Life
No other piece of baby gear brings peace of mind to a new parent like a reliable baby monitor. For secure and consistent monitoring of your baby or toddler, you need one of the best baby monitors on the market. Yet, there are quite a few factors to consider in order to find the right one for you.
Monitor Types
Baby monitors fall into one of three categories: video monitors with WiFi, video monitors without WiFi, or audio-only monitors. WiFi capability means you’ll be able to check in on your baby from anywhere with a WiFi connection, which can bring peace of mind, especially if you want to peek in at work. That said, it also might not let you fully enjoy a date night if you keep checking in on your phone. Options without WiFi mean you have to be home to use them, but they don't have the potential security concerns that WiFi monitors do (think: hackers). Lastly, audio baby monitors, the most no-frills option, will simply alert you when a baby is crying, but they come with the most affordable price tag.
Battery Life & Portability
Though you can always use a monitor's parent unit while plugged in, you’ll want a unit with at least a few hours of battery life when wireless. Some models offer several hours in video mode but also function for longer — as long as all night — in audio-only mode. In terms of being able to travel with your monitor, some receiving units simply plug into the wall, making them incredibly portable. Wall-mounted units, however, won't be able to be installed elsewhere very easily. For that reason, if you plan to travel frequently, make sure to get one that also functions with a stand.
Bonus Features
With any baby monitor, you’ll hear baby crying or babbling when awake, but the best baby monitors also can alert you even while on mute, by using lights or vibration to indicate noise in a baby’s room. Bonus features also include room temperature and humidity sensors, night vision, two-way talk, as well as an option for a wide-angle lens for a greater view of the room.
With all this in mind, keep reading for the best baby monitors, including some picks with thousands of reviews on Amazon.
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