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The 5 Best Baby Monitors
A baby monitor is a great thing to have in the nursery as a way to get a bit of extra peace of mind and keep an eye on your baby as they're napping or sleeping. We have some tips on functions to keep an eye out for when getting a baby monitor as well as some brands that are popular and well loved by users.
How to find the best baby monitor
There are some features you want to keep in mind when choosing a baby monitor for your nursery:
Functions: Does the baby monitor have a talk-back function, is there a built-in night light and can it display the temperature or other information?
Battery: How is the baby monitor powered, how long does it take to charge and does it warn the parent unit if the baby unit is running out of power?
Performance: How good is the connection, how long a range does the baby monitor have and how good is the image/audio quality?
Here are 5 baby monitor models that are a choices for all budgets and needs.
BT Baby Monitor 6000
The BT Video Monitor 6000 is a popular favourite amongst new parents. With a large 5'' display, it is simple to operate and with many great features including two way communication, lullabies and remote pan and tilt functions. The video quality is good however the night vision could be improved, but it is still acceptable. There is also a feature that allows you to read the temperature of the room so you can make sure your baby is sleeping soundly. It is however quite expensive, and doesn't come with as many features as other models, but it also boasts with and advanced security system and claims to be "hack-free".
Pros and cons:
+ Simple and functional
+ Hack-free
+ Big screen, with many good extra features
- Expensive
- Night vision is not great, but acceptable
Owlet Smart Sock 3 Baby Monitor
The Owlet Smart Sock 3 Baby Monitor is a baby monitor with so many features that it's almost a health product. A sock that is put on the child before going to bed measures the blood oxygen level, pulse rate, heart rate and sleep pattern. Everything is logged on the parent’s phone, provided that they have an iOs or Android device.
For those who have experience with heart rate monitoring wristbands such as Garmin or Fitbit, the Owlet Monitor Duo’s features and measurement points are probably not a surprise. But those who have previously tested “normal” baby monitors will definitely have an experience of suddenly monitoring everything from their baby’s sleep patterns to blood oxygen levels. This is a baby monitor that is something out of the ordinary – and we should add that this also applies in terms of price. By dressing your child in a special type of sock, Ownit keeps track of everything from the temperature and sound in the room to the child’s total hours of sleep. Your camcorder is placed next to the bed using the supplied wall mount kit. The sock is connected via Wi-Fi to the video camera and the parent’s phone, and then all you have to do is start measuring.
With the Owlet Monitor Duo, there is no need for a parent unit, as everything is done via the app on the phone. The sock is easy to put on your child, and surprisingly doesn't disturb the child at all, but sometimes it needs to be corrected overnight. This need for correction is announced via an alarm in the app, which stops when you wrap the sock around the child’s ankle. The strap that runs around the ankle and upper part of the foot tends to become slightly stretched over time, but is otherwise easy to keep clean with a normal wet wipe. The Owlet Monitor Duo was particularly appreciated during periods of illness, when parents often become more anxious and want to monitor their baby’s sleep, pulse, and movement more than usual. The picture is clear, even in dark rooms, and can be zoomed in for those who want to take a closer look at their sleeping baby. Both the base station and the app report when the readings are interrupted, and the range is good enough but not impressive.
The Owlet Smart Sock 3 Baby Monitor is definitely a standout baby monitor. The cost is high, but this is an excellent choice for a family that can afford it and wants to keep an eye on their baby via a user-friendly and really smart measuring device.
Pros and cons:
+ Many measuring points
+ User-friendly app
+ Fast charging
- Requires Wi-Fi
- Expensive
- Sometimes the app is slow
Summer infant Sure Sight 2.0
The Summer infant Sure Sight 2.0 baby monitor is a smaller and a bit more simple baby monitor, with a smaller 2.4'' screen this monitor is easy to bring with you. It has a great daytime camera and a decent night vision. It comes equipped with sound activated LED lights that helps you "see" when your baby is making any noise. A big downside is that there is no two way communication, and the price is somewhat pricey for what you get.
Pros and cons:
+ Sound activated LED lights
+ Range of up to 240 metres
+ Great daytime picture quality
- No two way communication
- Night vision is not great, but acceptable
Philips Avent DECT baby monitor SCD506
The Philips Avent SCD506 is the long-awaited sequel to the SCD505, and lives up to Philips' claim that this is a great model that’s now been made even better. However, the fact that the parent unit drains the battery very quickly is one area that still hasn’t been improved. So we still recommend that the parent unit is primarily used plugged into the mains. This is entirely possible because two charger cables are included with the baby monitor, so batteries are never really needed with the SCD506. If you want to be more mobile as regards where the baby and child are located, however, that’s where the battery comes into its own.
In everyday life with small children, the Philips Avent baby monitor is pretty easy to use. The buttons are convenient and quiet when pressed, the range is very good and the monitor has all the functions you could wish for. Even functions such as a night light and lullabies, which some may consider unnecessary, are available on the baby unit at the push of a button. Both sound and light indications are clear. The only incomprehensible thing is why the parent unit has to be so loud when you turn it off. If this is to prevent it from being done involuntarily, it makes sense, but even then a slightly lower volume would suffice. The Philips Avent SCD506 is a baby monitor you can understand even if you haven’t read the instruction manual, which is great news for grandparents who may be babysitting for an evening. This, together with the many good functions, makes the SCD506 very good value.
Pros and cons:
+ Good range
+ Very easy to use
+ Lots of functions
+ Two charger cables included
- The parent unit consumes battery quickly
- Really loud shut-off signal
The Beurer BY 84 Baby Monitor
The Beurer BY 84 is a compact analogue baby monitor. The monitor comes with two AC adapters and also includes three rechargeable batteries – which is enough for one of the devices. It’s recommended that they are used in the parent unit, as the baby unit is often the one that’s left stationary beside the child. The units are confusingly similar, but are distinguished by the fact that the baby unit has a yellow antenna and the parent unit has a white one. To ensure the baby monitor can function without interference, you can choose between several different channels inside the battery compartment – of course both units must be set to the same channel. The range is good and after two months of daily use in three different homes, the baby monitor never once lost contact.
This isn’t a baby monitor for those who want fun features. The baby unit has no night light or lullabies. The parent unit lacks a talk-back function and the sound transmitted through is relatively crunchy. If you have a child who can speak, their words won’t be clear. But it does respond quickly to sounds. The display lights up and an icon with a crying baby appears. When everything is quiet, an icon of a sleeping baby appears on a dimmed screen. The only function that’s a bit questionable is the fact that the baby unit also lights up when it detects sound. If you have a child who makes noise in their sleep, the fact that the baby monitor suddenly, albeit briefly, lights up with a strong blue light may wake the child up. Otherwise, this is a straightforward baby monitor which informs you very reliably as soon as your child wakes up. And since that’s essentially what you want a monitor for, you’ll be more than satisfied with the flexible, affordable Beurer BY 84.
Pros and cons:
+ Flexible format
+ Easy to take on trips
+ Reliable
+ Easy to understand
- Slightly muddled sound
- Screen on the baby unit lights up when it detects sound
More Popular Baby Monitor Brands
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