Concerned about the safety of your little one and the ever-present buzz of technology? You're not alone! Many parents worry about the potential health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) emitted by baby monitors.
But before you ditch the monitor altogether, here's how you can measure the EMF levels and make informed choices to keep your baby safe.
Baby monitors can greatly reduce legwork and anxiety for parents, but modern baby monitors have become so sophisticated that they have introduced additional concerns. Electromagnetic frequency (EMF) radiation is an increasing concern for many parents and parents-to-be, and baby monitors are the primary culprit.
The effects of exposure to EMF on fetuses and babies are the focus of many studies as they are thought to be the most susceptible. Several studies have shown adverse health effects due to exposure to this group well below the 'safe' exposure guidelines.
As children are now often exposed to EMF from in utero and are often sleeping close to EMF exposure from a baby monitor at night, many experts worry we may be exposing children to a potential new carcinogen and neurotoxin with long-term health consequences.
How to Limit EMF Exposure From Baby Monitors
To help you navigate through the complexities of EMF radiation and baby monitors, we've developed a handy tool: the Baby Monitor EMF Calculator.
This tool allows you to input the power output, distance, and frequency of your baby monitor to calculate the EMF power density in your baby's environment.
Understanding these levels can give you the information you need to make informed decisions about which baby monitor to choose and how to ensure a safe sleeping environment for your child.
Whether you're a new parent concerned about EMF exposure or simply curious about the levels emitted by your current baby monitor, this calculator will provide you with the clarity you need to make the best choices for your family's well-being.
The Risks of Baby Monitors for Infants and Children
Broadly speaking, there are three (3) types of baby monitors: analog, digital, and Wi-Fi enabled.
Each type has its pros and cons, including various risks such as the potential of hacking, which could allow a person outside your house to view the camera feed or even transmit sound into your baby’s nursery or bedroom.
Is it creepy? Absolutely! But thankfully, it’s extremely unlikely and largely preventable. Apart from concerns about baby monitors being hacked, parents are also worried about the risks of EMF exposure for babies and kids.
EMF and Baby Monitors
All baby monitors emit EMF radiation, even analog baby monitors. However, some Wi-Fi-enabled monitors emit significantly higher levels.
Still, in the United States, the level of EMF given off by baby monitors is regulated to levels below those set in 1998 by the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection).
Some baby monitors claim to emit significantly lower levels of EMF radiation, and there are even products marketed as “no EMF” baby monitors (though achieving zero EMF emission isn’t feasible due to the presence of electrical currents in the device, as governed by physics).
Also, some low EMF baby monitors are marketed as not projecting the EMF radiation onto the baby, but rather redirecting it in another direction. The issue is that companies do not provide any concrete research to support their EMF mitigation claims.
Why does the amount of EMF emitted by a baby monitor matter? Simply put, some worry that exposure to EMF could affect the baby’s health.
Effects of EMF on the Health of Babies and Children
Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are classified into two (2) categories: Extremely low frequency (ELF) EMF, which ranges from 3 to 3,000 Hz and is linked to high-voltage transmission lines and household wiring.
Radio frequencies (RF), ranging from 30 kHz to 300 GHz from cell phones, base stations, smart devices, Wi-Fi, and 5G technologies.
In the home, ELF EMFs typically operate at a frequency of 50 or 60 Hz and are associated with your home’s wiring and some basic appliances. For example, your television, computer, and hairdryer generate electromagnetic fields in the ELF range, but at such low levels that they do not pose a significant health risk.
The problem arises with acute exposure to high levels of ELF EMF. This is generally associated with certain occupations or medical applications, rather than typical home ELF EMF levels.
"Possibly Carcinogenic"
According to the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), RFs and ELFs are possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has neither confirmed nor denied this opinion on EMF.
There’s some epidemiological evidence, based on population studies, suggesting that living near power lines or other significant sources of electrical activity is associated with higher levels of childhood leukemia.
The impact of EMF (electromagnetic fields) on early human development is an under-researched area.
Concern for Early Development:
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Increased Vulnerability: The developing embryo, fetus, and young child are indeed more susceptible to environmental factors compared to adults. Their bodies are rapidly growing and cell differentiation is crucial.
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Limited Research: Unfortunately, research on EMF and its effects on this vulnerable stage is scarce. More studies are needed to understand any potential risks.
However, further research is currently being conducted to examine the potential effects of ELF electromagnetic fields on infants, whose rapidly developing bodies characterized by thinner skulls and lower overall body mass are more susceptible to radiation effects on DNA, for example.
Until more evidence is available, it seems wise to take precautions and minimize your child’s exposure to EMFs. This involves keeping smartphones and other EMF-emitting devices away from your little one, selecting a low or (virtually) no EMF baby monitor, and placing it at a safe distance.
Measure the EMF Radiation From Your Baby Monitor
To assist parents in making informed decisions about their baby monitors, we've developed the Baby Monitor EMF Calculator. This tool allows you to input the power output, distance, and frequency of your baby monitor, providing you with the calculated EMF power density in your baby's environment.
By using this calculator, parents can gauge and manage their child's EMF exposure levels more effectively.
Types of Baby Monitors
As mentioned earlier, there are three basic types of baby monitors: analog, digital, and hardwired (non-Wi-Fi) baby monitors.
Analog Baby Monitors
Opting for an analog model is the simplest way to choose a low EMF radiation baby monitor. This also avoids problems with Wi-Fi and Internet hacking, although analog baby monitors are surprisingly easy to “hack”, even unintentionally.
This is because these baby monitors transmit video and sound signals on one of the major radio frequencies (usually 49 MHz or 900 MHz), so anyone using that frequency can send and receive signals to and from your baby monitor.
If you reside at a reasonable distance from your neighbors, the signal from your baby monitor probably isn’t strong enough to be intercepted. However, if you reside in a densely populated apartment complex, you may want to opt for a safer option, like a digital baby monitor.
Generally, lower-frequency radio waves are less likely to pose harm to your baby. There is a tremendous difference between an analog baby monitor operating at 49 MHz (0.049 GHz) and a feature-rich digital baby monitor operating at 2.45 GHz.
Some analog baby monitors are advertised as low EMF monitors simply because they are analog rather than digital. However, not all analog baby monitors are the same.
Baby monitors with very low EMF radiation are those that operate at around 49 MHz, not those that operate near 1000 MHz (1 GHz, which is equivalent to microwave radiation).
Digital Baby Monitors
Digital baby monitors typically use encrypted digital transmissions such as FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) or DECT (Digital Enhanced Wireless Communications/Telecommunications) to transmit and receive signals securely. This means that the baby monitor will switch from one frequency to another, making hacking almost impossible.
However, digital baby monitors can be interfered with by other home devices that operate at 2.45 GHz, including cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, computers, Bluetooth speakers, and even smart TVs or refrigerators!
Digital baby monitors can also be connected to the internet, so authorized users can view and listen to the feed remotely, even from another city or country.
Most models allow you to disable internet connectivity if you are concerned about your privacy, interference, power consumption, or increased EMF radiation.
Some monitors include a feature that activates only when ambient noise reaches a specified level, usually 50 decibels. Using this feature ensures that the monitor only reaches maximum EMF levels when your baby is making noise, rather than throughout the night while (hopefully!) they are sleeping peacefully.
Wired (Non-Wi-Fi) Baby Monitors
If you have the appropriate wiring available, a highly recommended option is to hardwire a digital baby monitor and thus achieve a truly EMF-free baby monitor. Some models can be directly connected to a building’s AC power, but this can have its drawbacks.
Instead, the ideal approach is to hardwire the monitor using ethernet or fiber optic cables and transmit the signal through the internet.
This will completely prevent EMFs, provided you disable the monitor’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functions (which some models do automatically when connected to a cable).
If ethernet or fiber optic ports are not installed in your home, another option is to connect your cables from the router to the nursery. Secure the cables with a few wall-tacks for safety or use a cable cover, then no one will notice!
The D-Link DCS 5030L Camera is a solid choice for hardwiring a baby monitor, but note that not all D-Link monitors include ethernet ports. The Arlo Q Wired HD security camera is another great option, although it is not advertised as a baby monitor.
How Can I Reduce EMF Exposure from Baby Monitors?
We have compiled simple tips to create a safe, low-emission room for your baby. These tips and tricks are easy to implement at home.
1. Use a low-emission baby monitor like the ones we recommend here. These low EMF baby monitors range from analog baby monitors to hardwired digital baby monitors or baby monitors with audio capabilities.
2. Switch off wireless home devices like the Wi-Fi router at night. Wi-Fi routers emit relatively high levels of EMF. Simply flipping the off switch can lead to better sleep. When a Wi-Fi signal is on, it can disturb our brains during sleep. So, if we turn it off, we reduce exposure to EMF and hopefully sleep healthier.
3. Use EMF Protection Products: An EMF and radiation harmonizer like GeoClense is a harmonizer designed to reduce the effects of damaging EMF radiation and Earth radiation. It’s designed to bring relaxation and improved health to the home while providing EMF protection.
The Geoclense Orgone Negative Ion Generator consistently generates healthy, beneficial Negative ions that work by harmoniously neutralizing your entire property and home to its boundaries, counteracting each one of these destructive energies such as radiation and electromagnetic frequencies.
Our Geoclense Neutralizes over 30 noxious EMR fields unique to buildings in the home and workplace. The Geoclense is a healthy, negative charge resonance field generator designed to balance the toxic, unhealthy positive charge resonance created by 5G and all forms of EMR, RF, Wi-Fi, Earth Radiation, and Bioplasmic Radiation.
Final Thoughts on Low EMF Baby Monitors
Baby monitors are among the most expensive devices for children’s rooms, so it’s wise to consider whether you truly need one carefully. If you reside in a smaller home, a baby monitor may not be necessary.
And in a larger home, you probably won’t need a baby monitor with more than a basic camera and microphone if you spend most of your time near your baby’s room.
If you opt for a more advanced, internet-enabled baby monitor, make sure the firmware is updated automatically to make the baby monitor as secure as possible (and don’t forget to use a strong Wi-Fi password as well).
Only turn on the baby monitor if absolutely necessary. If the monitor has eco-mode, activate it to save energy and minimize EMF exposure. Overall, our recommendation is to use a baby monitor only when you truly need it and opt for an older analog radio baby monitor or a networked/hardwired digital baby monitor.
