Best Baby Monitors

Baby monitors are one of the most expensive purchases parents make when they have their baby, so you want to make sure you buy one of the best baby monitors that will last you for years to come and meet all of your needs.

Keeping an eye on your baby while they sleep is essential. While the American Academy of Pediatrics says there is no link between reducing SIDS and monitors (even breathing monitors), we need to know when our babies are awake after their nap time and when they might try to climb out as a toddler. It also lets you know if your baby is crying or if they’re whining in their sleep.

No one wants to make that mistake and accidentally wake a sleeping baby!

Years ago, parents had few options, but there are dozens of baby monitors on the market nowadays. You might feel confused and wonder what the best baby monitor is.

So, we took the guessing away for you and put together this guide of the top rated baby monitors. So, whether you need a good audio-only monitor or want the best-of-the-best, we found something that will work for all parents.

And if you love this guide on the top baby monitors, make sure to check out these best long range baby monitors, best baby monitors for twins, best baby monitor under $100, and best nightlight for baby. Or even our review on Nanit vs Owlet!

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List of 6 Best Baby Monitors

Top Rated Baby Monitors

1. HelloBaby Camera Monitor – Best Budget Video Monitor

Buying a video monitor often feels cost-prohibitive for many families, but HelloBaby makes it possible for even more parents to have a camera watching their baby in the crib.

HelloBaby is a wireless monitor featuring a camera that can pan, tilt, and zoom, giving you complete control, along with infrared night vision! In addition, the parent unit has a large 3.2” LCD that uses digital encryption technology to keep the feed secured away from hackers.

Here are a few other features of the HelloBaby Camera parents love.

• The parent unit allows you to pan, tilt, and zoom the camera remotely; it rotates up to 355 degrees horizontally and 120 degrees vertically. You’ll always have a clear view of your baby.
• HelloBaby offers two-way audio so that you can talk back and forth with your baby.
• This little monitor also keeps an eye on the room temperature of your baby’s nursery, plays lullabies, and has a sound-level LED indicator.
• HelloBaby has automatic night vision that detects light conditions and automatically changes from day to night modes.
• Parents can opt to use an audio-only mode.
• The parent unit runs on a rechargeable battery so you can move around your house working on chores.
• You can add up to four cameras connected to the LCD display.

Overall, the HelloBaby is an excellent choice for parents who want a video monitor but don’t have hundreds to spend. It includes many “fancy” features like room temperature and the ability to play lullabies.

However, given the price, don’t expect exceptional, award-winning quality. You have to compromise somewhere given the price, and the range and quality of the feed is that somewhere.

Pros

• Night vision makes it easier to see your baby.
• Two-way radio
• LCD screen
• A camera that tilts, pans, and zooms remotely
• Audio-only mode option
• Budget-Friendly

Cons

• Freezes Often
• Not great range

Tech Specs:

• Type of Monitor: Video & Audio
• Range: 900 FT
• Mount: Wall & Table
• Power Source: AC Adapter and Battery
• WiFi: Yes

2. Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor – Best Overall Baby Monitor

Infant Optics won the 2020 Baby List Best Monitors award, and over 45,000 positive reviews on Amazon alone showcase why this is one of the top picks on the monitor still in 2022.

The DXR-8 offers the perfect balance between size, weight, and performance in its audio and video components. No setup is required, so as soon as you receive this monitor, all you have to do is plug it in and go, so it’s ideal for travel. In addition, the parent unit fits comfortably in your back pocket!

Here are a few of the other features of the Infant Optics DXR-8.

• The monitor offers many remote options, such as panning, tilting, and zooming in with the parent unit. You can zoom further with this monitor than others on the market, featuring a 4x room that doesn’t compromise the video quality.
• Infant Optics added other bonus features like an alarm function, two-way talk, a remote thermometer, and infrared night vision.
• You can add up to four cameras with scan mode.
• It has interchangeable optical lenses; the standard and zoom lens come with the monitor, but you can buy the wide-angle lens separately.
• The battery lasts around 12 hours when using audio-only mode and 8 hours with a live screen.

Many parents love the video option but feel nervous connecting their baby monitor to WiFi; we know it’s possible to hack into video feeds through monitors. The Infant Optics DXR-8 has no internet connection, so the feed goes only to one monitor – your parent unit.

That helps give you the peace of mind you need!

Pros

• The camera pans, tilts, and zooms remotely.
• Add up to four cameras
• Long battery life
• No WiFi Needed
• Interchangeable lenses

Cons

• Expensive
• The screen might be too small for some.

Tech Specs

• Type of Monitor: Video & Audio
• Range: 700 feet
• Mount: Wall & Table
• Power Source: Battery Powered
• WiFi: No

2. Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor – Most Advanced Baby Monitor

For those without budget constraints, the Nanit Pro gives you many features to use to keep a close eye on your baby and his environment. Nanit stepped up their game in recent years, giving parents everything they could want with one monitor.

Nanit gives you an unmatched view of your baby, day and night. The included wall mount allows you to mount this camera above your baby’s crib, including safe-cable management. Once mounted, parents connect the camera to their iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, or Echo Show.

Yes, this is Alexa compatible, and it runs when your screen is turned off!

Here are a few other features of the Nanit Pro.

• Parents can talk to their babies with the two-way audio feature.
• Nanit uses 256-bit encryption to keep the feed with your baby’s video on it safe from anyone else viewing it, and it also has a two-factor authentication to keep your account secure.
• Perhaps the most beloved feature of the Nanit Pro is that it tracks your baby’s sleep and gives you stats each morning along with a timelapse reel of their sleep. The app even sends you sleep guidance and tips.
• Best of all, Nanit offers sensor-free breathing-motion monitoring with the included small breathing band. It allows you to track your baby’s breaths per minute without any wires.
• It also tracks the temperature and humidity of your baby’s nursery and gives you real-time notifications if that changes.

Considering the price, it would have been excellent for the Nanit Pro to include the ability to play lullabies for your baby. However, it does so many other things and ensures your baby doesn’t stop breathing in the middle of the night. That’s hard to beat, even at the price, considering the cost of a separate breathing monitoring system.

Pros

• Great view from above crib
• Encrypted, safe feed
• Tracks baby’s sleep
• Offers a breathing monitor
• Send real-time notifications to your phone

Cons

• App Freezes
• Most Expensive on the List
• It doesn’t offer other features.

Tech Specs:

• Type of Monitor: Video & Audio
• Range: WiFi Range
• Mount: Wall
• Power Source: AC Adapter
• WiFi: Yes

4.  VTech Audio Baby Monitor – Best Budget-Friendly Baby Monitor

Baby monitors are expensive – some cost more than $200. Opting for an audio-only monitor is an economical choice if you’re on a budget, and the VTech DM221 Audio Baby Monitor is a top choice.

This monitor has a long-range, up to 1,000 feet away from your baby, and the technology ensures clear audio transmission that eliminates annoying background noise. In addition, VTech uses encrypted signals via DECT 6.0 channel. Considering this monitor costs less than $50, this is a serious bargain.

Let’s look at a few more of the features of the VTech Monitor.

• It has a five-level sound indicator at the top to let you know that your baby is making sounds. You can visually monitor how loud the noise is.
• The monitor has a built-in intercom on the parent unit so you can talk to your baby while he is still in his crib.
• The baby unit has a soothing, built-in night light that gently illuminates your baby’s nursery.
• It gives you the option to hear all sounds in your baby’s room or only sounds that reach a certain level.
• The parent unit is lightweight, so it’s easy to bring with you around the house as you work on chores, and it has a 16-hour battery life on a single charge.

All parents need is an audio-only monitor in many cases, so why spend hundreds? This VTech does all you need it to do – let you know if your baby is crying. The battery life might not be the best, but the sound quality is excellent.

Pros

• Long-range for in-house use
• Budget-friendly
• Built-in night light
• Portable parent unit
• Sound indicator

Cons

• The baby monitor has to be plugged in.
• Some parents say the battery only lasts 8-10 hours before recharging.

Tech Specs:

• Type of Monitor: Audio Only
• Range: 1000 Ft
• Mount: Table
• Power Source: Wall Outlet & Rechargeable Batteries
• WiFi: NO

5. Lollipop Baby Monitor with Crying Detection – Best Smart Baby Monitor

Nowadays, we want our homes to be smart everything. We have smart door locks, smart lights, smart outlets. So, it should be no surprise that we also have smart baby monitors, and the Lollipop does a lot for families.

Lollipop designed their baby monitor with newborns and toddlers in mind and the parents. It starts with a fast and easy setup. These cameras are compatible with both iOS and Android systems, so you have to connect the camera to your smartphone and use the Lollipop app.

Let’s look at a few more of the features you’re sure to love.

• Watching your baby at night has never been easier with this advanced infrared night vision.
• You can watch more than one child with the multi-streaming feature – add as many cameras as you want!
• The monitor sends alerts to your phone to let you know when your baby cries, make loud noises, or starts to move and try to climb out of bed. Lollipop has a 96% accuracy rate!
• It tracks your baby’s sleep patterns to help you lay a healthy sleep foundation.
• You can use the audio-only mode if you’re busy but need to know if your baby is crying.
• The built-in speaker allows you to play lullabies and white noise through the monitor to your baby.

Lollipop is one of the upcoming baby monitors. They sell a sensor separately to track the temperature of your baby’s nursery, which is great, but it is included in other baby monitors without the added cost. However, Lollipop plans to add breathing monitoring to its features soon, giving parents an even bigger reason to use their products.

Pros

• Connects to mobile app
• Usable with multiple cameras
• Great quality
• Excellent value for money

Cons

• Cannot pan or tilt
• The temperature sensor is sold separately.

Tech Specs:

• Type of Monitor: Video & Audio
• Range: WiFi Range
• Mount: Bendable Leg, Wall Mount, or Table
• Power Source: AC Adapter
• WiFi: Yes

6. JLB7Tech 5” Baby Monitor – Best for Twins

Monitoring two babies at the same time is tricky for parents. You either need to have two baby monitors or use one that offers two cameras. However, most monitors with two cameras have a small screen for the parent unit, making it harder to see your baby.

Not the JLB7Tech!

The parent unit monitor comes with a 5 inch LCD screen that makes it easy to see both of your babies at the same time crystal clear. You won’t miss anything with this monitor. However, it only supports two cameras, so you can’t use this if you have more than two kids to watch.

Here are a few more things we like about the JLB7Tech monitor.

• The built-in microphone and speaker allow parents to have two-way conversations with their baby using the parent unit. The speaker also enables you to play some of the five built-in lullabies.
• They included a feeding clock to remind parents that you need to feed your baby, change their diapers, or anything else. You can set it for every two, four, or six hours and only the parent unit alarms you.
• JLB7Tech includes voice activation, so if your baby starts to cry, the screen automatically wakes up and tells you. This extends the battery life of the unit.
• The infrared night vision gives you clear images at night, and the parent unit has a digital zoom in and out. You can zoom in to watch your baby more closely 2x remotely.
• The monitor has a temperature sensor so that you can supervise your baby’s room temperature. You never want your baby’s nursery to get too hot or too cold for their comfort or safety.
• This has a long, enhanced 1000 feet transmission range, so you can always keep an eye on your baby.

The JLB7Tech has one of the best screens on the market if you want a split-screen with a clear image. While the second camera is sold separately, if you have twins, this is a solid choice since you’ll be able to watch each child at the same time rather than toggling between cameras. We wish the camera had the option to pan or tilt, but it’s an excellent option for the price!

Pros

• Split screen
• Works for two cameras
• Two-way Radio
• Included lullabies
• Voice Activation
• Great transmission range

Cons

• The second camera is sold separately.
• Battery life isn’t that good.
• It doesn’t pan and tilt.

Tech Specs

• Type of Monitor: Video
• Range: 1000 Ft
• Mount: Table & Wall
• Power Source: Batteries & USB Cord
• WiFi: No

How We Picked the Best Baby Monitors: Our Criteria

Considering the vast number of baby monitors on the market, you might wonder how we selected these monitors and why they made the cut. We put together a few factors that influenced our choice.

Let’s take a look.

Type of Monitor

The majority of baby monitors on our list are video and audio monitors, but we did include an audio-only model. Years ago, the only option was audio, but more parents than ever want to keep an eye – literally – on their baby.

You have to decide which type of monitor you want the most. Are you going to sit around watching the monitor, or do you simply want to know when your baby wakes up from his nap?

Are you using the monitor for nighttime and naptime or just naps? Of course, neither option is right or wrong, but it does influence how often you’ll use it and the features you genuinely need.

Range

The range is a significant factor. If the range is bad, you might not be able to go outside and read a book while your baby takes a nap.

WiFi monitors often only have a range of their WiFi, and that also means the strength of your WiFi will influence your baby monitor feed. You might have to increase the quality and speed of your internet if you find that it cuts in and out often.

Other monitors have a set feed range, but they typically start to cut out and get shaky a few feet before the maximum range. Think about how large your house is; an 800 ft range might not be enough, depending on the layout of your home.

WiFi or No

In recent years, wiFi-enabled baby monitors made the news as parents experienced “hackers” getting into their camera feed and taking over baby monitors.

Seriously, nothing feels safe anymore sometimes!

WiFi may give you better quality, options, and range, but you have to make sure the video monitor uses an encrypted feed to prevent anyone from tapping in and using your feed for other uses.

Having a monitor that doesn’t depend on WiFi also means if your internet goes out, you’ll still be able to keep an eye on your baby.

Parent Unit Options

We looked extensively at the options included on the parent unit – that’s the one you carry with you. Ideally, it should be big enough to get a good view of your baby but compact enough that it fits in your back pocket.

It’s not necessary, but the units that allow the parents to remotely pan, tilt, and zoom the camera get extra points. This gives you an even better view and lets you check on your baby if you’re wondering how they are.

We also love the LED sound indicators. If you turn down the audio, perhaps when you’re on the phone, you’ll still know if your baby wakes up. Some have two-way talk, so you can communicate to your baby and let them know you’re on your way.

However, the more features a parent unit has, the more it will cost you.

Extra Features

The more expensive monitors often include extra features that parents find helpful, like a temperature monitor of the bedroom or a nightlight. While these features aren’t necessary, they make your life a little easier and give you more peace of mind.

Some even track your baby’s sleep and breathing!

FAQs about the Best Baby Monitors

Final Thoughts on What is the Best Baby Monitor

Grabbing one of the best baby monitors for your child’s nursery is a great way to keep an eye on them while they sleep or play, giving you the ultimate peace of mind you need to get a good night’s sleep.

And if you’re looking for more great sleeping guides, then check out these sleeping guides on best travel baby monitors, best baby monitors with Wi-Fi, best non Wi-Fi baby monitors, and when to stop using a baby monitor.