An essential for new parents, a baby monitor helps you to keep tabs on your little one as they sleep. Because of this, you can get on with whatever else you might be doing – whether that's cooking, cleaning, or working out at home – safe in the knowledge that your baby is settled.
When looking for the right baby monitor, there are a few things to consider. Some monitors can connect to your phone or electronic devices, whilst some monitors remain separate. Plus, a lot of monitors these days offer neat features like temperature readings and HD video. Of course, there are the classic functions, such as lullabies, too.
Our personal favorite, the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor, is a great choice – and for good reason. Lightweight and compact, it doesn't rely on Wi-Fi, and it allows you to talk back to your little angel. Learn more about this, as well as our other top picks, below.
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
Pretty much everything you'll need including two different lenses
This baby monitor is a great option for new parents who value their sleep. It also doesn't require Wi-Fi to work.
Pros:
- Compatible with different lenses – comes with two
- Motion and sound detection
- Doesn't require Wi-Fi
- Talk-back function
- Compact monitor
- Night mode
- Can turn the screen off and still hear sound
- Monitor has adjustable volume controls
Cons:
- Can't play lullabies
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor is a no-fuss option. It has night vision, offers a talk-back function, and best of all, it features a temperature sensor. This baby monitor is 100 percent safe from hackers as it doesn't connect to the internet.
This great baby monitor has a maximum range of 700 feet and comes with an LCD monitor display with a 3.5-inch screen. The display is lightweight and compact and it alerts you of noises and motion from the camera, which can be used with three different lenses – a normal lens, a zoom lens, and a wide-angle lens (sold separately). The normal lens also benefits from a zoom mode and you can remotely pan and move the camera around the room to get the perfect angle.
Victure 1080P FHD Baby Monitor
A good choice for when your baby is nearby, this model connects to Alexa
Purse-friendly with features aplenty, this baby monitor connects with your phone and it has two-way audio.
Pros:
- Works with Alexa devices
- Motion and sound detection
- Connects to your phone
- Night mode
- Pan and tilt control
- Two-way audio
- Can be hung from wall, ceiling or placed on side
- Affordable
Cons:
- No temperature monitor
- You don't hear the baby's cry, it alerts you with a sound
- Small range
- Uses Wi-Fi to work
The Victure 1080P FHD Baby Monitor benefits from a built-in microphone and speaker so you can hear and talk to your child from another room. It also has a night mode. The camera can be suspended from the ceiling, hung on a wall, or placed on a side to give a detailed view of your baby's room or crib.
With a maximum range of 30 feet, this baby monitor connects to your smartphone to detect motion and noise – specifically crying – and will alert you once it does. The camera also follows motion once detected and you can view in live mode. This way, your baby will always be close by.
Motorola MBP50 G2 Video Baby Monitor
A baby monitor that has amazing split-screen capabilities
Check up on two little ones from one monitor thanks to this device. It can sing lullabies and read the temperature, too.
Pros:
- Split-screen
- Two-way talk
- Temperature monitor
- Lullabies
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Can't be wall-mounted
- No motion detection
The Motorola MPB50 G2 Video Baby Monitor is our top choice for parents of two and it's from a well-trusted brand. This baby monitor can offer night view, two-way talk, temperature monitoring, and lullabies. All to two children, from one device. Two cameras and one monitor.
In the box comes an LCD monitor with a five-inch screen. This monitor alerts you of any noise from both cameras. It can be tilted or zoomed remotely to see each baby or other areas of the room. With split-screen capabilities, you can see both children at the same time or it can automatically switch between the two camera views every few seconds. With a maximum range of 1,000 feet, you'll never be disconnected.
SereneLife Video Baby Monitor
This model even has two-way talk
A fuss-free wireless option that has a great battery life and it can play lullabies.
Pros:
- No Wi-Fi
- Wireless
- Two-way talk
- Monitor has stand
- Good battery life
- Screen sleep mode
- Plays lullabies
Cons:
- Chunky monitor
The SereneLife Video Baby Monitor is a great wireless baby monitor. It can monitor room temperature, play lullabies, it works in night mode and it has a two-way talk function. It also doesn't require Wi-Fi to work.
With an operating range of up to 850 feet, this baby monitor comes with its own monitor which is complete with a 3.2-inch screen. Through this screen, you can see your baby and you'll be alerted to noises or motions, or if the room temperature gets too high. Since it's wireless, it can easily be moved around the house and taken on vacation or for sleepovers, no problem.
Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor
This comes with all the bells and whistles
Stay connected with your little one at all times.
Pros:
- Connects with iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, or Echo Snow devices
- Real-time sound and motion notifications
- Sleep stats
- Monitors temperature and humidity
- HD video and night vision
Cons:
- Very expensive
Keeping tabs on your baby has never been easier. Keeping you connected twenty-four-seven, the Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor really is the cream of the crop when it comes to baby monitors. With HD video, night vision, and a built-in nightlight, it connects to your device, providing you with real-time notifications on how your baby is sleeping. But don't stress. You can adjust the sensitivity of these to suit your needs. Oh, and as if it couldn't get any better: it also offers personalized, science-based guidance and tips to help improve your child's sleep, and it has two-way audio, so you can talk to your little one. The one downside, which is more than compensated for in the abundance of features, is that it's quite expensive.
The verdict
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Looking after a baby is hard work. To help take some of the pressure off parents, we've done the honors of picking out the best baby monitors money can buy. Accounting for a range of budgets and needs, we came up with a stellar list. In case you're still not sure which one to go for, we've summarised our chart-toppers below.
Our all-time favorite, the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor, is perfect for new daddies and mummies, offering neat features like night vision and zoom. Dealing with twins? No stress. Try the Motorola MPB50 G2 Video Baby Monitor, which comes with two portable cameras.
What about something wireless? Well, it has to be the SereneLife Video Baby Monitor, a smart choice that offers a two-way audio function. Finally, if you are happy to part with a little more, the Nanit Plus Smart Baby Monitor offers the most high-tech and super-connected monitoring system you can imagine.
