Whether you’re worried about your child waking up or want to keep an eye on them while they’re napping, Baby monitors can be helpful.

These devices can alert you when your baby wakes up or cries, monitor their temperature and humidity levels, include split screen options for monitoring different rooms, and let you know about sleep patterns via an app. Some models even feature features like white noise and lullabies.

Video

A baby monitor with video features lets you check on your baby remotely from any room of the house. These units allow you to watch your child’s movements and listen to their breathing, even when they are sleeping. Some models also offer two-way communication, so you can speak to your baby and let them know they are safe.

Some of these units are wall-mounted, while others can be taken on the go and used anywhere you want to view your baby, even if you want to make use of the split screen features that many have. You may also want a model with a screen that is large enough to display a clear picture of your baby.

There are also more advanced models that can monitor a baby’s movement, breathing and oxygen level as well as record 12-second video clips to share with family members. These are called “health-tracking” monitors and are becoming increasingly popular among parents worried their child could be at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Digital and video Baby Monitors transmit signals via encrypted codes over multiple frequency bands in a semi-random pattern that only the transmitter and receiver know. This method, known as Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), helps secure the signal and reduce interference.

These kinds of monitors can be a bit more expensive than their analog counterparts but are generally better and more reliable. They also have fewer security concerns than WiFi-based models.

In addition, many non-WiFi video monitors are incredibly hack-proof; a hacker would need military-grade technology to break into the system and steal information. This is a major advantage for new parents.

Another feature that some baby monitors have is the ability to create a “smart zone,” which will alert you if your child wanders too far from their crib or bed. This will come in handy as your baby grows and moves into a toddler bed.

Choosing the right monitor depends on your needs and budget. Some of the best models are budget-friendly and just alert you to sounds while others come with a host of useful extras, such as the ability to use Alexa or Google Assistant to talk to your baby.

Audio

Baby monitors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with a range of features. They’re usually designed for use by a parent, though some offer additional features that allow grandparents to check in on their babies from a distance or play music to help put them to sleep.

The best audio baby monitors are those that deliver clear and crisp sound, even at high volumes. They also have excellent sensitivity, making it easy to catch even the smallest of sounds from your child.

Many of the top-rated models feature multiple microphones and many offer split screen support if you need it, so you can hear if your baby is talking or chatting before you go up to their room. This is a great feature for sleep training or when you’re in the middle of something and want to soothe your child before you go up.

In addition to providing sound, most monitors come with a temperature sensor, letting you know if the room is too hot or too cold for your baby’s comfort. This is especially useful if you’re trying to train your baby to sleep in their own crib, or if they are having trouble settling at night and need to be kept warm until they fall asleep.

If you’re a new parent, it’s likely that you’ll choose a video baby monitor, as this allows you to see your baby when they cry. But there are audio-only options on the market as well, which can be a good choice for occasional caretakers who don’t need all the bells and whistles.

Unlike video monitors, audio-only monitors typically have better battery life and range, making them more convenient. They can also help you break the habit of obsessively checking in on your baby at night, so they’re a good option for parents who want to get some rest without the temptation to peek into their baby’s bedroom.

Another advantage of audio-only monitors is that they’re less likely to be hacked, since the video feed stays local and doesn’t go through a remote server. Some models also have a signal range indicator to make sure you can stay in contact with your baby at all times.

Sensitivity

Baby monitors have various sensitivity features that can alert you to noises in your baby’s room. They can also be set to go into sleep mode when the sounds in the room subside, saving you battery power.

The Eufy monitor, for example, has five sensitivity settings and only pops out of sleep mode to alert you when your baby needs your attention based on the setting you choose. This saves a lot of unnecessary middle-of-the-night wakeups, especially for babies who are simply rolling around or soothing themselves back to sleep.

Some monitors even include a noise reduction feature that filters out sounds like fans and air purifiers in the room. This reduces the number of background noises your baby monitor will pick up and improves the audio quality.

Another sensitivity feature is VOX, which allows you to activate the baby unit by speaking into it. This can be useful for older toddlers who might make noises or laugh in their sleep, and it will help you keep the sensitivity level on your baby unit to an appropriate level.

VOX is a voice-activated feature that transmits the sounds in your baby’s room to the parent unit in real time. Most VOX baby monitors also allow you to adjust the sensitivity level of this feature so that you can hear only the sounds that matter to you.

Sensitivity is important because it determines whether the sound activation and sleeping timer functions of your baby unit will work. The higher the sensitivity setting, the lower the sound levels needed to trigger the sound alerts and sleeping timers.

If you’re not sure what the right sensitivity setting is for your situation, try playing sounds to test each sensitivity level until you find one that works for you.

Many baby monitors are Wi-Fi-based, meaning that they communicate with each other using a wireless network. This can be vulnerable to hackers, but most high-end monitors have built-in protections to thwart cyber-attacks.

A few monitors, such as the VTech video baby monitor (excpet VTech RM & VM models which use a WiFi network to communicate), use a technology called Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) that is highly secure and can’t be hacked by unauthorized users.

Additional Features

In addition to video and audio monitoring, many baby monitors also offer additional features to make the experience more enjoyable. These can include a night light, noise detection alerts, lullabies and more. Some of these features are essential, while others may be nice to have but not necessary.

For example, a night light can help parents sleep soundly knowing their child is safe. Some parents prefer night lights that flash when noise is detected, while others prefer a white light that’s only on when no sound is present.

Another popular feature is two-way communication, which allows parents to talk with their children over the monitor. Some monitors can be connected to a smartphone or tablet, while others rely on a dedicated app.

The main issue with this technology is that it requires a strong internet connection to work. This isn’t an issue for most modern homes, but it does mean that if you’re away from home on vacation or while running errands, you might not be able to connect to your baby’s room.

WiFi-connected monitors are typically easier to set up than non-WiFi models. Some of them have smart partner integration, which lets you link your device to Alexa or HomeKit for added convenience. However, you’ll need a good WiFi signal to view your baby’s room and some of these products aren’t as secure as others, which can be a concern for parents who want to keep their data private.

Non-WiFi audiovisual monitors are a popular choice for parents who don’t want to worry about security issues. They’re also more affordable than their Wi-Fi counterparts and don’t require a connection to a mobile device.

These monitors are designed to be portable and easy to carry around, so they’re ideal for parents who travel a lot. They also usually come with a display that’s easy to see even in low-light conditions, and many of them offer a remote pan, tilt and zoom feature that you can use to adjust the camera’s view from anywhere in your house.

The main drawback with non-WiFi monitors is that they tend to have a lower video quality than their Wi-Fi counterparts and they generally have less range, especially if you’re going across multiple floors or if you have thick walls in your home. This isn’t a major problem, but it should be considered before purchasing a non-WiFi model.