If you’re in a rush and just want to know what the best baby monitor is, then I’d recommend the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens as the best.
Whether you have a little one on the way, or maybe already have one or more children, you know how difficult it can be to keep an eye on them throughout your already busy days. With so many choices in baby monitors, you surely want to know you’re getting the best product for your money, and for your family’s safety. We’re here to help.
If you’re a first-time parent, you’re probably here because you are learning that a good baby monitor is a necessity. If this isn’t your first baby rodeo, you already know how important one can be for your home. Picture this: it’s around dinner time and you’re starving. The rest of the family will be home soon, and you know they’ll be hungry, too. The baby didn’t nap this afternoon and finally fell asleep in the crib. But you have one major problem: The baby’s room is on the opposite side of the house from the kitchen. How can you monitor the baby and still make dinner happen without a frantic call for take-out? You need a baby monitor to the rescue!
In this article, we’ll break down for you the best baby monitors on the market today, give you some recommendations for the top 5 monitors, discuss all the different brands and types of baby monitors (you’d be surprised by the variety of features baby monitors can have these days!), and help you figure out what must-have features you need for you and your family. All baby monitors are slightly different, and it’s my goal to help you find the perfect one.
The Top 5 Best Baby Monitors for 2023 are:
Here the best baby monitors I reviewed:
- Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
- VTech DM111 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor
- Summer Baby Pixel Zoom HD Video Baby Monitor
- Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor
- Motorola MBP36S Remote Wireless Video Baby Monitor
These baby monitors have a variety of useful features at a variety of prices. It’s really important to think about what features are a necessity for you and your family before purchasing. While these baby monitors are top-rated by parents just like you, it’s always a good idea to read the online reviews of each monitor before making your decision. After all, you want not only the best value for your money but also the best monitor for your family’s safety.
What Types of Baby Monitors are there?
Video Baby Monitors
Video baby monitors are enabled so the parent unit has some kind of video live streaming to a tablet-like device. A camera is placed somewhere in the space you want to monitor and then linked to the parent unit. Often these monitors have sound as well, but not always, so check carefully if audio is a must for your family. One thing to know about video baby monitors is the screen size can vary greatly from model to model and brand to brand. It’s important to consider what the minimum and maximum screen size
One thing to know about video baby monitors is the screen size can vary greatly from model to model and brand to brand. It’s important to consider what the minimum and maximum screen sizes are so you get the best monitor for you. Something to keep in mind with screen size is the larger the screen, the larger the parent unit. Maybe you need something easily carried in a pants pocket or that can be clipped to a belt. A monitor with a larger screen may not be as portable as you need it to be. Some monitors require that you only buy a camera and can live stream video via a smartphone app. These are convenient for one obvious reason — you don’t have to carry around your phone
Some monitors require that you only buy a camera and can live stream video via a smartphone app. These are convenient for one obvious reason — you don’t have to carry around your phone and a parent unit. While these monitors cost around the same as other video baby monitors, you don’t have to tote two devices.
Audio Baby Monitors
Audio baby monitors check the sound level of a given space, so you can hear when the baby is fussing. Most audio monitors have some kind of light that indicates just how loud it is in the room. Every monitor is a bit different on this, so make sure to look for that specific feature before you buy if it’s a must-have for you.
One benefit of audio monitors is they are super easy to install and require very little set-up prior to use. Audio monitors generally have better battery life than video monitors — so if you’re not sold on video and need a really long-lasting charge, an audio baby monitor might be just what you’re looking for. Also great for apartments or small houses, where you aren’t likely to be far away from your baby and can quickly get to their room. One major drawback of audio monitors is they are subject to more frequent interference, and this can be annoying for everyone. While most modern audio
One major drawback of audio monitors is they are subject to more frequent interference, and this can be annoying for everyone. While most modern audio baby monitors have much more secure transmissions than they used to, they do sometimes still experience intermittent interference.
Motion Baby Monitors
Motion baby monitors are often placed close to where baby sleeps and monitors their movement, temperature, or breathing, or may monitor multiple. Some of the monitors can even be placed on the baby’s clothing. Of all the types of baby monitors on the market, these vary the most in terms of features and functionalities. Be sure to read the description and product reviews before purchasing. Some video monitors also have
Of all the types of baby monitors on the market, these vary the most in terms of features and functionalities. Be sure to read the description and product reviews before purchasing. Some video monitors also have motion and temperature monitors built-in. Motion monitors give you peace of mind at night, or any time the baby is alone in their crib. If you are concerned with SIDS risk (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), these types of monitors are a good choice for you. These monitors can give you extra security when
If you are concerned with SIDS risk (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), then these types of monitors are a good choice for you. These monitors can give you extra security when your baby is sick, too.
What to look for in a baby monitor
Clarity
The crispness of sound and picture is paramount when choosing a baby monitor. If you’re considering a video monitor, you want a clear picture. Whether you choose a video-free monitor or choose a video monitor with sound, you want a clean sound with no interference. Look for monitors that promise a secure transmission. This makes interference and outside interrupts less likely, and gives you extra peace of mind.
Range
Consider the size of your house, including all floors, if you have multiple. How many feet does your monitor need to reach? If you’re in the basement starting a load of laundry and the baby is on the top floor sleeping, will you monitor span far enough to allow you to still keep tabs on what is happening? A good way to measure the needed range of your monitor is to consider the square footage of your house. Try to find a monitor that has a range close to the square footage of your house. This should cover your bases and allow you to keep a watchful eye on baby from anywhere in your home.
Interference
Interference can be scary, especially when we hear those horror stories on the news about hackers accessing baby monitors! One way you can protect your family is by looking for monitors that explicitly state they have a secure transmission. This information is typically listed on the box or in the product description. Of course, no monitor is completely immune to hacking, but those with a secure transmission are less likely to be affected and are generally quieter, because they don’t pick up on other environmental noise, either.
Number of Parent Units
Consider the number of parent units you need for your monitor. Many families do fine with one, but depending on your situation you might want two. This is really a matter of preference and is just something to consider before making a final decision.
Battery life
Finally, consider how often you are willing to charge your parent unit. Most baby monitors have a decent battery life, but it can vary significantly, so make sure to read the product description if shopping online, or inspect the box if buying in stores. Video monitors tend to have poorer battery life compared to audio-only monitors, but there are many types of video monitors that still get several hours on a single charge. Again, this is really a matter of preference and something to keep in mind when choosing your monitor.
Here are my picks for the best baby monitors.
1. Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens
This audio and video baby monitor has a unique twist, it has interchangeable lenses so you can find your ideal angle and zoom. What makes this baby monitor the best of the best is all its high-tech capabilities and customizable features that make this monitor perfect for literally any space. The LCD parents monitor is sleek, lightweight, and has great video quality. It also boasts a six to ten-hour battery life, making it one of the longest-lasting baby monitors on the market today. Control the pan, tilt, and zoom of the camera with convenient controls built into the parent monitor. The camera has
The camera has a full 360-degree rotation so you can place it anywhere in any room and never lose sight of your precious cargo. The camera works in daylight or at night, so you’ll never miss a beat with this live-streaming camera.
It also features two-way talk capability, a motion sensor, and an alarm feature! This monitor is expandable for up to 4 camera units (great if you have more than one child) and is easy to install. This baby monitor comes with an optical zoom lens, the wide-angle lens is sold separately.
2. VTech DM111 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor With One Parent Unit
The VTech DM111 Safe & Sound is an audio baby monitor only but is a great value for the price. If you’re looking to avoid paying top dollar for a baby monitor, or maybe just want something more basic, or simply don’t live in a big enough space to need a video monitor, this baby monitor is perfect for you. This audio baby monitor comes with one parent unit (you can also get it with two for a little bit more) that has a belt clip — so no accidental misplacing the monitor when you need it most. The secure transmission is crystal clear and means no unwanted and annoying interference from outside sources. With up to 1,000 foot range, you can take this monitor to other levels of the house and still be within range.
The batteries are fully rechargeable. It features a five-level noise monitor as well, so even if you turn the sound off, it will still light up to let you know if the baby is fussing. This unit requires virtually no setup, so if you’re looking for something that you can pull out of the box and use, consider this baby monitor.
3. Summer Baby Pixel Zoom HD Video Baby Monitor
The Summer Baby Pixel Zoom HD video and audio baby monitor is a more economical, slightly less feature-rich version of the Infant Optics. With this baby monitor, you can add up to three more cameras (for a total of four), and have 100% secure video and audio transmissions which means no pesky interference with your video or sound quality. The parent unit features a five-inch full-color display, with digital zoom.
The camera is easy to install and requires no fancy mounting or hardware. Simply set on the surface you want and go! If you’d like to mount the camera to the wall or ceiling, this monitor comes with all the hardware and clips to do so.
The sound-activated LED lights let you know the level of sound coming from the baby’s room. At night, this camera will automatically switch to a black-and-white night-vision mode so you never miss a beat, no matter the time of day. This monitor has up to an 800-foot range and will alert you when it can no longer acquire the camera signal.
4. Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera
The Hello Baby Wireless video and audio baby monitor is a great choice for those who want a baby monitor that does a little bit of everything. What sets this monitor apart is its unique features; including temperature monitoring of the baby’s room, two-way talk, and up to eight different lullabies. While the parent unit features a smaller screen than both the Infant Optics and the Summer Infant baby monitors, the camera itself monitors other areas the other two don’t.
The plug-and-play installation of this camera is great for anyone who doesn’t want a monitor with a complicated setup. Enable up to 4 total cameras, depending on your needs. With up to a 12-hour battery life, it makes it the longest-lasting monitor on our list.
What really makes this baby monitor different is Hello Baby offers a one year warranty. Love it or send it back for a full refund. Did I mention you can control the camera from the parent unit? Tilt, zoom and pan the camera with just a touch of a button.
5. Motorola MBP36S Remote Wireless Video Baby Monitor
Rounding out our top 5 best baby monitors is the Motorola MBP36S wireless video and audio baby monitor. The features of this baby monitor combine many of the best elements from other baby monitors on our list. The three-and-a-half-inch LCD full-color screen on the parent unit has intuitive controls so you can tilt, zoom, and pan the camera with the touch of just a few buttons. Like the Hello Baby monitor, this camera will even play soothing lullabies to keep your little one sleeping soundly. Enable for up to three more cameras and easy plug-and-play installation
Like the Hello Baby monitor, this camera will even play soothing lullabies to keep your little one sleeping soundly. Enable for up to three more cameras, and easy plug-and-play installation means pull it out of the box and go.
The major downside to this particular monitor is out of all the monitors on our list, this one only has a three to four-hour battery life. While the features and functions of this monitor are cool, it’s up to you to decide if charging every few hours is feasible for your needs or not.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to our children, we most often make choices with their best interests at heart. Shopping for a baby monitor can seem overwhelming, with all the brands, types, and models on the shelf today it can be hard to know you’re getting the best product for your money.
Based on all of the information I researched in this post, I decided to go with the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens as my winner for the best baby monitor.
Is it right for you? Here’s a recap on how to pick your baby monitor.
- First, consider the type of baby monitor you want – video, audio, motion, or all three.
- Next, nail down the exact features you know you must-have for your family.
- Then, search our top five list or the top brands we included to find your perfect baby monitor.
- Finally, purchase and enjoy your new baby monitor, knowing you made a smart decision to help keep your family safe.
