Philips/Avent SCD499 baby monitor
More baby gadgets 
. We’ve had one of the first DECT baby monitors for about four years now and even though it was ridiculously expensive when we got it we now feel it was money spent very very well. With DECT, there’s simply no interference, no chance of listening to your neighbour’s kid instead of yours and an amazing sound quality. Later models were much more affordable, and now they’ve released a new series, just in time for the birth of our second daughter, Iris.
The SCD499 carries both the Avent and Philips brand, but considering how much it looks like previous models I suspect Avent had very little to do with this product. The 499 is the top model of the new range and features a parent unit with a battery capable of 24 hours of monitoring. That is a major convenience if you’re in the back yard or at the neighbours. It also has a temperature sensor to keep track of the baby’s room temperature, a night light and five different soothing melodies your can activate from the parent unit.
I’m not going to be using the lullabies, but only the top two models have a cradle for the parent unit. I feel this is essential, and the fact that they didn’t include one with the other models is a bit disappointing. It’s why I went for the 499 instead of say the 497, and I feel I was tricked into doing so. Let’s just call it clever marketing…
Anyway, the new blue/white colour scheme looks far better than the old yellow/yellowish one, and if anything the sound quality has improved over our older model. The only gripe I have is that the menu on the parent unit is somewhat counter-intuitive. You have to use the plus and minus keys that usually control volume to navigate it, and the ‘menu’ and ‘OK’ ones to select and confirm options. I for one keep getting lost. How’s that for “Sense and Simplicity“?
This is the personal blog of Roy Tanck, designer, geek, entrepreneur and WordPress enthusiast. It's also the home of projects like 
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roytanck (813):
Hi, can you tell me where you purchased the philip avent monitor as I can’t seem to find it any where.
Ta
Comment by MayAnn — June 3, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
Hi MayAnn,
This might help: http://www.avent.com/uk/en/where_to_buy.php
Comment by Roy — June 4, 2007 @ 7:00 am
Hi Roy,
How was the battery life on the scd499 ? Any opinion re how it compares with the Tomy Walkabout Platinum ?
Comment by trevor — August 21, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
Did you ever get any feedback on the comparison with the Tomy?
Comment by Juliette Gold — April 6, 2008 @ 6:54 pm
I have no way of comparing the two, but the Philips’ battery life is pretty good. It does however sometimes give a low battery warning when they in fact are fully charged. When this happens it’s best to not do anything, the error will go away in a minute or so.
Comment by Roy — April 6, 2008 @ 7:05 pm
We’ve been using the BabyNova babyalarm for ages. Actually just bought the newest one for the baby and it rocks. Meassures the temperature around the baby and works from a long distance too. I love it!
Comment by Babybusiness — April 21, 2008 @ 3:23 pm
What are the lullabies like? Are they similar to other toys or more gentle?
Comment by Linda — April 28, 2008 @ 9:51 am