When it came time for mommy and baby to stop sleeping in the same room, I knew I needed a baby monitor. Celia had been sleeping through the night in her crib for a few weeks, and there was no further justification for me sleeping on the futon in her room. Yes, I needed to see her little chest moving up and down. But I also needed to return to the marital bed.

I bought a video monitor at a consignment shop, but our wireless-everything house created too much interference. So my husband went out and did what I would have never done - dropped $180 on a new video monitor.

He chose the Baby's Quiet Sounds Color Handheld monitor by Summer because it got some good reviews on whatever Web site he was perusing, and because you can carry it from room to room. So when she is napping in her crib, I can watch her from the kitchen.

For the record, it's awfully hard to see if her little chest is moving up and down. The image is awfully small. But it still gives me peace of mind. If I study it long enough I can always see a little foot twitch or her head turn, proof that my Celia is alive and well.

I hope there comes a time in the near future where I won't feel so frightened all the time. Until then, I'm glad the husband shelled out the bucks for a video monitor.