Best Baby Monitor For Camping

Are you looking for the best baby monitor for camping?

Then let us help you keep an eye on your little one during your next camping trip with our guide on the best battery operated baby monitor camping!

If you’ve been thinking of taking your little one on a camping trip, you’ll know that camping with a baby is super fun, but it can also be very stressful.

It’s hard to relax around the campfire when you’re constantly wondering if your little one is still sleeping peacefully!

A baby monitor can provide an extra level of reassurance on a camping trip, so you can make the most of your time outdoors. However, most baby monitors aren’t built for leaving the house.

If you want to take your two camera, audio and visual monitor in a tent, you will probably experience some problems!

Although you can use your standard baby monitor on the go with the help of a power bank, there are options better designed for camping and travel.

In this guide, we’ve taken a look at the best portable baby monitors for camping available for parents including their features, pros, and cons, so you can find a camping baby monitor that you’ll love!

And if you love this guide on the best battery baby monitor camping, make sure to check out these guides on the best travel baby monitors, best portable breast pumps for travel, best travel double strollers, and travel crib vs Pack n Play.

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List of The 5 Best Baby Monitors For Camping

Best Baby Monitor For Camping

1. TimeFlys Audio Baby Monitor

Best Overall Baby Monitor for Camping

Battery operated, inexpensive, and, frankly, adorable, the TimeFlys Audio Baby Monitor is our number one baby monitor for camping.

A two-way audio baby monitor that can be both USB charged and battery powered, you’ll love having the TimeFlys Baby Monitor close to hand for your next trip away.

The TimeFlys Audio Baby Monitor is incredibly portable, and can be powered via a USB connection, or with batteries. For camping trips, this versatile charge ensures you can keep the monitor going, even over longer vacations.

If you have a way to charge your phone, you have a way to charge your baby monitor!

A two-way talk function and volume control, plus built-in lullabies, make the TimeFlys Baby Monitor useful, not just practical.

We also love that it includes vibration alerts, which is helpful in a noisy environment. It also transforms into a night light!

Finally, we have to mention that the TimeFlys monitor is shaped like a penguin! This isn’t exactly the most useful feature, but the cute design will appeal to young kids, and can act like a toy during the day.

Space is often limited on a camping trip, and with the TimeFlys penguin, you won’t need quite so many toys.

Range: 1000ft

Pros

• USB and battery – Versatile charging, so you never lose power on the go.
• Night light – The monitor functions as a night light, and the light level can be adjusted remotely.
• Two-way talk – Soothe and respond remotely with the two-way talk function.

Cons

• Temperature monitoring is often inaccurate.

2. Angelcare AC027 Baby Movement Monitor With Wireless Sensor Pad

Best Portable Sensor Baby Monitor for Camping

The Angelcare unit is something a little different to your standard baby monitor, but this high-tech baby monitor is a surprisingly good camping solution.

Instead of audio or visual monitoring, the Angelcare Baby monitor detects movement. If movement stops, parents are alerted on the parent unit, and they can see what’s happening.

The Angelcare baby monitor uses a sensor pad, which is placed beneath the sleeping baby. The sensor pad is incredibly sensitive, and is able to detect even the tiny movement of a baby breathing.

If the breathing pattern is disturbed, or briefly stops, an alert sounds to rouse the baby. If this has no effect, the parent unit sounds, telling parents to check on their little one.

The parent unit also runs on battery, so you can go wire free for your camping trip!

Through the thin walls of a tent, you can typically hear babies cries easily. We love that the Angelcare monitor provides another level of care. At home, the Angelcare can be used alongside standard audio and visual monitors.

When you’re ready to camp, simply remove the sensor pad, and get going!

Range: 850ft

Pros

• Battery powered – Both parent and baby units run on battery.
• Detects movement – Angelcare is an innovative system that monitors for safe, regular breathing.
• Lightweight – Easy to carry and move.

Cons

• No audio – You’ll still have to listen out for cries, as the Angelcare system has no audio function.

3. Billfet Audio Baby Monitor

Best Budget Baby Monitor for Camping

The Billfet Audio Baby Monitor is a simple but effective choice for camping. With both USB and battery power capabilities, the Billfet monitor can be used on the go without running out of charge.

Voice activation keeps the monitor from running out of battery too quickly, while a belt clip provides hands-free use.

The Billfet Audio Baby Monitor offers two-way audio communication, allowing parents to respond remotely when their little one needs to be soothed, calmed, or simply chatted to.

But two-way communication has another advantage when it comes to camping, as this monitor can be used as a walkie-talkie! Carry the Billfet Audio Baby Monitor as you explore, to keep in effective communication.

There are limited capabilities to the Billfet Audio Baby Monitor, so it may not be the ideal choice if you’re looking for an option to use at home and away.

However, this is a budget pick, and the overall performance is decent. If you’re only an occasional camper and you want a simple monitor, then it’s hard to beat the Billfet model.

Pros

• Two-way audio – Soothe and respond remotely, and use the monitor as a walkie-talkie during the day.
• USB and battery – Keep your monitor charged on the go.
• Voice activation – Preserve battery life with the voice activation feature.

Cons

• Limited capabilities – This is a budget pick, and the Billfet is a simple device.

4. Motorola MBP36XL-2 Portable Video Baby Monitor

Best Video Monitor for Camping

There are very few options available if you want a video baby monitor for camping, but our top pick has to be the Motorola Portable Video Baby Monitor.

Both the camera unit and parent unit can be unplugged and powered by battery, providing parents with a portable video monitoring solution.

As you might imagine, you don’t get an excellent charge on the camera battery. At most, expect it to last for around three hours.

Not exactly perfect, but it should be enough when you want to relax around the campfire while the little one sleeps. 

The Motorola Video Baby Monitor is more than just portable. With two-way audio, remote pan, tilt, and zoom, and a temperature display, this is a complete design that’s useful at home and on the go.

The 5” color screen parent unit provides clear images of your baby, and the system can be connected to multiple cameras. It’s a fantastic option for parents who need a monitor that will grow and respond to the needs of your family.

Range: 1000ft

Pros

• Rechargeable camera – The camera and parent unit can both use battery power.
• Pan, zoom, and tilt functions – Change and adjust the angle as you need.
• Two-way audio – Comfort and communicate with your children remotely.

Cons

• Some users have had issues with the night vision.

5. Topsung Walkie Talkies

Best Walkie Talkie Monitor for Camping

Walkie-talkies may not be the most sophisticated solution for your baby monitoring problem, but they can be an effective one.

Especially if you’re camping with toddlers and older babies, who are starting to take responsibility for themselves.

Walkie-talkies allow for clear and easy two-way communication, are cheap and easy to use, and fun to play with during the day.

Our top choice of walkie-talkie is from Topsung. These walkie-talkies have an incredible range, drop proofing, and can run on battery or USB charge.

The long-lasting battery means you can turn the walkie-talkie on and leave it running around young children, to transform it into a baby monitor.

Older kids will love the fun colors, and will enjoy using the walkie-talkie both during the day, and overnight.

Incredibly durable, the Topsung walkie-talkies can withstand the usual bumps and thumps of a camping trip with children.

The multiple charging methods are excellent for traveling, and these walkie-talkies are compatible with portable USB chargers.

An LED screen and backlight makes the walkie-talkie easy to use overnight, and in a pinch, they can also be used to listen to NOAA weather channels and alerts!

Range: 3 miles

Pros

• Power bank charging – Keep the battery full while traveling.
• Long battery life – Lasts several days, even with consistent use.
• iVOX – Hands-free communication for overnight monitoring.

Cons

• As a walkie-talkie, it won’t be useful for very young babies.

Buyer’s Guide on Camping baby monitors

Taking your little one camping is exciting, but at times the trip can become nerve wracking.

Even though you’re perfectly happy to let your little one sleep several rooms away at home, on a campsite the thin walls of a tent suddenly feel like a world away!

A portable baby monitor helps parents to relax when camping. Rather than constantly poking your head through the tent flaps, you can unwind around the fire, with the baby monitor to hand. 

Baby monitors aren’t exactly designed for portability. At least, the camera units aren’t! In this buyer’s guide, we’ll go through the features that are important to the baby monitor, to help you find the right model for you.

Charge Capabilities

The first thing you need to consider when buying a baby monitor is how it is powered. If you want a fully battery powered or rechargeable baby monitor, you will find your options are limited. However, these are the best choices for camping.

Battery powered units either use standard sized batteries, or come equipped with a rechargeable battery. When charged, these units can be operated wirelessly. 

It’s very important to note whether the baby and parent units of the monitor are battery operated, or just the parent unit! Many baby monitors describe themselves as “battery operated”, but they are only referring to the parent unit.

The camera or audio transmitter will need to be plugged in. While it is possible to use these devices camping – and we’ll cover using a power bank below – it’s important to know how they’re powered before you make a purchase. 

Video And Audio

Video and baby monitors are becoming more and more common around the home, and you might be interested in a device in this style for camping. 

The bad news is, there are very limited options for parents who want a video baby monitor that can be used on the go.

Most of these camera units will need to be plugged in, and although you might be able to rig up a connection at your campsite, this is hardly the easiest solution. 

Fully-battery powered audio-only monitors are much more common, and are significantly cheaper than battery powered video monitors. Although video monitors are popular, audio monitors are still incredibly useful. 

You might want to consider something completely different, such as the Angelcare motion sensor, or the Owlet sock. These monitor movement, and are typically highly portable.

Battery Life

The longer the battery life, the better, but keep in mind that the baby monitor is unlikely to be running overnight. You’re (presumably) planning on sharing a tent with your little ones, and there’s no escaping a midnight wake up in a tent!

The baby monitor battery needs to last for those moments when you’re enjoying the campsite, and your child is taking a nap or going to bed. 

Of course, if you’re going camping for multiple days, you want a monitor that will rarely need to be charged throughout the trip.

Portability

Babies need a lot of stuff, and this goes double when you take them camping. There’s not much you can leave behind when you go camping, but one thing you definitely don’t need is the bulky 3 camera baby monitor setup you might have at home!

A portable baby monitor is compact, lightweight, and has minimal wires. It should be easy to slip into a bag, and won’t take hours to install when you arrive at the campsite.

Two-Way Audio

Two-way audio is a fantastic feature on a baby monitor. At home, it allows parents to remotely soothe fussy babies, and communicate with older toddlers. When camping, you can quick;y reassure your child that you’re nearby, and ready to help.

Two-way audio has another benefit when camping: you can potentially use the monitor as a walkie-talkie. 

Durability

Baby monitors tend to be fairly durable. After all, they are being used around a baby! But when you’re planning a camping trip, you want a baby monitor that can endure a little bit of rough and tumble.

Look for durable casing, waterproofing, and limited extra parts. Simplicity is often key. This does rule out many video monitors, as these tend to lack the rugged build of a solid audio monitor.

Transmission Range

The transmission range refers to how far the baby unit and parent unit can go before the two devices stop communicating. A long range unit is the best choice for camping, as it allows you to move across the campground without losing connection. 

Another feature to look for is an out of range indicator. This will tell you when the parent unit has moved too far from the baby unit, so you can fix the situation without losing the link.

Noise Level

An adjustable noise level is a helpful feature at a campground, where things can be either very quiet, or very loud. Being able to adjust the noise level ensures you can always hear what’s going on, without disturbing your fellow campers.

Power Bank

Most of us have used a power bank at one time or another, most frequently for charging phones on the go. A power bank or battery pack can also be used to transform your at-home baby monitor into a portable camping baby monitor.

Simply find a power bank that’s compatible with the baby monitor you already have, and you’re ready to go!

Power banks are a good solution for parents who rarely camp, and don’t want to invest in a new baby monitor. Power banks are versatile, so you should find the device is useful for more than just baby monitor charging.

FAQs on battery operated baby monitor camping

Final Thoughts on the best portable baby monitor for camping

Taking a baby on a camping trip can be a rewarding, but stressful experience. Help reduce the stress with a simple baby monitor that requires minimal set up, and doesn’t need a complicated power pack to charge!

And if you’re looking for more great guides, then check out these guides on best Pack and Play mattresses, best baby monitor under $100, best long range baby monitors, and when to stop using a baby monitor.