These are the best baby monitors money can buy and here's why
Best baby monitors tried-and-tested including Vtech, Nanit, Owlet, and Angelcare
The best baby monitors play an important part in helping both you and your baby to sleep soundly. But which one to choose? We've tested a range of monitors - including smart monitors and wearables - to bring you this roundup of the best baby monitors to buy in 2023.
A baby monitor is one of the most important pieces of baby kit you could buy, right up there with the best pram or the best car seat. From tracking your baby's sleep pattern to monitoring their movement and breathing, they aren’t just useful for keeping an eye on sleeping newborns either - many parents continue using a baby monitor during the toddler years when they're useful for keeping tabs on youngsters when they climb out of bed in the middle of the night.
Whether you use one to watch your little one sleep (bliss...), to listen out for the signs that they’re stirring from a nap, or for reassurance that all is well, the best baby monitors act like an extra pair of eyes and ears, helping to take a little of the mental load away from mums and dads.
Best baby monitors at-a-glance
- Best baby monitor overall: VTech RM7767HD
- Best premium buy: Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor & Floor Stand
- Best movement monitor: Angelcare Ac327 3-in-1 Monitor
- Best for image quality: Kodak Cherish C525 Video Baby Monitor
- Best wearable baby monitor: Owlet Baby Monitor Duo
The best baby monitors
Best overall
Packed with useful features that we'd expect on a premium monitor - including colour night vision, temperature monitoring, and tilt, zoom, and 360° pan functionality - yet significantly cheaper than many smart monitors, this is our pick of the best baby monitor to buy in 2023.
Buy it if: You want a smart baby monitor that you can access via your phone. 'I like the fact that it comes with a smart app that I can access on my phone,' says our tester. 'It gives you free live remote access to the camera so I can keep a close eye on Logan at all times - even when I'm out and he's with a babysitter.' It also has adjustable tilt, zoom, and 360° pan functionality, so you won't miss a thing during naps or at night.
Don't buy it if: You want to spend less time on your phone and you're not really into smart gadgets. You do have the option to use the parent unit with this monitor if you would prefer not to use your phone to view footage from your baby's room but there's little point choosing a smart monitor if you're not likely to use the smartphone functionality - you're better off with a simpler model that you access via the parent unit.
Read our full VTech RM7767HD Smart 7-inch Video Baby Monitor review
Best smart monitor
The Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor is an expensive option so it won't appeal to everyone but it's one of the best baby monitors you can buy if you're looking for a premium smart monitor with an array of features that you won't find on less expensive devices.
Buy it if: You're happy to download an app and pair the camera with your smartphone, where you'll be able to view high-res images and video footage. It's also a good choice if you like the idea of your partner or perhaps the baby's grandparents being able to view the camera too, as you can add multiple users but it's data encrypted for security.
Don't buy it if: You're not interested in analysing your child's data and just want a simple baby monitor. 'The insights on how well your baby has slept and for how long could be very useful if you're trying to establish a good sleep routine,' says our tester. 'The app also tracks developmental milestones - including baby's height - and collates all the information in a digital scrapbook. This could be lovely to look back on as it's hard to remember much when you're sleep-deprived in the early days.'
Read our full Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor review
Best movement monitor
We've named this the best budget baby monitor you can buy. For significantly less cash than other monitors, it comes with everything you need to keep tabs on your baby - plus the addition of a reliable movement sensor for further peace of mind.
Buy it if: Tracking your baby's breathing is important to you but you'd rather not attach a wearable device to your baby. The movement sensor can be placed under the cot mattress and tracks your baby’s chest as it rises and falls, as well as every wriggle and turn so you know how your baby is sleeping at all times. The alarm on the parent unit sounds after 20 seconds of no movement, and our tester reported zero false alarms.
Don't buy it if: Super-sharp high-resolution camera footage is your number one priority - other monitors do that better, although this one does a more than adequate job of giving you a clear picture of your baby in real time. The zoom and pan camera gives a good view of your baby and the large full-colour LCD display on the parent unit has easy-to-use touch controls.
Read our full Angelcare Ac327 3-in-1 Baby Movement Monitor review
Best image quality
With the ability to view video footage of your baby on both the five-inch parent unit and on a smart app on your phone or tablet, this monitor has rechargeable batteries and WiFi connectivity so you can use it freely around the house or take it with you on holiday.
Buy it if: Picture quality is your priority. ‘As it’s made by Kodak we expected the image to be great quality and it was, particularly at night due to infrared night vision,’ says our tester. ‘Additionally, you can take photos using the app, which is a nice feature when your little one is sleeping in a funny position and you want to capture the moment.’
Don't buy it if: You're not likely to use the tilt, pan, and zoom functionality as these features make this monitor stand out from others, along with the vox function - which lets you talk to your baby from another room - and is 'invaluable' according to our tester. 'The ability to turn down the sensitivity setting means you aren’t disturbed every time your child moves or if they are a noisy sleeper - which Oli most definitely is,' she says.
Read our full Kodak Cherish C525 Video Baby Monitor review
Best wearable monitor
The Owlet Monitor Duo+ combines the Smart Sock - which your baby wears while sleeping - and the new Owlet Cam which tracks your child's heart rate, oxygen level, and sleep trends with HD video.
Buy it if: You're happy for your baby to wear the sock provided and don't mind running the monitor via an app on your phone. The camera then needs to be positioned at the optimum height so you can see your baby clearly. Finally, you need to download the Owlet Care app and link your smartphone to the camera.
Don't buy it if: You're not an avid phone user - unlike our tester. 'It's really handy having the dedicated Owlet app on my phone and I like the fact that it will send you notifications if it detects movement or sound,' she says. 'This is useful when my phone is on mute. I found the sock readings really interesting and I think it would be really useful if you have a poorly baby as you can see the heart rate and oxygen levels clearly.'
Read our full Owlet Duo Smart Sock + Cam review
Best for 360° view
The digital feed on the Babymoov YOO Moov baby monitor goes straight to the 4.3-inch parent unit so it's a brilliant buy if you're keen to avoid a baby monitor that relies on you having the accompanying app or smartphone.
Buy it if: You just want a basic but reliable video monitor rather than a smart model that doesn't rely on using your phone as the parent unit. It's sometimes the case that a basic monitor offers basic image quality but that's not a problem with this one - our tester found the picture quality sharp and says it offered a good view of the child.
Don't buy it if: You don't really need a 360-degree view of your baby's room as that's its main selling point. Our tester thinks this is the best baby monitor if you have siblings sharing a room and want to keep tabs on both kids simultaneously. 'It's easy to see them wriggling around or, hopefully, sleeping soundly. The camera moves almost silently so I didn't worry about it waking Oli up - this is particularly reassuring if you have a baby that stirs at the slightest noise.'
Read our full Babymoov YOO Moov Video Baby Monitor review
Best for analytics
Designed to monitor children up to five years old, this camera provides a high-definition video stream of your child directly to a dedicated smart app on your phone or tablet and will alert you if they move or make a sound. Should your child’s face become covered or if they roll over in their sleep, you'll receive alerts directly to your smartphone.
Buy it if: Tracking sleep data and movement is important to you. The app tracks your baby's every move throughout the night so you can easily get to know their sleep routine. For older children, the app can alert you if your child has moved from a certain ‘safe’ zone in your home. For instance, if your child was about to enter the kitchen, you would get an instant notification on your smartphone.
Don't buy it if: You're not keen on techy gadgets. Our tester found the setup process time-consuming but the camera was quick to pair to the app on his smartphone. 'But the first night we used it, the camera disconnected and wouldn’t reconnect and this was frustrating,' he adds. 'However, I think it was something to do with our WiFi connection. Once it was paired up again I was able to access a live video stream with a chronological display of auto-captured photos and videos as Arlo moved around throughout the night.’
Read our full Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor review
Best for versatility
With a parent unit that has an impressive 300m wireless connectivity range, this monitor delivers high-definition footage directly to your smartphone. The remote pan, tilt, and zoom feature means you can control the angle of the camera from your smartphone or the parent unit, while infrared night vision gives you a clear view of your child when night falls.
Buy it if: You want the flexibility of choosing whether to view the camera's footage on the parent app or on your smartphone. We also like that you can flip down a shutter on the camera to temporarily block live stream footage. A flashlight on the back of the parent unit is a nice touch and gives instant light when it’s dark.
Don't buy it if: You're not likely to use the musical features or take advantage of its flexibility. ‘I like that I don't have to worry about downloading the app on the babysitter's or my mum's phone when they are looking after Noah,' explains our tester. 'I also think it has a good range of lullabies, white noise, and stories you can play to soothe baby. In particular, Noah liked the Hubble version of Twinkle Twinkle.' The parent unit also doubles up as an ‘interactive baby tablet’.
Read our full Hubble Connected Nursery Pal Premium review
Best non-smart monitor
Like the Angelcare AC327, the Tommee Tippee Dreamee Sound, Motion, and Video Baby Monitor features a movement sensor pad. It also has the functionality to play lullabies and sounds to soothe your baby, along with tilt, pan, and zoom functionality. Additionally, the night light works automatically when the light level falls.
Buy it if: You're looking for a simple but effective baby monitor with lots of useful features but without needing to use your smartphone to view the footage. Our tester found the settings on the parent unit intuitive to use and could customise how she viewed all the information, choosing easily between the six lullabies and nature sounds. 'It even has a feeding reminder, which would be particularly useful during the newborn stage of parenthood,' she adds.
Don't buy it if: You'd prefer a baby monitor with smart capabilty. 'That's the only thing this monitor lacks, so you can't get information directly to a smartphone unfortunately - it's only accessible via the parent unit,' says our tester. That said she thinks it's a good buy. ‘I like the reassurance the sensor mat provides and the fact that the camera isn’t too noisy and only transmits when the baby makes a sound.'
Read our full Tommee Tippee Dreamee Sound, Motion & Video Baby Monitor review
Best baby monitor: what to consider
- Sound and image quality - If you’re investing in a video monitor, go for one with the best quality camera you can afford and make sure it has night vision for dark, wintry nights. Tilt, pan, and zoom functionality is a useful extra if you’re likely to have two children sleeping in one room as you can scan the room rather than view just one fixed point.
- Wall mount - Baby monitor wires must be kept out of your baby’s reach as they are a safety hazard. A wall-mounted monitor is a good solution but you’ll need the DIY skills to affix the mount to the wall. If you choose a free-standing baby monitor, make sure you place the baby unit out of reach - on a shelf or on a changing unit beside the cot is the ideal spot.
- Mains v batteries - Most baby monitors plug into the wall so consider where the power source is in your baby’s room. The parent unit is usually battery-operated so you can move freely between rooms with it, but check the battery life. If you’re the kind of person who forgets to charge your phone, avoid choosing a baby monitor that needs daily charging.
- Range - Most monitors have ample range but do check the maximum range for the signal to be sure that it will work reliably if you’re downstairs or in the garden when your baby is asleep or napping. The best baby monitor for a small flat might not be the most practical for a detached house, depending on the range.
- WiFi connection - If you choose a monitor that needs to connect to your Wi-Fi, make sure your connection is secure and up to the task. The advantage of this type of monitor is that you can view the video footage from your phone even when you’re out and a babysitter is in charge - but on the other hand, not everyone wants to feel tied to their phone when they’re away from their baby.
- Extra features - From talkback - so you can soothe your baby via the parent unit from another room using your voice - to music, white noise, and nightlights, many baby monitors have lots of additional features built-in. These can be a real boon or a waste of money depending on whether you'll actually use them. Think about the features you need and don't spend money on extras that don't add real value.
Which type of baby monitor is best for you?
There are three main types of baby monitors so take some to think about the functionality that is most important to you. For example, there's little point in buying a smart monitor if your phone is always out of battery because you'll need your phone to view the footage. Equally, a movement monitor offers peace of mind to parents who like the idea of being alerted if their baby stops breathing, while other parents find the risk of a false alarm just causes worry. Familiarise yourself with the different types of monitors before you choose which one is best for you.
- Wearable baby monitors - These hi-tech devices are attached to your baby, usually via an item of clothing such as a sock. They collect a range of data and send it to a dedicated app on your smartphone so that you can track all sorts of data from your baby's heart rate and breathing to their movement and sleep pattern.
- Video monitors - As well as capturing audio, a video monitor captures live footage via an in-built camera and streams it to either a dedicated app on your smartphone or to a separate parent unit with a screen. Most parents choose video monitors over audio-only models as they like to be able to see their baby sleeping, rather than just hear when they wake. A video monitor is a handy way to peek at your baby without having to enter their room to check on them, which might startle them awake.
- Audio-only monitors - This is the most basic (and therefore affordable) baby monitor. It consists of a baby unit that you place beside your baby’s cot which picks up sound, such as your baby's cries, and transmits that sound to a separate parent unit that you keep near you. Audio-only monitors are handy if your baby naps or sleeps in a different room from you and you’re concerned that you might not hear them when they stir or cry out.
Our review process
Our Deputy Editor Heidi Scrimgeour came up with a shortlist of baby monitors based on her product knowledge and industry research. She looked at the latest offering from the market-leading brands - and as a mum of three and a parenting journalist for 17 years, what she doesn't know about baby products isn't worth knowing.
Next, she selected the final product line-up from a broad range of price points so there's a best baby monitor recommendation here to suit all budgets and needs. Then, we called on our pool of reliable parent testers and assigned each of them a baby monitor to review with their baby. They tested the product rigorously for at least ten days.
We ask our parent testers to give each product a rating out of five for overall performance. We also ask for comprehensive feedback on key factors including design appeal, functionality (how easy is it to set up and start using), reliability, value for money, and how easy each baby monitor is to operate. We used our testers' feedback to create this buying guide and the accompanying in-depth product reviews to help you choose the best baby monitor for your needs and budget.
Read more about how we test and why you can rely on our guidance.
If you’re kitting out the nursery and dreaming of sleep, check out our guide to the best Moses baskets, and the best bedside cribs once you've chosen the best baby monitor. We've also got expert advice on baby sleep training, and shopping guides on how to choose the best baby sleeping bags and the best baby sleep aids. Sweet dreams!
Heidi Scrimgeour is a mum of three and an experienced parenting and lifestyle journalist. She originally wrote this buying guide in 2020 before joining Goodto as Consumer Editor in 2021. In June 2023 Heidi rewrote this guide, refreshing the advice on how to choose the best baby monitor and adding some new baby monitor reviews.
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As a parenting specialist for more than 15 years, Heidi has written for most national newspapers and for a wide range of consumer magazines, including Mother & Baby where she was the Shopping Editor for six years, looking after regular consumer features including buying guides and gift roundups.
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