I’m pretty sure I’m not the only parent that wakes up in the night to check my baby is breathing and go in to check....only to end up waking them up!
Even knowing there are a multitude of monitors on the market doesn’t necessarily help as there are so many to choose from, how do you know which camera is best, which ones have the best battery life and then there’s all those extra features….
Luckily for you, I have spent countless hours trawling the internet to find the best baby monitors to recommend for any occasion so check out my list of the best baby monitors and find the perfect one for your family.
Do You Really Need a Baby Monitor?
A baby monitor can be a great asset for any new parent. With a monitor, you can keep an eye (or an ear!) on your little one from the comfort of your own bed or couch. It helps ensure that you’re aware if they wake up in the middle of the night and need attention or help getting back to sleep. A baby monitor also provides peace of mind while away from home, as you can be sure that your little one is safe and sound even when out of sight.
Moreover, some monitors come with features like voice activation, temperature readings and two-way audio so you can hear what’s going on in their room without having to check it personally. You even have access to video footage in certain models, so parents never miss any special moments like first steps!
Lastly, depending on the type of model chosen, many baby monitors will alert you if sound levels get too loud either due to crying or other disturbances. This way parents are always alerted if something may be wrong in their baby's crib!
The Different Types of Baby Monitor
There are different types of baby monitors. The most common is the audio only monitor, which allows parents to hear their baby from another room. This type is usually more affordable and simple to use.
Video baby monitors provide more advanced features, like two-way audio for talking back and forth as well as night vision so you can check on your little one without having to turn on a light.
Wi-Fi enabled monitors are great for busy parents who want to keep up with their kid’s movements from anywhere in the world. Finally, there are motion and temperature monitors which alert parents if either gets too high or low while they’re away from home.
How to Choose a Baby Monitor
When it comes to choosing the right baby monitor for you and your family, there are a few important factors to consider. First, think about what features you need in a baby monitor. Do you want audio only or video? Would two-way audio be helpful? Are night vision capabilities necessary?
Additionally, how much range do you need from your device - will it just be used within one room or throughout multiple rooms of the house? Finally, make sure that any Wi-Fi enabled monitors have secure connections so that no one can access the footage without permission.
For more information on how to choose the best baby monitors, check out my blog:
How I Choose the Best Baby Monitors
It's tough to be a new parent, and even tougher to decide on the best baby monitor.
You want to do everything possible to keep your little one safe and healthy, but there are so many choices when it comes to baby monitors that it can be tough to know where to start.
After a few times accidentally waking my baby up, followed by a period using a monitor that had terrible signal and low battery life, I decided I’d better get myself informed. I have read through thousands of reviews and ratings from real parents just like you to bring you the best baby monitors on the market today.
BT Smart Video Baby Monitor
What Parents Love About It
Parents love that the BT smart baby monitor camera works on your phone as well as through the monitor. The smart monitor detects snuffles and differentiates them from cries to ensure you aren’t disturbed for no reason, helping you get a better nights sleep.
Many parents commented on the fact it is silent so doesn’t mess with baby’s sleep and that the pan and tilt features work really well.
Another distinguishing factor is the ability to take screen shots from your phone and that the camera quality is crystal clear on the phone and the fact you can also hook it up to your Alexa so it becomes voice controlled.
What You Need to Know
Large 5 inches colour screen/
Night vision
Remote controlled pan
Video: 720p HD
Two-way talk
Sound alerts
Motion alerts
App control
Parent unit 5in display
Connects to Alexa/Google
Kodak Cherish C520 Wifi Video Baby Monitor
Best baby monitor for twins or siblings
Kodak Cherish C520 Wifi Video Baby Monitor
What Parents Love About It
There’s nothing worse than sitting down after a long day with your kids to enjoy a little peace and quiet before bed and the dreaded sound of the battery life on the baby monitor starts chiming. Am I the only one that has to go sit at the bottom of the stairs when that happens?! Probably something to do with my lack of accessible power points, but anyway…. this video monitor is reported to have excellent battery life. Tick!
Twin parents loved that the Kodak Cherish C520 Wifi Video Baby Monitor splits in two and has above-the-crib-view.
Parents loved the quality of the picture and night light as well as the fact you can play white noise through the camera to soothe your baby when they stir.
What You Need to Know
Video: 720p HD
Two-way talk
Night vision
Sound alerts
Motion alerts
App control
Range: Up to 4,000 sq ft
Parent unit: 5in display
HelloBaby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera
Best value baby monitor
HelloBaby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera
What Parents Love About It
Parents love the features of this camera and the price. The picture quality is reported to be decent and parents love the two way talk feature as well as the optional lullabies that you can play to your baby, said to be a life saver as it means you don’t have to keep going in to soothe your baby – sounds good to me!
The battery life is reported to be good and it is simple to use.
What You Need to Know
High resolution 3.2 inch digital color LCD screen
Infrared night vision
VOX mode makes baby monitor intelligent
Baby monitor receiver can be paired with up to 4 cameras
Low battery alarm
Temperature monitoring and warning
Two-way talk
Optical pan and tilt
Sound activated Led indicator
Screen-off audio only mode
2X digital zoom
8 lullabies
1 to 4camera
BleepBleeps Suzy Snooze Baby Monitor
What Parents Love About It
Have you ever wished someone would just come and sleep train your baby already? With two kids under two myself, I know I’ve thought this many times! Enter the BleepBleeps Suzy Snooze Baby Monitor. It works by singing soothing music with soft warm animated LED lights to lull your baby to sleep, all while you’re downstairs having a glass of wine and watching on your phone (be warned, some parents noted they almost fell asleep themselves listening to it!)
Not only that but the baby unit also lets your kids know when its time to wake up and get out of bed – another feature that can make life with kids a lot easier!
Parents note that it is crisp and clear and that there is excellent customer support, if needed but the downside is there is no night vision so it’s better for older kids.
What You Need to Know
Two-way talk
Sound alerts
App control with iPhone or Andriod.
Owlet Duo Plus - Cam and Smart Sock 3
What Parents Love About It
The first smart baby monitor to track your baby’s heartbeat and breathing, blood oxygen level and sleep trends while streaming HD video, this one does a lot! Reviews such as ‘The technology within this product is absolutely mind blowing’ mean that this handy device is trusted by parents to track baby’s sleep as best as possible.
The camera is reported to be high video quality, parents love how simple it is to connect to your phone and babies deal really well with the sock, with them not seeming to notice it at all.
What You Need to Know
Video: 1080p HD
Two-way talk
Night vision
Sound alerts
Motion alerts
App control with iPhone or Andriod.
FAQs
When it comes to choosing the best baby monitor, there are a lot of things to consider.
It can be tough to figure out what's important when shopping for a baby monitor. With so many different features and options available, how do you know which one is right for you?
I have put together a list of the most asked questions to help you figure out what is important when shopping for baby monitors. These questions will help you to find the perfect monitor for your family.
Do pediatricians recommend baby monitors?
Most pediatricians generally recommend using a baby monitor if you're going to be leaving your child alone in a room or if you have multiple children and need to keep an eye on all of them at once.
That said, there are a few things to keep in mind when using a baby monitor. First, make sure to frequently check the battery level and ensure that the camera is in working order. Second, never rely exclusively on a baby monitor - always keep an eye on your child yourself too!
Do baby monitors prevent SIDS?
There is no scientific evidence that baby monitors prevent SIDS. However, there is some research that suggests that baby monitors may help parents be more aware of their child's breathing and movement, which could potentially lead to earlier intervention in the event of a problem.
Ultimately, the decision to use a baby monitor or not is up to the parents. Some people feel better having one, while others do not.
Do you really need a smart baby monitor?
No, you don't need a smart baby monitor. You do, however, need to keep an eye on your little one. Traditional video monitors or an audio monitor are a great way to do that.
Smart baby monitors are starting to become popular, but they're not really necessary. They usually connect to your home Wi-Fi and allow you to view your baby from anywhere in the world via a video feed tp an app on your phone. They also sometimes include motion sensors and other features that can be helpful, but they're definitely not a must-have item.
How much should I spend on a baby monitor?
It depends on how paranoid you are.
Seriously though, it depends on what you want the baby monitor for. Some people just need a basic monitor to listen in and make sure the baby is breathing, while others want a monitor with all the bells and whistles that can double as a security system.
The most important thing is to read reviews and do your research before buying anything. There are a lot of cheap monitors out there that don't work very well, so you may end up spending more money in the long run if you buy a crappy one. Any of the monitors listed above have been reviewed by parents like you and should be a good buy.
Do you leave baby monitor on all night?
Some people do, some people don't. It's really up to the parents and what makes them feel comfortable.
There are pros and cons to leaving a baby monitor on in baby's room all night. On the one hand, it can give parents peace of mind knowing that their child is okay and that they can hear if anything goes wrong. On the other hand, there is always the potential for your child to be disturbed by all the noise coming from the monitor (if you don't have a silent one).
At the end of the day, it's up to each individual family to decide what works best for them. Some people find it helpful to leave the monitor on, others find it more comforting to turn it off when they go to bed.
At what age do you start using a baby monitor?
Most parents start using a baby monitor around the time their child starts to crawl. This is because it's important to be able to hear your child if they're in another part of the house, and you can't always be right next to them.
Some parents choose to use a baby monitor from the very beginning, especially if they'll be sleeping in another room, while others wait until their child is a little bit older. Ultimately, it's up to the parents to decide what works best for them and their child.
Do baby monitors get hacked?
Yes, it's possible for baby monitors that utilize Wi-Fi to get hacked. In fact, a hacker could potentially gain access to your home network by exploiting the baby monitor.
To protect your home network and privacy, it's important to use a strong password for your baby monitor and to make sure that your Wi-Fi network is secure. You should also keep your software up-to-date and be aware of any vulnerabilities that may exist in the device.
Alternatively choose a baby monitor that doesn't connect to your Wi-Fi.
What did parents do before baby monitors?
Parents used to listen for baby's cries through the walls or sit at the bottom of the stairs, like I did for a while!
Now, with the invention of baby monitors, parents can relax in another room and keep an ear out for their little one.
Can you leave a newborn with a baby monitor?
It's not a good idea to leave a newborn unattended, even with a baby monitor. There are a number of things that could happen, like the baby could start to cry and no one would hear it, or the baby could get tangled in the cords from the monitor and suffocate. Remember you should never leave anything other than your baby on baby's mattress when they're a newborn.
It's always best to have someone watching the baby at all times but if you can't a monitor is the next best thing.
Can I take baby in bathroom while I shower?
Yes, you can take your baby in the bathroom with you while you shower. It's a great way to get them used to being in the water and getting clean. Just make sure that you keep an eye on them at all times and that the water is not too hot.
Alternatively you can use a baby monitor to keep an eye on them, just make sure they are somewhere safe where they cant hurt themselves.
Conclusion
I know I’m not the only parent that freaks out about if their baby is breathing at night, and I’m sure I wont be the last. Baby monitors take the guesswork out of sleep time and can do a multitude of other things to boot.
That’s why it’s important to make an informed decision when picking out a baby monitor so I hope you’ve found the information above useful, as a first-time parent I often wish I had access to information like this so I want to help other parents through the minefield that is parenthood!
All of the baby monitors above are available on Amazon so click ‘Check price on Amazon’ to see which baby monitors work best for you and your little one.
Thanks for reading!
