Melissa is a Vancouverite with two kids (a girl, 4, and boy, 7 months) who says she lives in a tiny shoebox! (That’s Vancouver for ya, right?!) A nurse by trade, she works casually as a prenatal instructor and takes care of families with high-risk pregnancies. That’s when she’s not on maternity leave, of course. She’s still trying to wrap her head around heading back to the workforce in three months. Melissa loves being silly at home or going out to splash in the puddles (there are a lot of those in Vancouver), and having friends and neighbours over. She also admits being very good at online shopping and slightly addicted to finding deals.
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I’ve always thought the baby monitors that come with video functions are a bit “over the top,” perhaps reserved for anxious first time parents who can’t bear to separate themselves from their wee little bundle during nap time (when you get to baby No. 2 and beyond, you quickly learn to cherish these moments of separation and the anxiety really fizzles). I must say, however, that I was intrigued by the Yada Tiny Traveler Baby Monitor for Your Car, especially its claims to provide night vision. Seems like a bonus for us living in Canada with such limited hours of daylight during the winter, perhaps even more for families like mine who live in the perpetual winter gloominess of the west coast.
I was thrilled when I was selected to review this product because I knew with the holiday season upon us, there would be lots of driving around in the darkness for holiday events – so I could really test out this night vision feature.
For those of us who have a $10 mirror hanging from the headrest that allows you to glance at your baby through your rearview mirror while driving, we all know we can’t see our babes at nighttime. Yet this is precisely the time I actually want to know what the LO is up to: did he doze off like I hoped (or the opposite if I’m trying to keep him awake!)?
THE GOOD
I struggle here to say something positive. I sure am glad that we have our $10 mirrors in conjunction with rearview mirrors as a remaining option to see our kids in the back seat! The only thing that the Yada Tiny Traveler monitor offers that is superior to the mirror is the night vision feature (but we’ll get to that).
The camera that faces your baby was relatively easy to install in comparison to the remainder of the system. You are offered two options: a tether strap that you can use to mount the camera on the headrest, or if you don’t have a headrest, you can use a post that suctions to your side-door window. That said, the manual doesn’t recommended placing it on a window that can open. I also wonder if the post itself would stick out too far, either interfering with putting your baby or car seat into/out of the car or even prevent you from opening a sliding door on a van. I didn’t bother testing out this post mount because it seemed obtrusive and the tether strap worked perfectly fine on our headrest.
THE GAFFE
I was frustrated trying to install the monitor. The most simple part of sticking the silly suction cup to the windshield took me the longest (I didn’t find the instruction manual very clear). The unfortunate part is that after one car ride with the monitor on, my hubby and I decided it was a major distraction and decided to just keep it below in the middle console to peek at the monitor when we wanted to – and you don’t need the suction cup for that!
The manufacturer used a heavy-duty paper sticker to protect the display monitor. When I tried to remove it, only the corners lifted, which left behind that thin papery, gluey residue. I wasn’t sure how to remove it since the instruction manual specifically says not to expose the unit to water or other chemical products (so no Goo Gone action here!). I took my chances and carefully soaked it off with a damp paper towel. Phew. It worked, but this could have been solved by simply having the display monitor protected by a thin plastic sheath like every other electronic device these days.
Installation and the wiring. If you’re going to keep Yada’s GPS-like monitor suctioned to your windshield, (a) you will have to live with two wires running down alongside your radio and climate control console at all times. There’s no way to really secure them or tuck them away. These wires actually have to run between the two front seats towards the back, under the weather mats in the back seat and along the baby’s car-seat base all the way up to the headrest where the camera is (read: this is NOT a wireless device!). If you have a middle passenger, s/he will surely get tangled up in wires; (b) we feared that having the monitor continuously mounted to the windshield would be a target for break-ins/theft (which is common in most cities, big or small), so we decided it was best to tuck away the monitor each time we parked the car.
Picture quality: day time. Again, comparing this to my $10 mirror, I’m disappointed because you actually see more of what’s surrounding your baby than your actual baby. With the Yada Tiny Traveler car monitor, you can’t tell if your baby’s eyes are open or closed. I definitely have better visibility with my ordinary mirror since my baby’s face is at least 25 times bigger in the mirror compared to the monitor. The camera even picks up what’s happening outside your vehicle, such as approaching traffic and lights – this is very distracting. And even though the lens picks up such a wide angle, I cannot see my other child sitting in the back seat (even if this argument is technically irrelevant for my family because the older one is forward-facing). So if you have twins or triplets in the back all facing the same direction, I’m not convinced that this monitor would focus on more than one face. I can, however, see the back of my own head and almost everything happening in the front seat including out the windshield! After testing a second unit (just to be sure all of my issues with the product weren’t a fluke), it’s still my instinct to check my rearview mirror to see the reflection of the baby only to realize that I have to squint at the image on the monitor instead. The only time it’s actually safe to look at the baby when using the Yada monitor is (a) if you’re the passenger or (b) if you’re at a red light.
Picture quality: nighttime. The Yada does live up to its claim to provide night vision, but I feel like my baby belongs in an episode of Ghost Hunters. Creepy. The only way to know if baby’s sleeping is due to lack of body movements. It’s impossible to make out clearly whether the baby’s eyes are open or closed because the picture is simply too small.
Let’s imagine for the moment that the Yada Tiny Traveler was, say, half price (retail price is $169.99). Would it get a better rating? Honestly, my answer is still “no.” An improved rating would mean there’s a zoom function so it’s predominately focused on just the baby’s face and body, and that it’s wireless. (In fact, sometimes I wonder if the kids in the back could get the wires loose and it might be a safety issue.)
THE GEARS
2.5/5
Nakita DiGuardi says
Hi my name is Nikki and I am the manufacturer of the Tiny Traveler. We appreciate any feedback and the review certainly provided us with some food for thought. If I may, I would like to clarify some points and let you know what we have done to update this product.
First it might be good to know why I made such a product. My best friend was in a very serious accident which was caused by her turning around to look at her baby in the back seat. We all know, that even the slightest of distractions or taking our eyes off the road can be a risk. The intention is to provide drivers with the ability to “glance” at the monitor to see their baby instead of turning around. I say “glance”, as most laws state you are not allowed to look away from the road for more than 2 seconds. So even if you are staring in the baby monitoring mirrors, this can be seen as “Distracted Driving”.
The sample you received was our first run of the product and a limited quantity shipped to Canadian Tire. Since then, and what is on shelf, the product has been updated and we also offer a wireless version. Every day we get emails or testimonials from parents and grandparents who are overjoyed with the help this monitor provides. So let’s get to the updates and my comments on the review:
1. First, the monitor should always be within a certain range from your line of sight when driving. To place the monitor down near the console would only cause you to be more distracted. This is why monitor and phone mounts are all suction cup or vent based. Our suction cup mount is sturdy and attaches to the windshield with one click. Mounts are becoming more sturdy to protect against the device coming free during impact and hitting you or the passengers in the car. We DO offer a vent mount, which would keep the monitor in easy eyesight. As for the cover on the screen, we changed the adhesive that is used so that the cover removes easily.
2. For the wires, we do now include 2 cable management pieces that allow you to tuck and hold the wires away from your media center and controls. Yes it is wired, and a wireless version is available but the monitor still needs to be powered in order to work – just like all the GPS monitors on the market today. The wireless unit eliminates the second connection cable.
3. The picture quality – we have changed the angle view from 90 to 45 degrees. While some users want to see a close up of the baby’s face, others have bigger children they want to monitor in the back seat or rear of a RV and need a wider angle to do so.
4. The night vision provided follows the laws and regulations for night vision viewing inside the car. It is illegal to have a “light” on while operating the vehicle. This would be similar to driving with your console light on. We use the best night vision technology which is legal in the car.
5. Zoom functionality – first by reducing the angle view it takes away the need for zoom, and secondly it is a strict law in Canada regarding how many times you can “touch” a product while driving. Just like your phone/GPS, you are only permitted 2 touches per minute and of course is at the police officers discretion.
The reason I used an electrical system over standard mirrors, is because 42% of moms reported almost getting in an accident from adjusting mirrors and not being able to see correctly. 68% of parent drivers admit to being distracted by turning to see children in the back seat while driving. Insurances are reporting that 54% of new mom drivers will report a minor accident due to distractions while trying to view their baby.
Yes, this system does take getting used to. And it’s not for everyone. But it is safer than mirrors (research crash reports and what happens to the mirrors and your child), and we will continue to improve in order to make the drive safer. We sell over 80k units of backup cameras every year in Canada and continue to improve on products to help make driving as safe as possible. Did you know that every day 4 children are backed over in their own driveway by a parent? That’s just Canada. We hope our work will help save lives.
If you would like to test out the wireless version with a vent mount (the monitor is larger at 4.3″) then we would be happy to send it to you.
Thanks!
Nikki
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Nikki,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment here. I think it’s important to share both sides of the story. It sounds like you made some really impressive improvements to this monitor that address some of the key concerns the guest reviewer had. And I certainly appreciate that the work you do comes from a terribly tragic place.
Often times, what works for one family doesn’t work for another and vice versa; that’s why including the pros and cons gives parents a way to make informed purchasing decisions. After all, what’s a negative for me may not bother you in the least. I love it when brands strive for ongoing improvement and listen to customer feedback to do so. I would be happy to arrange for another review – feel free to send along an email when you have a moment. Thanks again for your very thorough comment!
Andrea
Mike says
Nikki, I purchased the Canadian Tire version to use as a backup camera. Loved it. The wide angle feature is great. Because its inside the car, I don’t worry about the camera getting dirty. Only problem,is after about 2-3 months, the camera stopped working! What a dissapointment! I know the monitor is OK, because I bought 2 of them, and swapped parts to test. Hmmmm…maybe you can look into making the camera more durable.
Nakita DiGuardi says
Hi my name is Nikki and I am the manufacturer of the Tiny Traveler. We appreciate any feedback and the review certainly provided us with some food for thought. If I may, I would like to clarify some points and let you know what we have done to update this product.
First it might be good to know why I made such a product. My best friend was in a very serious accident which was caused by her turning around to look at her baby in the back seat. We all know, that even the slightest of distractions or taking our eyes off the road can be a risk. The intention is to provide drivers with the ability to “glance” at the monitor to see their baby instead of turning around. I say “glance”, as most laws state you are not allowed to look away from the road for more than 2 seconds. So even if you are staring in the baby monitoring mirrors, this can be seen as “Distracted Driving”.
The sample you received was our first run of the product and a limited quantity shipped to Canadian Tire. Since then, and what is on shelf, the product has been updated and we also offer a wireless version. Every day we get emails or testimonials from parents and grandparents who are overjoyed with the help this monitor provides. So let’s get to the updates and my comments on the review:
1. First, the monitor should always be within a certain range from your line of sight when driving. To place the monitor down near the console would only cause you to be more distracted. This is why monitor and phone mounts are all suction cup or vent based. Our suction cup mount is sturdy and attaches to the windshield with one click. Mounts are becoming more sturdy to protect against the device coming free during impact and hitting you or the passengers in the car. We DO offer a vent mount, which would keep the monitor in easy eyesight. As for the cover on the screen, we changed the adhesive that is used so that the cover removes easily.
2. For the wires, we do now include 2 cable management pieces that allow you to tuck and hold the wires away from your media center and controls. Yes it is wired, and a wireless version is available but the monitor still needs to be powered in order to work – just like all the GPS monitors on the market today. The wireless unit eliminates the second connection cable.
3. The picture quality – we have changed the angle view from 90 to 45 degrees. While some users want to see a close up of the baby’s face, others have bigger children they want to monitor in the back seat or rear of a RV and need a wider angle to do so.
4. The night vision provided follows the laws and regulations for night vision viewing inside the car. It is illegal to have a “light” on while operating the vehicle. This would be similar to driving with your console light on. We use the best night vision technology which is legal in the car.
5. Zoom functionality – first by reducing the angle view it takes away the need for zoom, and secondly it is a strict law in Canada regarding how many times you can “touch” a product while driving. Just like your phone/GPS, you are only permitted 2 touches per minute and of course is at the police officers discretion.
The reason I used an electrical system over standard mirrors, is because 42% of moms reported almost getting in an accident from adjusting mirrors and not being able to see correctly. 68% of parent drivers admit to being distracted by turning to see children in the back seat while driving. Insurances are reporting that 54% of new mom drivers will report a minor accident due to distractions while trying to view their baby.
Yes, this system does take getting used to. And it’s not for everyone. But it is safer than mirrors (research crash reports and what happens to the mirrors and your child), and we will continue to improve in order to make the drive safer. We sell over 80k units of backup cameras every year in Canada and continue to improve on products to help make driving as safe as possible. Did you know that every day 4 children are backed over in their own driveway by a parent? That’s just Canada. We hope our work will help save lives.
If you would like to test out the wireless version with a vent mount (the monitor is larger at 4.3″) then we would be happy to send it to you.
Thanks!
Nikki
Mommy Gearest says
Hi Nikki,
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment here. I think it’s important to share both sides of the story. It sounds like you made some really impressive improvements to this monitor that address some of the key concerns the guest reviewer had. And I certainly appreciate that the work you do comes from a terribly tragic place.
Often times, what works for one family doesn’t work for another and vice versa; that’s why including the pros and cons gives parents a way to make informed purchasing decisions. After all, what’s a negative for me may not bother you in the least. I love it when brands strive for ongoing improvement and listen to customer feedback to do so. I would be happy to arrange for another review – feel free to send along an email when you have a moment. Thanks again for your very thorough comment!
Andrea
Mike says
Nikki, I purchased the Canadian Tire version to use as a backup camera. Loved it. The wide angle feature is great. Because its inside the car, I don’t worry about the camera getting dirty. Only problem,is after about 2-3 months, the camera stopped working! What a dissapointment! I know the monitor is OK, because I bought 2 of them, and swapped parts to test. Hmmmm…maybe you can look into making the camera more durable.
Haiden says
Um….the baby is pretty much straightjacketed into the carseat; where is it going to go that you need to watch it? And most importantly, your eyes should be on the ROAD AHEAD OF YOU, not on your baby in the backseat. I guess this explains the many minivans I always see swerving around on the road.
Mommy Gearest says
Well, I have to admit that I used one of those mirrors on the backseat so I could see what my kids were doing when they were babies. I think if this unit lived up to its promise that it could actually be pretty safe and very effective for nervous parents.
Haiden says
Um….the baby is pretty much straightjacketed into the carseat; where is it going to go that you need to watch it? And most importantly, your eyes should be on the ROAD AHEAD OF YOU, not on your baby in the backseat. I guess this explains the many minivans I always see swerving around on the road.
Mommy Gearest says
Well, I have to admit that I used one of those mirrors on the backseat so I could see what my kids were doing when they were babies. I think if this unit lived up to its promise that it could actually be pretty safe and very effective for nervous parents.
Svetlana says
How about keeping your eyes on the road? That is surely the safest thing for other drivers as well as for your kid.
Svetlana says
How about keeping your eyes on the road? That is surely the safest thing for other drivers as well as for your kid.
Taya Griffin says
I’d have to say that a mirror would work JUST as well…I do want to get a video monitor for our second child though to put in the bedroom as we will be bedsharing at night and naps….for THAT I would pay good money!
Mommy Gearest says
Have you read my review of the Motorola monitor? Do a search – it’s so ridiculously good, words cannot describe. Or, actually, they can – just read my review. LOL
Taya Griffin says
I’d have to say that a mirror would work JUST as well…I do want to get a video monitor for our second child though to put in the bedroom as we will be bedsharing at night and naps….for THAT I would pay good money!
Mommy Gearest says
Have you read my review of the Motorola monitor? Do a search – it’s so ridiculously good, words cannot describe. Or, actually, they can – just read my review. LOL