Looking for the Best Baby Monitors of 2023? Finding the right monitor for your baby depends all on what’s most important to you and your family. This impacts the features you are looking for:
- Video or audio-only?
- WiFi or Radio?
- Lullabies and white noise?
- Additional health monitoring?
Answering these questions can help you know exactly what option you need to deliver the peace of mind and a good night’s sleep for you and your baby.
With so many options available online, we focus on the best baby monitors of 2023 that are safe, practical and can really help you and your baby sleep better. We reviewed every monitor in our ranking before sharing our thoughts to give the best possible advice so you can buy with confidence.
In a rush? Here is a quick summary of the absolute Best Baby Monitors of 2023, click the image to read more.
Best Baby Monitors of 2023
We’re on a mission to find the absolute best baby monitor for your home. Check out our rankings below or see exactly how we test each monitor. We also share 3 essentials tips to help you choose the monitor that’s best for you. Compare our list of Best Baby Monitors of 2023 with other popular best baby products lists from Baby Gear Lab and Baby List.
P.S. We sometimes receive free baby monitors from manufacturers. We are, however, not paid or compensated for our reviews. To remain impartial in our tests, we use objective ranking factors and put each product in the hands of unbiased parents.
We only recommend products that we use ourselves. To support our website, we may receive a small commission if you buy something through our links. These commissions come at no extra cost for you. Read our earnings disclaimer to learn more.
Nanit Pro: Overall Best Baby Monitor
Bottom Line:
The Nanit Pro is our pick for the Best Overall WiFi Baby Monitor that has many features, is easy to use with low EMF, but has a higher price tag.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Easy to use.
- High-quality video in both daytime and nighttime settings.
- Sleep tracking data with subscription.
- Can bundle with breathing wear which monitors the baby’s heart rate.
- Push notifications for movement, sound, temperature or humidity.
- New fun color options.
- Features: temperature and humidity sensors, motion detection, 2-way communication, a nightlight, nature sounds and white noise and sound activation.
CONS
- Expensive.
- Subscription fee after first year for sleep data.
- No built in lullabies.
The Nanit Pro is one of the sleekest WiFi baby monitors on the market, and it’s the very latest from Nanit—a brand known for its smart approach to infant sleep science. It is easy to use and one of the simplest to install, with a variety of installation options including wall mount, floor stand ($80) or a table mount ($49) (aka Flex Stand).
The Nanit Pro works in tandem with an app you put on your phone or other device. The Nanit Pro app provides an incredible amount of data, is intuitively-designed and works while using other apps as well. The Nanit Pro also requires a good internet connection for consistent monitoring. The Nanit Pro is a high-end baby monitor with many baby-centric features, but also a price tag to match.
Read our full in-depth Nanit Pro review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi, smart
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: iOS, Android, Alexa
- Mounting: wall, floor stand or table
- Mobile App: yes
- Dedicated Monitor: no
Purchase from Amazon
Purchase from Nanit
Miku Pro: Best Premium WiFi Baby Monitor
Bottom Line:
The Miku Pro is our pick for the Best Premium WiFi Baby Monitor with many features, excellent video performance, but an app that’s a little less intuitive than the Nanit Pro.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Great video quality.
- Pinch-to-zoom feature.
- Monitors breathing and sleep patterns.
- Pairs to multiple cameras.
- No subscription fees.
- High-security Crypto Chip (AES 256-bit, TLS/SSL).
- Feature rich: temperature, humidity and light tracking, motion and sound detection, 2-way communication, lullabies, “sleep sounds” and white noise.
CONS
- Expensive.
- App a little harder to navigate.
- Some connectivity issues.
- Lacks Alexa and Google Assistant voice support.
The Miku Pro is one of the best premium WiFi baby monitors available because of its ability to track your baby’s breathing pattern without the need to wear additional electronics on their body. Miku is composed of parents and engineers who built a high-quality product with excellent video performance and an impressive list of features, but with a premium price tag.
This innovative monitoring system uses an app on your smartphone or other dedicated device and has all the bells and whistles, including breathing, sound, video, motion, humidity and temperature alerts. The Miku Pro app is a little harder to navigate but offers free cloud storage and no annual subscription fees, with the ability to download clips to your device. Each monitor also includes everything you need for wall or table mounting, with the floor stand being an extra $99.
Read our full in-depth Miku Pro review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi, smart
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: iOS, Android
- Mounting: wall, floor stand or table
- Mobile App: yes
- Dedicated Monitor: no
Purchase from Amazon
Purchase from Miku
Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro: Best Non-WiFi Baby Monitor
Bottom Line:
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro sets itself apart as the Best Non-WiFi Baby Monitor we tested with a dedicated parent device that is easy to use and provides a stellar noise reduction feature, and audio and video quality above the others.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Great zooming with interchangeable lenses.
- Accommodates up to four cameras total.
- Replaceable battery.
- Noise-reduction feature.
- Pans 270 degrees and tilts 120 degrees.
- Features: two-way talk, silent mode with LED light indicators, alarm, room temperature display and two-way audio.
CONS
- Limited range.
- Fewer features (no white noise or lullabies).
- Price.
- Requires special charging port (not USB).
Compared to its predecessor the DXR-8 Pro has a larger 5-inch screen, improved range, louder speaker, a better battery life (which is replaceable), background-noise reduction that filters out sounds from fans and humidifiers and a higher-resolution camera. It is pricier than our runner-up, the Eufy SpaceView Pro, but we find the improved picture quality worth it (especially the less noisy night vision).
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro monitor displays signal strength, battery life, which camera you’re using, and time and temperature across the top of the screen. The monitor also includes an LED audio indicator and dedicated buttons for adjusting the volume and screen brightness. But the feature that sets it apart is the Active Noise Reduction which filters out background noise and unwanted sound from fans, humidifiers and so on.
Read our full in-depth Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: non-WiFi, radio
- Resolution: HD 720p
- Compatibility: none
- Mounting: table (with wall/ceiling mounts available separately here)
- Mobile App: no
- Dedicated Monitor: yes
Purchase from Amazon
Eufy SpaceView Pro: Best Non-WiFi Baby Monitor Runner-Up
Bottom Line:
Our second pick for the Best Non-WiFi Baby Monitor is the Eufy SpaceView Pro with an even better battery life and a more adjustable pan and tilt than our winner the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- No WiFi needed.
- Easy to use; simple set-up (only two screws to attach).
- Sound activation and VOX mode.
- Longest battery life of any dedicated device unit we tested.
- Pans 330 degrees and tilts 110 degrees.
- Features: temperature and humidity sensors, sound alerts, two-way communication, five lullabies, white noise and an alarm clock.
CONS
- Price.
- Not the best sound and sound activation.
- Zoom creates fuzzy image.
- No movement alert.
The Eufy SpaceView Pro baby monitor is a dedicated video monitor that doesn’t require WiFi and comes with its own wedge-shaped, freestanding dedicated device (AKA parent device). Many parents prefer a baby monitor that is non-WiFi, and relies instead on a local video feed because they find they are more dependable and have fewer security concerns.
The menu on the Eufy SpaceView Pro’s parent device is clear and easy to navigate, displaying the time of day, signal strength, battery life, temperature and which camera you’re looking at – since it can support up to four cameras. The device offers clear picture quality and a reasonably good night vision mode, however the sound is less impressive (a little quiet and fuzzy) and takes a second or two to kick in after a noise begins (sound activation).
Read our full in-depth Eufy SpaceView review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: non-WiFi, radio
- Resolution: HD 720p
- Compatibility: none
- Mounting: wall or table
- Mobile App: no
- Dedicated Monitor: yes
Purchase from Amazon
Owlet Dream Duo 2 Camera and Smart Sock: Best Health Monitor
Bottom Line:
The Owlet retained its seat as the Best Health Monitor with its Dream Duo 2 Camera and Smart Sock, but its video and audio fall short of other WiFi monitors we tested.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Smart Sock tracks baby’s heart rate, oxygen level, movements and temperature.
- 120-degree tilt using the stand.
- Extremely good night vision.
- Configurable push notifications for movement and noise.
- 4x pinch-to-zoom, wide-angle view.
- Features: app works in the background while you use other apps, two-way talk, 4x digital zoom and temperature sensor.
CONS
- Noticeable audio delays and video lags.
- Expensive.
- Sock can give false alarms.
- Reported connectivity issues.
- Subpar video and audio
- No nightlight, lullabies or sound activation.
For families wanting additional peace of mind, the Owlet Dream Duo 2 Smart Sock and Camera provides monitoring and tracking of baby’s vitals, alerting you when they deviate from normal. The Owlet app doesn’t charge an extra subscription fee and provides you with historical sleeping data and guidance; however the system itself lacks a lot of the other features we see.
The Owlet Dream Duo 2 Smart Sock and Camera is one of the most expensive baby monitors, and with others catching up with a smart sock feature (Eufy and Nora) we feel it may not maintain its title here very long. We found the video and sound to not only be subpar, but also frequently lags and the app itself is known to have a small ratio of false alarms. We also noticed a few reviews reporting connection and buffering issues, even to the point of disconnecting completely.
Read our full in-depth Owlet Smart Sock review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi, smart
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: iOS, Android
- Mounting: wall and table
- Mobile App: yes
- Dedicated Monitor: no
Purchase from Amazon
VTech DM221: Best Audio Baby Monitor
Bottom Line:
The VTech DM221 solidly wins out as our pick for the Best Audio-Only Baby Monitor. It may not have all the features of a video monitor, but the audio features help this monitor make our list.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Affordable.
- Clear, crisp audio.
- Noise detection alerts, including a vibrate alert.
- VOX mode.
- 1,000-foot range.
- Battery lasts 16 hour on a charge, is cordless and rechargeable.
- Ability to add a second parent unit.
- Features: night-light, belt clip on parent device, two-way talk and multi-level sound indicator.
CONS
- Basic audio-only device.
- Annoying if disconnected.
If you have a limited budget or aren’t worried about the bells and whistles of a video monitor, the VTech DM221 is an excellent option. This audio-only monitor is a best seller with high reviews at multiple retailers, with an easy automatic linking set up and decent audio. The DM221 is also an excellent option as a back-up baby monitor, for traveling, or for caretakers of adults with mobility or medical issues in another room.
The VTech’s parent unit lights up when it detects sound, and even includes a vibration feature. During our tests the battery lasted over 18 hours and had a range over 1100 feet. However, if the parent becomes disconnected from the child unit, it emits an annoying beeping sound.
Read our full in-depth VTech DM111 review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: radio (audio-only)
- Resolution: none
- Compatibility: none
- Mounting: table
- Mobile App: Yes
- Dedicated Monitor: No
Purchase from Amazon
Lollipop: Best Travel Baby Monitor
Bottom Line:
The Lollipop baby monitor is relatively inexpensive and earns our award for the Best Travel WiFi Baby Monitor. The Lollipop Baby Monitor is simple to install and mount just about anywhere.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Smart Detection (cry, motion, noise).
- Excellent value for money.
- Local WiFi option.
- Supports multiple cameras.
- Fun color options.
- Features: classical lullabies and white noise options, night vision, two-way talk and VOX.
CONS
- No pan and tilt.
- Temperature and humidity tracking sold separately.
- Some video lags.
- Wired only with no battery backup.
The Lollipop Baby Monitor is a unique looking WiFi baby monitor that has a bendable silicone stick stand and can be attached just about anywhere, making it a good traveling option. The accompanying mobile app is easy and you have the option to keep it on your local Wifi network for extra security. The Smart Detection differentiates the cry of a baby from other noises and alerts you accordingly.
The Lollipop did not have as good video and audio quality as some of our other recommended WiFi baby monitors, but understandable for the lower price. The app supports playing audio in the background, but does require a subscription for additional sleep tracking data and continuous video recording.
Read our full in-depth Lollipop review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi, smart
- Resolution: HD 1080p (Note: If purchased before October 2020, the resolution will be 720p)
- Compatibility: iOS, Android
- Mounting: wall, crib or table (anything you can wrap around)
- Mobile App: Yes
- Dedicated Monitor: No
Purchase from Amazon
Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen: Best Flexible Baby Monitor
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a long-term quality camera, the Google Nest Cam wins our Best Flexible Baby Monitor, offering quality, durability and security with great video and good sound.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- 2K video recording and local storage.
- Motion tracking capabilities.
- Screen auto-wake and sleep.
- Night vision.
- Sound activation.
- Remotely pan, tilt, and zoom.
- Features: two-way talk, high-quality video, clear & loud audio, can be paired to multiple cameras, and infinite viewers.
CONS
- No baby-specific features (white-noise, lullabies, nightlight, etc).
- Barebones app, less intuitive.
- Picks up background noise.
- 2-5 second time delay when you reconnect the camera each time you open the app.
- Wired only with no battery backup.
The Google Nest is a great option for those looking for great video without all the baby-specific features. This WiFi monitor is flexible enough to use as a security cam for monitoring your little ones as they grow. With excellent video quality day or night, the simple camera can also be easily paired with others.
The Google Nest does not offer all the baby monitoring features we see with the competition, but does offer some of the most important including two-way talk and sound activation. The app itself does not have the best sound and requires a Google account, but overall we find the flexibility of the Google Nest to be worth the cost.
Read our full in-depth Google Nest review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: iOS, Android, Alexa, Google
- Mounting: wall or table
- Mobile App: Yes
- Dedicated Monitor: No
Purchase from Amazon
3 Essential Tips To Choose the Best Baby Monitor for you
Baby monitors come in different shapes and forms. Some will use your phone to show the video of your baby, while others will come with a dedicated display monitor. Some use your WiFi network while others have their own radio-frequency.
To help you understand the pros and cons of each, we’ve written an in-depth guide to choose the best baby monitor for your needs. To summarize, here are a few questions that are important for you to answer before deciding what the right option for you is.
1. What baby monitor category do you need?
There are 3 categories of baby monitor that you can choose from:
- Audio only baby monitors
- Audio and video baby monitors
- Health tracking baby monitors
Audio and video are the most popular models on our list. They offer plenty of useful extra features (see below) and are mature devices that benefit from several years of product improvements.
But with IoT devices gaining momentum, new health-tracking baby monitors are becoming increasingly popular. Especially with parents worried that their child might be at risk of a Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). These new tracking devices can constantly monitor your baby’s heartbeat, movement and oxygen level. They are not always accurate, however, so you need to make sure that the model you choose isn’t going to send you a false alarm through the night.
2. What baby monitor connection is best for your home?
There are 2 types of baby monitor connections available:
- Radio Frequency (RF)
- WiFi
Radio Frequency monitors have limited range and can potentially increase exposure to unhealthy electromagnetic exposure for your child (read our article on the health and safety considerations). But RF monitors also greatly reduce the risks of baby monitor hacking (read our article on privacy concerns) and come with a dedicated parent unit that makes them much more convenient to use. They can also function independently from your WiFi connection.
WiFi monitors, on the other hand, will use your internet connection to stream your baby’s video to your phone. This opens the door to a lot more functionality and monitoring options but also exposes you to potential privacy issues. It also means that you’ll need to keep your phone or tablet always on if you want to hear and see your baby. And it won’t work if your WiFi network goes down.
3. What features are most useful in a baby monitor?
You’ll see below that the top baby monitors of 2023 come with an impressive list of features. Depending on your lifestyle and the configuration of your house, you might not need a monitor that does everything.
Here are the features that we consider to be the most useful for a video baby monitor:
- Night vision: Infrared night vision is an essential really, and all the baby video monitors that made it to our top 10 list have it. Night vision will allow you to see your baby in the dark. In addition, having a dim bedside table light source in your child’s room can improve the night vision feature to give you a crystal clear picture of your baby.
- Voice activation (VOX): Voice activation will alert you whenever your child is awake. Some baby monitor manufacturers call this VOX, others have their own marketing jargon, but really it’s just a way for you to know that your child is awake without having to look at the video constantly.
- Multiple camera support: This is great if you have more than one child in your house. With one monitor you can see the entire family. All WiFi monitors offer this option, but only the most high-end RF monitors have it.
- Talk-back: This is very helpful when you want to soothe your baby or just let them know that you’re on your way to their bedroom.
- Lullabies: The option to play Lullabies is another great feature to soothe your baby to sleep. The camera will play a range of songs and lullabies that you can select from your phone or parent unit.
- Room temperature: This is important to make sure that your baby is comfortable, especially if temperatures can vary widely through the night where you live.
How we test and compare the Best baby monitors?
Baby Gear Essentials started off as a group of parents looking for honest recommendations from friends and family to pick products that are safe, long-lasting and fairly priced. We apply the same principles to everything that we publish on our website to help you find what’s right for your family.
You’ll find here reviews of baby products that can have a positive and meaningful impact on your children and yourself. We purchase each product that we review, run them through our tests and then write in-depth reviews to help you find what’s best for your family. Our tests are mostly hands-on experience. We bring the baby monitor back home with us and live with it for at least four months before sharing our thoughts.
Because we want to stay impartial, we don’t accept advertising or sponsorship from manufacturers of baby products. So you can trust our objectivity. Instead, we receive a small commission from Amazon if you decide to buy something via one of the links on our site. This comes at no extra cost for you. The price that you pay is the exact same if you go directly to Amazon, but it does help us continue to review more great baby products.
We purchase most products that we test ourselves, however, we do sometimes accept free products from manufacturers. When accepting a free product from a manufacturer, we explicitly say so in our review. We also make it clear with manufacturers that giving us free products guarantees in no way that they will be reviewed more positively or rank better. In addition, we do not accept payment from companies to review their products. We only review products that we think are worthwhile for you.
If we feature a certain product more prominently on our site, it is because we genuinely like that product more. You can learn more about us here.
Baby Monitors: Frequently Asked Questions
The Nanit Pro is overall the best baby monitor of 2023. It delivers superb image quality and packs a long list of helpful features. The Miku Pro is the best premium smart monitor of 2023.
We found in our tests that the Owlet Smart Sock + Cam is the safest baby monitor for health tracking.
Yes, baby monitors can be hacked. This is particularly the case with WiFi monitors that transmit video and sound over the Internet. But no need to panic, we have a solution. Check our guide on how to protect your baby and yourself from hackers.
1 thought on “The 8 Best Baby Monitors of 2023”
Comments are closed.