Motorola Baby Monitor problems: 6 Common Issues (Solved)

When it comes to peace of mind, Motorola offers the solution in the form of their baby monitors. Knowing that your baby is sleeping soundly and is safe is a crucial factor for every parent’s ability to also drift off into the land of slumber.

As with all technology, there can be problems with baby monitors, most of which can be easily solved without having to replace parts or taking them in for repairs. Ensuring that your Motorola baby monitors works properly is essential for peace of mind when using this technology.

In this article I will explain to the most common eight problems and how to solve them as well as a few other things worth mentioning about Motorola baby monitors.

Table of Contents

The Parent Unit on My Motorola Baby Unit Won’t Switch On

If the parent unit for your device has decided that it will not turn on and power up then you’re in a bit of a pickle, to say the least.

The cause for a situation such as this to occur are usually down to three reasons:

Is it properly plugged in?
- If you have a parent unit that won’t power up then it could be that you’re not connected to the mains.
- Make certain that it is firmly plugged into the power outlet and the charging port before jumping to any hasty conclusions.
Have you checked that it’s charged?
- This follows on nicely from the previous point, but it’s worth remembering that if the battery is dead in the parent unit then you can forget about it turning on.
- Simply recharge the battery by having the unit connected to the power supply.
Perhaps you have a broken button?
- Constant use of your baby monitor can lead to wear and tear. This can potentially manifest itself in a broken power button on your parent unit.
- The soldered connections inside the unit can become damaged and will result in an incomplete circuit when you try to power it on.
- Unfortunately, the only solution is to resolder the connections which would involve disassembling the unit.
Or, you have a broken battery…
- Worst case scenario is that the battery is faulty inside your parent unit.
- This means that you have a combination of two problems – the unit won’t switch on and the unit will not charge.
- The solution? – replace the battery.

Replacing the Battery in a Motorola Baby Monitor

If you’ve found that you have a faulty battery inside your Motorola baby monitor then just use the following steps to carefully remove the old lithium-ion battery inside.

These batteries should last for 2-3 years, but whether it’s an old battery or one that seems damaged, we’ve got you covered when it comes to removing them safely:

Take off the cover that conceals the battery by using a Phillips screwdriver.
Set the battery cover aside.
With your fingers raise the battery up from the end it is not connected to anything.
Now, using tweezers you need to clasp the connector plug.
Remove the connecting wires by carefully wiggling the connector plug and pulling upwards.
Once free, you can remove the battery and discard it safely.

The Baby Unit on my Motorola Baby Monitor Won’t Switch On

If your baby unit has seemingly given up the ghost and just will not power up then it could be due to the following reasons:

Are you using an unsuitable power supply?
- Power supplies are not interchangeable between the baby unit and the parent unit.
- You need to use the specific power supply that is for the baby unit.
Is the power supply damaged?
- If your power supply has suffered electrical surges or has been dropped or bashed too many times then it may mean that it is in need of repair.
- Contact the manufacturer for a replacement.
Is the power cable damaged?
- If the cable that supplies power to your unit is damaged and you can see any breaks or wiring then not only is this going to prevent you from charging your baby unit, but it is also a safety hazard and needs to be repaired as soon as possible.
- Remember, do not handle any damaged wiring whilst it is connected to the mains.
How’s the charging port look?
- If you cannot firmly attach the power supply plug into our unit or you can hear a rattle-like sound from within your unit, then it’s likely that your charging port has become loose from inside.
- This can be caused by excessive wear and tear, and unfortunately, the only answer is to have it repaired professionally.

There’s Noise Interference from my Motorola Baby Monitor

The only thing you want to hear from your baby monitor is your child sleeping peacefully, but you understand if you also hear them crying out in the night.

What you shouldn’t hear is any noise interference.

If you’re experiencing this issue, then try the following tips:

Move your units further apart. Parent and Baby units should have a distance of more than 3 ft in order to ensure there is no interference between the devices.
Make sure you do not place your units by electrical equipment such as a TV.
Keep your unit away from wireless devices if they operate at the same frequency as your units then noise interference is likely to occur. A good rule of thumb is a distance of around 5 ft away.

My Motorola Baby Monitor has Distorted Audio

If your baby monitor does not seem to sound right and you’re experiencing crackles and static within the audio from your device. Take a look at these potential reasons and discover the ways to resolve them:

Distortion can be caused by setting the volume on the parent unit too high.
Lower the volume and you may find that although it is slightly quieter to the ear, the sound quality vastly improves.
The microphone is too close to a sound source.
Whether it’s too close to your baby or too close to another source of sound, your microphone will give distorted feedback. Moving it away will help alleviate this problem.

If these tips do not help then the problem may be with the hardware itself.

Hardware issues include:

A faulty microphone.
The parent unit speaker is damaged.
A malfunctioning baby unit speaker.

These technical faults warrant the need for replacement parts or repairs.

The Camera on my Motorola Baby Monitor isn’t Working

If you are having camera problems in general on your Motorola baby monitor then it may be because of the following:

The camera is not properly plugged in.
The camera needs charging.
The camera is out of range of the signal.

Read our blog about eight problems with BT baby monitors.

The Night Vision on my Motorola Baby Monitor is Terrible

Having poor quality night vision on your baby monitor is by far from ideal. Not having a clear picture of how your baby is getting on during the night can be disconcerting. However, there may be reasons why you’re having trouble with this feature on your device:

Have you adjusted your display correctly?
- If your video display settings are set to a low brightness then the image will appear dim.
- Adjust the brightness in the parent unit and the picture quality in night vision may improve.
How dark is your baby’s bedroom?
- Pitch black conditions are not conducive to picture-perfect night vision.
- The night vision feature needs some light to operate well.
- A night light or dim bedside lamp can lend a helping hand for the functionality of your device’s night vision and provide you with a clearer picture of what’s going on.
Is the problem due to a faulty sensor?
- If you’ve tried the above tips and had no joy then the night vision sensor may have failed and it will need to be replaced.

How do you Reset a Motorola Baby Monitor?

Read and follow these steps to reset your Motorola baby monitor.

Most instructions for resetting your baby monitor shouldn’t differ too much from these general steps, but if they do, refer to the user manual for your specific instructions.

Begin by ensuring your Motorola baby monitor is switched off, and unplugged from the wall.
Locate the power button on the back of the device and hold it down for 10 seconds.
Wait 15 minutes.
Plug your monitor back into the wall and switch it on.
On the screen you will receive a prompt to ‘Reset to Factory Defaults?’, click the up arrow button and choose ‘Yes’.

Where can you get a Baby Monitor Repaired?

Depending on where you live, a local gadget repair shop will be able to fix any issues you are having. They can help with screen repairs, charging port issues, and broken parts.

Unfortunately, if your monitor is beyond repair, they will let you know it is time for a replacement.

Why is my Baby Monitor saying No Signal?

If your Motorola baby monitor is displaying a ‘No Signal’ alert, it means the connection between the camera and the parent unit is too weak or has been lost.

The first thing you should do is reset the units using the easy instructions previously mentioned.

You will now need to re-pair your display unit with the camera. To do this follow these simple steps:

Begin by ensuring both the display unit and the camera are plugged in and switched on.
Press the ‘Menu’ button on the display unit.
Use the right arrow key to navigate and select the ‘Camera’ option.
Select ‘Add’.
From the list choose the camera you wish to pair with the monitor.
Hold down the ‘Pair’ button located on the camera until you hear a beeping noise.
On the monitor, you should see an alert displaying ‘Pair OK’.

Why is my Baby Monitor going Black?

Here are the most common reasons and solutions as to why your Motorola baby monitor’s screen keeps turning black:

The baby monitor is switched off – press the power button to turn your monitor back on.
Your monitor is in power saving mode – this mode is used to conserve power when you are running on battery only. Simply tap any button and the screen will light up.
The video screen is off – to turn the video screen back on press the ‘Video’ button.
Your parent unit and camera have disconnected – try re-pairing your unit and camera following the pairing steps mentioned above and ensure your display is set to ‘Video Input’.
The wrong camera is selected – go to the ‘Camera’ option in the menu and ensure you have the correct camera paired.
There is an issue with the battery pack – try recharging or replacing the battery pack in the parent device.

How Long do Motorola Baby Monitors last?

The longevity of your Motorola baby monitor will depend largely on how it is cared for overtime.

The lithium-ion batteries within the baby monitors can last around 2-3 years or 300-500 charges, and they can also be replaced.

So you may be wondering whether your Motorola baby monitor will last forever…

However, hardware failures due to wear and tear, such as the product being dropped and bashed over the years is a more likely to cause a problem that would lead to a reduced lifespan.

Motorola does offer a one-year warranty on their baby monitors and they also are reported to have decent customer support and are likely to aid you in finding replacement parts or repairs.

With this in mind, it is probably best not to buy second-hand as you will not know how well the device has been treated over time.