Baby Monitors : Ratings of Sources

The editors of BabyGearLab.com test eight popular video baby monitors, subjecting them to a range of tests that include range, sound clarity, video quality and battery life. The monitors are also compared by ease of use and features. The editors then select the best overall and best value, and they suggest ways to monitor baby using an iPhone. BabyGearLab.com's product reviews are highly descriptive and detailed, going through each monitor feature by feature and discussing how it faired during testing.

Babble.com editors chose 11 monitors for their best monitors of 2012 roundup. Monitors were tested in up to four different homes for clarity, ease of use, battery life, range and unusual features. In addition to editor's picks, there are reader's choice awards. Pick are made in the categories of best video monitor, audio monitor, basic monitor, value monitor, bells and whistles monitor, multipurpose monitor, working parent monitor, iPhone addict monitor, movement monitor and top readers choice monitor. Babble.com also includes reviews of the top eight readers choice monitors.

As one of the largest online retailers in the U.S. with a long-standing tradition of collecting user reviews, Amazon.com offers a wealth of user feedback on current and popular baby monitors. We were able to find numerous reviews of most monitors covered in this report. Amazon.com user reviews are useful both for anecdotal information about monitors and for gathering consensus about a monitor's overall reliability.

Target.com is a popular destination for purchasing nursery accessories and gear. They sell fewer monitors than Amazon.com or BabiesRUs.com, and there are fewer reviews overall, but user feedback tends to be detailed and helpful.

TNW.com stands for The Next Web, and it's one of the largest online publications covering Internet technology news. Reviews tend to be written article-style, rather than roundup style, comparing several different models or technologies. The products are tested, and the reviews are thorough, including pros and cons and real-world advice.

Heather Corley, About.com's guide to baby products, selects five video monitors for this roundup review. Corley includes recent and up to date models including the smartphone compatible Withings monitor. She includes key details and benefits of each monitor. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Parents.com selects seven baby monitors in this online roundup. The piece simply notes the best features of each model. It is unclear whether these models were thoroughly tested. Summer Infant's Baby Touch is the first monitor listed and is touted for it's smartphone-like usability. It is not clear, however, if the monitors are ranked or randomly listed.

Bestcovery.com's product expert selects the best baby monitors in categories that include Best Baby Monitor Overall and Best Video Baby Monitors. The site selects a total of nine recommended products. However, there is no way to tell how the products were tested. The reviewer, Natasha Purveyear, is a mom of two who has extensive experience researching baby products. However, she makes claims that can't be substantiated, like saying that the Angelcare Movement Monitor can prevent SIDS.

The Lazy Tech Guys (LTG) are four guys who just happen to like writing about all things technology: apps, software, video games, audio and mobile electronics, to name just a few. There is very little coverage of baby monitors, just the BabyPing review and a preview of the Evoz. Tony Hannides, LTG 's mobile specialist and editor, is also a new father who tested the BabyPing in his own nursery. His review is thorough and includes step-by-step photographs and descriptions.

Gizmodo.com is a high tech gadget blog that does product reviews and previews, as well as covering gadget culture in general. Their basic review model is discussion-based, but in the case of this baby monitor review, it was thoroughly tested by the writer. It is the only baby monitor review on the site.

TUAW.com stands for The Unofficial Apple Weblog. It's a resource for Apple products and Apple-compatible products and application, and it includes reviews, news and opinion. They have a number of baby monitor reviews. The applications and devices are tested, and the reviews are thorough and include photos and pros and cons.