Every parent has done it at least once. You thought the baby was awake, you opened the door to peek and -- oops, well, the baby's awake now! It can be difficult to discern a baby's moans, gurgles and murmurs from outside the door or through a walkie-talkie type monitor, which is why the wireless video baby monitor is becoming so popular. Anyone who has ever used one of the old-school, analog monitors and encountered a sudden, shrill shriek that unpleasantly startled them will no doubt agree that it would be ideal to have a video infant monitor where one could simply look up to see if the baby is awake, rather than listening for the (deafening) tell-tale signs of unhappiness.

When purchasing a wireless video monitoring system, you'll need to consider how you intend to use it first. Some 5" to 7" video baby monitors attach underneath cabinets in a more permanent way, while others can be propped up on any nightstand or countertop. Another category of receivers are the handheld varieties, allowing you the ability to roam freely, while watching your baby on a smaller 1.8" screen. The actual baby monitor camera may be mounted to the wall, attached to the crib or affixed to a bookshelf. Can you pan, tilt, zoom or get a wide-angle view of the room with your camera? These are all options to consider, and it's important to note that they do not come one standard way, across the board.

Another feature to consider for your wireless video baby monitor device is how many of each unit you'll need. For instance, a standard baby monitor system will come with one camera and one screen. However, some systems offer an optional two-parent handheld unit, a video screen and a handheld unit, or multiple cameras for watching more than one room and baby at a time. For some people, a more advanced system might be the best fit.

One last thing to consider for your wireless video baby monitor is interference. Digital monitors have less trouble with this than analog baby monitors, and remote locations are less at-risk than more rural, spread-out households. In some cases, parents will see their neighbors' babies if they're using the same brand of monitoring system, or household appliances and cordless phones will send static and jumbled pictures through. It's important that you gather warranty information in case you need to return a product. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for with wireless baby monitors: if you buy a cheap-o product, you'll get interference. If you're willing to pay a little more, then you should be able to find something in the $200 to $300 range that works just fine.