During the first months and years of a baby’s life, naps and overall sleep are things you’re pretty much guaranteed to obsess over. Many parents become hyper-focused on length and quality of their little one’s sleep, but also want to be able to rest at night simply knowing their child is safe and sound. The best baby monitor will take you from always-on-edge to feeling more calm, collected and at ease (well, as much as you can be during the early stages of parenting).
Crying, fussy babies can cause even the most Zen-like parents to break out into a sweat, but being able to see your child remotely can help keep you from losing sleep and offer priceless peace of mind. So, where to start? These days, baby monitors feature all kinds of bells and whistles—from wearable technology to two-way audio to crystal clear night vision. But it all depends on what you want. Are you looking for a smart monitor and connected app that can track everything from respiratory rate to growth? Or do you prefer a more hands-off device that simply lets you see and hear what’s happening in your baby’s nursery?
Many parents have trouble choosing between a monitor with or without Wi-Fi. Devices without it have no transmission delay and are very difficult to hack—and are more affordable. But you’d have to stay within range, and audio and video quality may not be as good as with other options. With Wi-Fi monitors range isn’t an issue, but security can be a concern, and dealing with competing signals may be a challenge.
In order to compile our roundup of the best baby monitors, we asked discerning parents and pediatric sleep consultants—who weighed in on everything from ease of setup to picture quality. Here is the cream of the crop.
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ByDave JohnsonForbes StaffBest Overall Baby Monitor
Outstanding, Reliable Coverage So You Won’t Lose Sleep
Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro
This highly rated non-Wi-Fi model offers all-around excellent coverage and is consistently a standout amongst parents. “It’s simple to set up and offers the best overall features for a middle-ground price,” says Allison Panesar, founder and sleep consultant at The Sleep Collaborative. “Other pros include great background noise reduction, a camera that zooms and pans remotely so you don’t have to creep into your kid’s room and risk waking him up to adjust it, a 5-inch LCD screen with good resolution, 1,000-foot range, a talkback feature, a 10-hour battery life with replaceable battery and a room temperature display.”
You can also use up to four cameras for a split screen display on your monitor. “I love that you can add multiple cameras to the same screen and that it automatically switches back and forth between them,” says mom Jackie Pellenberg. “I have two sons, ages five and two, and it has worked well for years.”
forbes.comAmazon Promo Codes | 50% Off In March 2022 | ForbesBest Smart Baby Monitor
Keep Your Child’s Sleep On Track With Helpful Daily Insights
Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor
You’ll have to fight the urge not to obsessively check in on your baby just because Miku’s capabilities and technology are so cool. “This app-based baby monitor has countless amazing reviews,” says Natalie Nevares, founder and owner of in-home sleep training service Mommywise. “It has smart monitoring tools that allow you to monitor your baby’s breathing and track their sleep without having to buy additional wearables. Plus, it can keep tabs on room temperature and humidity levels.”
How it works: Miku’s SensorFusion technology combines both optical and wireless sensing to determine breathing waveforms, motion sensing, audio sensing and nursery conditions in real-time. Other reasons this all-in-one monitor is a standout: It has two-way audio, a 140-degree viewing angle, replays for events like movement and sound, wall mount, floor stand and tabletop options. It also provides sleep summary reports that track your baby’s slumber, week by week. Another huge plus? No subscription is required, unlike with competing cameras.
Best Baby Monitoring System
Comprehensive Monitoring To Keep Your Baby Safe
Nanit Pro Complete Baby Monitoring System
Considered the gold standard by many parents, the Nanit is a truly comprehensive baby safety monitor. “The monitor offers unparalleled picture quality with tons of added features to track your baby and is great for parents who are data-obsessed,” says Panesar. “Because it’s Wi-Fi, you’ve got unlimited range and the ability to see your child from anywhere with your phone. It also provides a variety of sleep insights, such as movement, breathing, overnight wake-ups, room conditions like temperature and humidity, and it can even track your baby’s growth.”
Sure, it’s a heftier price tag, but the complete monitoring system comes with the Nanit Pro camera, small breathing band to track your baby’s breaths per minute, the multi-stand travel accessory and the Nanit Smart Sheet to measure your child’s height and growth progress. There are some cons, including that it takes more steps for setup and traveling, and you need to buy a subscription for the sleep insights after the first year. However, “the information it provides and the presentation of the information is in a league of its own,” says mother of two Rose Filler.
Best Baby Monitor For Travel
Easy Setup And Stellar Picture Quality While On The Go
Lollipop Baby Monitor
Convenience and ease of operation are key with this model, which connects to Wi-Fi through an app. “The versatile Lollipop monitor is especially ideal for travel,” says Nevares. “It’s a great option for bringing on trips because it can attach to a travel crib or onto the handle of a carseat, or it can stand on a tabletop.” It attaches with a bendy, wraparound arm—in nursery-friendly colors like turquoise, pistachio or cotton candy—that can be manipulated for the perfect angle.
Other star features include excellent picture quality, infrared night vision, music and white noise features, push to talk functionality and crying detection technology, which basically means it can filter out the sound of your baby’s cry from other background noise. You can add multiple cameras and have the option to record short videos, pictures and sound. If you purchase the additional sensor for $55, the Lollipop gives insights into temperature, humidity and air quality as well.
Best Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor
Whole-Room Coverage As Your Little One Becomes More Mobile
Eufy Security SpaceView Pro Baby Monitor
Many monitors are limited in their coverage area, but the Eufy is exceptional because its camera can remotely pan 330 degrees and tilt 110 degrees, so you can see virtually every inch of your baby’s room. Being able to remotely move the camera angle is especially key, says Filler, when your baby is a toddler and eventually moves from a crib to toddler bed. It also has a large 5-inch display with good clarity and a zoom feature for close-ups, night vision and room temperature monitoring. Reviewers love the easy setup and the long battery life with the Eufy: It lasts for up to 30 hours on a single charge. One con to note, however, is that some parents say the monitor is heavier and bulkier than other models.
Best Budget Baby Monitor
An Inexpensive Option That Checks Every Box
VTech VM5254 Baby Monitor
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly monitor that doesn’t give you sticker shock—or you’re in search of a backup model that’s chock full of bonuses—look no further. “This is an affordable option for parents who want a video monitor with solid features, but want to stay under the $100 price point,” says Panesar. Nice-to-have features include a high resolution 5-inch screen, infrared night vision, 1000-foot range, talkback optionality, a temperature sensor and a built-in nightlight with color options. While the picture quality is so-so and you can’t pan the entire room—which can be important if you’ve got siblings sharing the same room—it’s a solid choice from a company that knows the needs of kids and parents well.
Best Baby Monitor That Works On And Off Wi-Fi
A Versatile Monitor With Flexible Viewing Options
Motorola Halo+ Baby Monitor
Deciding between having Wi-Fi or not is a challenge for many parents, but the Motorola Halo works on Wi-Fi with the Hubble app and off of it with a handheld screen. “It allows you to both view the picture from your phone and from a separate monitor, so you don't have to have the app open, giving flexibility, which we love,” says Filler. “We also love that you do not have to wall mount it—it easily attaches to the crib.” Some additional cool features: a soothing nightlight with seven color options, light show projector, preloaded lullabies and bedtime stories, two-way speakers and a detachable camera.
Best Baby Monitor For Two Rooms
Multi-Room Coverage For A Growing Family
Vava Baby Monitor With Split Screen
For parents with multiple young children, multi-camera setups are invaluable for keeping tabs on twins or kids at different ages and stages. The Vava baby monitor comes with two cameras that provide simultaneous live visuals for two rooms. Helpful features include seven volume levels with indicator lights, all-day battery life, automatic night vision, easy zoom and full angle mobility—and the option to connect up to four cameras. “I like the picture quality, the temperature feature, easy setup and the ability to add multiple monitors,” says Caroline Saunders, a Connecticut mom to a two-year-old and four-year-old. “I can see both kids on a split screen, which I really like because we moved into a house where we are downstairs and kids are upstairs, so it’s comforting being able to see both kids in two different rooms at once.”
Best Baby Monitor For Three Rooms
Rest Easy With This Smart Monitor With Extra Capabilities
Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor
The smart baby monitor category has become increasingly crowded with solid options, and the Cubo Ai is at the top of the list. Like others, it has extensive sleep analytics, but a unique feature is the covered face and rollover alert, which means you'll be notified immediately if your baby’s face is covered or they’re lying face down. Parents rave about Cubo’s daily reports, high definition picture clarity for both day and night, night light, two-way audio and temperature and humidity detection. (And we’re partial to the cute bird shape.) Even better, if you’ve got multiple children or just want to monitor several rooms: You can pair up to five cameras to one account, switch between feeds and receive alerts from multiple cameras on the same mobile device.