See All Baby Monitors

Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor

*Est. $140

Reviewed

May 2011

by ConsumerSearch

Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor

Pros

Sensitive
Night vision
Picture quality

Cons

Expensive
Short battery life
Some reports of static/interference
Color screen can look washed-out

Where to Buy

Our Analysis
Specs
11 Amazon Reviews

Professional reviewers say that video and audio quality on video monitors in general just isn't up to par, but many regard the Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor as an exception. Owners are mostly positive as well: Average scores on user-review sites are slightly above the midpoint, putting the Day & Night Handheld ahead of its competitors. Overall, though, experts and parents aren't sold on video monitors in general, and they're expensive. However, this model is fairly budget-friendly and works better than the competition. Reviewers appreciate the clear picture and sound and minimal interference. Summer Infant also offers a version of the Day & Night Handheld that comes with a 2.5-inch screen (*Est. $200), but it's more expensive, and most parents say the larger screen isn't necessary.

Authors Denise and Alan Fields include a useful review of the Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor in their latest edition of "Baby Bargains," the best-selling baby-gear book. Top-parenting site Babble.com also selects the model as the top overall video baby monitor in their annual guide. There are also numerous owner-written reviews at sites like Amazon.com, the Toys "R" Us website and Viewpoints.com. Hundreds of posts at these sites help to paint a detailed picture of how owners feel about the Day & Night Handheld video monitor. The monitor receives higher-than-average ratings and is considered the best model on the market.

Our Sources

1. Baby Bargains

In their bestselling book, Denise and Alan Fields offer an assessment of Summer Infant baby monitors along with other brands. Ratings are based on feedback from parents who own the monitors, plus scores on manufacturer reputation and customer service.

Review: Chapter 7: Around the House: Monitors, Diaper Pails, Safety and More, Denise Fields and Alan Fields, Ninth Edition, 2011

2. Babble.com

Babble.com's Kate Bayless selects 11 monitors as recipients of the Babble's Best honor in this round-up of video baby monitors. The Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Monitor is the reviewer's top overall pick. Bayless says that this small, basic model has a wallet-friendly price tag and still outperforms all of the competition.

Review: Best Picks for 2010 – Video Monitors, Kate Bayless, 2010

3. ToysRUs.com

ToysRUs.com has several user-generated reviews for the Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor, though some of the narrative reviews aren't as detailed as those at Amazon.com. Scores are about the same, though, with most customers praising this monitor's audio and video quality. The main drawbacks cited are some issues with interference and short batter life.

Review: Summer Infant Day and Night Video Monitor Reviews, Contributors to ToysRUs.com

4. Amazon.com

With more than 450 user reviews of the Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor, Amazon.com is an excellent source of information on how this monitor performs according to parents who own it. Owners here praise the Day & Night Handheld's picture quality and crisp nighttime image, and its overall score is above average, but not perfect.

Review: Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 1.8" Screen, Contributors to Amazon.com

5. Viewpoints.com

Viewpoints.com is a community site where members can post reviews of a variety of products, including baby monitors. The quality of the reviews here is highly variable, and there aren't as many ratings as at some retail sites, but many of the reviews are detailed and critical enough to be useful. Most of the scores for the Day & Night Handheld are favorable, although a few mention problems with this baby monitor such as interference and, again, somewhat short battery life.

Review: Summer Infant Handheld Color Video Monitor Reviews, Contributors to Viewpoints.com

Sony BabyCall Nursery Monitor *Est. $40

8 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…

Safety 1st High-Def Digital Monitor 08024 *Est. $50

3 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…

Motorola MBP33 Wireless Video Baby Monitor *Est. $200

3 picks including: Amazon.com, Baby Bargains…

MobiCam Digital DL Audio Video Monitoring System *Est. $150

3 picks including: Amazon.com, Target.com…

Graco Direct Connect Digital Monitor *Est. $60

3 picks including: Amazon.com, Target.com…

Levana BabyView 20 Video Monitor *Est. $180