Best Baby Monitor in 2024
Updated: September 12,2023
Ah, the perks of being a new parent. Finding time for a glass of wine with your partner or enjoying a movie night can be a daunting task.
The good news is there’s a solution: video baby monitors. With your baby tucked away in the bedroom, you can keep an ear out for all the cries and coos from the comfort of your living room sofa and take a peek to make sure everything is alright.
But the good news doesn’t stop there. You don’t have to try out a handful of baby monitors before you find the right one. We did the leg work for you and compiled a list of the best baby monitor devices on the market.
Nanit Plus
- Two-way audio
- Excellent baby monitor app
- Crystal clear overhead video
- Pricey
Sound Quality
The Nanit Baby Monitor is our top pick for parents seeking impeccable performance from smart baby monitors. Equipped with two-way audio, this smart baby monitor enables you to soothe your baby with lullabies from every corner of your home.
While this may not be the best baby monitor when it comes to audio quality, the maximum volume level of 90dB still ensures that your voice sounds crisp and clear. We also noticed that the Nanit Plus has a much better sound quality than the Nanit Original. Another improvement that the latest model possesses is that it monitors breathing, thus easing new parents’ apprehension over sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
An additional impressive feature of this smart baby monitor is its baby monitor app. Even if you close it and leave the sound on, you’ll still get notifications. Aside from background audio, there is a white noise and nature sound feature to help you lull your baby to sleep.
Video Performance
When searching for the best video baby monitors, make sure to check out the picture quality. Nanit Plus compensates for its resolution of just 960p with a field of view of 130 degrees. The HD video gives you a window into your baby’s world with good clarity but slightly distorted colors.
The night vision option is a must with these new-generation devices, and the Nanit baby monitor does the job quite nicely. It allows you to see a crystal clear live stream on all your devices, even during the night.
Owing to the wall mount, you’ll be able to see your baby from a perfect angle, so there won’t be any doubt your bundle of joy is safe and sound. There’s another accessory available at an additional cost, so if you find a floor stand more practical, it’s good to know that the Nanit range includes this item as well.
When you wish to replay the most adorable screencaps, the timelapse feature provides you with a highlight reel of the night’s most important events.
Ease of Operation
The best video baby monitor must be easy to use, with all the options at your fingertips. Nanit certainly ticks all the boxes here, being one of the most straightforward video baby monitors. It boasts a quick setup and a simple-to-navigate app. Navigation is made easier with the Frequently-Used Features section on the home screen.
Price and Value
Even though it’s quite pricey, this is one of the video monitors that provides a long list of features for up to three users on all your devices. These include iOS and Android smartphones and tablets, as well as Amazon Echo Show.
In addition to the morning and evening highlight reels, Nanit Plus comes with sleep tracking, personalized sleep coaching, and breathing motion monitoring. To get the best out of your baby video monitor, you can upgrade to an Ultimate subscription where you can save and rewatch every second of continuous video.
Additional Features
The Nanit Baby Monitor app has a stellar reputation for enabling you to keep track of your baby’s sleep and get customized sleep coaching tips based on the stats. And with a Wi-Fi connection, you can track your baby’s sleep patterns and movement from anywhere in the world.
We arrived at the conclusion that this is the best baby monitor app for Android and iOS devices. It even monitors temperature and humidity in the nursery and measures the baby's height. Meanwhile, the dimmable night light helps caregivers see better when they peek into the nursery.
All in all, even though this is not a budget baby monitor, it’s well worth the price as it will give you peace of mind thanks to its advanced features and proven reliability.
Eufy Video Baby Monitor
- Pan, tilt, and zoom viewing
- Affordable
- Easy-to-use
- No Wi-Fi, mobile app, or remote access
Audio Quality
It goes without saying that a baby monitor should have good audio even if it doesn't belong to the audio only mode category. The eufy baby monitor has a maximum volume of 91dB, but the sound is not that clear, and we wouldn’t necessarily label it as the best audio baby monitor on the market.
Even though there is a two-way communication function, the overall sound quality is far from perfect. There’s lots of ambient noise coming from the device, and the sound is a bit echoey. Also, the white noise option is limited to 30 minutes, but you get five lullabies, which is a pleasant surprise.
Video Performance
eufy sets the bar high when it comes to the extent to which video monitors cover the baby’s room. You can pan the detachable wide-angle lens 330º and tilt it 110º, which is more than enough to screen the whole nursery. That impressive range makes it the best baby monitor for twins, as you can keep watch over more than one baby via your parent unit.
The resolution is only 720p, which is lower than what many of the competitors are offering. On the flip side, it has a large five-inch display which provides decent video quality. Night vision technology is also available.
Ease of Operation
Perceived by some users as the best smart baby monitor out there, the eufy baby monitor is certainly a no-frills option, as you don’t need a Wi-Fi connection to operate it. All you need to do is plug it in and turn it on. This makes it the best non-Wi-Fi baby monitor on the market and an excellent choice for those who prefer to avoid downloading apps, logging in, or registering.
You’re always just a click away from the video feed and the talk and volume buttons. However, other options can’t be accessed from the parent unit, and you’ll have to search for them in an old-fashioned menu folder. It takes multiple pushes on the same button to toggle through, so it’s a bit of a procedure.
Price and Value
As tempting as it might be to splurge on a high-tech smart baby monitor that will track every breath your child takes, this is far from necessary. You’ll need to prioritize as a newborn requires quite a bit of cash for all those baby items. That’s why you can opt for the best long-range baby monitor that still ticks all the boxes but won’t break your bank.
eufy offers slightly different sets of features in its two similar models from the eufy Spaceview series - the eufy Security Spaceview S Video Monitor and the eufy Security Spaceview Pro Video Baby Monitor. These are also worth looking into if the options that the eufy Video Baby Monitor provides aren’t entirely to your liking.
Additional Features
This non-Wi-Fi baby monitor comes with standard features such as temperature and time display, up to 2x zoom, and a durable battery with an average life span of 15 hours. It’s an excellent choice for traveling but a bit of a bare-bones product.
Nevertheless, it has at least two advanced features that can come in handy. VOX, or voice-activated alert, and sound-activated alert. These can warn you of the slightest bumps and thumps, helping prevent crib accidents.
Infant Optics DXR-8
- Interchangeable lens technology
- Great battery life
- Tilt, pan, and zoom option
- Limited features
Audio Quality
With volume levels that go up to 86dB, the Infant Optics baby monitor delivers quality audio. Importantly, we didn’t notice any echoes or distortions while testing it. The two-way talk function allows you to interact with your toddler from up to 700 feet away.
On the flip side, there is a lot of background noise which may require you to lower the volume.
Video Performance
While it might not be the best night vision baby monitor, this is a top-rated product. It's touted as "the number one selling baby monitor” on Amazon. One of the reasons for that label is its interchangeable lens technology, which allows you to switch between lenses on the camera (zoom, normal, wide angle lens) in a matter of seconds.
The Infant Optics baby monitor is also an ideal solution if you’re on the hunt for clear night vision and custom camera angle controls (pan and tilt). Many online reviews echo our praise of the clear picture and decent night-vision function.
Ease of Operation
While this isn’t the right option for those searching for the best Wi-Fi baby monitor because it uses a non-Wi-Fi closed-loop system, Infant Optics has certainly secured a place on our list owing to its super easy installation process.
Following a user manual and a quick-start guide with a troubleshooting section, you can easily mount the monitor on the wall or place it on a shelf. Wherever you decide to put it, rest assured that you’ll have a no-frills experience.
The monitor is not that big or bulky, and the menu is straightforward and easy to navigate. Scroll through the menu to adjust the volume, zoom, alarm, and brightness. If you need to speed things up, use the shortcut buttons.
Price and Value
This particular Infant Optics baby monitor will set you back $165.99. For that amount, you don’t just get the best baby monitor with 2 cameras but a device that supports multiple cameras, up to four, to be exact.
The list of perks includes decent video and audio, an easy-to-use monitor, and a few other useful features. There’s also an upgraded version of this model, the Optics DXR-8 Pro, which has been getting stellar customer reviews, so it’s also worth checking out.
Additional Features
This non-Wi-Fi baby monitor is safe and ensures privacy. However, you won’t be able to check in via an app while you’re away or connect it to your phone like you would with Wi-Fi monitors. Considering its price, it’s only right that the Infant Optics DXR-8 be regarded as the best baby monitor for non-tech-savvy caretakers.
At the same time, users can enjoy an impressively long battery life of almost 12 hours. Other handy features include a scan mode, sleep mode, LED soundbar, alarm, and a temperature tracking function.
Motorola Halo+
- Overhead crib mount
- Full HD 1080p video
- Lots of child-friendly features
- Additional charges for advanced features
Audio Quality
The Motorola baby monitor has a maximum volume of 82dB, which is within the standard range for all the best baby monitors on the market. Offered by one of the market’s leading smartphone manufacturers, the Motorola Halo+ is a solid choice for other devices too, including video monitors.
Although there is no noise filtering or sound activation option, there are eight volume levels on the parent unit. You can hear your baby through the parent unit even at lower volume levels, but the sound gets muffled as it gets louder.
What we really liked is that the device comes equipped with motion-and-sound activated two-way audio and a lullaby player.
Video Performance
Halo+ excels when it comes to video quality. With its crisp and clear 4.3” color display, parents can view a real-time video feed of their little one's nursery. You get an unrestricted overhead view of your baby owing to the practical crib mount that some parents prefer over the wall mount. There is also an infrared night vision feature that gives you a clear video feed in the dark.
If you purchase the two-camera kit, you’ll get the best baby monitor for two rooms and be able to keep a bird’s eye view over more than one child. Not only does this model allow you to place a baby unit in each room, but the sharp 1080p video comes with eight infrared LEDs to provide a dim ambient gleam.
That means you can turn off the light in the nursery and get some couch time. With the parent unit within your reach, you’ll be able to unwind while still being aware of what’s going on with your baby.
Ease of Operation
Even though this device has numerous features and many options to choose from, it’s relatively easy to handle. There are detailed instructions on how to install the baby camera and how to download and install the Hubble baby monitor app that comes with it.
After installing the best baby monitor app for iPhone and Android, you’ll be asked to register and connect your monitor to the app, which is a little time-consuming. Also, you need to connect the monitor to your Wi-Fi network to pair the camera with the app.
Price and Value
The next best thing to having a nanny, the Motorola Halo+ is the perfect baby shower gift. As such, it doesn’t come cheap. For a single-camera kit, be prepared to part with $289.99.
Accessing cloud storage that enables you to review recorded videos and take advantage of most tracking features requires a remote plan subscription. You can choose among the Basic plan for $2.99 per month or $29 per year, the Standard plan at $9.99 per month or $99 per year, and the Premium plan which will cost you $29.99 per month or $299 per year.
Additional Features
If you’re ready to pay the price for this top-notch baby monitor camera, you’ll get an array of kid-friendly features to soothe your little one. As one of the best baby monitors, Motorola Halo+ is fitted with a color-changing night light, a built-in light show projector, a collection of bedtime stories, a white noise function, and lullabies. All of these features will make the baby unit loads of fun for your child.
The soothing atmosphere comes with handy tracking features - sound, motion, and temperature sensors. But if you want to have access to the Sleep Diary and Smart Zones features, you’ll have to subscribe. These enable you to follow your baby’s sleep routine or set boundaries and receive motion-triggered alerts when the toddler crosses them.
Arlo Baby
- Easy-to-use app
- Advanced night vision
- Motion and sound alerts
- Lacks pan and tilt
Audio Quality
This cute rabbit-eared Arlo Baby monitor beats other top Wi-Fi monitors on our list. With a maximum of 93dB and a crisp and clear sound, it performed perfectly when we tested it and compared it to others in the same price range.
Moreover, the built-in music player can play lullabies to let your baby sleep soundly. The two-way audio is loud and clear, making it the best Wi-Fi baby monitor when it comes to sound quality.
Video Performance
You can’t beat Arlo baby video features either. With its camera peeking from the adorable bunny-eared device, it’s one of our favorite video monitors on this list. You can enjoy the grain-free footage and never miss all those delightful things your baby does when no one is watching.
In case you want to catch a glimpse of your baby from another angle, don’t hesitate to change the field of view. You can set it anywhere between 90 and 130 degrees.
If you want to check up on your baby in the dead of night, Arlo has you covered. Even though many devices fall short in this category, the Arlo Baby monitor is an exception, proving to be one of the best baby monitors on the market. Night vision mode provides remarkably clear footage with the help of a multicolored LED night light.
Ease of Operation
You can mount the Arlo Baby monitor on a wall or set it on some other flat surface. You’ll need an additional couple of minutes to connect your Wi-Fi monitor and download the Arlo app.
From there, you can access live streaming, with additional options displayed clearly: pause, record, take a snapshot. On the edges of the streaming video, you’ll find easily accessible non-camera features.
Price and Value
All of the functions available with this best baby monitor come at a low price. You can get this entire kit for as little as $185.43. If you want a separate wall mount kit, you should be prepared to cough up an additional $50.
Like many other Wi-Fi baby monitors, Arlo Baby comes with subscription plans. The Basic plan lets you access audio and motion-triggered recordings from the past seven days for free.
Meanwhile, the Premier plan enables you to record videos for babies to the Arlo cloud with a video resolution of up to 2K. The price starts at $2.99 a month. If you have multiple kids, with the Elite plan, you’ll get the best Wi-Fi baby monitor with up to 4K video resolution on one to five cameras.
Additional Features
When it comes to picking the best smart baby monitor, you can’t go wrong with Arlo Baby monitor. Beneath the kid-friendly kit with rabbit ears, you’ll find plenty of robust features.
Apart from the color-changing night light and six lullabies, you’ll get access to Arlo Baby’s Always Listening mode, which sends you alerts even if you aren’t logged into the app. The app comes with motion and sound sensors, which makes this the best buy baby monitor.
You can also track the temperature, humidity, and level of volatile organic compounds in the nursery. When any of them are out of range, you’ll receive notifications. And if you want everyone to keep up with how fast your kid is growing, feel free to share camera access or videos with friends and family.
Top-Rated Baby Monitors in 2024
- Nanit Pro
- Eufy Video Baby Monitor
- Infant Optics DXR-8
- Motorola Halo+
- Arlo Baby
Evaluation Process
Having a baby monitor makes parenthood a lot easier. It allows you to get some rest while ensuring that your baby is safe and sound. Monitoring your little ones can be useful for another reason: if you live in a big house, leaving a baby unattended can make parents feel uneasy.
With digital baby monitors, you can hear the cry and see through your parent unit or dedicated monitor when your child is waking up. These devices are a godsend if you are a deep sleeper or just want to check your child’s sleep cycles. All you need to do is decide which one is the best baby monitor for your family’s unique needs.
What Should You Look for When Choosing a Baby Monitor
The most important thing to pay attention to when choosing a baby monitor is the audio and video quality. Since an audio monitor is already obsolete, you’ll want the parent unit to provide the perfect view of your nursery in addition to conveying your baby’s every whimper.
To avoid having to tiptoe into the nursery every time your little one moves, consider a high-quality night vision feature. But bear in mind that the best baby monitors and all their advanced features require a good Wi-Fi connection.
And don’t forget about the design; you don’t want to watch your tiny tot over some outdated monitor. When it comes to colorful designs, the Lollipop baby monitor will certainly be a pretty addition to your nursery decor, so it’s also worth taking a look!
Our Methodology
Keeping an eye on the baby from another room might seem challenging, but the top-rated baby monitors from our list will set your mind at ease. While researching and reviewing baby monitors, we focus mainly on prices, features, video and audio output, customer reviews, and interface. Let’s take a look at all the key factors used to rate the products.
Methodology Details
Sound Quality
Gone are the days when parents had to rely only on a traditional baby monitor that transmitted solely sound. Nevertheless, this feature is still one of the most important factors when selecting the best baby monitor.
Some monitors still come with audio only, and yes - they do the work, letting you know if your baby is awake or crying. They are also great for less tech-savvy caretakers (grandparents, for example) who may struggle with video monitors and all the extra features.
Crisp and clear sound is of utmost importance when it comes to popular baby monitors of 2024. A good range for a standard device is generally 600-1,000 feet. The two-way talk function will enable you to soothe your little one with your voice, which can come in handy. We also considered whether the signal is analog or digital; the latter encrypts the transmission to protect your privacy.
Video Performance
When buying a baby monitor, the best way not to feel distant from your baby is to have quality video. Once your precious bundle snuggles up after a warm bottle of milk and falls asleep, you can finally catch some z’s yourself.
That’s why we evaluated all the baby monitors based on their resolution, field of view, split-screen, and night vision features. Much like with video monitoring home security systems, what’s even more important is the lens. While optical zoom lenses allow you to see up close, wide-angle ones capture the entire room.
Ease of Operation
To help you find the best-buy baby monitor, we needed to check their user-friendliness. New parents are usually overwhelmed, and no-frills options might be the best choice.
Online baby monitor reviews tell us that kid-friendly designs and easy-to-use functions are crucial factors when choosing the best device. That doesn’t necessarily mean it lacks features. It just means they are organized in the best way possible.
Price and Value
All the products a newborn needs - diapers, bibs, and breast pumps - don’t come cheap. That’s why not all families can afford top-notch devices with a hefty price tag, so for most, it’s advisable to pick the best and most affordable baby monitor.
But don’t worry, we did the research because we know that the price is often the name of the game for new parents. We combed through the baby monitor reviews shared by users and compared the prices.
Additional Features
The times of tiptoeing around the crib and peeking into the nursery are a thing of the past. New parents are now well-equipped with all the bells and whistles to help them out on their parenting journey.
These new generation top baby monitors have to offer features such as breathing alerts, humidity sensors, lullabies, motion and sound detection, and night light. You can even share your cutest baby videos on social networks if that’s your thing.
All these extras are nothing compared to a smart baby monitor, which connects to the internet so that you can tune in to see your little one sleeping from just about anywhere. You can even send a link to relatives to join in and witness your child’s bedtime routine.
We ranked the devices based on a number of features, audio and video performance, ease of use, convenient accessories such as a floor stand, and price. All of these factors will make it a piece of cake for you to choose the best baby monitor on the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
We encourage you to start using this modern-day nanny from the very first day your baby comes home from the maternity ward. Of course, with newborns, you’ll only need it occasionally, as they require your constant care and attention, so an audio monitor might be sufficient for those first days. After the first six months, your baby monitor will become your new best friend.
The best baby monitor should have solid audio and video quality, as well as some basic features: temperature and humidity trackers, night light, white noise functions, and lullabies to help you put your baby to sleep. Additional features and internet connectivity are considered a big plus.
It’s up to you. If you are a sound sleeper, it might help wake you up when the baby is crying. When your little one starts sleeping through the night, you can start turning it off.
Baby monitors use a night vision feature that relies on near-infrared light to illuminate the crib when needed.
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