THE BEST BABY MONITORS – PROS & CONS; PRICING AND FEATURES

Jun 20

Where do we even begin to rate baby monitors? As a first-time parent, I wanted the BEST.

Which in my mind translated into the most expensive. Four years later when I had my second child, I had learned, as most second time around parents do, that the most expensive does not always mean the best. The New York Times gives one of the clearest and most accurate views that I think about when I want a baby monitor. In the article called, The Best Baby Monitors (Davis, Cunningham, & Sawyers, 2023) , the researchers used the criteria of:

“Range: Local-video monitors have a limited range, and the manufacturers’ claims tend to be idealized. We wanted to be able to maintain a signal up and down a flight of stairs, across the house, and on a patio or in a driveway, but we didn’t expect much beyond that.

This wasn’t a factor for Wi-Fi monitors, since theoretically their range extends to any spot that has an internet connection.

Battery life: We wanted display units with a rechargeable battery that could last overnight, or at least eight hours, without being plugged in (a baby or toddler who is finally, blessedly sleeping through the night can sleep for 11 or 12 hours at a stretch, so more is better). Ideally a monitor should automatically cut off an idle display to conserve the battery, work for at least a few hours unplugged with the screen on, and recharge fairly efficiently. We preferred units designed to hook up to power via a standard USB connector (versus a proprietary charger plug), though that wasn’t a must, and we looked for reviews indicating that a baby monitor could reliably keep recharging (and holding that charge) over time. In many cases, we found that monitors performed even better than their manufacturers’ claims in this regard.

Image and audio quality: We wanted video quality with high enough resolution for us to make out facial features in the dark, at more than a few feet of distance, and (obviously) in daylight, as well. The monitor’s display itself did not need to be especially high-resolution, but we wanted its picture size to be easily visible on a nightstand. And we wanted to be able to hear clearly even at the monitor’s lowest volumes.

Settings and navigation: We looked for models with easy, intuitive, and responsive controls, whether they had physical buttons or a touchscreen. For Wi-Fi monitors, we considered how easy or difficult the app was to navigate.

Durability: We wanted the monitor to be able to withstand being knocked off a nightstand or messed with by a toddler, as well as generally tough enough for the rigors of life in a home with young children.

Camera options: For local-video monitors, we preferred having the option to pan and tilt the camera remotely from the display unit. Among the nonessential nice-to-haves: a zoom feature, a wide-angle lens, and the ability to mount the camera easily on a wall hook or nail. Most Wi-Fi cameras do not pan and tilt; instead they have a wide-angle lens to capture the whole crib and part of the room. (You can zoom within the app.) Typically Wi-Fi cameras require positioning over the crib, so we looked for mounts that felt sturdy and safe.

Security: Like anything you connect to the internet, Wi-Fi–enabled baby monitors can be a potential security vulnerability. We looked for Wi-Fi monitors that support two-factor authentication, provide automatic software and firmware updates, and have security protections for both live video streams and video stored in the cloud.

Price: We wanted monitors that offered good value, but we didn’t set a firm price limit.

Nearly all of the promising local-video monitors cost less than $200. For budget video monitors, we sought out options that were less than $100. Quality Wi-Fi monitors frequently cost around $200 and up—sometimes far more—due to factors such as expensive Wi-Fi chips, ongoing support for the app, and regular security updates.

Expandability: Ideally, we wanted video monitors that could support multiple cameras.

And, please, nothing annoying: We didn’t want any excessive blinking lights, beeping, shutting down, dropping signals, or other irritations—especially none that would unnecessarily wake up anyone (of any age). We did, however, appreciate a display that beeped when its battery was about to die or when it was out of range of its camera.”

The first review installment was done in 2017 and then in 2022 they decided to revisit baby monitors as technology has changed and some monitors have been discontinued. So, what did they think? Well, here’s the ones that made the cut:

I like the fact that they have specifically made it a point to give you the top pick and the budget pick, giving you a direction to go on aligned with your needs. Be sure to check out the full article at, https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-baby-monitor/.

Happy shopping!

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