Best Baby Monitors

Congratulations – you’re a parent! You’re dealing with endless feedings, diaper changes, and sleepless nights. The one constant through all of this is the priority of keeping your baby safe. But you’re not omnipresent. Baby monitors enter the chat. Parents now have the ability to monitor their children when they’re not physically with them. This extends past sleeping time and to general monitoring when you’re in a different room.

Of course, technology has changed the way we do everything, so baby monitors can now generate sleep reports and monitor breathing. But there’s no need to get overwhelmed. We’ve done the legwork and here are some of the best baby monitors available.

What to look for in a baby monitor

Taking care of your precious cargo requires careful thought. With all the products on the market, choosing the right baby monitor depends on what you need it to do.

Ease of use:

Not all of us are techies. So we may want to keep things simple and low tech. Sound and regular live video feeds will work. Consider also if you need to assemble the baby monitor.

Functionality:

The monitor needs to work. Factors to consider are the battery life and range. How long does the monitor work before needing to be recharged? What is the range of the baby monitor? Can I see and hear my baby while I’m downstairs in the kitchen? Answers to these questions will determine functionality.

Cost:

Babies are expensive, and all costs add up. A higher-priced baby monitor doesn’t necessarily indicate better quality. Consider which functions you need most when deciding how much to spend.

Portability:

The best benefit of a baby monitor is having the peace of mind that your baby is safe when you’re not physically present. Some families put their babies to nap in different rooms during the day, or often travel and need a monitor that meets these needs. Having a portable baby monitor adds value to them.

Special features:

Baby monitors can now do a ton of things. If you want a device that monitors breathing, generates reports, sends alerts, and much more, you should look closely at the features of each device. Be wary of information overload. More doesn’t necessarily mean better.

Here are some of our favorites to get your search started:

Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Video Baby Monitor

Best for Size and Cameras

Parents have been raving about the amazing customer service of the company, and the picture quality is excellent.

Range

300 meters

Power Source

AC/DC

Video

Yes

Features

• Active Noise Reduction technology
• High-definition screen with enhanced night vision with 720P 
• Closed circuit camera system
• Operates on a 2nd-generation FHSS closed-circuit camera system
• Viewing includes pan, tilt, & zoom functionality. 
• Lens swap between a zoom lens (up to 6X zoom) and a wide-angle lens (sold separately) 

Pros

• Bang for your buck
• Monitor doesn?t need WiFi
• Ability to control the camera angle via remote

Cons

• Decreased battery life over time

This Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Video baby monitor deserves all its accolades. This handheld monitor has crystal clear video quality, with a range of 1000 feet. This model may sacrifice some esthetics for optimal viewing with wide-angle and zoom lenses. The zoom feature and camera panning also help when your baby starts moving around. The active noise reduction technology is a big sell for parents, as this feature allows them to listen more closely to their baby’s breathing, tuning out other environmental noises like the neighbor’s kids playing outside.

Parents have been raving about the amazing customer service of the company, and the picture quality is excellent. Some parents were disappointed that the battery life decreases over time, and that there’s no way to adjust the sensitivity of the microphone.

Nanit Pro Complete Monitoring System

Best Smart Monitor

$252 $300 Save
$48

A baby monitor that allows parents to monitor sleeping children wherever they go. It has a smart monitor with a Split Screen feature and monitors the baby’s breathing in real time.

Power Source

‎Lithium-Ion

Features

• 1080p HD video  
• Wall Mount is ASTM-certified for safe cord cover
• Breathing Wear works with the Pro Camera to detect baby’s breathing motion
• Safely and securely add multiple users
• 256-bit AES encryption provides exceptional security for your data.

Pros

• provides smart data: temperature, humidity, movement, sleep quality, and duration
• Ability to monitor from anywhere
• Excellent video quality

The Nanit Pro baby monitor is popular in the parents’ circle. Winner of many awards and named one of the best inventions of 2018 by Time magazine, this monitor is popular with parents who are looking for “more.” It has a Wi-Fi camera mounted over the crib that uses what the company calls “computer vision” to track whether your child is awake or sleeping. All of this data is synthesized to generate a sleep report and sleep scores. The result? Information for parents who are sleep training a toddler.

The cost of the Nanit Pro can add up if you add other accounts, but parents like it because it gives “a lot of peace of mind with its ability to track the baby’s breathing.” But even with all the data, some parents have concerns that Nanit Pro can only be controlled via the app, which takes up considerable bandwidth. You also need Wi-Fi for use, so that is a concern if you lose your internet connection.

Lollipop Baby Monitor

Best Cry Detection

$160 $169 Save
$9

This monitor has the ability for live feed viewing and sharing links with other persons. It differentiates between your baby’s cries and surrounding sounds, sending an alert to your phone when your baby cries.

Features

• Contactless Breathing Monitoring
• Live View & Sharing Video with 1080p Full HD quality.
• Crying Detection.
• Crossing Detection

Pros

• Portable and easy to set up anywhere

Cons

• Subscription required to access video history
• WiFi needed for video transmission

If you need a baby monitor that you can cart and attach anywhere, the Lollipop Baby Monitor is for you. This monitor’s silicone base makes it easy to mount or attach anywhere. Lollipop monitor also has advanced night vision, two-way talk, a built-in noise machine, and lullabies. Parents also love the option of purchasing a sensor that monitors humidity, temperature, and air quality in the room. Another popular feature that parents talk about is the camera quality, which has both day and night vision.

Many parents loved that the app allows the convenience of being able to do other things on their phone while still being able to hear their child. The major complaint that parents have is that video transmission stops without Wi-Fi.

Eufy Security Spaceview Video Baby Monitor

Best Overall

This monitor meets many needs of parents. Has a large screen, attachable lens for when baby starts walking, long range coverage, and sends alerts when your baby cries.

Features

• 5″ 720p video baby monitor display 
• Instant alerts when your baby is crying 
• Included lens to expand the view to 110° 
• The 460 ft – 600 ft range-coverage area 

Pros

• Doesn?t use an app
• High video quality
• Large screen
• Long battery life

Cons

• Not the longest range on the market

The Eufy Security Spaceview Video Baby Monitor is popular for one main reason – it does the job without all the bells and whistles. It has a great user interface with a large video monitor display. It also has excellent video quality. The wide angle lens attachment can pan 330 degrees and tilt 110 degrees, and this monitor has the option for parents to connect up to four cameras.

Parents are mostly impressed with the video quality, since many like to “watch their kid breathing.” The battery life of the Eufy baby monitor appears to be superior, boasting a battery life of 7 hours on display and 15 hours in power saving mode.

VTech DM221 Audio Monitor

Best Audio

$36 $39 Save
$3

This monitor has clear long-range audio that eliminates background noise, with a 5-level sound indicator and a 2-way talk-back intercom. It also allows the parents to visually monitor the noise level in the baby’s room.

Features

• DECT 6.0 technology provides clear audio transmission
• 5-level sound indicator and 2-way talk-back intercom 
• Night light on the unit helps soothe baby and gently light the room
• The parent unit runs on a rechargeable Ni-MH battery or AC power

If you are old school and yearn to play with walkie-talkies, the VTech DM221 Audio Monitor is a good option. It has a five level sound indicator that visually alerts you when your baby cries, and uses DECT 6.0 technology that provides clear audio transmission without the crackling of analog monitors. It has a range of 1000 feet, with some parents saying that it “has better range than some infant optics video monitors.” The VTech DM221 Audio Monitor can withstand lots of wear and tear, and is perfect for travel.

Wyze Cam v3

Best Budget-Friendly Monitor

This budget-friendly monitor has color night vision and can be used indoors and outdoors. It uses motion and sound detection for recording.

Features

• Color night vision up to 25x darker than traditional video cameras and the new f/1.6 aperture captures 2x more light.
• Wired video camera with an IP65 rating 
• Motion & sound detection with alert straight to your phone.
• 24/7 continuous recording with video recording with a 32GB MicroSD card (sold separately).
• IFTTT certified connects all of your different apps and devices

Pros

• Affordable
• Easy set up
• Portable

Cons

• Incompatible with past accessories

The Wyze Cam 3 isn’t marketed as a baby monitor but has many of the features. It’s a security camera that is used in conjunction with an existing home security system. The Wyze Cam has two-way communication and the option of additional storage using an SD card. The 1080p color night vision makes it ideal for baby monitoring. Parents commended the Wyze Cam for having an actual live feed, with less than a second delay.

The Wyze Cam does not require internet connectivity, so being fully off-line gives parents peace of mind regarding hacking. Users also like that it’s easy to mount, either via adhesive or metal ring wall mount. With a tier-based subscription that caps at $2.99 per month for features like playback motion detection, this monitor is great bang for your buck.

CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor

Best AI Technology

This is a pediatrician-created monitor that uses AI technology to detect if a baby’s mouth and nose is covered while sleeping. It also generates a daily sleep-tracking report for parents.

Features

• Uses A.I. to detect if your baby’s mouth and nose are covered or is face down. 
• 1080p HD video stream, clear night vision, cry detection, two-way audio, auto photo capture, temperature & humidity alert.
• Daily sleep tracking & report shows how long your baby slept when & how many times they woke
• Cybersecurity Certified,  2-Factor Authentication, 256-Bit Encryption and permission-based sharing for up to 7 people.

Pros

• Provides sleep tracking information
• Alerts if baby?s nose or mouth is covered

Cons

• Can become overwhelming because of the amount of information

CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor is for the parent who wants all the information plus more. It has sleep analytics, even alerting parents when the baby accidentally rolls over and if the baby’s face is covered. You’ll get generated sleep reports, temperature and humidity alerts, cry detection, photo capture, video playback, lullabies, and much more. With the use of Wi-Fi, there is always the fear of the feed being hacked. This monitor is cybersecurity certified with two-factor authentication, and the ability to share with up to seven persons.

Parents love the quality of the camera, and the peace of mind knowing that they will be alerted to any movement. One downside is that you will be alerted if your baby is turned away from the camera since the AI technology uses facial recognition.

Google Nest Cam Security Camera

Best Dual-Function

$156 $180 Save
$24

While this is not strictly a baby monitor, this device can be used both indoor and outdoor. It has built in intelligence that can tell the difference between a person, animal or vehicle and sends alerts to the Google Home app.

Features

• no subscription required
• store up to an hour of recorded events
• check in from anywhere 24/7 with 1080p HDR video with night vision

Pros

• Ability to integrate with your phone and other home smart devices
• Has a watch back option

Cons

• Needs internet connection for use

We rate the Google Nest Cam as the best dual function because it gives true meaning to multipurpose. It can be used as a baby monitor, nanny cam and security camera. The Google Nest Cam is compatible with your smartphone and also reasonably priced. What’s not to love? A subscription is included in the cost, and you can check on the feed from anywhere and anytime. It also stores up to one hour of recorded events, and the crisp video quality also has night vision.

Even with all the great features, parents complained about poor customer service when the camera malfunctioned. Also, bear in mind that if you lose your internet connection, your feed will go down.

BabySense Split Screen Monitor

Best Split Screen (No WiFi)

This monitor offers two screens for viewing and the peace of mind of being hacker-proof. You can also connect up to four cameras.

Features

• 720 HD image on the large 5″ LCD display with remote pan and tilt and up to x4 zoom, at a 960 ft range.
• Split-screen HD display with 2 HD cameras:

Pros

• Affordable
• Has an option to conserve battery life
• Built-in nightlight and enhanced night vision
• Split screen that allows you to view two cameras at once

Cons

• Users reported background noises were loud
• Not very user-friendly

The BabySense Split Screen Monitor is probably best known as the “twin baby monitor.” The split screen feature lets you see both babies at once, with the option to scan back and forth intermittently or keep the split screen feature. It has a built-in nightlight and enhanced night vision. The nightlight has three brightness levels which really prevents you from stumbling around in a dark nursery. Some parents thought this baby monitor was not user-friendly. They also complained about background noises being loud.

HelloBaby 5” Video Baby Monitor

Most User-Friendly

$40 $70 Save
$30

This monitor is easy to operate because you just plug it in. It gives parents a mobility option because the parent unit is powered by a rechargeable battery.

Features

• Infrared night vision
• Two way talk 
• Room temperature monitor and alert, night vision, sound level indicator, lullaby
• 3-month money back warranty, 1-year quality guaranteed. 24-hour professional Service Center.

Pros

• Affordable
• Functions well

Cons

• Not able to use cameras across models

The HelloBaby 5” Video Baby Monitor solves problems. This parent favorite is affordable, has a 5″ display monitor, good range, and two-way talking. It is responsive to room lighting, automatically switching from day to night vision. The cry detection feature is a fan favorite, along with the temperature sensors and lullabies.

Parents love that the camera has a zoom feature. The camera quality is not excellent but adequate for the price.

Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor

Best Luxury

This baby monitor has all the bells and whistles and the price tag to match. It is also HSA/FSA approved, with quick and easy installation.

Features

• tracks breathing, movement, sleep patterns 
• HD video and photos
• 256-bit encryption and 2-factor authentication and houses a tamper-resistant Crypto Chip so data remains secure.
• HSA/FSA approved, no hidden subscription fees
• room temperature and humidity sensors, night vision, two-way audio, custom sleep sounds, and lullabies.

Pros

• No subscription fees
• Very high quality video and audio
• Uses integrated information to provide information
• Monitor?s your child?s breathing without an attached device
• Can use HSA/FSA funds for purchase

The Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor is the Lamborghini of baby monitors. The features are many. From excellent photo and video quality to impressive security with two-factor authentication, this baby monitor is packed with features. Its biggest selling point is the AI feature that monitors your baby’s breathing pattern in real-time. It counts your baby’s respiration and tracks movement and sleep patterns. All of this is done without a wearable device.

Parents love that it transmits audio and video to your device anywhere and rave about the actual color graph of sleep/movement/awake being accurate and helpful.

ABCs of safe sleep

The ABCs of safe sleep refers to whom the baby sleeps with, where they sleep, and how they sleep. And it’s an important thing for parents to be versed in.

Alone – according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, co-sleeping dramatically increases the risk of infant sleep-related death. This is the case whether your baby is sleeping with you, or another caregiver on a sofa or a recliner or in bed.

Back – Babies should be put to sleep on their backs.

Cribs – Always put your baby to sleep in a crib or bassinet on a firm mattress covered with a snugly fitted sheet. If your baby falls asleep while in their car seat or bouncy chair, move them to their cribs as soon as possible.