Digital Baby Monitors

Newer DECT baby monitors get the least interference

The biggest problems with baby monitors have always been static and interference. Interference can be particularly problematic. Because the majority of baby monitors are still analog monitors, they can easily pick up nearby signals on the same bandwidth. Parents report hearing their neighbor's baby through their own monitor -- or worse, hearing neighbors' conversations. Some people report that they can often hear cell-phone, CB radio or cordless phone conversations through their baby monitor. And of course, if you can hear your neighbors, there's a good chance they can hear you.

Reviewers say there's really no absolute way to tell unless you actually try a baby monitor in your house, so save your receipt. Nearly all baby monitors operate on a 49 MHz, 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz frequencies. The trouble is that many other electronics (wireless networks and cordless phones, for example) are also using these bandwidths. Some experts recommend checking the frequency of other wireless devices in your home (particularly cordless phones). This information is often found on the package or in the instruction manual. Depending on the electronic devices in your own home and the homes around you, there could be a great deal of variance in the success of any particular baby monitor you purchase. Selecting a monitor on a different frequency can often solve some of the static and interference issues. Digital monitors scramble the signal, but they still operate on the same frequencies and are subject to interference. In 2007, the Federal Communications Commission approved a new bandwidth for voice-only communications, and the new 1.9 GHz frequency -- also called DECT (digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications) -- is now available in cordless phones and a few baby monitors.

Although a few sources have raised concerns about DECT monitors as a source of harmful electromagnetic energy, the general consensus among experts seems to be that any electronic radiation emitted by these baby monitors is well below the established safe household levels. DECT monitors emit the same sort of pulsed electromagnetic energy as cell phones. As with most electronics, however, experts also say it makes sense not to place them directly into your child's bed or immediately next to your child's head. In fact, most manufacturers of baby monitors recommend that all monitors and cords -- analog or digital -- be placed at least three feet away from a child.

At the time of this update, Phillips was the only brand in the U.S. widely producing baby monitors that operate on the DECT frequency. One noteworthy pick, the Philips Avent SCD510 DECT Baby Monitor (*Est. $100) is the still the most popular and most basic (and therefore least expensive) of the models. The SCD510 has been on the market for a few years now, the subject of many professional tests and several hundred user reviews. It's the top pick at Babble.com, where editors say it's the best choice if you're concerned about interference. Aside from the usual baby monitor features (a sound/light indicator, volume control and charging station for the parent unit), the Philips baby monitor also has some nice extras, including auto channel switching (to find the clearest signal), a walkie-talkie feature and indicators for low-battery and out of range. Sensitivity control also allows you to adjust for ambient noise like an air conditioner or humidifier.

Hundreds of user-written reviews from sites like Amazon.com, Target.com and ToysRUs.com also indicate that parents are highly satisfied with the Philips baby monitor. Parents report that the SCD510 eliminates virtually all interference; it's also compact with an attractive design. Many parents also comment on the automatic channel-switching feature -- they do not have to waste time manually fiddling with the receiver trying to find the clearest channel. One drawback to the SCD510 is its comparatively high price, although most owners say this model is well worth the money. We did read a few scattered complaints at Amazon.com that its cradles don't always work to recharge the batteries and the volume on the parent unit can be too low.

Two other Phillips baby monitors use DECT technology, and they're similar to the Philips Avent SCD510 DECT Baby Monitor but include some extra features, accompanied by a higher price tag, that most consumers find unnecessary. The Philips Avent SCD520 DECT Baby Monitor (*Est. $120) is essentially identical to the SCD510, except that it has an LED screen, room-temperature readout and a lullaby function. The recently introduced Phillips Avent SCD525 DECT Baby Monitor (*Est. $150) has one additional feature -- an energy-saver mode which can be turned on to lower energy consumption and reduce the transmission power of the monitor. The Phillips Avent SCD530 DECT Baby Monitor (*Est. $150) also has the LED screen, temperature readout and recorded lullabies, but adds a sensor that reports the humidity level in the room.

There are virtually no other DECT baby monitors available. VTech at one point offered the VTech Crystal Sounds Digital Baby Monitor (*Est. $50), which was sold as the VTech Clear Sounds monitor in Europe. Unfortunately, this model is no longer available.

900 MHz and 2.4 GHz digital baby monitors

Digital monitors of any frequency (whether DECT or not) are an improvement when it comes to interference and eavesdropping. Non-DECT digital monitors operate on the 2.4 GHz or 900 MHz frequencies. If you have had trouble in the past with picking up neighbors' telephone conversations, you'll want a digital baby monitor. There is one catch, however. Where older cordless phones often used the 49 MHz frequency, many models operate on 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz. Plus, Wi-Fi networks also work on the 2.4 GHz band. While digital monitors receive, by and large, better reviews than traditional analog baby monitors, they are still prone to some interference and static -- particularly when families have many wireless electronics. DECT baby monitors, while more expensive, eliminate all interference issues stemming from competing household electronics. These baby monitors operate on the little-used 1.9 GHz frequency. Unfortunately, as previously discussed, there are very few companies that produce baby monitors with DECT technology.

In most homes, a digital baby monitor operating on the 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz frequencies will be sufficient in reducing static and interference. Luckily, this category of baby monitors is much more saturated than the DECT monitor market, giving families plenty of options to find the right baby monitor for them.

Recently, Summer Infant replaced its popular-but-flawed Summer Infant Secure Sounds model (now discontinued) with the Slim & Clear Digital Audio Monitor (*Est. $50). The 2.4 GHz Slim & Clear Digital Audio Monitor features volume control, visual sound lights and a rechargeable battery. User-generated reviews are generally positive -- particularly compared to alternate digital monitors. Parents appreciate the stellar audio clarity. However, some reviewers do note that the bright blinking light is annoying and that the baby monitor wasn't very durable. The Slim & Clear baby monitor also comes in a dual version (*Est. $80).

Top baby-gear brands Graco, Fisher-Price and Safety 1^st also offer digital baby monitors. Graco's three digital monitors, the iMonitor (*Est. $60 for one receiver, $80 for two receivers)), Secure Coverage (*Est. $45 for one receiver, $65 for two receivers), and Direct Connect (*Est. $60 for one receiver, $90 for two receivers) all earn mixed reviews. Each Graco baby monitor is fairly similar, featuring vibration to alert parents in the case that the monitor cannot be heard. While the audio quality is good, each baby monitor is docked in user reviews for short battery life and overall quality.

Fisher-Price offers the far less popular Talk to Baby Digital Monitor (Est. $50 single, $65 dual). The baby monitor features an intercom, nap time, rechargeable batteries and low-battery and out of range indicators. There are few reviews of this model, but those that do exist are fairly negative. Reviewers say that audio clarity and sensitivity are fine, but that the baby monitor is bulky, breaks quickly and has a decided buzz that emits from the parent unit.

Saftey 1^st's Comfort Zone is known for its temperature monitor function. Unfortunately, it receives poor reviews, with parents saying that it is difficult to operate, in addition to staticky audio quality.

The Motorola Digital Baby Monitor (*Est. $50) is one of the newer audio-only digital baby monitors on the market. The product receives surprisingly high reviews from several parents on Amazon.com and an average 4 out of 5 stars (very high for this category of baby monitors). Several reviewers note that after trying many different baby monitors, the Motorola baby monitor is the only one with limited static and long durability. Reviewers also note that at a low $50, it is a budget-friendly purchase.

Baby monitor smartphone apps

If you only need a baby monitor occasionally, About.com's Robin Elise Weiss reviews BabyPhone app (*Est. $2), which allows parents to turn their iPhone into a baby monitor. Essentially, the app lets you turn your iPhone into a receiver unit; when your baby stirs or cries, the phone's microphone picks up the sound and alerts parents by automatically calling another phone number. Weiss determines this app is a viable baby monitor alternative to those who only use their baby monitors once in a while or for family travel.

Parents magazine also weighed in, selecting the BabyPhone as one of the top apps for parents. Additionally, there is quite a buzz about this app among tech-blogging moms. Many say that they enjoy the app's ability to work with the iPhone's ultra-sensitive microphone. Parents can select how sensitive they want the microphone to be so that just a little or a lot of noise is registered before the alarm is rung. Baby Monitor for iPhone (*Est. $5) is another option. There are also similar apps for BlackBerry and Android phones that might be worth a try.

More recently, Withings announced that it will be releasing the first video baby phone in September 2011. The device allows you to watch your baby directly from your iPhone, iPad, iTouch and Android -- there's no parent receiver unit, just a camera unit. There are no reviews on this product yet.