The best baby monitors have:

  • Reliable transmission with minimal interference: To work effectively, the monitor must be able to pick up sound in baby's room and transmit it to the parent unit without undue static, sudden loss of connection or picking up other signals within its usable range.
  • Clear sound and movement sensitivity: Monitors must have enough sound sensitivity and visual clarity to deliver clear signals to parents; i.e., parents should be able to distinguish a cry from a coo and tell if a child's eyes are open or closed on a video monitor.
  • Easy to use: All monitors should be simple to set up out of the box, and have alert signals that let the parent know if the connection is lost, they are out of range, battery power is low, etc. Controls should be intuitive and quiet so as not to wake a sleeping baby.

Know Before You Go

What is the potential for interference in your home? Before you choose a monitor, consider what wireless devices you are currently using as well as potential interference coming from your immediate surroundings. Common culprits for interference include wireless phones, cell phones, Wi-Fi routers and even microwave ovens. If you live in a densely populated area or an apartment building, the potential for signal interference increases. In that case, go with a digital monitor with DECT technology. If you live in the middle of nowhere, an analog monitor will work just fine.

What level of monitoring you want/need? If you want to be able to see your baby's every move, it may be worth purchasing a high-quality video monitor. If you are losing sleep from anxiety about SIDS, a movement monitor may ease your mind. For some parents, having a monitor that only alerts them for sound is sufficient. If you work away from home and/or have an iPhone, you may appreciate the level of connectedness a smartphone compatible monitor provides.

When you will rely on the monitor the most? Monitors function differently during the day than they do at night. To sleep soundly, some parents may not want to hear every subtle move their baby makes in the crib, or they may be bothered if the monitor transmits white noise from a fan or air-conditioner. If you fall in this category, a voice activation feature will be a must. Parents who are busy vacuuming may want a monitor that has a vibrate mode and/or sound signal lights. Parents with large backyards should look for a good long range monitor. Parents who work outside the home may want to be able to check in with their child at any time of day with a monitor that connects to the Internet.

Features that you may want to consider.

After you've decided on an overall type of monitor -- consider extra features that may or may not be important for you:

  • One or two parent receivers: An extra parent unit is useful, especially for two-story houses. One unit can remain downstairs and the other upstairs. Some baby monitors allow you to add a second receiver later if you need it.
  • Talk back to baby intercom: Sound transmission isn't a one-way street anymore. Many monitors allow you to talk to your baby from the parent unit. Some parents report that they use this feature to sooth their baby. Some parents use this feature to remind toddlers to get back in bed.
  • Lullabies and nightlights: Some monitors have nightlights that can be a handy way to sooth baby and also keep lighting soft and sleep friendly during diaper changes. Lullabies on the monitor can also be a nice way to ease a baby to sleep.

Value Expectations: The dollars and cents of it

With the cost of a baby monitor ranging from $15 for the most basic analog monitor to $300-plus for the most advanced, a few considerations may save you money. If you're going to carry the parent unit around, be sure to find a monitor with rechargeable batteries that are well-rated for battery life. Poorly performing batteries tick up the cost quickly. Also, pay attention to the warranty. Most monitors are warranted for a year. Anything less is not a good bargain. Finally, when it comes to connection and interference, technology counts. Analog and lesser digital monitors do not perform as well as DECT.  

Buying Tactics and Strategies

  • Keep the receipt: Even the highest-rated baby monitors don't work for everyone. It's not uncommon to meet parents who tried four or five monitors before they found one that could co-exist with their other electronics.
  • Buy online from trusted retailers: Amazon.com, BabiesRUs.com, and other online retailers often offer monitors at deep discounts simply due to overstocking and other promotions. These discounts are not an indication of low quality.
  • Don't buy a monitor that hasn't got a warranty of at least one-year or more. One common complaint on consumer review sites is monitors that quit working after a few months, or video monitors with degrading images. A 90-day warranty isn't enough.

What's to Come

Baby monitors are linked to the technologies that drive our culture of instant and remote access to information. Wireless technology has allowed parents to step farther and farther away from the nursery while still keeping a sense of connection. But this is a double-edged sword. The increasing digital noise in our environments is likely to render analog monitors obsolete. While the technology still has kinks to work out, smartphone integrated monitors that work with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G/4G networks are likely to be the wave of the future.

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