Wellness

11 best baby monitors 2024, tested by a new mum

To give parents peace of mind.
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jordi magrans

Seeking out the best baby monitors? You're in the right place. As any parent fondly remembers, planning for a new arrival can be akin to living in the Wild West. Helpful friends will send you their intimidatingly-long Excel spreadsheets with hundreds of items you ‘need’ to make your parenting experience easier. But two years into motherhood (with another baby due soon), I can assure you that you don't need rubber ducks, 30 muslin cloths and a musical cot mobile.

I learnt the hard (and expensive) way that you really only need a few staple items, including a pram, baby changing bag, baby clothes, nappies and…. a baby monitor. If, like me, you found choosing a pram overwhelming, the world of baby monitor shopping is another level. Your parents are nattering in one ear that ‘in their day’ they didn't have all this ‘fancy’ video monitor tech, but on the flip side, you've got mummy bloggers telling you that you'll need a full body temperature scanner and cameras in all four corners of your nursery. And then you've got friends with children themselves who are desperate to impart their hard-earned wisdom upon you, and the problem is, it's always different and it's always, always presented as fact. Whew - it really is a lot to take in.

“A good baby monitor buys you peace of mind and allows you to be with your baby without actually being with them,” explains Georgie Evans, Baby Brain at LittleList - the UK’s first dedicated baby gift list service. “The baby monitor market is vast, and what determines the best monitor depends on your circumstances, lifestyle and personal preferences. Baby monitor options include sound-only, sound and video, and Wi-Fi-based monitors (meaning you can log in from wherever you are to check in on your little one). There are even smart monitors which record your baby's heart and oxygen rates.”

While for some of us, a baby monitor is just a means to an end, for others, it can provide much needed peace of mind, right down to baby's heart rate and oxygen levels. On the flip side, some mums have reported being overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information available on these smart monitors, and found that it actually made their anxiety worse.

And a word on Wi-Fi based ones: not having strong enough Broadband drove us near insane when trying to set up some of these. Ensure you have the right level of connection before taking the plunge, because there's nothing more frustrating than a ‘computer says no’ moment at 9pm when you finally got baby to sleep and you want that glass of Pinot. Like we said, minefield.

Which is exactly why we've done the hard work for you by breaking down exactly why you need one, asking the experts what to look for in a good baby monitor and calling on three experienced mums to test the best on the market to bring you a definitive guide to suit every need.

SKIP TO: When do you need a baby monitor and how long do you need one for? | What are the different types of baby monitor? | Do I need an expensive baby monitor – or do cheap ones work? | Should you get a wifi baby monitor? | The features to look for when you buy a baby monitor | Can baby monitors get hacked? | How we tried and tested reviews.


In a rush? The best baby monitors at a glance:

  1. Best Baby Monitor Overall: VTech RM5754HD 5inch Smart Wi-Fi 1080p Video Baby Monitor, £104.99, John Lewis
  2. Best Baby Monitors With Camera: Tommee Tippee Dreammee Sleep and Nursery Baby Monitor System, £149.99, Amazon
  3. Best Affordable Baby Monitor: Motorola PIP1010 Smart Baby Video Camera, £80, Argos
  4. Best On Amazon: CuboAi Plus Smart Baby Monitor, £189, Amazon
  5. Best App-Controlled Baby Monitor: Hubble Nursery Pal Essentials Baby Monitor, from £89.99, Boots

Meet the experts:

  • Georgie Evans of the LittleList, the UK's first dedicated baby gift list service.
  • Mallory Reynolds-Trout, Show Manager of The Baby Show.

How we tested:

As testers, we enlisted three in-house GLAMOUR mums – Website Director, Bianca London, and contributors Anya Meyerowitz and Rebecca Cope – to rigorously test the best baby monitors on the market to suit every need and budget. They tested audio-only options and traditional video monitors (where you have a camera in the nursery and a separate viewing screen to keep hold of). They also tried out the best smart cameras, which connect through wifi, via an app.

They tested them on their newborn baby and their two-year-old toddler, as well as tried them out whilst travelling to see how they fared out of the home. They asked their midwives, NCT pals and go-to sleep consultants for their top tips, too. We're not ones to gate keep and us new mums (and all mums, really) need to stick together, so we've shared everything we learnt and all the best baby monitors (based on expert advice and customer ratings online and even some tips from the brands themselves), below.

VTech RM5754HD 5inch Smart Wi-Fi 1080p Video Baby Monitor

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Tommee Tippee Dreammee Sleep and Nursery Baby Monitor System

Motorola Nursery PIP1010 CON Baby Monitor

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Hubble Nursery Pal Essentials Baby Monitor

Scroll for our full edit of the best baby monitors to make keeping tabs on baby's room smooth and simple.


1. Best baby monitor overall:

VTech RM5754HD 5inch Smart Wi-Fi 1080p Video Baby Monitor

  • Type: Video
  • Range: 300m
  • Screen size: 5"
  • Two-way communication? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? All three
  • Night vision? Yes, infrared night vision
  • App compatible? Yes

Why we love it: It offers Full HD video, which is ideal for anxious parents wanting to keep a close eye on baby. You can also choose whether to view on the parent unit or on your smartphone or tablet and it has a built-in intercom so you can talk to your baby, so mum, dad, grandma, your next door neighbour - everyone can have a peek.

Pros: Two-way talk function, in-built night light, overhead ‘night show’ projection and in-built relaxing sounds and lullabies. Plus the option to wall mount, with night vision, zoom, pan & tilt functionality, 12-hour battery life and a room temperature monitor. It also gives you the option to view the feedback both on the provided screen and/or on your smartphone or tablet, and a choice between mains or lithium battery charging to make the device more portable, which is ideal for travelling.

Cons: No night show projections like its lower spec counterpart.

Customers are saying: Great camera and sound quality and the parent unit being so high-def negates the problem of Wi-Fi connectivity making any apps hard to use.


2. Best baby monitor with camera

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Tommee Tippee Dreammee Sleep and Nursery Baby Monitor System

  • Type: Video feed plus sensor mat with motion alerts
  • Range: 250m
  • Screen size: 4.3 inch screen
  • Two-way talkback? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? Yes, all three
  • Night vision? Yes, infrared with wide-angle view
  • App compatible? No

Why we love it: With the added benefit of a sensor mat for more anxious parents, the popular Tommee Tippee Dreamee monitor is a do-it-all product that even has built-in battery saving functionality to save you energy and the effort of sorting out the charge. Honestly, not having to constantly remember to charge this was a real life-enhancing during those early weeks postpartum.

Pros: Includes a room temperature thermometer with an alarm system to notify you if it's too hot or cold, as well as music options - including an ever popular white noise option - to help soothe your baby whenever they stir. It's so good, we actually became quite addicted to it.

Cons: The camera requires constant mains power, which is, literally, a drag.

Customers are saying: A top smart baby monitor pick for straight after night feeds when they need some sort of audio comfort to drift off to sleep and really helped for extra peace of mind using the sensor mat.


3. Best baby monitor on Amazon

Simshine HD Baby Monitor

  • Type: Video
  • Range: unlimited from the app
  • Screen size: N/A app and phone screen are only parent unit
  • Two-way communication? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? All three
  • Night vision? Yes, infrared
  • App compatible? Yes

Why we love it: It's a reliable and secure smart baby monitor at a super-affordable price. You can mount it on the cot or place the camera on a shelf overlooking it, and it has excellent video resolution and features to help soothe your infant when they start to cry. Plus, it includes virtual fencing so you'll get an alert whenever someone comes within a certain distance of your cot. And, bonus, for all technophobes out there, all the features of this monitor are easy to setup and begin using with minimal patience (because who has any of that spare when raising a child?!). Basically, the Simshine Baby Pro has got it all. In fact, we're pretty amazed at how they've managed to keep the price so low.

Pros: This smart baby monitor with sleep tracking, crying detection, 2K video resolution, night vision and facial recognition helps you feel more relaxed, while making sure that your baby is safe and happy.

Cons: If you prefer a separate display, you won't find it with this model.

Customers are saying: They love it, obviously! Otherwise we wouldn't be recommending it. Most reviews are in praise of the easy setup and high-quality video stream you get, day and night.


4. Best affordable baby monitor

Motorola Nursery PIP1010 CON Baby Monitor

  • Type: Video
  • Range: 300m for the parent and baby units + unlimited from the app
  • Screen size: N/A app and phone screen are only parent unit
  • Two-way communication? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? All three
  • Night vision? Yes, infra red
  • App compatible? Yes

Why we love it: A much more accessibly priced option, the Motorola PIP baby monitor features app connectivity, sends parents sound and motion notifications and produces HD footage so you can keep track of your little one whether you're at work and they're with your partner or childcare staff, or simply in the next room.

Pros: Two-way talk, temperature indicator and low-power mode, as well as 10 lullabies in-built and the unique option to save a parent's voice recording onto the device.

Cons: Mains powered only, not rechargeable unit.

Customers are saying: Highly recommend, great value for money, easy to set up and easy to use - no complaints.


5. Best smart baby monitor

Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor

  • Type: Heart rate, sleep tracking, cough detection, temperature & humidity control and built-in lullabies with white noise
  • Range: 30m + infinite remote access via the app
  • Screen size: N/A - app and Android/iPhone screen are only displays, though base station does change colour
  • Two-way communication? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? Yes
  • Night vision? Yes
  • App compatible? Yes

Why we love it: Yes, this is one of the pricier options on our best buys list, but, if you can afford it, you'll soon discover exactly why it sits at the higher end of the premium baby monitor market: its super-smart tech offers useful features that exceed the expectations of some of the thriftier baby monitors. The Cubo Ai Plus takes care of the general wellbeing of your child. It monitors the temperature and humidity of the room, plays lullabies and provides sleep analysis while watching over your little one, eradicating the need for you to race in every five minutes. Plus, it captures adorable moments and saves the videos for you (as if you needed more excuses to moon over cute clips of your baby).

Pros: More than just a baby monitor, Cubo Ai Plus monitors the temperature and humidity of the room and plays lullabies. It also provides clear visuals, allows you to monitor baby’s sleep through sleep analysis, talk back, save videos and allows you to easily change the position of the camera to effectively capture baby's movements.

Cons: It doesn't come with a separate screen, however, the baby monitor does pair with multiple smart home devices like Google Home or Amazon Alexa.

Customers are saying: Lots of parents are big fans of the fact that you can share the camera with other people, so diversifying the babysitting pool - and the fact that you can change settings to adapt how each can interact on the app added an extra level of comfort and security. Plus, most previous purchasers were impressed with the brilliant customer service they received.


6. Best health-tracking baby monitor

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Owlet Smart Sock Baby Monitor 3rd Generation

  • Type: Heart rate, baby breathing and sleep tracking
  • Range: 30m + infinite remote access via the app
  • Screen size: N/A - app and Android/iPhone screen are only displays, though base station does change colour
  • Two-way communication? No
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? No
  • Night vision? No
  • App compatible? Yes

Why we love it: If you're prone to worrying - first-time parents, we see you - the Owlet Smart Sock is here to comfort you. Providing everything form heart rate stats to oxygen levels, the Owlet will guide you through those first few months of parenting where every breath seems so paramount to your anxieties. It may cost a pretty penny, but when you're already tired out of your mind, anything to ease the thoughts keeping you awake is welcome.

Pros: You can track how often your baby wakes during the night and it'll stay charged for over 15 hours. Plus, it's midwife approved.

Cons: You'll need to buy the Owlet baby camera separately and our Website Director found it to be quite glitchy (with delayed sound).

Customers are saying: Lots of parents thanking the device for notifying them of their baby being a little bit poorly and/or easing their parental anxiety.


7. Best app-controlled baby monitor

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Hubble Nursery Pal Essentials Baby Monitor

Hubble Nursery View Pro 5" Baby Monitor

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Hubble Nursery Pal Glow+ 5" Baby Monitor

  • Type: Video, all three.
  • Range: 300m, all three.
  • Screen size: 2.8" on the Essentials, 5" on the Pro 5 and Glow+.
  • Two-way communication? Yes, all three.
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? Zoom only on the Essentials, but all three on the Pro and Glow+.
  • Night vision? Yes, infra red, on all three.
  • App compatible? Yes on the Essentials and Glow+, no on Pro5.

Why we love them: With the Hubble Nursery Pal Essentials model more affordable than some similar video monitor and app compatible models on the market, the Pro 5" offering, aptly, a generous five-inch video display and the Pal Glow+ 5 boasting a comforting night light, all three devices mean parents can help comfort their babies to sleep without even being in the room.

Pros:

OUR PICK Nursery Pal Essentials (£89.99): Up to 12-hours of battery life should see your baby through the night while the 300m range gives you good scope to sort the dishes and do the gardening while your little one snoozes. Plus, the in-built lullaby repertoire negates the need for a crib mobile.

Hubble Nursery View Pro 5" (£75.90): Features pan, tilt and digital zoom to make sure parents can tailor their own personalised view as their baby moves.

Nursery Pal Glow+ 5" (£98.99): Allows new parents who are a bit nervy to see, hear and speak to their little one from anywhere with the Hubble app if, perhaps, grandparents are on babysitting duty. Plus, in terms of extra features compared to its previous models ^, the Glow+ 5" has an in-built advanced sleep trainer in the device's soft night light. It's also Alexa and Google Assistant compatible.

Cons:

Nursery Pal Essentials (£89.99): The HubbleClub app isn't free.

Nursery View Pro 5" (£75.90): The main difference between this and the above Essentials model for £50 is the size of the display and the pan, tilt and zoom function.

Nursery Pal Glow+ 5" (£98.99): Only has eight hours battery life compared to 12 on the Essentials model. Though it does have a rechargeable battery.

Customers are saying:

Nursery Pal Essentials (£89.99): It's really good - would recommend.

Nursery View Pro 5" (£75.90): High image quality and you can be at the end of a big garden and still be in range of the monitor.

Nursery Pal Glow+ 5" (£98.99): Innovative design and clear picture even in the dark.


8. Best non-wifi baby monitor

Babymoov Yoo Moov 360° Full Remote Video Monitor - White

Why we love it: A top pick for buyers that want a baby monitor without wi-fi enabling to prevent any connectivity hiccups, the Babymoov Yoo Moov gives parents a full 360 degree view of their child and, like many of the other models in this buying guide, features a night light, battery saving mode, and audio soothing functionality to help your little one drift off to sleep.

Specification:

  • Type: Video
  • Range: 300m
  • Screen size: 4.3 inch screen
  • Two-way talkback? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? Yes, all three
  • Night vision? No
  • App compatible? No

Pros: Award-winning, features two-way audio, includes a lifetime warranty and can be upgraded with up to four extra cameras for a more in-depth picture system. It's easy to use and does everything the other models in this guide to, except for the VTech's night show function.

Cons: Rather premium cost-wise, though it is reduced by £30 currently.

Customers are saying: Could be louder on the playback feature, but generally speaking it's got good picture quality, the 360 degree capacity is great and the reach is good in terms of using from the garden/downstairs.


9. Best baby monitor with sleep stats

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Nanit Pro Camera, Wall Mount & Breathing Band

Why we love it: Hi-spec and high style, the Nanit Pro baby camera is not only app connected, but includes a wearable breathing band for your baby, as well as sleep tips and stats accessible at the press of a button.

Specification:

  • Type: Video, sleep analytics tracking and breathing motion monitoring
  • Range: Anywhere with the iOS and Android compatible app
  • Screen size: N/A app only
  • Two-way talkback? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? Zoom plus a birds eye view
  • Night vision? Yes, high definition night vision
  • App compatible? Yes

Pros: The app features a cute memory section, where it documents your baby's first full night's sleep and achievements of the like, while the two-way audio and white noise functions help to aid in that very achievement becoming a reality.

Cons: No low battery indicator or lullabies.

Customers are saying: The travel multi-stand makes it easy to travel, and it's generally a top pick for first-time parents and our Website Director's monitor of choice (after trying the lot!).


10. Best lo-fi option for luddites

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HelloBaby Baby Monitor with Camera and Night Vision, 5''Display with 30-Hour Battery, Pan-Tilt-Zoom Video Baby Monitor No WiFi, 2-Way Talk, Temperature, 8 Lullabies and 1000ft Range

  • Type: Video feed
  • Range: 1000 feet
  • Screen size: 5 inch screen
  • Two-way talkback? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? Yes, all three
  • Night vision? Yes, infrared with wide-angle view
  • App compatible? No

Why we love it: The HelloBaby might not be a sexy brand, but it does the job and it’s really easy to use, which is why it’s contributor Rebecca Cope’s go-to. The menu interface is really intuitive, and it’s also very simple to adjust the volume and brightness, which is handy if you’re lying on a sun lounger outside your baby’s bedroom (we can dream). She had the previous version, too, which was a lot more basic, and this feels like a real step forwards for an amazingly low price.

Pros: The camera, moveable via the monitor, is less clunky and more accurate than some options, while the sound quality is brilliant.

Cons: It feels like it needs charging far more frequently than every 30 hours.

Customers are saying: People like that it’s easy to use and the audio pickup and sensitivity is good. They also mention the picture quality, quality of the cam and performance, not to mention the amazing value for money.


11. Best for a strong, stable connection

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jordi magrans

Babysense Video Baby Monitor, 4.3 Inch Split Screen with Two Cameras and Audio, Remote Pan & Tilt, 300m Range (Open Space), Adjustable Night Light, Two-Way Audio, Zoom, Night Vision, Lullabies

  • Type: Video feed
  • Range: 300 metres
  • Screen size: 4 inch screen
  • Two-way talkback? Yes
  • Pan, tilt & zoom? Yes, all three
  • Night vision? Yes
  • App compatible? No

Why we love it: Featuring super-stable, hack-free internet connection, with 2.4GHz FHSS technology, the Babysense grants you immediate peace of mind because there's rarely a glitch in the picture – no frozen toddlers to worry about here!

Pros: It's great for families with more than one child, as it's so easy to toggle between the two cameras, and it bounces between both screens for you every few seconds. You can also place an additional camera in the playroom, for example, just for when you want to spy.

Cons: The field of vision is fairly narrow – it would be better if you could see more at the same time without panning (though it is very quiet when it does move).

Customers are saying: Easy to set up, amazingly quiet and surprisingly great quality considering it's on the lower end of the price spectrum.


When do you need a baby monitor?

It's worth buying a baby monitor during the third trimester so you've got it ready to hand – there's nothing worse than panic-shopping in the haze of the newborn stage. Realistically, you're unlikely to actually use it until your baby is six months old and sleeping in their own room – until then, they'll be sleeping in your room either in their own Moses basket, crib or next-to-me, or co-sleeping with you in bed (for safety advice on the latter, consult The Lullaby Trust). It might be useful for naps, though, before then, but we found it only really came into its own post-six months as we were usually present for our baby's naps.


What are the different types of baby monitors?

"There are monitors that only monitor sound, those that monitor sound and video, and some that
allow you to login to an app and monitor your baby wherever you are," infant sleep consultant and author of The Just Chill Baby Sleep Book, Rosey Davidson, said. “These smart monitors will tell you the temperature of the room (very useful for following safe sleep guidance,) play lullabies, white noise, or even allow you to check in on them on an app on your phone if you are working late or someone is babysitting.” There are some smart devices these days.

She also explains that some are wired, and need to be plugged in, while others are wireless: "You
may even be able to hook it up to Alexa or Siri via your home wifi system. There are also some that monitor heart rate, breathing and movement. These can be helpful to put anxious parent’s mind as rest, but they should not be relied upon as a measure to keep baby safe – we know that placing baby on their back to sleep, and room sharing for the first six months is the best protector."

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Should I invest in an expensive baby monitor?

There are two very differing schools of thought here and once again, it all depends on your personal parenting preferences. “Expensive doesn't necessarily mean the best,” argues Georgie Evans, Baby Brain at LittleList. “These days the general base level for baby monitors is to be able to see and hear your baby, but that's not to say that a sound-only monitor isn't a good choice. Some parents are content with being able to hear when their baby needs them and don't feel the need to watch their every move when sound asleep, but we recommend comparing range capabilities so that the monitor works wherever you need it to in your home.”

Mallory Reynolds-Trout, Show Manager of The Baby Show, believes that you should invest in the best baby monitor you can afford to. “If there is one thing that’s worth investing in for your baby then it’s something to give them (and you!) a good night’s sleep. Therefore, I think a smart baby monitor is worth splurging your budget on, especially for first-time parents concerned about sleep safety or seeking valuable insights from cutting-edge monitors to enhance their baby’s sleep,” she said. “For some, these state-of-the-art gadgets can help alleviate anxiety during the newborn phase or when transitioning to their own room. While the price tags may be higher than traditional baby monitors, the peace-of-mind they offer is priceless."


How do video baby monitors work?

Think of it as FaceTiming your baby: the camera on the monitor in their bedroom provides a live feed of them and what they are up to, which is then sent to your mobile device and the monitor's app. Sometimes, this uses your house's Wi-Fi, which means its vital to have a good signal, as it can otherwise cut out or worse, not work at all. This is an issue we faced a few times.


Which baby monitor has the longest range?

Realistically, you don't want to really be focusing specifically on the longest range when buying a monitor, because it implies you're wanting to be very far away, which isn't the most sensible or safe of options. That said, most average around 300 metres, more than enough distance for a three-bed house with a garden, for example, though there are a few that can go 10x as far, including the Luvion Icon Long Range Baby Monitor which stretches all the way up to 3000 metres.


Are Wi-Fi baby monitors safe?

One of the big questions that I found myself asking time-and-time again, was whether I should get a wifi baby monitor. And one quick Google search told me that I wasn't alone in asking. Everything seems to have wifi now but when it comes to a baby monitor, is it actually necessary?

“We would suggest trying to find a monitor that has both wifi and non-wifi options if possible. Relying solely on a Wifi camera could cause problems staying somewhere with poor internet or with your internet going down, you can no longer check on your baby,” Daniella Flowers and Hope Eder, known as the Settled Sleepers, two pediatric sleep consultants, said. "Equally, with a sole wifi option, each time you pick up the camera and move to a new location you will need to reinstall and set up again.

"The main benefit of having a wifi enabled camera is being able to check on your little one when out and about. If this isn’t something that is important to you and you prefer to switch off, a mains camera is perfectly sufficient and probably cheaper.

They add, "If you do decide to get a wifi enabled camera, it is absolutely paramount to only get one that has a password option to prevent a hacker. Although rare, it can happen.”

Just a word on Wi-Fi based baby monitors: not having strong enough Broadband drove us near insane when trying to set up some of these. Ensure you have the right level of connection before taking the plunge, because there's nothing more frustrating than a ‘computer says no’ moment at 9pm when you finally got baby to sleep and you want that glass of Pinot. Like we said, minefield.


What features should I look for in a top-rated baby monitor?

When looking for a baby monitor, there are several factors to take into account across all retailers: the size of your home and child’s room, your budget and whether or not to get a monitor that works via wifi.

“The first things to think about are – how big is your home and what range do you need? Also have a think about your budget – the cost can vary wildly between the different brands of monitors,” Rosey explains. “A benefit of the video monitors is that you can turn the volume down a little, and still have view of your baby. Sometimes the audio only ones can feel very loud.”

When considering whether you would benefit from a wifi monitor, Rosey has found that some parents worry about it getting hacked, and so advises that you want to make sure that your home is wifi secure ahead of your new arrival.

And Daniella and Hope remind me, “as a new parent, you just want to be able to hear if your baby cries and see if they are awake. Focus on the quality of the camera and monitor more than the extra feature. We can honestly say in our years as parents ourselves, we haven’t used any of the features and just use it to check on our children. Focus on its basic functionality and try not to worry about the gimmicks it come with. Expensive doesn’t mean better.”

Each gadget will have its own unique features outside of wifi though, and it's important to weigh up which feel most important to you. However, most baby experts agree that the following additional features are important and the best baby monitors should include them:

  1. Night vision - essential for seeing your baby even if the lights in the room are off or it gets dark.
  2. Talk-back - audio baby monitors allow you to talk to your baby in real time when you hear them, which is really useful when you are trying to soothe them, for nap training later on or to just chat back to them when they get a bit older.
  3. Mobile app access - lots of monitors still come with high-video quality LCD screens, however, it can often be more cost-effective and efficient to buy a baby monitor that you can log into via smartphone app. This means you don't have to carry a camera unit around with you as well as giving you instant access to collected data about sleep patterns etc. It also means that you can easily check in on your baby if you're out and have left them with a babysitter or relative, just for that extra peace of mind.
  4. Movement sensor - very fancy baby movement monitor models will include all sorts of extra sensor alerts - like any change in temperature around the cot or even any change in heart rate - however, a breathing monitor isn't necessary and can often cause more anxiety for people. What is useful though, is a monitor that will send you a sound alerts when there is movement, so that you don't feel you have to sit in another room with your eyes glued to the video stream.
  5. Lullabies - a monitor that plays music or lullabies is a nice added touch if you want to be able to soothe your little one without needing to be in the room or tired of singing to your baby. Music can help children fall asleep and sets a predictable naptime routine.
  6. Room temperature - your home’s thermostat typically won’t measure the temperature in each room of your house, meaning that if doors are closed, the temperature can vary between rooms. A baby monitor with temperature sensor can be a handy way to keep tabs on the temperature and adjust as necessary.

Can baby monitors get hacked?

There have been concerns about the safety of Wi-Fi-based baby monitors and the possibility that these could be easily hacked. “As long as your monitor is connected to a private network with a secure password, this isn't a concern, and many parents love having the option to check in on their baby remotely,” says Georgie. This can often be a concern when travelling or staying in hotels where they use a shared network.


When should I stop using a baby monitor?

“If you live in a house where you can hear someone call from the bedroom then there is rarely a need for a monitor once your little one can shout for you,” says Sleep Well With Hannah founder, Hannah Love. “You can test this in the daytime. Of course if you are in the garden, or have music or TV on loud then you might want to keep it around and use it on occasions. Once your toddler is in a bed - and could come out to you if they need you - then it is time to give the monitor away (or save for baby number 2).”


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