Buying guide
How to choose a baby monitor
Do you need a monitor? The difference between audio, video with its own parent unit and Wi-Fi cameras, what it means for your family’s privacy, and four options.
In short
- In a small flat, with the doors open, you may not need a monitor at all.
- A DECT audio monitor is simple, has a long range and doesn’t go through the internet.
- Wi-Fi cameras are convenient, but need a good password, two-factor authentication and updates.
- No consumer monitor is a medical device, and none prevents sudden infant death.
The baby monitor is the item on the list that parents have the most divided opinions about: some couldn’t imagine the first months without one, others used theirs three times. Both camps are right, because it depends almost entirely on the home you live in.
Do you need one?
Probably not, if you live in a flat with two or three rooms and your baby sleeps in your bedroom, as is recommended in the first months. A crying baby can be heard through a half-open door.
Probably yes, if:
- you live in a two-storey house or one with thick walls;
- your baby naps at lunchtime in another room, and you work with headphones on or go out into the garden;
- you want to be able to see, without going into the room, whether they have woken up or are just wriggling.
If you’re not sure, don’t buy one before the birth. It’s one of the things that can arrive the next day, if it turns out you need it.
The three families of monitors
| Type | How it transmits | Main advantage | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio (DECT) | Direct radio link, on the cordless phone band | Simple, long range, long battery | You can’t see your baby |
| Video with a parent unit | Direct radio link on 2.4 GHz, encrypted | Picture without internet and without an account | Shorter range through walls; small screen |
| Wi-Fi camera with an app | Through your home router and the manufacturer’s servers | See from anywhere, on your phone | Depends on the internet and on the security of your account |
There are also hybrid models, with a parent unit and an app, as well as monitors with sensors for movement or breathing.
What matters when choosing
- The real range. The figures in the specifications are measured in open air. Through a concrete floor and two walls, the range drops a lot. If you have a big house, buy from somewhere you can return it.
- The parent unit’s battery. The differences are big: from a few hours with the screen on to more than a day with the audio models.
- VOX mode (sound activation). The screen and speaker only switch on when your baby makes a noise. Without it, you’ll listen to a hiss all night.
- Night vision and a room temperature sensor – useful, not essential.
- No features you don’t need. Lullabies and a star projector don’t make the monitor better.
If you choose a Wi-Fi camera
A camera connected to the internet in your child’s room should be treated like any connected device:
- Choose a known manufacturer that publishes security updates.
- Set a unique, long password on the app account and turn on two-factor authentication.
- Change your router’s default password and keep its software up to date.
- Check what is stored in the cloud and whether the features you need require a subscription.
If the list above seems tiring, a monitor without Wi-Fi is the calmer choice.
Where to put it
The camera and the power cable go at least one metre from the cot, so that your child can’t reach the cable even when standing up. Never put the baby unit in the cot or on its edge.
Four options
We haven’t tested these monitors; we chose them as representative examples of each type, based on the manufacturers’ specifications.
Philips Avent DECT SCD502
Budget-friendlyWho it suits: parents who just want to hear when their child wakes, without screens, accounts or apps.
A good audio monitor is, for many families, all they need. It wakes you when it should and doesn’t keep your eyes on a screen when it shouldn’t.
Pros
- DECT technology: a direct link, without the internet and without interference with your Wi-Fi
- Long range for a house with an upper floor, according to the manufacturer
- Parent unit with long battery life
- Night light and a light indicator of the sound level
Cons
- No picture
- No extra features, such as a temperature sensor, on the basic model
- The baby unit has to stay plugged in
Motorola VM36 XL
Mid-rangeWho it suits: parents who want a picture, but don’t want their child’s room connected to the internet.
The classic video monitor format: take it out of the box, plug it in, it works. Grandparents and the babysitter can use it without you giving them access to any account.
Pros
- Parent unit with a large 5-inch screen
- Direct link between the camera and the screen, without Wi-Fi and without an account
- Night vision and two-way communication
- Starts up straight away, with no apps to install
Cons
- You can’t see the picture when you’re away from home
- Battery life with the screen on all the time is limited
- Range drops noticeably through thick walls
Lollipop Baby Camera
Mid-rangeWho it suits: parents who want to see their child on their phone, including when they are with the grandparents or the babysitter.
A Wi-Fi camera designed especially for a child’s room. Before buying, check exactly what you get without a subscription and follow the security steps above.
Pros
- Flexible silicone leg that attaches to furniture without drilling
- Picture on your phone, from anywhere with internet
- Cry detection and audio-only playback in the background
- Can be used by several family members
Cons
- Depends on Wi-Fi and on the manufacturer’s servers
- Some features and the recording history may require a subscription
- Your phone becomes the parent unit, with its own notifications and battery
Philips Avent Connected SCD921
PremiumWho it suits: families who want both a dedicated screen at home and access from their phone when they’re away.
The hybrid option reconciles the two worlds, at a matching cost. It makes sense if you know you will actually use both modes.
Pros
- Parent unit with a direct link, plus a phone app
- Works at home even if the internet goes down
- Temperature sensor, night light and soothing sounds
- Manufacturer with a long track record in this category
Cons
- Costs a lot compared with a simple video monitor
- The app side still needs the usual care with accounts and passwords
- More features mean more settings to set up
Our recommendation
Start without a monitor and see if you miss it. If you do, for most homes a DECT audio monitor or a video monitor with its own unit, without Wi-Fi, is the simplest and calmest choice: it works straight away, doesn’t depend on the internet and doesn’t add an account to look after.
Choose a Wi-Fi camera only if you have a concrete reason – you want to see your child when you’re away – and you’re willing to set it up carefully. And as for monitors with sensors, buy them, if you want them, knowing exactly what they are: a gadget, not a safety measure.
Frequently asked questions
Is a monitor necessary if the baby sleeps in the same room as the parents?
In the first months, when your baby sleeps in your room in an ordinary flat, a monitor is not necessary. You can easily hear them through the half-open door. It becomes useful if you live in a two-storey house, if you work from home in a distant room, or for daytime naps.
What is safer for privacy: a dedicated video monitor (without Wi-Fi) or a camera on the internet?
A dedicated monitor with its own parent unit uses a direct local radio frequency (2.4 GHz FHSS) and doesn’t connect to the internet, which completely removes the risk of a cyber attack from outside. Wi-Fi cameras give you access from your smartphone from anywhere, but need unique passwords, two-factor authentication and constant software updates.
Can monitors with a breathing sensor prevent sudden infant death (SIDS)?
No. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states clearly that commercial cardiorespiratory monitors do not prevent sudden infant death syndrome and can cause false alarms or an unjustified relaxation of parents’ vigilance. The only proven prevention measures are strict safe sleep rules.
How far from the cot should the camera or the baby unit be placed?
The camera and the power cable should be mounted at least 1 metre from any part of the cot, to completely remove the risk of entanglement or strangulation. Never place cables on the bars of the cot.
Think it could help someone else?
Send the guide to your partner or to a friend who is expecting a baby.