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Baby Monitor Comparison - Which Baby Monitor is Best?

Baby Monitor Comparison - Which Baby Monitor is Best?

Is a baby monitor necessary or not? It's a question asked by many expecting parents as they navigate what they may need to buy prior to baby's arrival. Like anything, some parents feel a baby monitor is a necessity, whilst other's are happy to wait until bubs has arrived before deciding. But even if you definitely want a monitor, there are so many options it can be hard to know where to start. Read on to compare digital, audio & video monitors.

Jump to key questions below:

 

  1. What is a baby monitor?
  2. Why would I need a baby monitor?
  3. Should I buy a video or audio only monitor?
  4. Do Baby Monitors work on Wifi?
  5. Cord Safety with Baby Monitors
  6. What features should I look for in a monitor?
  7. What other camera options are there?
  8. Comparison Chart - Single Camera & Audio Only
  9. Comparison Chart - Dual Camera Monitors

 

 


What is a baby monitor?

A baby monitor is a device that allows you to keep an eye on your baby if / when you can’t be present. The most common type of baby monitors are video and audio monitors, however you can also now get breathing and motion monitors. This article covers video and audio monitors, rather than breathing and motion monitors.

Why would I need a baby monitor?

Using a baby monitor is a personal preference. Many parents will do without a baby monitor, especially if they have a small house or will be within earshot of their baby most of the time. A monitor is an added expense which isn’t always necessary, however, there are some situations where a baby monitor is a good idea. Consider a baby monitor if:

  1. You have a large house and won’t easily be able to hear your baby from the other end of the house. A monitor can alert you quickly when your baby is in distress, because of this, it can allow you to relax more as you don’t need to constantly check on your baby.
  2. Your baby’s bedroom is a long way from yours. Being able to hear and see your baby can make night time easier for parents. For example, if you can use your voice to soothe your baby through the monitor, you may not need to wake up fully, get out of bed and go to your baby, meaning more rest for the parents.
  3. If you have another child at home but want to hear your baby quickly and clearly when you’re with your other child.  
  4. If you’ll be spending time outside (e.g. gardening, hanging washing, etc) and want to be able to hear when the baby is awake as soon as possible.
  5. You’ve moved your toddler to a big bed - you can quickly and easily check if your toddler is still in bed (hopefully asleep) where they’re supposed to be!

Should I buy a video or audio only monitor?

If you’re on a budget, an audio only monitor is a good option as you can hear if the baby is in distress or has woken up happy from a nap or overnight. Audio monitors are usually two-way, so you can also talk back to your baby to soothe them via the monitor if need be.

If you’re wanting added reassurance or you’re wanting to extend the use of your monitor to when your child has grown, a video monitor may be a better choice. And they tend to be more common than audio only monitors. Video monitors tend to cost more but usually have more features such as room temperature monitoring as well as the obvious video.

Some parents feel a video monitor gives them more peace of mind as they can visually see what your baby is up to. You will easily be able to tell if the baby is distressed or just settling down before sleep (for example). This also means you can learn about baby’s sleep cycles without potentially disturbing the baby.  

A video monitor can give you added peace of mind when you can’t be in two places at once. You can simply check the live feed to see what baby is up to. They are more common than audio only monitor’s. Video monitors may also be more helpful if you’re wanting to learn more about your baby’s sleep pattern or cycles and you will be able to see when bubs drifts off to sleep or if they’re playing in their cot for a period of time before bed. This can then help you adjust their awake times or nap times.

As well as video monitors with a handheld console, you can now get monitors that can be connected to your smartphone. So, if you know you’ll be away from home a lot, but still want peace of mind about baby, an app controlled monitor may be best. You’ll be able to log in from your device wherever you are and check on baby. This is particularly great if one (or both) parents travel frequently or if baby is in the care of a nanny or family member.

Do baby monitors work on Wifi?

You can choose a wifi-enabled baby monitor or one that works through radio waves. It depends on the features you’re looking for. Many parents are concerned about security with wifi monitors, so if you prefer a Wifi monitor, it pays to ensure the security is tight and your monitor can’t be hacked. Baby monitors are no less secure than any other Wifi enabled device. As with your smartphone, computer or other Wifi enabled devices, take care with your passwords to keep your monitor secure.

Cord Safety with Baby Monitors

If you’re going to install a baby monitor, make sure any cords / cables are at least 1m away from the baby’s cot, out of reach, not loose or pose a risk of entanglement. Read more about safe sleep.

What features should I look for in a monitor?

The range of features varies across device however, some useful features to consider are:

  • Can the camera angle tilt/change so I can see more baby’s room?
  • Is there a temperature monitor so you can dress baby correctly for bed, ensuring they’re not too hot or cold?
  • Types of alerts - you may want to only be alerted for cries or turn alerts off completely. Having the flexibility to set your own alerts can make a difference to the amount of sleep you’re getting overnight, so it’s worth checking!
  • Talkback - having a talkback feature allows you to soothe the baby from afar. Sometimes all it takes is a few soft words from Mama or Papa for Pepe to be calm enough to settle
  • Sounds - here at The Sleep Store we highly recommend White Noise to help settle babies and help them sleep longer. Some monitors have built-in noise and lullabies. Whilst a baby lullaby might sound nice, white noise is much more effective for settling a baby and masking other background noise, so look for a monitor with white, brown or pink noise.
  • Multiple cameras - it’s likely you’ll only need one camera to monitor your first baby, however, if you’re planning on growing your family you may want another camera in your older child’s bedroom. If that’s the case, look for a monitor that allows multiple camera’s with one parent controller.

What other camera options are there?

If you're looking to monitor your baby, but want a multipurpose camera, that can be used in the future or isn't tied to a parent unit, you could look at the Uniden Guardian App Cam Home+ Camera. Slightly different to a traditional monitor, this camera has excellent resolution, 355° pan and is fully App controlled (i.e. there is no parent unit). It features pre-motion recording, privacy masking & cloud back ups. It doesn't have features such as room temperature monitoring like traditional baby monitors, but it's a great option for families wanting camera's elsewhere around the home (e.g. the front door for security purposes).


Baby Monitor Comparison Chart - Single Camera & Audio Only

Remember to check the full description of each monitor and reviews from parents of each unit on the product page.

Brand VTech VTech Uniden Uniden VTech VTech
BM3350N Full Colour Video Monitor - One Camera Unit
VTECH BM3800N Full Colour Pan & Tilt Video Monitor
Uniden 5 inch Digital Wireless Baby Video Monitoring System BW5151R
VTech RM901HD Smart WiFi Pan & Tilt Video Monitor with Remote Access
Digital Audio Baby Monitor HBM2150

Model Name

BM3350N Full Colour Video Monitor - One Camera Unit

BM3800N Full Colour Pan & Tilt Video Monitor

Smart (WiFi) Baby Monitor with Pan/Tilt Camera BW150R

5 inch Digital Wireless Baby Video Monitoring System BW5151R

RM901HD Smart WiFi Pan & Tilt Video Monitor with Remote Access

Digital Audio Baby Monitor HBM2150

Features

Full colour video and audio baby monitor.

Full Colour Pan and Tilt Video Monitor

GOLD award winning baby monitors, designed to be monitored with your smartphone.

Smart Baby Monitor with a dual mode solution allowing you to view your baby monitor or through your smartphone

Great quality with all the extras & extended range. Allows you to monitor baby when you're away from home.

Great value for money with a good range.

Type (Audio/Video)

Video & Audio

Video & Audio

Video & Audio

Video & Audio

Video & Audio

Audio

Technology

2.4GHz FHSS technology for secure connection and clear sound without interference

2.4GHz FHSS technology for secure connection and clear sound without interference

2.4GHz wifi

Text

Baby Unit 2412 - 2462 MHz

DECT technology for secure connection and clear sound without interference

Transmit Frequency

Baby unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz


Parent unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz

Baby unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz


Parent unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz

Text

Baby Unit 2412 - 2462 MHz

N/A

Needs a Wifi Connection

N

N

Y

Y

Y


Internet Connection - 1.5 Mbps @ 720p or 2.5 Mbps @1080p upload
bandwidth per baby unit

Wifi Router - 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n

N/A

No. of cameras

1

1

1

1

N/A

Angle Adjustment

Y

Vertical

Yes

Vertical and Horizontal (Pans & Tilts)

Yes

Vertical and Horizontal (Pans & Tilts)

Yes

Vertical and Horizontal (Pans & Tilts)

Y

Vertical and Horizontal (Pans & Tilts)

N/A

Night Vision

Y

Auto

Y

Auto

Y

Y

Y

N/A

Zoom

Y

Digital

Y

Digital

N

Y

4 x Local Digital & 6 x remote Digital Zoom

Y

Digital & Local

N/A

Wall Mountable

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

N/A

Night Light

Y

Multicolour

Y

Multicolour & Projection

Y

Multicolour

N

N

Y

Mains Powered

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Parent Unit Screen Size

2.8 inch

2.8 inch

N/A

5 inch

5 inch

N/A

Colour LCD Display

Y

Y

N/A

Y

Y

N/A

Zoom on Parent Unit

Y

Y

N/A

Y

Y

N/A

Rechargeable Battery

Y

Y

N/A

Y

Y

Y

Battery Life

Up to 19 Hours

Up to 19 hours

N/A

Up to 5 hours

Up to 5 hours

Up to 14 hours

Auto wake-up mode

Y

Y

N/A

N

Y

N/A

Viewing Options

N/A

N/A

 
N/A

 
Monitor or smartphone (with free app)

Single, Split Screen & Patrol Mode

 
N/A

Ability to mute

Y

Y

N/A

N

Y

N/A

Can adjust screen brightness

Y

Y

N/A

Y

Y

N/A

Sound activated screen

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

And motion

N/A

Room Temperature Monitoring

Y

With alerts

Y

With alerts

Y

With alerts

Y

With alerts

Y

With alerts

Y

Sounds

Y

4 Lullabies

Y

Soothing & Lullabies

Y

4 Lullabies inc White Noise

Y

14 Lullabies inc White Noise

Y

5 Lullabies

4 Natural Sounds

Y

5 Lullabies

2-way talkback

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Sound alerts

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Low battery alert

Y

Y

N/A

Y

Y

Out of range alert

Y

Y

N/A

Y

Y

Y

Single Cam Viewing (Manually switch between camera's)

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N/A

Patrol Mode Viewing (auto switching)

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Y

N/A

Remote viewing / recording

N

N

Y

Y

Via Baby Watch Pro App

Y

Via free Vtech App when paired with Wifi Router

N/A

Record images / video

N

N

Y

32GB micro SD card included

Y

Via micro SD card (support up to 128GB - not included)

Y

N/A

Secure & encrypted

N/A

N/A

Y

WEP, WPA, WPA2

Y

N/A

Price

$189.95

$249.95

$209.95

$389.95

$475.00

$99.95

More information

Baby Monitor Comparison Chart - Dual Camera

Remember to check the full description of each monitor and reviews from parents of each unit on the product page.

Brand VTech VTech
BM3550N - Full Colour Video Monitor - Two Camera Unit

Model Name

BM3550N - Full Colour Video Monitor - Two Camera Unit

VTECH BM3800N-2 2-Camera Full Colour Pan & Tilt Video Monitor

Features

Full colour video and audio baby monitor

Full Colour Pan and Tilt Video Monitor

Type (Audio/Video)

Video & Audio

Video & Audio

Technology

2.4GHz FHSS technology for secure connection and clear sound without interference

2.4GHz FHSS technology for secure connection and clear sound without interference

Transmit Frequency

Baby unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz


Parent unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz

Baby unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz


Parent unit: 2405 - 2475 MHz

Needs a Wifi Connection

N

N

No. of cameras

2

2

Angle Adjustment

Y

Vertical

Y

Vertical and Horizontal (Pans & Tilts)

Night Vision

Y

Auto

Y

Auto

Zoom

Y

Digital

Y

Digital

Wall Mountable

Y

Y

Night Light

Y

Multicolour

Y

Multicolour & Projection

Mains Powered

Y

Y

Parent Unit Screen Size

2.8 inch

2.8 inch

Colour LCD Display

Y

Y

Zoom on Parent Unit

Y

Y

Rechargeable Battery

Y

Y

Battery Life

Up to 19 Hours

Up to 19 hours

Auto wake-up mode

Y

Y

Viewing Options

Single & Patrol Mode

Single & Patrol Mode

Ability to mute

Y

Y

Can adjust screen brightness

Y

Y

Sound activated screen

Y

Y

Room Temperature Monitoring

Y

With alerts

Y

With alerts

Sounds

Y

4 Lullabies

Y

4 Soothing Sounds Lullabies

2-way talkback

Y

Y

Sound alerts

Y

Y

Low battery alert

Y

Y

Out of range alert

Y

Y

Single Cam Viewing (Manually switch between camera's)

Y

Y

Patrol Mode Viewing (auto switching)

Y

Remote viewing / recording

N

N

Record images / video

N

N

Secure & encrypted

N/A

N/A

Price

$289.95

$349.00

More information



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