Best Baby Monitors

Audio baby monitor

These no-frills devices serve one purpose: to let you know if your baby is crying or fussing when you’re in another room. They tend to be more affordable than other types of monitors and frequently come with only one receiver. (The receiver is the part of the monitor that stays with you while your child is in the other room.)

Some monitors come with two receivers, which gives you the freedom to leave one in your bedroom and keep the other in your living room or wherever is most convenient for you. If your home is large, or if your baby sleeps on a different floor, this can be a particularly nice feature.

Standard audio baby monitors cost around $25. Audio baby monitors with additional features, like extra receivers, motion sensors, night lights, talk-back or temperature display, can cost up to $150.

Video baby monitor

Video monitors allow you to see your child from another room so you can check on their position and see whether they’re playing instead of snoozing. You can mount multiple cameras with dual camera baby monitors to keep an eye on your baby when they’re in their nursery, playroom or another room in the house. Note that even with multiple cameras, you can usually only see and hear from one at a time. There are some monitors, like those from Summer Infant, that can produce a split-screen, which can be handy if you want to keep an eye on your toddler in one room and your infant in another.

Think about how many people you want to have video feed access through your wireless video monitor. Some baby monitors, like a few from Motorola and Philips Avent, allow up to 10 people to have video feed access. This can be great if you have family members who want to check in on baby from a distance.

Video baby monitors cost anywhere from $50 to over $400, depending on how many cameras you want and what features you want to be included.

Digital baby monitors

Digital baby monitors use a digital signal instead of a radio signal, which leads to an overall better sound and video quality than analog baby monitors. They usually operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, which is also what most digital devices, including Bluetooth headsets and wireless routers, use. This means you might experience drops in connectivity from time to time. These have a limited range, similar to analog baby monitors.

Digital baby monitors cost between $30 to over $300.

Analog baby monitors

Analog baby monitors work through AM and FM radio lines and operate at frequencies of either 49 MHz or 900 MHz. This can result in lower sound quality and interference than other types of monitors, particularly if you have close neighbors who have devices like radios and cordless phones that use the same radio frequency. However, many parents feel that analog baby monitors are safer than wireless or digital baby monitors since they don’t emit the same type of radiation. You can use an analog baby monitor around your home, but they don’t have a long range.

Analog baby monitors are often the cheapest option, costing around $20 for an audio analog baby monitor or up to $150 for a video analog baby monitor.

Wireless baby monitor

Wireless audio and video baby monitors are Wi-Fi enabled, and they are the baby monitors with the longest range. They’re convenient because you can use your phone, laptop or tablet as a monitor, as long as it’s connected to the internet. You can carry a wireless audio receiver with you throughout the house. Look for a small one that’s easy to carry around; a belt clip is a helpful feature.

A Wi-Fi-enabled receiver can connect your phone or tablet to the monitor. This is a great option if you’re used to keeping your phone with you around the house. However, take note that newer Wi-Fi baby monitors are at risk for possible hacking. If you choose this type, be sure to create a strong password for your home. Change it often to help keep your connection secure.

Wireless baby monitors start at around $35 and can cost up to over $300, depending on what additional features you want.

Baby monitor app

There are several apps on the market that can turn your smartphone into a baby monitor. While these can be less expensive than buying a physical baby monitor, they also pose security risks. Baby monitor apps aren’t regulated or subjected to any sort of official testing. Your better bet is to invest in a baby monitor from a reputable company. If cost is an issue, look for an inexpensive analog monitor that usually costs only a few dollars more than an app.

Smart baby monitors

Smart baby monitors can integrate with the rest of your smart nursery technology, or they can stand alone if you don’t have other smart technology set up. Smart baby monitors work through Wi-Fi so you can watch your baby, talk to your baby, monitor your baby’s temperature settings, play lullabies for your baby or store videos to share later from any connected device.

Smart baby monitors cost anywhere from $75 to over $300, depending on the features you want.

Baby breathing monitor

Baby breathing and movement monitors detect subtle movements to give you peace of mind, knowing that your baby is sleeping in a safe position and breathing regularly. These are different from audio and video baby monitors, in that they’re sensor pads you place in your baby’s crib that can detect baby’s movements.

Some parents find a baby movement monitor reassuring, especially during the first six months of a baby’s life when the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is greatest. These monitors claim to detect small movements that babies make during normal sleep and sound an alarm if your baby stops moving.

While baby breathing monitors might seem reassuring, know that there’s no scientific evidence that they actually reduce the risk of SIDS, as some manufacturers claim. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institutes of Health recommend against buying products that purport to reduce the risk of SIDS or other health problems.

Baby breathing monitors and baby movement monitors are sold separately from baby audio and video monitors and cost between $70 and $200.

Do I need a baby monitor?

You need a baby monitor to hear or see your baby when you’re in a different room. If your baby will be sleeping in the same room as you for the first few months, you might not need a baby monitor right away. However, as your child grows older, you may find that a video baby monitor is useful to keep an eye on your toddler as he plays.

What is the best baby monitor placement?

Where to put a baby monitor depends on what type of monitor you have and how you plan to use it. Most parents mount a video camera on the crib, changing table or wall. Do not mount it above the crib, in case it falls. Keep the cord secured and out of reach of the baby’s grasp no matter where you mount the monitor.

Are baby monitors safe?

Exposure to microwave radiation and the threat of hacking are the two main concerns parents have about baby monitors. Wireless baby monitors emit non-ionizing radiation, while analog baby monitors do not. While there have been no conclusive studies to confirm the negative effects of wireless baby monitor radiation, you can take the cautionary steps of keeping the baby monitor far away from the baby and investing in a low emission baby monitor that is sound activated to reduce the number of waves transmitted.

The fear of having a baby monitor hacked is cause for concern for many parents who have a wireless or digital baby monitor. If you have a wireless baby monitor, make sure it’s encrypted. With an encrypted connection, even someone who is using a device on the same frequency as your baby monitor cannot see or hear it easily. Use a secure Wi-Fi network with a strong password, and change it frequently. If you want to ensure that you have a secure baby monitor, your best bet is to use an analog monitor.

How much is a baby monitor?

Baby monitor cost is a big consideration for any new parent. Cheap baby monitors can cost as little as $20. These are generally analog audio baby monitors, and they can be all you need if you don’t have a large home and are only interested in hearing your baby during nap time or at night.

High-end baby monitors with additional features can cost up to $400. These expensive baby monitors usually include a variety of features like night vision, temperature sensors and extra cameras.

Look for a long range baby monitor if you have a large house

A monitor with a short range might only work if your baby is in the next room, which is OK if you have a small home or apartment. But if you live in a large home, or if you want to be able to take your receiver outside, make sure the monitor is up to the task of providing reliable sound anywhere in your home. Most baby monitor manufacturers make claims about their product’s range, but the actual range is usually shorter depending on whether walls, furniture or other fixtures in your home interfere with the signal. Test your baby monitor after you buy it to make sure the range is far enough for your home.

Find a monitor with a frequency of 900 MHz or higher

Baby monitor frequencies depend on whether they’re analog, digital or wireless. To avoid baby monitor interference, look for a digital monitor, usually 2.4 GHz, or a wireless monitor. If you’re using an analog monitor, look for a frequency of 900 MHz or higher. Higher frequency means higher clarity with less interference and static. Some monitors transmit loud static interference that can happen abruptly and wake you from a deep sleep. Check product reviews to find out which monitors are less likely to create that annoying hiss, and test your baby monitor once you have it.

Buy a sound activated baby monitor

A sound activated baby monitor is great for those times when loud noises might get in the way of you hearing your baby (like when you’re vacuuming or playing music). These monitors allow you to detect when your baby needs you even if you can’t hear him.

Look for a baby monitor with temperature sensors and night vision

Baby monitors with temperature sensors keep track of how warm or cold it is in the baby’s room and alerts you when there’s an unpleasant temperature change. Night vision baby monitors are a must for any parent who wants to be able to see what their baby is doing at night without interrupting them.

Consider a two-way baby monitor

Traditional monitors are one-way, meaning that you can hear your baby but your baby can’t hear you. Many newer models feature a handy talk-back mode that converts the monitor to a sort of walkie-talkie, so the sound of your voice can soothe your baby over the monitor. A two-way baby monitor can help you calm your baby down without going into their room and risking further disturbing them.