How many watts does a monitor use - A guide for parents choosing baby monitors

This is a collaborative post

When you’re picking out a baby monitor, your mind’s probably racing with a million questions. Somewhere in there, you might start wondering, “How many watts does a monitor use?” It’s a fair worry, especially if you are planning to use a video baby monitor that basically never takes a nap. 

This article outlines the various factors that influence a monitor’s wattage, the comparison between different display technologies, and the reasons behind varying energy consumption of monitors. Furthermore, you will become acquainted with the simplest ways to calculate power usage and the corresponding cost as well as receive some tips that will help you save energy.

Photo credit Isaac Quesada via Unsplash

Understanding the Basics of Monitor Power Consumption

Shopping for a baby monitor is kind of a rabbit hole. You start out wanting to keep an eye on your kid using a video baby monitor, and suddenly you’re comparing energy bills and wondering how many watts does a monitor use by squinting at “wattage” numbers like you’re prepping for a physics exam.

Here’s the deal: Monitors that suck up more watts usually have flashier screens or a bunch of bells and whistles—think night vision, lullabies, the works. But honestly? You probably don’t need a monitor that could double as a disco ball. The lower-watt ones do the basics just fine and won’t make your electric bill weep. Pick something that keeps tabs on your baby without eating too much power.

Key Factors That Influence a Monitor's Wattage

Energy usage of baby monitors can be changed due to multiple factors and understanding these factors will allow you to make better decisions. What features, size, and the type of the display determine how many watts does a monitor use. Extra-function or continuous monitoring, as in the case of a video baby monitor, are usually a higher power consumption source. 

Here’s the real scoop on what actually messes with how much power your baby monitor uses:

Display type and size: Size totally matters. A massive, high-resolution screen? Yeah, it’s gonna suck up way more power than some tiny, basic display. You also need to know the difference between LED, LCD, and OLED—each one’s got its own power-hungry quirks.

Extra features: Monitors with built-in night lights, temperature sensors, or those video baby monitors have a higher power consumption than simpler models. More features equals more energy getting slurped up. 

Volume and alert settings: Crank up the volume or set your monitor to chirp at every little noise? That’s gonna eat a bit more electricity, too. Not a ton, but it adds up.

Connectivity and wireless functions: Wireless devices that use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth? Keeping that connection alive drains a steady trickle of power, so don’t be surprised if your battery cries for help sooner.

Standby and active modes: Some monitors in standby mode hardly use any power, but when you change them to “active,” they consume a lot of power very quickly. 

The Role of Display Technology: LED vs. LCD vs. OLED

What kind of screen your baby monitor rocks actually matters a lot, both for how it looks on your nightstand and how much juice it sucks from the outlet. How many watts does a monitor use can vary widely depending on the screen technology and features.

Let’s break it down real quick:

LED displays: These screens are energy-efficient and bright, making them a popular choice for standard baby monitors. Some models with a video baby monitor feature still manage to keep power use low.

LCD displays: LCDs are widely available and can handle larger screens, but they tend to slurp up more watts than LEDs. Not exactly what you want if you’re chasing efficiency.

OLED displays: If you want to use an OLED, expect gorgeous colors, and blacks so deep you’ll lose a sock in them. However, that kind of eye candy needs a lot of power, especially when you throw in extra features. 

Why Gaming Monitors Use More Power Than Standard Displays

Usually, gaming monitors are more power-hungry as they feature fast refresh rates, big screen sizes, and high brightness levels to be able to show detailed graphics. A regular computer or TV screen are simple standard displays that consume less energy unless they are also designed to meet the same performance requirements. 

Besides those displays, there is also a video baby monitor which is a more compact, multifunctional device that includes a screen, a camera, and a microphone for a live watch. When you consider how many watts does a monitor use, the difference becomes clear between high-power gaming models, standard displays, and those that are made for baby care. 

Calculating Your Monitor's Energy Usage and Cost

Parents can get an idea of the baby monitor's energy consumption when they calculate how much it will cost them to run their baby monitor daily. The easiest method is to find out how many watts does a monitor use, then multiply that by the number of hours the monitor is on and by the electricity rate in the house. 

For instance, a video baby monitor running during the night can lead to a considerable power consumption, however, by knowing the figures it is possible to make a budget of the expenses and still have your safety and peace of mind kept. 

The Difference Between Active Use and Standby Mode

A baby monitor uses power differently depending on whether it is fully active or in standby. In active use, the screen and sound run the whole time, which means higher energy demand. Parents asking how many watts does a monitor use should know that standby mode lowers power draw by dimming the screen while still picking up important sounds.

So, if you’re stressing over your power bill (honestly, who isn’t?), knowing the difference between the active use and the standby mode is a game changer. The bottom line is mess with those settings for a bit. You still catch every peep and squawk from the nursery, but you’re not wasting electricity like some kind of rookie. 

Simple Changes to Reduce Your Monitor's Power Consumption

Figuring out how many watts does a monitor use is honestly a lifesaver if you’re trying not to cry at your next electric bill. Tiny tweaks here and there—stuff you barely notice—can seriously drop your energy use, and you don’t have to turn your setup into some boring, bare-bones operation either. Even a smart monitor can be handled in a way that allows it to work effectively and efficiently. 

To put it simply, here are some changes that you can attempt: 

Adjust the brightness and volume. Don’t blast it unless you want your room to lit up like an airport runway. 

Stick the baby monitor at a spot where you don’t need it cranked to full brightness just to see what’s going on. Even those video baby monitors don’t need to be set to 100% brightness mode 24/7.

Turn off the features you don’t actually use. Nobody needs continuous lullabies or disco lights going all day. The less fluff, the more cash you save. 

Conclusion: Making an Informed Choice for Efficiency

Knowing how many watts does a monitor use isn’t just about saving a couple bucks on your power bill—it’s also about making sure your baby’s nursery doesn’t turn into a mini sauna or some sort of electrical hazard zone. Seriously, some of those fancy video baby monitors suck up way more power than those old-school audio ones. However, you do get to watch your little one snooze in real time, so it’s a trade-off.

If you know how much power different monitors use, you can avoid spending too much on a large HD screen monitor, a night vision monitor, or a lullaby playing monotone machine. That way you can keep an eye on your baby, save the power of your home, and avoid the extra cost on your electric bill.

A look at some Christmas themed kits from Rolife

I received these kits in exchange for a review

I love crafting for Christmas - mainly for the enjoyment of completing a craft project but also having some unique finished festive decor that I can bring out every Christmas and admire for many years.

I've been sent some gorgeous miniature crafting kits from Rolife to try this Christmas, and so I'm going to share a quick preview before I start my crafting and share the finished results!

First is this DIY Miniature House - Gingerbread House. This lovely kit comes with all sorts of tiny accessories to build a light-up Gingerbread Bakery shop filled with delicious Christmas goodies. I've always wanted a miniature Christmas village and this looks like it could be the perfect start - I can't wait to begin putting it all together! This kit is a 3 star kit so I'm expecting it to be a little more complex than the basic sets, and I know that I'm going to really enjoy assembling it.

Secondly I will be working on these two kits from the Story Frames Series - Christmas Eve Party and Santa's Toy Shop. These two kits are built inside a deep plastic frame which holds the contents and also a lighting kit. Christmas Eve Party features a lovely little Christmas themed interior with a table set with treats, a Christmas tree, and lots of tiny festive decorations. Santa's Toy Shop is the exterior of a toy shop filled with Christmas treasures including decor and toys.

These Christmas frame kits are both 2 star difficulty kits with an estimated build time of two hours, so I could probably complete these in one sitting. But I'll be working on them a little slower because I want to enjoy every minute of the build process! 

I'll be sharing a full review of the kits when I've completed them, but in the meantime I've made a start on the Christmas Eve Party frame kit. I just love the idea of these frames which can be hung on the wall or displayed standing as part of your Christmas decor. They are packed with tiny details, just look at all these sweet little accessories that will be carefully placed into position. I expecially love the tiny gingerbread house!

Assembling the kit is straightforward with clear instructions to follow. The assembly is broken down into individual stages for each component, so you need to gather everything that you need for that step and then carefully follow the guidance to put it together. The kit is designed to be assembled without glue, with the pieces being adhered using small strips of double sided tape. However I liked to keep some glue handy as I wanted the extra security of knowing that things were firmly glued together.

So far I've build a little display case filled with festive plates, a corner display shelf, a chair holding a wooden teddy and a couple of small gifts. The thing I love about these kits is that you can work on them when you have time available, as the short steps mean that you can stop and start at any point. I like to keep everything ready, and then when I have a few spare minutes I can put a few pieces together ready to be placed inside the main frame.

I'm going to be very busy working on these kits, ready to have them on display as part of my Christmas decor!

My Autumn themed jigsaw puzzle wishlist

This post contains Amazon affiliate links

I've been struggling lately with browsing for jigsaw puzzles on Amazon. Firstly, many of the puzzles are from "alphabet soup" brands, complete with poorly translated descriptions stuffed with key words. Secondly lots of them look very much like AI generated images with colours that are too vibrant, fuzzy details and they just look a bit off. Now AI does have it's place in the modern world, but for me at the moment that's not in jigsaw puzzles, so I've tried to pick out puzzles from respected brands. They may be a little more expensive but I hope that they are likely to be better quality in terms of both image and construction.

Unfortunately I can't link images from Amazon, so I hope that my descriptions will be good enough to encourage you to take a closer look. If you are searching for some good quality Autumn themed jigsaw puzzles for some puzzling as the nights draw in, I hope that you enjoy looking through my selection!

Galison - Autumn in the Meadow - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This 1000 piece jigsaw features an illustration of an overgrown footpath which passes through a vegetable patch filled with pumpkins and chickens towards a tiny cottage half hidden by floating autumnal flowers. The colours are gorgeous, and this one looks like it would be pleasantly tricky and very satisfying to put together.

Elena Essex - Sunset Valley - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

Perhaps not quite strictly Autumnal, but with a rich palette of reds and oranges this illustrated scene features rolling hills with colourful cottages nestled in between. This puzzle has plenty of interest and I think would not be too challenging once you had sorted out the different areas.

Galison - Nature in Autumn - 500 piece (affiliate link)

I love a smaller puzzle that can be completed in an evening or two, and jigsaw features images of various flora and fauna which you might see while out and about in Autumn. There's a lot of detail in the pictures and a lovely selection of colours.

Cobble Hill - Country Diary: Autumn - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This puzzle features illustrations from The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady and so it's a group of nostalgic paintings along with handwritten inscriptions. There is a huge amount of detail in the image and it seems realistic in the types of things that you might spot in Autumn. The colours are muted in style with the vintage design, and this would be a lovely relaxing puzzle to slot together.

Galison - Autumn in the Neighbourhood - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

Another Galison puzzle with gorgeous Autumn colours, this is a street scene featuring a row of terraced houses framed by trees in their autumnal colours and decorated with wreaths and pumpkins. The houses would be really fun to put together and the beautiful smudged leaves would be a great challenge!

Galison - Autumn at the City Market - 1000 piece (affiliate link)

This Autumn scene features a city skyline with a row of lovely coloured trees across the centre, with market stalls and yellow taxi cabs in the foreground. It's a great contrast between nature and the city, and there are plenty of details to spot with the intricate stalls and the passersby. 

What reading gives me

I've always been a reader. I read quite widely - various genres, historical and modern novels, long and short books, mainly fiction but also non-fiction. I always have a book on the go, as well as a 'to be read' pile on my bedside table, and a notes document detailing the books that I want to add to my collection.  

I've been reading even more lately as I try to replace screen time with books, and it led me to reflect on all the benefits that being a regular reader gives me.

At the moment, I'm really noticing how reading helps with my ability to focus. Not just when I'm actually reading, but I'm finding that in situations when I can't read (for example when I'm exercising or cooking) I'm quite happy to just think my own thoughts. Especially if I'm reading a book which has really grabbed my interest - I'll be thinking about the characters and scenarios.

I love a book that gives me an insight into a different time or culture. Particularly those written by women about women - I like to learn about how life has changed over time. I'm especially drawn to books written and set before the internet and smartphones. Like classic novels where people write long, descriptive letters to each other and spend time together just enjoying each other's company.

I prefer to read in long, uninterrupted stretches, especially in bed at the end of the day. But that doesn't happen very often so I have to find moments when I can - I read while eating lunch, in the car while I wait at school pick up, when I find myself with a few spare minutes during the day. I find it relaxing and a way to switch off from what's around me.

Photo credit Clay Banks via Unsplash

Sometimes reading a book will inspire me to try something new. If I read a book about someone that grows vegetables then then it makes me want to get out in my own garden, or I might feel like trying a new way of cooking or a new craft. I enjoy books about people that make positive changes in their lives and it helps me to think about things that I could change.

There are some books that I turn to when I need some help in stressful times. I have a whole shelf of comfort reading books which are mainly children's books - The Swish of the Curtain series, A Little Princess, the Little House on the Prairie books. I can pick them up, I know exactly what will happen, and can often finish them in just a few sittings. 

Reading is so important to me, and I want to make sure that I'll always be a reader even as screens become more and more addictive!

Weekend gardening

Even though we are well into October it still feels very mild outside. Last week I even had our bifold doors fully open, although I am expecting that to be the last time for this year! Our garden remains full of flowers. We have some beautiful red and yellow canna lilies that have been in bloom since I planted them in early May, and I also have some lovely pink dahlias and purple salvias that both really took off over the summer. I'm so pleased with how I have been able to fill my garden with colour.

A few weeks ago I drove past the garden centre and spotted a banner outside saying that the bulbs were in, so we took a trip over and stocked up. I've never bought bulbs before and I got a little carried away! I bought large bags of simple tulips and daffodils, and then I added some fancier varieties. Luckily we do have plenty of beds that still need filling, but I hadn't really thought through the logistics. I've made a start but it's going to take me a couple of weeks to find the time to get them all planted!

Our front garden is looking rather messy as we still haven't decided what we are going to plant along the front border. We took down a large, overgrown hedge and I intended to replace it with something similar, but the longer we've lived without a hedge the more I appreciate not having to maintain it. I'm thinking a row of some kind of low lying shrubs, something to create a border but not be too difficult to keep cut back. In the meantime the bed is just filling up with weeds that I go and pull out every few weeks.

We are also having a lot of weeds growing in the new pebbles at the front. I was hoping that the membrane underneath would hold them off for a couple of years at least, but I think they are just growing on top of it. So we borrowed a weed burning tool from my Mum to see if that would be any good at getting rid of them!

I was very wary because I'm a bit scared of fire, and when I tried using it with my Mum in the summer in her garden it was very dry and we had a couple of occasions where the grass caught fire. So it's definitely a two person job - one on standby with a watering can! It's really satisfying to use, and it's much easier on the back and hands than stooping down to pull the weeds out, so we might look to get one at some point.

I know that the next job will be picking up leaves - there are three large trees that drop leaves into our garden and it's always quite an effort to keep it all tidy. I'm also interested to see what happens to all my lovely plants when it starts to get really cold - I hope that at least some of them survive the winter!

Tips for keeping on top of clutter in the home

Sometimes I feel as though I'm constantly decluttering, and that's because I am! Decluttering isn't something that you can do once and never again. Like housework and gardening you need to keep on top of it, and I thought I'd share some tips that work for me when I'm trying to maintain an organised and calm home.

Have a donation bag or box ready to go

I actually have two. I keep a bag in my wardrobe for clothes, ready for a charity recycling bag to come through the door. If my bag is full before one arrives then I drop it off at a local textile recycling bank. I have a second bag in my spare room for charity shop donations. I usually wait until I've got a decent amount before making a trip to drop them off just to save time and effort, but it is ready to go at any time in case of sudden guests!

Make an effort to pass on difficult items

I think we all have a number of things in our home that we would like to get rid of but don't know the best way to do it. Maybe it's not good enough to give to charity, it's too big to fit in the household bin, or it was an unwanted gift that you feel bad getting rid of. But if you can find a way to remove things these awkward items then it will also remove the pang of guilt that you feel every time you see it, which will make you and your home feel much calmer. 

Declutter clothing while packing for a holiday

When packing, think about the things that you aren't choosing to put in the suitcase. Is it because you no longer wear them, they are uncomfortable or they just don't suit you? I've always sorted out the children's wardrobes when packing because it's a really good opportunity to empty out the drawers completely and see the things that have been outgrown or aren't being worn.

Photo credit Sarah Brown via Unsplash

Match what comes in with what goes out

Some people like a strict 'one in, one out' rule but this doesn't work for me. But if I've brought home a few of a particular item, like books or jigsaws from a charity shop haul or a seasonal Primark shop, then I'll think about where I'm going to store the new items and what I can clear out to make room for them. 

Clear hotspots daily

I have several clutter hotspots in my home. The main one is our kitchen island, but I also have the kitchen worktop nearest to the door and the coffee table in the living room. Every evening I make sure that the kitchen island and coffee table are completely clear. The worktop is a place to store things which may be needed in the next few days, but I sort this through once a week when I do my full kitchen clean. The key thing is to look at the items that build up in these places and make sure that they all have a home that they can be tidied away to. Clutter attracts more clutter, so making an effort to keep surfaces clear stops it all piling up and becoming unmanageable.

Deal completely with laundry as you go along

I do laundry regularly so I am usually on top of it and each load is sorted, folded and put away as soon as it comes off the line or out the dryer. Well, I put mine away at least and I leave piles for other family members to put away at their leisure - but it is in their rooms and not all over the house! Have a routine for the washing, whether that's putting a load on first thing or later in the day when you have time to deal with it.

Photo credit Daniele Bissoli via Unsplash

Sort paperwork as it arrives 

This also includes digital paperwork like e-mails. A lot of our post is junk and it goes straight from the doormat to the recycling. I deal with as much as I can straight away and then the physical papers can be filed or recycled.

Model good habits to younger family members

If you involve children in keeping the home clean and clear then they will hopefully use these systems in their own areas. We've developed habits for having regular clear outs of clothes and shoes, school books, toys and trinkets, as it's much easier to pass on things as you go along rather than letting everything build up. I wrote a detailed post about using the Marie Kondo method with an older child or teenager, and this is something that we return to once a year or so to keep things under control. It's especially important with children because they grow so quickly and their interests change as they get older. I hope that I'm instilling good habits for their future homes!

I hope that this article was helpful, if you have any more tips please do share them in the comments!

Why I like to keep track of the books that I've read

I've been tracking my reading for a long time now - I joined Goodreads back in 2013! I have tried other ways of remembering the books I've read but they just didn't work for me. Before that for a short time I used a physical reading journal but I felt obliged to offer some insightful thoughts about each book, and that put me off. 

When I record a book that I've read I very rarely add a review - instead I just want to keep a note of the title, author, dates read and a vague star rating. My Goodreads star ratings are quite skewed because I don't think I've ever rated a book less than three stars - if a book is that bad I just stop reading it!

I usually have too many books in my to be read pile to keep track of them separately. Instead I only add a book when I start reading it and I don't update my progress as I go along, I just log that it's finished and select my rating. I like the idea of sharing the information with friends and family like a social media account, but I only have a few friends that use it!

I usually try not to read the reviews that others have left on a book. Often I think that someone will write a provocative review in order to get more views/comments and raise their own profile. I also don't like reading the bad reviews of a book that I've really enjoyed as it makes me wonder if I was just too stupid to notice something negative about it!

Tracking my reading helps me in two ways. Firstly I enjoy looking back on the books that I've read. I don't keep a count for the year or have any other kind of reading goals, but I do like to look back at the end of year summary that Goodreads provides and see some stats about what I've read. My favourite insights are my most and least popular books as shelved by other users, and the average book length.

Secondly, I've lost count of the times that I've gone to add the book I'm reading into Goodreads and discovered that I've already read it. On one occasion I had finished it just three months prior! I'm terrible at remembering the titles of books that I've read, especially if I've read them on my Kindle. Without having a physical book in front of me I'm often not even quite sure of the title of the book that I'm currently reading!

Do you track the books that you've read, and if so how?