What Are The Best Baby Monitors? – Let’s Review!
When you have a baby, there are a lot of things that you will need to buy for your bundle of joy who will be here before you know it. Buying a baby monitor can be a great way to keep an eye on your baby while they sleep in their crib for the night, or just for a nap in the afternoon.
But, as you start to shop around for one to put into your nursery, it can be a little confusing and more than a bit discouraging and you start asking yourself what is the best baby monitor out there.
Between the all the options that different monitors offer and the different price points, picking the best baby video monitor can be a difficult task.
To help you with this decision, we wanted to help make this as pain free as possible for you.
With our list of the 10 Best Baby Video Monitors for 2017, we’re hopeful we can help.
Ready? Let’s get started.
Here Is the Chart for the 10 Best Baby Monitors
[table id=1 /]1DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens by Infant Optics
As the first baby monitor on the market with an interchangeable lens, the DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor allows you to make the viewing angle and zoom customizable to suit your needs. Packaged with an optical zoom lens and a 3.5 inch full color LCD screen, with a retractable antenna and a sound activated LED screen, which will alert you if your baby happens to make a noise or start to cry so you can check right away.
With a battery life that can last from 6 hours with the screen on up to 10 hours in power saving mode, there won’t be a moment where you won’t be able to see him or her on the LCD monitor. Other features, such as a two-way talk system, let you talk to your little one, even from the next room, remote temperature display, an alarm functionality and expansion up to 4 cameras, the DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor has the options to help you make sure that your baby is comfortable and safe at all times.
Why We Love It – To put it simply, we love this baby monitor because of its options. From interchangeable lenses, to two-way talk ability, sound activated notification system, and expandability, the DXR-8 offers you more options than a lot of other baby monitors we’ve seen. If you choose the DXR-8, you will not be disappointed with the safety and security it provides. All of these options make it one of our top baby video monitors on the market.
2Digital Security Baby Video Camera with Night Vision by Hello Baby
If checking on your baby at night is an important feature for you, then you will want to use the infrared imaging capability offered by the Digital Security Baby Video Camera from Hello Baby. By utilizing a built-in infrared LED technology, the camera offers a clear image even in low light settings, such as when your baby is sleeping at night. This is enhanced by allowing you to control 8 lullabies from the monitor to help your little one drift off to sleep.
From the video monitor, a temperature monitoring feature will alert you if the room is too hot or too cold so you can be sure your baby is sleeping comfortably. Along with a sound activated LED indicator and push to talk option, the handheld monitor lets you check and talk to your baby from anywhere in the house.
While it comes with the camera and monitor in its packaging, the system has the ability to be expandable to 4 cameras, all using 1 monitor to view. This means you can put a camera in multiple rooms to keep an eye on your baby. Which can be a nice benefit, especially in larger homes.
Why We Love It – With support for up to 4 cameras per video monitor, being able to put a camera in multiple rooms is a big benefit when choosing this camera, letting you see what your little one is up to no matter which room they’re in. With an easy setup and quality night vision camera, the Digital Security Baby Video Camera from Hello Baby is one of the top rated baby monitors to have in your home.
3DECT Baby Monitor with Temperature Sensor and Night Mode by Philips AVENT
Not all baby monitors necessarily need to have a camera for you to know how your baby is doing. The DECT Baby Monitor from Philips AVENT forgoes the video option for a higher quality sound monitor. While this may deter some moms from choosing this option, the technology that the DECT baby monitor uses is state of the art, being able to cancel out any extraneous noise so that your baby’s cries come through loud and clear.
The hand held monitor comes with a temperature sensor that you can customize to alert you if the climate in the room changes and an LED notification system that will let you know if your baby is making any noise that may need your attention. Helping your baby sleep soundly at night is assisted by the main unit having a night light feature that can also play up to 5 different lullabies. With a range of around 900 feet, stepping outside won’t cause the signal to drop, but might be affected by the weather.
Why We Love It – The technology that the DECT Baby Monitor uses enables it to deliver a crisp, clear sound made by your baby certainly impressed us as did the night mode with included lullabies. With the option to talk back to the baby through the device, this baby monitor is a quality option for those looking for a non-video monitor.
4DXR-5+ Portable Video Baby Monitor by Infant Optics
After a while, you and your baby may start to feel cooped up from being in the house all the time. As one of the highest rated baby monitors, the DXR-5+ Portable Video Baby Monitor has its best feature right in its name, portable. Being able to take the monitor and camera, both wrapped in a silicone bumper guard to help keep it from breaking if it gets dropped or falls, is a convenient feature for you to have if you have a family gathering to go to.
To conserve power, the DX-5+also comes with a VOX mode, this power save mode which is enabled after a period of time after no noises are being generated. To help you get some sleep as well, an auto-mute mode cancels out white noise and other static sounds, letting you get some rest and respond if your baby cries in the middle of the night, looking for you.
With a rechargeable lithium ion battery in the monitor, the battery life has the ability to last for up to 12 hours especially when the VOX mode is enabled. This can help you from having to look for an outlet after you’ve used the monitor for a few hours.
Why We Love It – As a portable, wireless baby monitor, the DXR-5+ is a suitable option to take along with you when visiting family and friends. With its durable housing, quality camera performance and video playback capabilities, the DXR-5+ is a quality machine for you.
5DM221-2 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor by VTech
While being a sound only monitor, the DM221-2 uses DECT 6.0 technology to help you hear your baby in crystal clear quality and also transmits in a secure, encrypted signal so that you can rest easy knowing that the only person listening to your baby is you.
With a range of one thousand feet and talk back capabilities, being on the other side of the house won’t keep you from hearing or talking to your baby when the only thing they need to be comfortable and sleep soundly is the sound of your voice.
Why We Love It – With its range, sound clarity and security, the DM221-2 by VTech is an affordable option even without a video monitor. Packaged with two parents units, the features and performance of this baby monitor make this a quality purchase for your home.
6Wireless IP WiFi DVR Security Surveillance Camera with Motion Detector by JTD Smart
With more and more being able to be done on your cellular devices, the DVR Security Surveillance Camera from JTD Smart is a baby monitor system that you can easily check from your phone, tablet or laptop no matter where you are. While the system was technically not designed to be used primarily as a baby monitor, the feature to be able to check in on your baby from your cell phone, a device most people have on them at most times, is a feature that can be a bonus to any parent.
To conserve power, the DVR Security Surveillance Camera has a motion detection feature that when your baby makes a noise, will capture an image and securely send it to you on the cloud service the JTD Smart provides with the product. This helps save your battery life on whichever device you are using to monitor your baby.
With a low light capable infrared camera and two way talkback feature, being able to monitor your baby during the day or as they sleep as well as talk to them is only limited to which laptop, tablet or cell phone you choose to use.
Why We Love It – Being able to look and see how your child is doing from any mobile device is a big benefit with this monitor. While not specifically designed to be a baby monitor, the options that the system offers make this a valuable consideration in choosing the best video monitor for your baby’s room.
7Baby Monitor WiFi IP Surveillance Camera HD by LeFun
This baby monitor from LeFun offers one of the best quality cameras available on the market, broadcasting in high definition 720p which offers you a crisp, clear image of your child. A wifi enabled device, as long as there is a wifi signal through your house, you can check in from anywhere at any time.
A two way talk feature through any device makes it easy for you to talk to your baby while they sleep. Whether you’re in the kitchen, the living room or out shopping while the babysitter takes care of the baby, they can always hear your voice to help calm and soothe them.
Why We Love It – With one of the best cameras available and with an easy set up system, the Baby Monitor WiFi Surveillance Camera HD by Le Fun is a very capable camera and easy enough to set up for anyone who is looking for a no fuss option to add to their home .
8SCD630/37 Video Baby Monitor with FHSS by Philips AVENT
The Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology, otherwise known as FHSS, is utilized by the SCD630/37 Video Baby Monitor with FHSS from Philips AVENT, a sleek looking baby monitor to provide you with a private, secure connection between the camera and the monitor to offer minimal interference when checking in on your baby. A 3.5” display with a 2x digital zoom and panning options let you see your little one with a crystal clear image and also be able to look around the room to ensure that everything is perfect with your little one in the other room.
While the system has an indoor range of up to 50 meters, if you need to head outside for anything, the monitor expands its range, reaching up to 300 meters to keep you aware of what’s going on. With a temperature sensor built into the camera, you will receive a notification in the event the climate changes in the baby’s room.
A nice feature is that the camera is wall mountable. This lets you get a higher view point of your baby and their room. This can also be useful feature if checking in on the nanny and how the care of your child is being handled and whether or not there is an issue you need to attend to.
Why We Love It – Being able to mount the camera on the wall is a nice feature to have in a baby monitor. Along with its clean look, the SCD630/37 Video Baby Monitor with FHSS from Philips AVENT is an easy to set up system that would make a welcome addition to any home expecting a baby.
9MBP33S Wireless Video Baby Monitor by Motorola
Manufactured by Motorola, the MBP33S Wireless Video Baby Monitor operates using FHSS technology to provide you with crystal clear images and sound when viewing through the 2.8 inch LCD monitor. With its ability to broadcast an encrypted audio signal, you can rest assured that anyone that you don’t want listening in your conversation with your baby will be kept out.
With a built in kickstand, the handheld monitor offers you the ability to check the temperature of the room with a displayed temperature. If you have a need for more than one camera for this system, the monitor uses split screen technology to accommodate up to 4 additional cameras, all viewable on the monitor.
An out of range notification system lets you know if the signal being sent from their room is not at its optimal strength, rather than dropping the signal altogether without warning. While there are some concerning baby monitor reviews of the MBP33S regarding the battery life of the handheld monitor while not attached to the charging cord, the overall quality of the image and the sound make up for this.
Why We Love It – The expandability while using 1 parent video monitor impressed us most about this device. The MBP33S by Motorola, removes the need for multiple video monitors throughout your home while still providing quality image and sound for you to monitor your baby.
10New Version Video Baby Monitor Security Digital Baby Videos Camera by Mousand
The New Version Video Baby Monitor Security Digital Baby Videos Camera by Mousand is powered by a CMOS image sensor to help this WiFi enabled baby monitor and camera take crystal clear images of your baby while they sleep in their crib. With an included 8 lullabies to help your baby drift off to sleep, a temperature monitor and two way talk feature help your baby fall asleep much more easily and still be able to be soothed by the sound of your voice in the middle of the night.
With an available VOX mode, you can let the monitor run all night without charging. This will help the monitor conserve the power being used by the device’s Lithium Polymer battery.
Why We Love It – With 8 lullabies available and its compact size, the New Version Baby Monitor Security Digital Baby Videos Camera from Mousand is an excellent monitor. The capability of the audio system can far exceed expectations from some of the stories we have read about the product.
How We Chose the Top Baby Monitors in Our List
When we set out to compile a list of the 10 best baby monitors for 2017, we wanted to be sure that the information we were giving you was able to give you enough quality information to help you decide what is the best baby monitor for your nursery. But how did we take all of the available monitors out there and narrow it down to 10? Here’s the criteria we used to make our list:
Features
When we looked at all of the baby monitors on the market, many of them offered a wide array of different features. From the beginning, we wanted to pick monitors with features that would be important to you while using the device to watch over your little one. With this in mind, we selected monitors that helped you do that as best as possible.
Ease of set up
We are not all technical geniuses and when we looked at what was out there, we wanted to make our selection with that in mind. You may not be a technical whiz kid either and we wanted to show you the best options that you wouldn’t need someone from tech support to come to your house and set up.
Price
With a baby on the way, every dollar that you will spend for your baby is likely to be thought about over and over again before you ever spend it. We wanted to present you with a range of price options to cover any budget you may have. While there are some higher priced options in our list, we also wanted to showcase some of the lesser priced, but still excellent options for your baby nursery.
Testimonials
Even though we went through and selected our 10 best baby monitors based on features, ease of set up and price, a big part of our list is you. More specifically, what other parents who have used the products on our list thought about the product. Their stories, pros, cons and other insights helped us provide a better well rounded list than just using the other criteria.
Benefits of a Baby Monitor
Owning a baby monitor can have many benefits for you and your spouse. With a baby in the house, a baby monitor set up lets you get other tasks around the house done, or even take a break while the baby is sleeping in another room, but not being too far away to attend to the baby if they cry. Because of this flexibility, we consider owning a baby monitor a must have for any house
Let Your Baby Sleep
Believe it or not, your baby will go to sleep. But when they do, it’s likely you will want to leave the room to get some other stuff done around the house. Obviously, you want to keep an eye on them to make sure that they get all the sleep they need without any problems. A lot of the better baby monitors will have many features that you can use to help ensure your baby has lots of uninterrupted sleep from temperature checks, night vision to a pannable camera to check around the room as well. Knowing that they are safe and comfortable from another room is a great feature of any baby monitor.
Watch them while you’re outside
There are times when you have to step outside your house, even for a second to get the mail, or talk to a neighbor passing by. Having a baby monitor can help put you at ease of worrying about stepping outside for a minute by allowing you to hear and see what your baby is doing and if there is an issue, you can head back in right away.
Monitor your baby’s health
Having a way to look in on your baby has more benefits than just giving you an opportunity to look in on them while they sleep, it can also help to help keep your baby healthy as well. If they are not feeling well, checking the baby monitor can clue you in to if the problem is caused by something in the crib and allow you to take the appropriate action.
Keep Your Baby Safe
As your baby grows and gets older, your baby will learn how to stand and they may start trying to climb out of their crib at night. Having a baby monitor can help you protect them from objects hurting them or them hurting themselves if they do try to climb out at night. A baby monitor can also make a wonderful nanny cam so you can check to see how the nanny is doing with your child while you’re away.
Get Some Rest
While owning a baby monitor is a must have for your baby’s nursery and can have many benefits in their well-being. They can have a benefit for your well-being as well. After your baby is born, sleep will be at a premium, to say the least. While a baby monitor, no matter how sophisticated, can take care of your child for you, it can be a very vital tool for you. By giving you a way to look in and also listen to your baby, you can determine if they are need of you coming to their aid or is they are simply self-soothing.
Being able to tell the difference between the two, just by looking at the baby monitor screen is important, for their growth and for you. As a new parent, you need your rest just as much as they do. Learning your baby’s cues as to when they need you to come in right away and when they don’t is something that will be a benefit to you both.
Nanny Cam
With all of the benefits that having a baby monitor in the house to help you keep an eye on your child while they sleep, a baby monitor can also be an effective nanny cam. You’re always going to be protective of your child. You want to be sure that whomever you trust to help raise your child is doing a good job. Having the right baby monitor will let you check in when you’re not there or review the day’s events by watching a recording of events.
Understanding the Baby Monitor Controversy
For some parents, when you lay your child down, with only the camera and microphone to keep track of what they’re doing, there may be some fears that will worry you. What if they stop breathing? How will I be alerted?
These can be very valid fears and while there are some baby monitors on the market that you can set up to alert you if your baby stops moving, which can be an appealing feature to those new parents who have particular fears regarding SIDS, otherwise known as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, which can be prevalent in babies for up to the first 6 months of their lives..
However, there is some controversy regarding the use of these monitors. There is no study on record that provides evidence that by using these types of monitors will not reduce the risk of SIDS or another sleep-related type infant death.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Institute of Health have formally denounced the use of these types of monitors to reduce the risk of SIDS, stating that there is no clinical data to support that these work.
The AAP and NIH have published a set of techniques that have been proven to help reduce the risk of SIDS or any other sleep-related infant death. Knowing and learning these techniques should be something that every parent knows in order to avoid a possible horrible incident with their child.
Choosing what’s best for you
When it comes to the safety of your child, choosing the best option to take care of them is one of the best things that you can do.
However, choosing the best baby video monitor can be a lot like choosing a car. Some may have a higher price and offer more technological features, while there are some that might have a lower price and less options.
Regardless of the price, the ease to set it up or the features that they come with, whichever one you choose, it’s important to remember to choose one that will last your for years to come, as you will likely be using this during their newborn and toddler years.
We hope that our list of the 10 best baby monitors for 2017 gave you some insight into the options that are out there to help you decide what the best video baby monitor is for your nursery.
Choosing the best baby video monitor for you and your baby is an essential piece of equipment that every parent should consider owning. The right choice can help your baby, and you, relax and enjoy your moments together.
Do you have a Baby Monitor on our list? Let us know how you like it in the comment section below.
Last Update on the 8th of July 2017
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