Feb 21, 2019 For audio monitors, the sound quality is what separates the chihuahuas from the big dogs. Any sound from the parent device should be clear, static-free, and easy to hear. Ideally, the sound should have no distortion, and we prefer features that limit the kind of sounds transmitted or the volume of sounds. The Search for the Best Baby Swing.
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.
The Rundown
Best Overall:Infant Optics Video Monitor at Amazon,'Impressive 70-meter range and clear audio.'
Runner-Up, Best Overall:HelloBaby Monitor at Amazon,'Lots of great features you may not find on other budget video monitors.'
Best Budget Video: AXBON Wireless at Amazon, 'Packs in a lot of very convenient extras for a wallet-friendly price.'
Runner-Up, Best Budget Video: Babysense Video Monitor at Amazon, 'Includes infrared night vision, 2x digital zoom, pan and tilt, temperature alerts, and two-way talkback.'
Best Value: HelloBaby Wireless Video Baby Monitor at Amazon, “Each time the camera unit detects movement, it will ping the parent unit.”
Best Audio:VTech DM-221 at Amazon,'Uses DECT 6.0 technology that provides clear transmission.'
Best Budget Audio:VTech DM-111 at Amazon, 'Crystal-clear audio transmission.'
Best Multi-Camera Setup: AXVUE E632 Video Baby Monitor at Amazon, “The best choice for keeping an eye on multiple rooms (or multiple babies) in your home.”
Best App-Controlled:Netgear Arlo at Amazon, 'Top-quality features and one of the best companion apps.'
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
4.2
Ranked as the No. 1 best seller on Amazon.com, the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor is the first of its kind to have an interchangeable optical lens capability. This allows for a customized viewing angle with zooming capabilities. The system uses three lenses: a normal aluminum lens that provides a crisp clear image with mid-range coverage, an optical zoom lens perfect for close-up viewing during sleep, and a wide angle lens (sold separately) that captures your entire room with a full 170 degree panoramic view. This, along with invisible IR night vision makes it one of the most optical cameras of a baby monitor on the entire list.
Video is streamed wirelessly in real time to a slim 3.5-inch LCD color display module, providing a crystal-clear image without grainy or pixelated images. There’s a 2.4 GHz FHSS wireless transmission that provides both privacy and delay-free video and audio feedback. The monitor system has a portable power source that lasts an average of 10 hours in power saving mode, and six hours with the display screen constantly on. It can be charge anywhere that has a USB import, such as laptops or desktop computers.
The system’s viewing screen has a row of LEDs, which allow you to see the sound of your baby’s voice, and alerts you if he or she is crying. The system has two-way talk, so if you want to calm your baby down, you can speak into the intercom push-to-talk button. Plus, the screen has a remote in-room temperature display, so you can always see if your baby is comfortable and safe.
Some Amazon.com users love the system's impressive 70-meter range and clear audio. Other Amazon.com users were critical of the systems user-friendliness, and that it’s a bit of learning curve in making sure the system functions at full capacity.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: HelloBaby Video Baby Monitor
Finding the best accessories that fit the needs for both you and your baby can be seriously challenging. If something isn’t perfect or doesn’t have the right features, it can drive you crazy because you want the best for your baby. When it comes to baby monitors, we stand by our pick for Best Overall, but if you want a second choice, the HelloBaby Video Baby Monitor is a great option.
The HelloBaby Video Baby Monitor has a 3.2-inch LCD screen and can transmit video up to roughly 900 feet. It has lots of great features you may not find on other budget video monitors, including two-way talk, night vision, a temperature display, zoom in and out, digital pan and tilt, a scan view and the ability to play eight lullabies. There’s also helpful warnings if the temperature gets too hot or cold, if there’s no signal and if there’s low power. Finally, the last great thing we love about this monitor is an “auto mute” feature that will turn off the baby monitor speaker when sound is below 50 decibels for more than seven seconds and automatically turn on when noise occurs, which saves battery.
Best Budget Video: AXBON Wireless Video Baby Monitor
Being a new parent can be quite expensive. If this describes you, you might want to look at ways to save money while still feeling like you’re not cutting corners. One way to do this is to consider budget-conscious baby accessories such as the AXBON video monitor. This device features one camera and a 2.4-inch LCD display with HD video transmission and two-way talk features. The range is a whopping 960 feet, so you can take the display anywhere in the house without dropping the camera signal.
The AXBON camera also includes pre-programmed lullabies, a temperature sensor that will alert you if it gets too hot or cold in your baby's room, and infrared night vision that automatically switches over when the lights go out. You can also use the display to remotely pan and tilt the camera 60-degrees up and down and a full 360-degrees around. Feature-wise, it's a bit more pared down than the more expensive monitors on this list, but it still packs in a lot of very convenient extras for a wallet-friendly price.
Runner-Up, Best Budget Video: Babysense Video Monitor
The Babysense monitor features a 2.4-inch LCD screen with high-quality video transmission up to 900 feet. Features to keep you better connected to your baby include infrared night vision, 2x digital zoom, pan and tilt, temperature alerts, and two-way talkback. It also has multi-camera expandability with the ability to incorporate three additional cameras (sold separately). This monitor doesn’t alert you to your baby’s activity, but it does indicate connectivity and battery problems, and you can set reminder alarms for feeding times, etc. With this many extra features, you’re getting solid value for your money.
Best Value: HelloBaby Wireless Video Baby Monitor
With a new baby, expenses pile up fast so saving money here and there can really make a difference. If you want to save a little without sacrificing quality, the HelloBaby wireless video baby monitor is a great value. Simple to operate, the monitor requires little more than just plugging in. Once active, just place the camera in a room with a clear view and begin watching.
The 2.5-inch LCD display isn’t the largest on the market, but, for the cost savings, it’s more than enough space. Along with a picture of the room, the display also provides room temperature as well as the option of zooming in or tilting to get a better angle as a baby moves around.
Offering parents some peace of mind, HelloBaby includes motion detection. Each time the camera unit detects movement, it will ping the parent unit with a small alarm indicating motion. For parents who want to catch every new memory, there’s a one-touch recording feature. With space for expandable storage, the unit can record hours of memories that can be shared with friends and family.
Best Audio: VTech DM221 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor
If you don’t want to spend a fortune on mini video surveillance for your baby, you can always settle for an audio monitor. The VTech DM221 Safe and Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor won't cost you an arm and a leg for crystal-clear audio monitoring sound.
It includes a one-parent unit monitor and a one-baby unit audio monitor. It uses DECT 6.0 technology that provides clear transmission, eliminating any annoying white noise you might hear from other analog monitors. Graphic bars on the parent unit indicate the level of sound in your baby’s room, so you can visually monitor the noise level with the unit muted. It has a two-way talkback intercom, so you can communicate with your baby through its audio speakers.
The baby monitor includes rechargeable batteries that provide up to 18 hours of monitoring time on a single charge. If you somehow lose the batteries or don’t have the time to charge them, you can always substitute with two AAA batteries. The system comes with a hands-free belt clip on the parent unit, so you can carry it wherever you go without the hassle of holding it. It also doubles as a night-light.
The operating range of the parent unit is up to 1,000 feet outdoors or 150 feet indoors (to compensate for walls). The parent unit can be set to beep if the link between it and the baby unit is lost, or its rechargeable battery is low. If you don’t want to always concentrate on listening, the system features a vibrating sound alert that detects audio. Most Amazon.com reviewers have raved about the product for its simplicity, while others have found reliability problems with the rechargeable batteries.
Best Budget Audio: VTech DM111 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor
If you want to pay one of the lowest prices for an audio monitoring system for your baby, this is the one. The DM111 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor is built with DECT 6.0 technology that provides for a crystal-clear stream of audio transmission without the white noise. DECT 6.0 eliminates any background noise and prevents interference, all while transmitting a secure and encrypted signal so only you can hear your baby.
Unlike the DM221, the baby monitor does require two AAA batteries that are not included and it does not include two-way transmission. Despite this, battery life lasts up to 20 hours and the system includes a long range of up to 1,000 feet outdoors with 150 feet indoors. There is a five-level sound indicator graphic bar on the parental unit that will indicate the level of sound in your baby’s room so you can visually monitor the noise level with the unit muted.
Amazon.com users speak highly of the product in terms of its affordability and quality, while others have noted that it drains the AAA batteries too quickly.
Best Multi-Camera Setup: AXVUE E632 Video Baby Monitor
With the ability to add up to four cameras in total, the AXVUE E632 video baby monitoring system is the best choice for keeping an eye on multiple rooms (or multiple babies) in your home. Working off its own encrypted 2.4GHz signal, the AXVUE provides a reliable monitoring experience. Everything centers around the parent unit and its 5-inch TFT-LCD display.
Starting off the list of features is zoom functionality for viewing an entire room or getting closer with zoom in. Room temperature is another feature added right onto the display. This can be helpful for parents worrying about whether a room is too hot or too cold. Also adding to the monitor's value is an 800-foot range from the parent unit to each camera. The sizeable distance makes this system ideal for nearly any size home. No matter where each camera is placed, it’s “always on” thanks to VOX technology. This ensures a heightened level of sensitivity with each camera unit so every cry or sudden movement immediately alerts the parent unit.
Best App-Controlled: Netgear Arlo Baby Monitor
As easy-to-use as it is adorable, the bunny-eared Netgear Arlo baby monitor matches your nursery’s décor while providing top-quality features and one of the best companion apps on the market. Measuring just 4.3 x 2.6 x 2.5 inches with the option for wall mounting, this device has a resolution between 360p and 1080p and includes six prerecorded lullabies. It even lets you upload your own playlist or record your own songs to play in the nursery, and has a color-changing nightlight for a soothing ambiance. But beyond its kid-friendly design, the Arlo is also a fully capable baby monitor that's outfitted with functionalities parents will love, like infrared night vision and temperature and air quality sensors.
Arlo's accompanying app is simple to both set up and use, and includes the beneficial 'Always Listening' mode, which lets you stream audio and monitor your baby even when your phone is locked or running other apps. From the Arlo app, you’ll be able to fully control the monitor, including the ability to take a screenshot, check the live feed, receive push notifications about your baby's activity or environment, and alter the nightlight.
Tested by
How We Tested
We bought a top-rated baby monitor that our reviewers tested for 170 hours. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using this baby monitor, from its range to its capabilities. We’ve outlined the key takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.
What to Look for in a Baby Monitor
Video - Do you need a baby monitor that has video? If you’re just monitoring sound, then any video monitoring is probably unnecessary. Plus, video monitors cost a lot more than audio-only options, so if you’re very price-conscious then you probably want to ditch the video screen.
Wi-Fi -Sure, baby monitors with Wi-Fi can be convenient — after all, you can check in on your tyke no matter where you are. But these can also be security holes in your wireless network. If you end up deciding on a Wi-Fi-enabled model, make sure you take precautions to ensure you — and your baby — are protected.
Range - If you are choosing a non Wi-Fi model, then you need to make sure the range on the monitor you choose is large enough for your home. If you’re in an apartment, it’s probably not an issue. But if you spend the bulk of your time on the first floor of a house and the nursery is on the second, you should make sure that the parent unit can stay in contact without a problem.
Test Results: Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor (Best Overall)
4.2
What We Like
Easy to use
Great zoom feature
Convenient night vision
“It has everything we need, is easy to use, and decently priced,” raved one of our testers about this baby monitor. According to our reviewers, the close-up zoom and night vision features work great. Our testers also liked the easy setup. “We’ve used the camera on the wall, mounted, and placed on a shelf,” one reviewer explained. In terms of negatives, range and battery life were the biggest complaints from our testers. “The one big downside is the limited reach, which I would suggest looking into before purchasing for anyone in a multi-level home,” one of our reviewers cautioned.