord for this. Nightlight option is good. Patent unit can be plugged in or used on battery. I got 6-7 hours on battery with the indicator showing one bar down. Volume is decent. Speaking quality is fine. We use this for my elderly dad. I can actually monitor his breathing during the night, hear coughing & it’s clear. When he speaks- clarity is very good.

Update: July 25th, 2014:I left a comment on my review and updated this on July 7th and waited to see if VTech would see and respond to my comment or my update. I assumed that they were busy and I am sure overloaded with emails to find my comment/update. So I called them today and the lady I talked to was very helpful, since I had previously called and had issues they had my number on file and swiftly took care of my issues.They are going to send me another replacement set for the one that stopped working properly. I also asked that she note on my file that when they receive my unit back that is defective if there is something I did wrong, or that I could do to keep this from happening to have them give me a call.I am going to also try a couple of things I discussed with her to see if I can make them work and if I find a solution that works for me I will be more than happy to update this review with some step by step instructions that may be helpful to others as well.Update: July 7th, 2014:Well we decided to move into a new home and the set that I was sent from VTech are actually still in the box because I bought another set. Well the other set I purchased when I unplugged them and moved them will not communicate with each other rendering them useless and in the same state as my others were that caused this review in the first place. I may have to resort to opening the replacement set VTech sent me and throw these away or put them in a box to never be seen again. I love them but not if they won't sync back up after unplugging them.Update: January 4th, 2014:After Vtech Support left a comment on this review, I called this per their request and within 10 minutes of being on the phone with them they are sending me a new system with expedited freight. So I should get them early next week, and once I get them I can pack up my current "bad" set and send it back to them. Didn't cost me anything other than the phone call. Talk about good support!Before I got their comment and talked to them I went ahead and purchased a second set because out of all of the ones I have had, reviewed and otherwise had friends complain about they are still top notch. Their quality has been great, their range has been great it was just the issue of it not wanting to link anymore. Hopefully I don't have that issue again in the future.We have been dealing with an Angelcare Sound Monitor system in between getting the new Vtech set, mainly because I bought it with the motion board setup and never used it. The Sound Monitor worked out of the box but has some major interference issues with the parent monitor. It is odd too cause I cannot identify what is causing it to have a loud audible hum.. but doesn't matter now since I have a set of Vtech's and another on the way. not going to return my second set, will just use it for travel or will take to my parents and set it up for when we visit.If your unit stops working, read the comments left by Vtech that have their 800# and call them, tell them your situation and see how well they can help you.If you are looking for a system that can be used within a house with multiple levels, our babies room will be on the upper floor and the monitor works in the basement, out by the pool and etc... the pool is stretching it but it does work. They seem very durable and the belt clip seemed pretty sturdy as well if you clip it on your pants or belt. I have banged it a few times and it never fell off. So over all I can't complain about the system especially after they have jumped in and are replacing our faulty set.-------------- my old review below: THIS IS OUTDATED IS UNTRUE AS OF JANUARY 4th, 2014.Well I purchased these on December 18, 2012 and yesterday we powered them off to take to my parents house so that we could use them there. Come to our surprise that no matter what we did we couldn't get them linked back up. I thought it may be because I only brought one of the parent unit's with me instead of both and that the one I didn't bring was like a main unit... nope.So I am sitting here, barely got a year usage out of them (considering I bought them in December and the boys were not born till March) and now the transmitter communication in the baby monitor unit has gone out.... seriously?I cannot say I would recommend them, but if you get them because of the large amount of reviews it has then I would say once they are working DO NOT SHUT THEM OFF or MOVE THEM! God forbid you try to do something like that and have them function again.---------------

Serves its purpose. Audio doesn’t turn up super loud but I can hear my baby when I need to. It’s not a high tech system but it also doesn’t pretend to be. It’s a good product for straight forward sound monitoring from one room to the other. If you’re a heavy sleeper, I wouldn’t use this for overnight monitoring because the sound would not be sufficient to wake me. It’s more of a “I’m in the other room doing laundry while the baby naps” kind of system and I love it for that.

Awesome monitor, you can hear your baby breathing if you listen close enough. It has lights to show how loud the noises are and has a vibrate setting if the sound is loud enough. People complain about the battery life, but it lasts overnight which is perfect for us. You can also turn off the reminder that sounds off when the monitors are initially linked. Highly recommend!