The 10 Best Baby Monitors: Costs, Types, and More

• Best all-around baby monitor: eufy Security Spaceview Video Baby Monitor
• Best smart baby monitor: Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor
• Best baby monitor for multiple cameras: Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
• Best smart home baby monitor: Google Nest Cam Security Camera
• Best baby monitor for travel: Lollipop Baby Camera
• Best simple-to-use baby monitor: VAVA Baby Monitor
• Best baby monitor for twins: Babysense Split Screen Baby Monitor
• Best audio-only baby monitor: VTech DM221 Audio Monitor
• Best budget baby monitor: HelloBaby 5″ Video Baby Monitor
• Best luxury baby monitor: Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor

You’ve spent months with your baby tucked safely in your (or your partner’s) belly and are used to feeling every kick and wiggle.

Once you bring that tiny newborn home, you may opt to have your baby sleep in your room or their nursery. Even if your baby starts in your room (see here for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) prevention guidelines regarding room-sharing), odds are at some point they will move into their own space.

While you may be thrilled to (hopefully) start sleeping more, somehow leaving that tiny bundle alone in their room can just tug at your heartstrings.

Enter the baby monitor! (*trumpet fanfare*) These handy devices allow you to see or hear your baby from anywhere in your home (and outside — see if you can lounge on your neighbor’s back porch or relax in your garden if that’s your thing).

The tech boom hasn’t left out baby monitors, and most now come equipped with some pretty nifty features. They aren’t going to find lost pacifiers in the middle of the night or clean up diaper blowouts, but it is definite progress in the right direction.

Read on for what we found to be the best baby monitors in various categories, as well as recommendations on how to choose a baby monitor.

There are many monitor types you can use to know if your baby is sleeping safely. They fall into three basic categories:

• Audio baby monitors: We have the classic audio monitors (picture a set of walkie-talkies) that allow you to hear, but not see, your baby.
• Video baby monitors: There are also video monitors with cameras and screens that allow you to both see and hear your little one (which, in addition to giving you more information, is just downright adorable). Some video monitors are equipped with temperature gauges or nightlights, play lullabies, or have a two-way talk feature so you can reassure your baby with your voice.
• Smart baby monitors: A few monitors even have extra components to help track your baby’s heart rate, temperature, breathing, and movement. These are known as vitals tracking monitors, smart monitors, or baby breathing monitors.

• Customer reviews: We scoured thousands of online reviews and ratings, taking into account the opinions of many customers. We tried to select monitors with the best combination of desirable features, good value, and high user satisfaction ratings.
• Personal experience: As many of our writers and editors are parents, we have used several monitors. We included our opinions, as well as polling parents in our network to hear all about the monitors they love and why.
• Price: We included options at various price points to suit each budget. We also considered the value of each pick — which features you get for the money, company reputation, and longevity of the monitor.
• Convenience: The last thing you need as a baby parent is more stuff to mess with, so we tried to select monitors that are relatively easy to set up, easy to use, and have reputable customer support.

Pricing guide

• $ = under $100
• $$ = $100–$150
• $$$ = $150–$200
• $$$$ = over $200

Best all-around baby monitor

eufy Security Spaceview Pro Video Baby Monitor

• Price: $$$
• Transmission: radio frequency
• Range: 460–1,000 feet
• Power source: rechargeable battery
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: wall or table (wall mount kit included)
• Bonuses: large screen, remote pan and zoom, wide-angle lens, longer battery life

The eufy Spaceview Video Baby Monitor has surprised us with how awesome it is. Basically, everything fantastic about Infant Optics’ DXR-8 (which is another top-rated video baby monitor we’ve included below), this monitor has, but better.

With a 720-pixel, 5-inch high-definition (HD) screen, the video quality is incredibly sharp. You can view more with this monitor than most other radio frequency monitors. Great zoom, pan, and tilt features allow you to see every detail.

This monitor also features extra-long battery life, night vision, two-way talk, instant alerts if your baby is crying, a wide-angle lens, wall mount, built-in thermostat, and easy setup.

This model takes all the desirable video monitor features up a notch and keeps the price very reasonable. Additionally, if you want great camera optics but use your phone as the monitor, you can purchase the camera-only version, which is slightly less expensive, works with your phone, and has some upgraded camera and security specs.

One Healthline mom we spoke to said, “The camera is great in bright and low/no light rooms and has a great pan. I can see from all angles. The rechargeable battery on the monitor lasts a long time. I also really like that no Wi-Fi is needed, which gives me some extra peace of mind for security reasons.”

Best smart baby monitor

Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor

• Price: $$$$
• Transmission: Wi-Fi
• Range: unlimited while connected to Wi-Fi
• Power source: outlet
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: wall (floor stand or tabletop stand can be purchased separately)
• Bonuses: gives you a ton of sleep information, can provide personalized sleep suggestions for your baby

If knowledge is power, the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor might be the most powerful thing out there.

This high tech video baby monitor uses computer vision to track and evaluate your baby’s movements, sleep patterns, room temperature and humidity level, and how often you go into the nursery.

All this data is logged in an app on your phone. This frees you up to not worry about tracking (let’s be real, the days and nights start running together) and allows you to see your baby’s sleep trends.

The app will also provide personalized sleep coaching based on your baby’s patterns. For all the exhausted parents who have been trying to figure out how to get that precious little nocturnal creature to sleep, here’s looking at you.

The stat tracking runs through the Nanit Insights optional subscription service. You receive one free year with your device, and then it’s around $100 per year after that.

This camera can stream to a video monitor and the Nanit app, so you can see your baby sleep anywhere. The Nanit garners rave reviews from parents, and it’s our top pick if you want a monitor controlled by a smartphone app rather than a traditional camera and monitor setup.

You can also purchase a travel stand to take on the go.

According to one Healthline mom, it’s quite handy in other parts of your home if baby takes a nap outside their crib. “While traveling, I can always find an angle where you can see baby, compared to some other monitors, which I’ve found impossible to angle correctly around the pack n’ play,” she says. “However, I will caution that you can’t use this monitor on open Wi-Fi networks, so if your hotel or Airbnb doesn’t offer a protected Wi-Fi network, you won’t be able to use it, which we learned the hard way.”

Another mom we spoke to loves the monitor and says, “I’ve had no issues at all, and I’ve had it for 2 years. I had the Nanit Insights subscription for the first year, and it gave me peace of mind when my baby was smaller.”

Best baby monitor for multiple cameras

Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor

• Price: $$$
• Transmission: radio frequency
• Range: 700 feet
• Power source: rechargeable battery; 6 hours with screen on, up to 10 hours in power-saving mode
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: table or wall (has a cutout under the camera to hang on a nail or screw)
• Bonuses: wide-angle camera lens available, can use up to four cameras with one monitor, reads room temperature, night vision, lasts well for multiple children

The Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor stands out in our polling of experienced parents and in online reviews. Almost everyone just loves this thing, including some parents on the Healthline team. One mom said, “It’s not super expensive, has a large display, and I can turn off the video without turning off the sound and vice versa!”

She also really appreciates that you can add up to four cameras for monitoring baby and older kids in different parts of the house. “The zoom feature is super handy when you have those paranoid moments and want to make sure you see baby’s chest moving up and down.”

It has some high end features like sharp video and audio quality, great battery life, a two-way intercom so you can talk with your baby, night mode, digital audio-only mode, a wide-angle lens (sold separately) so you can see the whole room, and remote control of the camera so you can pan around and see everything or adjust the camera angle.

The latter was another favorite feature of parents we talked with — the ability of the camera to swivel and zoom so you can see everything (even the pacifier that your baby tossed out of the crib and is now screaming for at 2 a.m.).

Many parents also love this monitor as their child moves into toddlerhood since the wide-angle lens allows you to see the entire room (and you know the 2-year-old is probably unloading their bookshelf and not sleeping).

Another Healthline mom says, “It’s really easy to connect another camera when my son sleeps in another room.” She also cautions that if you’re not intentionally turning off the monitor between sleep times, the battery may not last all day.

Overall, the DXR-8 offers high quality and the features most parents want but at a reasonable price. It also uses a radio frequency transmission, so you don’t have the same security concerns that may accompany Wi-Fi monitors.

The newly updated pro version offers even better camera and screen specs, although you pay a bit more.

Best smart home baby monitor

Google Nest Cam Security Camera

• Price: $$
• Transmission: Wi-Fi
• Range: no limit while connected to Wi-Fi
• Power source: outlet
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: table or wall
• Bonuses: no separate viewing monitor (uses your phone or other device), can have multiple cameras around the house

The Google Nest Cam Security Camera is not officially a baby monitor. It’s an indoor security camera that can be integrated with your entire Nest smart home system.

The things parents love about this camera are that you can place multiples around the house (so it can be a sleep monitor, nanny cam, and security camera all in one) and that it live streams directly to your phone. No separate viewing monitor is needed, and you can check the footage anywhere.

You can watch live footage on your phone (although the app always has to be running) and rewind and watch footage from the past 3 hours. If you want to be able to record footage for longer periods, you can subscribe to the Nest Aware service.

“This camera is so easy to use. I love that it fits into an app I already have, with my other security cameras. It’s great quality footage, and I think more versatile than a standard baby monitor,” says one dad we spoke with.

Some parents do have concerns about the security of Wi-Fi monitors. It’s worth keeping your firmware up to date and ensuring your network is secure. Nest has well-rated customer service and timely software updates, so if you need help securing your cameras, they should be able to help.

Best baby monitor for travel

Lollipop Baby Monitor

• Price: $$$
• Transmission: Wi-Fi
• Range: no limit while connected to Wi-Fi
• Power source: outlet
• Two-way talking: no (but can play lullabies)
• Mount options: table or wall
• Bonuses: no separate monitor (uses your phone or other device), can have multiple cameras around the house, small and easy to set up, audio-only night mode

The Lollipop Baby Camera is about the cutest thing we’ve ever seen (besides your baby, of course). It looks like a little silicone lollipop with a camera and comes in multiple fun colors.

The Lollipop is an app-based Wi-Fi video monitor, so the camera runs through your wireless network and does not have a separate monitor base.

Some standout features include an audio-only night mode, an alarm if your network is disconnected, and no monthly fee for an app that tracks your baby’s sleep stats and crying.

The main reason we selected it as the best monitor for travel is that it is tiny, just requires the camera, and the “stick” of the Lollipop can bend or twist around almost anything. So, setting it up in new places is a snap.

The one caution regarding this monitor for travel use is that you will have to set it up with a Wi-Fi network wherever you are staying. It is important to ensure a secure and trusted connection when using Wi-Fi for your baby’s monitor.

Because of this concern, many parents prefer a radio frequency video monitor for travel, even if it is bulkier or harder to position. But if you’re staying with friends or family this could be a great option.

We talked to several parents who have enjoyed using the Lollipop for travel. “If you’re OK with the Wi-Fi thing, this camera is so cute and so easy to use! We travel a lot, and it’s been great,” says a mom of two.

Best simple-to-use baby monitor

VAVA Baby Monitor

• Price:$$$
• Transmission: radio frequency
• Range: 900 feet
• Power source: outlet
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: wall mount or tabletop
• Bonuses: easy setup, great features and quality for the price, can add more cameras

Several members of the Healthline team use this monitor for their babies. One stated, “The battery lasts forever and it has good range. We’ve never had a problem with it. I definitely recommend it as just a straightforward video monitor.”

While another said, “It has great picture quality. I also like the range of motion of the camera (super helpful when taking it somewhere new as setup is quite easy).”

The VAVA camera comes equipped with night mode, auto-tracking and zoom (for when your baby is rolling around or up out of their toddler bed), and great reviews for audio and video quality. The large screen also has high resolution, and you can add extra cameras.

For some parents, it is a big pro that it is not a Wi-Fi monitor. It has many great features, and best of all, it is super simple to set up. Most users said it takes a few minutes max. When you’re an exhausted parent, simple is a big win.

Best baby monitor for twins

Babysense Split Screen Monitor

• Price: $$$
• Transmission: radio frequency
• Range: 960 feet
• Power source: outlet
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: wall mount or tabletop
• Bonuses: very affordable, includes two cameras and split screen monitor feature

If you have twins in their rooms or cribs, it might be nice to start with two cameras for your baby monitor. Many options on our list have additional cameras that can be purchased separately, but the Babysense monitor already has two cameras in the base package.

Another reason it’s our top pick for twins? The monitor has a split screen feature so that you can see both babies at once. You can choose whether you want the monitor to scan back and forth between cameras every 10 seconds or if you want to be able to see both views at once.

If your baby cries, the monitor will show a red light on the side of the screen where the noise comes from. This monitor has audio detection and an eco mode where the screen only turns on if there’s noise, allowing the battery to last longer. Another cool feature is the built-in nightlight, which has three brightness levels and allows for good visibility of your baby even in a dark nursery.

Some parents found that they had to mount the camera quite far away from the crib to get the whole bed in view, while others said the pan and tilt features were not reliable.

Best audio-only baby monitor

VTech DM221 Audio Monitor

• Price: $
• Transmission: radio frequency
• Range: 1,000 feet
• Power source: outlet (baby unit), battery, or outlet (parent unit)
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: table (baby unit), belt clip or table (parent unit)
• Bonuses: budget-friendly, simple to use, your preschooler will want to use it as a walkie-talkie

If you’re looking for a basic audio monitor that will let you know if your baby is rustling, fussing, crying, or babbling, the VTech DM221 Audio Monitor is hard to beat. One nurse commented that they use these Vtech audio monitors within the pediatric ICU where she works and finds that they work great.

It’s budget-friendly (and the lowest-priced option on this list), has clear audio transmission, minimization of “fuzz” and background noise, and an amazing range. This model also features a handy belt clip so you can carry the parent unit around hands-free.

A parent-favorite feature is that this audio monitor comes equipped with two-way audio (which many audio-only monitors do not) so you can talk with your baby from the parent unit.

This monitor can also be a great option for travel — or to have at a grandparent’s house for occasional naps or overnight stays. One Healthline reader said, “I love this monitor for when my grandchildren come to visit! It’s simple and does the job. The kids also love to play with it when they’re awake — they use these monitors like walkie-talkies.”

Best budget baby monitor

HelloBaby 5″ Video Baby Monitor

• Price: $
• Transmission: radio frequency
• Range: 1000 feet
• Power source: outlet
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: wall or tabletop
• Bonuses: very affordable, a lot of features, large screen, automatic night vision

For about half the price of video monitors with comparable features, the HelloBaby Video Baby Monitor is another parent favorite. This monitor features a 5″ display and no Wi-Fi. It has a good range, two-way talking, and automatically switches day and night vision depending on the room’s light.

It has pan, tilt, and zoom options, lullabies, and a temperature sensor. You can also set the screen to automatically turn on for noises above a certain level (such as your baby crying).

A mom of four said, “This monitor isn’t fancy, but it does a great job. I can see and hear my baby when they’re sleeping, and I don’t have to blow the budget to do it.”

The materials are not quite as high quality as some of the other options on our list, but this monitor packs a lot of features for the price and does the job.

Many parents had great things to say about the audio quality, video quality, and battery life. People also love that it is not connected to the internet or an app, and that the reasonable price makes it a good choice for travel, large families, or if you’re not sure you’re into video monitoring yet.

One caution is that there are several models of the HelloBaby monitor, and the cameras are not compatible with each other. So you do have to read the packaging carefully if you’re trying to add cameras to an older model, or if you’re trying to choose a newer model.

Best luxury baby monitor

Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor

• Price: $$$$
• Transmission: Wi-Fi
• Range: no limit while connected to Wi-Fi
• Power source: outlet
• Two-way talking: yes
• Mount options: wall mount with cord hider
• Bonuses: monitors baby’s breathing without any wearable devices, provides data via the Miku app, customizable notifications, 256-bit encryption and a crypto chip for extra secure connection

Not only is it sleek enough to fit perfectly into a modern nursery, but the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor is also about as high tech as it gets.

It features impressive specs from a video and audio quality perspective and connects with the Miku app on your phone for continuous baby monitoring. Unlike other smart cameras, you do not need to pay a subscription fee to access your data. So although the Miku tops our list for initial cost, it may come out in the wash all things considered.

One standout feature of the Miku is the monitoring of your baby’s breathing rate and rhythm without any kind of wearable device (like a sock or strap). The camera has AI sensors that enable it to count your baby’s respirations and show their breathing pattern in real time. This can provide peace of mind for many parents (haven’t we all laid awake listening to our newborn’s every tiny gurgle and breath?).

It is also much simpler to use than other monitoring devices, given that there are no additional pieces to attach to your baby. Just the camera and your smartphone.

One Healthline team member says the camera quality is great. She likes that it alerts you when baby falls asleep and wakes up, that you can talk with baby through the monitor, that it monitors baby’s breathing without placing a device on baby, and that it displays the temperature.

“There are some cons, too. Sometimes it picks up things that aren’t baby, like shadows and light moving across the room,” she says. She also mentioned it is rather sensitive in detecting no movement. “The first few times I saw ‘no movement detected’ I would freak out, but now I know it’s just a thing.”

Not everyone may decide that they need a baby monitor. Ask any older mom or grandma, and they will tell you they raised five happy, healthy kids without a single baby monitor.

If you live in a smaller space where you can hear most sounds from room to room, you may find a baby monitor unnecessary.

There are also some baby sleep experts who feel that baby monitor usage can interfere with babies’ developing healthy sleep habits because parents may be more inclined to react quickly and attend to baby’s every move or sound.

Excessively sleep-deprived parents are arguably not likely to be at their best, and a baby monitor may also interfere with the little sleep you are already getting.

While we all are happy to sacrifice for what’s best for our babies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents to follow guidelines for a safe sleep environment rather than trying to listen for every cry or snort. Your sleep is important for your baby’s well-being too!

Despite this, many parents do prefer the peace of mind that comes with having a monitor.

Additionally, it is not always possible to room-share for the first 6 months to a year of a baby’s life (per the SIDS prevention guidelines), so a monitor allows you to see and hear as much as possible.

There are so many options, you might still feel stumped on what’s best for you. So here are some things to consider when researching and choosing the best monitor for your needs.

• Battery life: Do you need the monitor to function without charging for an entire night or day?
• Portability: Do you want to easily move it around the house, pack it up for travel, or just have a camera that transmits to your phone?
• Quality: How high is the sound or video quality? Is it important to you to see little details, or is a general picture OK?
• Safety: How secure is the monitor? For Wi-Fi monitors, you’ll want to keep the firmware updated and have a strong password on your home Wi-Fi network.
• Extras: Is it important to you to be able to go back and watch video footage from when your baby was sleeping? Or to be able to track your baby’s vital signs?
• Budget: How much money do you want to spend?
• Longevity: Do you plan to use this in your baby’s toddler years? Or for more children? You may want to look for a monitor that can add more cameras without carting around an additional monitor screen.

Is it worth getting a smart baby monitor?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), you should never use a smart baby monitor (or monitoring device) as a substitute for following safe infant sleep practices. Having a monitor that provides so much information can lull parents into a false sense of security and lead them to make less intentional or safe choices for their baby’s sleep environment.

Dr. Jana and Dr. Shu of the AAP caution, “Be aware there is, unfortunately, no evidence that using a monitor decreases the chance of SIDS.”

If you are following safe sleep practices for your baby and you simply wish to have more information to troubleshoot sleep issues for your baby, to know when they’re “really awake” or just letting out a sleep sigh, or for peace of mind, a smart baby monitor can be a great tool to help.

What is the best baby monitor similar to Owlet?

Nanit and Miku are two other options with similar features to the Owlet.

While the Owlet smart sock took off in popularity over the last few years with parents who want to keep their babies safe from SIDS, the FDA released a warning letter that resulted in Owlet socks being pulled off the U.S. market.

While the socks themselves are not unsafe to use, the FDA states that they claim to function like medical devices, and therefore need to be inspected and regulated. The company is now working on obtaining a medical device designation.

The AAP has released guidelines about using at-home baby vitals monitors, such as the Owlet Sock and its competitors. They caution that these monitors might do more harm than good except in rare medical conditions.

Some concerning studies have also found that several of the baby vitals monitors on the market may not be reliable enough to help in case of an actual emergency. Conversely, the monitors are prone to false alarms, which may cause unnecessary anxiety for parents and medical testing on perfectly healthy babies.

If your baby has a medical condition, such as a congenital heart defect, serious breathing issues, or has to be on oxygen at home, your pediatrician will recommend an appropriate vitals monitoring device to be used at home.

Are baby monitors safe from hacking?

Unfortunately, if a device is connected to the internet, it can be hacked. A 2015 case study revealed some significant weaknesses in the security functions of Wi-Fi baby monitors. Even radio frequency monitors could be hacked by someone tuning into the same frequency. But this usually requires proximity to the device (remember messing with your neighbor friend’s walkie-talkie as a kid?).

Wi-Fi monitors are only as safe as the internet connection you are using. So if you keep your home router up to date and password-protected, your monitor is more likely to be protected. You may need to take extra precautions if you check your monitor from other locations and on other networks, such as while traveling or at the office.

There are also settings you can check on the monitor itself to ensure optimum security.

Do baby monitors emit radiation?

Baby monitors of all kinds fall into a category known as extremely low frequency (ELF) electric and magnetic fields (EMF). ELF-EMF devices are extremely common in the modern world — almost everything uses electricity and produces some tiny amount of radiation into its environment. However, there is no known risk of small amounts of exposure to these devices.

Many raise concerns regarding the cumulative effect of being surrounded by so many electronic devices, particularly for fetuses and young children, who are growing rapidly and may be more susceptible to harm.

The World Health Organization has had task forces in place since the 1990s to study electric and magnetic fields, radiation levels, and long-term effects on health. The current results of their studies are still inconclusive.

A baby monitor can help provide peace of mind for you and possibly extra safety for your baby.

There are audio and video baby monitors. Some monitors also come with technology to track vital signs or sleeping patterns.

Some factors to consider when choosing a baby monitor include price, battery life, screen size, audio quality, range, connection type, connection security, and whether you want to be able to stream footage on your phone.

We know the options can be overwhelming, so we hope these reviews have been helpful! Cheers to a good night’s sleep (someday, right?).