Video Baby Monitors

Video monitors get mixed reviews but are growing in popularity

While most parents will be fine simply hearing the sounds of their child, there are others who need to see the child as well, either by choice or necessity. For these parents, there are increasing options.

One company, Summer Infant, currently dominates in the area of video monitors. As "Baby Bargains" authors Denise and Alan Fields say, "Summer's video monitors are this brand's key mojo." Owners of the Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor (*Est. $140) with 1.8-inch Screen have very few negative remarks other than remarking on being able to view neighbors' children (when neighbors happen to have the same video baby monitor). While there is the occasional complaint about static, most parents say its sound and video are both good. The advertised range is up to 350 feet, but some parents say it doesn't reach that far. Since the Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor operates on a 900 MHz frequency, it's not likely to get interference from a home wireless network. It is equipped with a belt clip for the monitor and two power adapters. The video baby monitor is equipped with an audio-only function, two channels, night vision to see in a darkened room and sound lights that move with baby's sounds. The camera has a flip stand, or you can use the wall mount and hardware to mount it on the wall.

Professional testers at the parenting site Babble.com choose this video baby monitor as their best pick overall for video monitors. Testers here agree that the monitor's solid video and audio quality combined with its design make this product the best choice overall. Summer Infant Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor is available in silver or pink and is very lightweight and easy to carry around, unlike many other video monitors that are bulky. A more elaborate offering, the Summer Infant Deluxe Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor (*Est. $180) is available with a 2.5-inch screen and also receives positive reviews, but it is much more costly and less popular than the standard model.

Summer Infant has another video baby monitor in its lineup that's growing in popularity: the Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor (*Est. $200). This is one of the few video monitors that allows a parent to remotely pan, tilt and zoom the camera. Like the Summer Infant Deluxe Day & Night Handheld Color Video Monitor (*Est. $180), the monitor sports a 2.5-inch digital screen, but this monitor allows also for the set up of three additional cameras – making it an option for parents of multiples. Babble.com gives this monitor a spot in its article "Best Picks of 2010 -- Video Monitors" and raves about its easy setup, extensive remote functionality and wide range of audio settings.

About.com's Heather Corley also gives a positive singular review of the Summer Infant Best View video monitor. Corley loves the flexibility and range of the monitor, saying that "Having full control of the camera by remote is an outstanding feature of this monitor." A significant number of Target.com users also give this monitor excellent reviews, rating its color quality and portability as big positives. Drawbacks of this monitor include the hefty price tag, and some reviewers complain that the 350-foot video range is exaggerated. The Babble.com review also notes that "volume control is a menu function instead of an external control, which isn't convenient for a sleep-deprived parent to maneuver."

Although Summer Infant is currently the biggest player in the field of baby video monitors, there is growing competition. The Levana BabyView 20 Baby Video Monitor (*Est. $135) offers excellent video and audio quality with no interference and comes with a 2.36-inch LCD handset. This baby monitor won the top spot in Babble.com's Best Bells and Whistles category as it has a multitude of features many parents appreciate, such as lullaby function, crib mount, magnetic cradle, voice-activated mode and a standby mode that saves energy.

ToysRUs.com and Amazon.com user reviews are also very positive. Complaints about the Levana BabyView 20 include low volume and color video quality that doesn't live up to expectations. Ultimately, professional and user reviewers alike recommend the Summer Infant Day & Night video monitor over the Levana BabyView 20 for its top-notch color quality, versatility and more attractive design.

Levana introduced two new video baby monitors in early 2011. The Levana LV-TW301 ClearVu Digital Monitor (*Est. $130) has received about 30 reviews on Amazon.com. This video baby monitor has a 350-foot range and an audio-only feature when the screen is in the off mode. User reviews are relatively positive, though some do say that the baby monitor failed after only a short period of use. The slightly more elaborate Levana LV-TW501 Safe N'See Monitor (*Est. $150) also receives mainly positive feedback. The system is similar to the ClearVu video baby monitor, but also features a longer 450-foot range, temperature monitor and intercom. Amazon.com reviewers say that the video baby monitor has several features that are unique and welcomed, and the image is clear and mainly static-free. Unfortunately, many reviewers have had issues with the video monitor breaking after just months of use.

Other top baby-gear manufacturers are jumping into the video baby monitor marketplace. The First Years introduced their Home & Away Digital Video Monitor (*Est. $180) in the spring of 2011. This video baby monitor features a 3.5-inch screen, 650-foot range, the ability to take still pictures and PC connectivity with Skype-ready connection. There are no reviews of this video baby monitor as of the writing of this report. Graco was slated to release the True Focus video monitor, according to the 2011 edition of "Baby Bargains," though the system is not yet available. Fisher-Price's most recent contribution to the video monitor market is the Take Along Cam Video Monitor (*Est. $145) which receives mixed reviews so far. Some parents complain that range and battery life are both too short.

Philips recently introduced their Digital Video Monitor (*Est. $175) which features a 2.4-inch viewing screen and night vision. Philips' video baby monitors don't get as much feedback as their top-rated audio-only Avent SCD510 DECT (*Est. $100) monitor. Still, reviews of the video monitor so far are generally positive. Sound and the video feed are relatively clear. One caveat: this model has an automatic screen-activation feature, which turns the video screen on when noise is detected in baby's room. However, when the screen is off, so is the audio. Reviewers says this seems like a cool feature, but that it takes a relatively loud noise to activate the screen, leaving parents feeling nervous.

A growing number of tech-savvy parents are now streaming video of their babies via a network camera to their smartphone. A few perks of this process: First, the transmission is totally interference-free because uses a Wi-Fi network. Secondly, parents can view their baby from anywhere via a web connection, which is handy for military families or traveling parents. Another particularly useful application for this technology is within hospitals. A Dutch hospital, for example, has mounted Axis network cameras over almost every baby bed in the hospital. Using a secure pass code, parents of infants that face extended hospital stays can log in and view their baby from home on their computer or from anywhere on their smartphone. Although this technology is still very new, tech bloggers point to the Axis 207W (*Est. $310) as the camera of choice. The cameras are not explicitly baby monitors -- they do not include a receiver -- but work as one with a smartphone. Plus, their clarity is far better than most traditional video baby monitors In the past year Axis also released their M1031-W (*Est. $280), which is smaller, and the wireless wireless M1054 (*Est. $400). Both receive positive feedback from the small number of user reviewers, but most discuss these products as security cameras rather than baby monitors.

Note that professional reviewers, including ConsumerReports.org and the book "Baby Bargains," really don't recommend video baby monitors at all, saying that they are prone to interference. Many say video monitors are just overkill for anxious parents. However, some parents really seem to like the idea of video monitor. Many say these items provide them with peace of mind.