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."
