Best Baby Monitors 2023
The Best Baby Monitors of 2023, According to Parent Reviews
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It's one of the paradoxes of parenting young children. No matter how exhausted you are and how much you look forward to nap time or bedtime, once they're sleeping, you often miss your baby or toddler and want to see their sweet little face again. Thank goodness for baby monitors.
Baby monitors have evolved since the walkie-talkie-style devices our own parents used for us. These days, baby monitors give you HD-quality video and allow you to play music, have conversations with your baby, and check the room temperature. Some even let you log data on whether your baby slept through the night. Have multiple kids? Many have options to become split screens. And if all that sounds like a nightmare, there are more basic baby monitors, too.
Since baby monitors aren't one size fits all and different families have different preferences and needs, we rounded up some of the best baby monitors on the market — backed up by rave reviews from real parents — to give you a head start on your search.
Best Baby Monitor For Travel
Lollipop Baby Monitor ($160, originally $169)
This small monitor, appropriately shaped like a lollipop, is perfect for traveling. However, don't let the size fool you — it's packed with features, including the option to switch to audio-only mode, night vision, and 720-pixel video. A WiFi connection is required — a drawback for some who may have privacy and security concerns — and it connects to an app, so you don't need to lug around an extra screen to check on the baby.
"We bought this specifically for traveling, and it's awesome — No need to play games with how to prop up a camera for a monitor," one reviewer writes, adding that it's "probably not ideal for at-home use since you can't move the camera without doing so physically," but saying they "definitely recommend" the Lollipop monitor.
Most Affordable Baby Monitor
VTech VM819 Video Baby Monitor ($60, originally $65)
The VTech VM819 is a highly rated option with a two-figure price tag. This baby monitor can last 19 hours on a single charge and boasts a 1,000-foot range, perfect for parents who need to get laundry done or cook dinner while the baby naps. It also doesn't have WiFi or app pairing, a perk for parents looking for more privacy.
"No complaints here — good quality image and sound. [I] can even take into the back yard so the spouse and I can do a bonfire," one five-star reviewer writes.
Most Talked About Baby Monitor
Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor & Wall Mount ($258, originally $300)
Ask about baby monitors in a parent group, and you're bound to get at least three recommendations for the Nanit. The smart monitor is ideal for tech-savvy, data-driven caregivers.
The 1080-pixel HD video lets you see the baby through the app with impressive clarity. Plus, the Nanit has a breathing band that tracks breaths per minute to give parents peace of mind (although it shouldn't replace in-person check-ins). The baby monitor also allows for sleep and room-temperature tracking and lets you play white noise to promote restful sleep.
"This app and system are great for so many reasons. 1. I can check on my baby just like any other baby monitor. 2. The background audio lets me hear my baby without needing to constantly stream, so my battery is conserved. 3. The sleep analysis helps me understand how my baby sleeps and recognize any patterns," one happy parent raves.
Best Baby Monitor With Security Features
HelloBaby Monitor With Camera and Audio ($50)
The HelloBaby Monitor makes sure its safety features are front and center. It doesn't use WiFi and comes with encryption technology to protect your family from potential hackers.
Some users wish the battery life and picture quality were better, but the setup is a cinch, the picture is clear, and the $50 price tag is also a draw for price-conscious parents.
"All the features we were looking for at a great price: Ability to hang on the wall, and [has] VOX mode [voice activated exchange, which alerts parents in real time when the baby, or something in their room, makes a noise] was important to us. This works perfectly," one Amazon reviewer notes.
Best Touchscreen Baby Monitor
Hubble Connected Nursery Pal Premium ($180)
This five-inch baby monitor boasts a cool interface with a touchscreen design. The screen will also display room temperature, allow you to select two-way communication or from a library of lullabies, and switch to infrared night vision. Track growth and development and get sleep tips using the app.
"I love that they have the tablet that's included, plus an app that you can download on your phone," one reviewer writes. "On the app, you can close out of it and still hear inside of your baby's room. It has two-way talk games for older babies. You can take photos from the camera."
Best Baby Monitor For Audio Only
VTech DM221 Audio Baby Monitor ($39)
Opting for an audio-only monitor is a good way to trim costs. It also may be more practical, especially if you plan to room share at night, so you don't necessarily need to have eyes on your baby. The crisp audio allows you to hear your baby from 1,000 feet away.
This baby monitor will let you know how loudly your baby is fussing and whether there's too much background noise in their room; it also has a nightlight that lets you handle night feeds without turning on a bright light and fully waking your little one. The two-way talk system lets you soothe your baby while you're on your way to a check-in if they're crying.
Proof is in the parents: nearly 21,000 Amazon reviewers have given this monitor 4.7 stars. "The sound quality is great, in my opinion," one writes. "It's not fuzzy or anything. The range is good, reaches all the way across the house with no issues."
Best Baby Monitor For Toddlers
Eufy Baby Video Baby Monitor With Camera and Audio ($160)
This video monitor has a lens that allows you to see corner to corner and floor to ceiling — perfect for when your little one transitions to a toddler bed and begins moving around the room. Plus, two-way audio allow you to support your baby from afar. Worth noting: previous buyers caution that the battery life is poor.
"So good we bought it twice," one parent writes. "[It's] easy to use — easy enough for the grandparents and babysitters to operate with little explanation, [and has] excellent picture and sound quality. Adding additional cameras and rotating among them is a breeze."
Best Split Option Baby Monitor
Vava Split View 720P Video Baby Monitor With 2 Cameras ($238, originally $280)
Unlike many monitors on the market, the Vava Split includes two cameras — perfect for if you have or plan to have two kids. It also boasts a two-way talk system, although some parents wish the audio were louder so they could hear their babes more easily.
"The quality of the picture on the monitor is unbeatable," one reviewer says. "The screen is much larger than our previous unit, and I am happy with the screen of the monitor in the day or nighttime mode. The split screen is super easy and helpful when trying to access two cameras. It took a bit of setup but has easily become a favorite that we will recommend to friends."
Best Baby Monitor For Clear Sound
Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Video Baby Monitor ($200)
On Amazon, this Infant Optics baby monitor earned a 4.7-star rating, with more than 5,000 reviews. It utilizes a patent-pending active noise reduction feature that nixes background noise like air conditioners, fans, and humidifiers, so you can hear every little peep and pin drop as your baby sleeps (or doesn't).
As for the video, zoom up to six times, and you'll still see your baby clearly in high definition.
"I'm here to say that this monitor is the best of the best. It was incredibly easy to set up and mount on the wall. It literally slides right onto a nail. I have had no issues with the connection, the screen is super clear, and I love that it has volume controls easily accessible right at the top of the parent unit. Also, the noise reduction software is out of this world," one person writes.
