Parents expecting a child in 2018 are sure to have a baby monitor near the top of their long list of things to gather. That’s why Top Value Reviews went on the hunt for the 30 best baby monitors of the year. To narrow the hundreds of monitors on the market down to only 30, we considered such factors as price, features, camera and sound range, and battery life. We also attempted to include a variety of monitor types to accommodate a variety of needs. For example, we’ve included on our list of the best baby monitors of 2018 some wearable monitors, as well as some monitors which work independently from WiFi, or which do not include a visual display.
VTech Safe & Sound DM221
$40.00
The VTech Safe & Sound DM221 is not fancy, but it does the job. Parents who aren’t interested in monitors or other superfluous features overwhelmingly choose the affordable VTech. This economical digital audio monitor functions like a set of walkie talkies. Plus, it’s portable, making it ideal for traveling or those weekend trips to Grandma’s.
Gynoii WiFi Wireless Baby Monitor
$69.00
If the $70 price tag of the Gynoii WiFi Wireless Baby Monitor isn’t appealing enough, consider all of its unique features. The Gynoii truly is the baby monitor for the baby’s village, as this one-of-a-kind monitor allows parents to post images and short video clips straight from the device to social media. The transmission technology is “bank-level” advanced. However, parents, grandparents, and anyone else who may need to can log in through a guest account to view the baby at any time. Other useful features of the Gynoii include sound and motion alerts and two-way talking capabilities. it also has the ability to constantly stream the video footage in the background of a smart device.
Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera
$69.00
The Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera is ideal for parents of several children. The plug-and-play camera doesn’t require any sophisticated set-up, while each Hello Baby monitor can be paired with up to four different cameras. Furthermore, each monitor lasts up to eight hours of screen time, or 12 hours in power saving mode. It includes such useful features as sound alerts, two-way talk, pan and tilt capabilities, digital zoom, and lullabies, among other things.
CityMama 3.5” Wireless Video Baby Monitor with LCD Display
$69.99
The CityMama monitor provides parents with ample peace of mind for an affordable price. It’s equipped with a 3.5-inch SMART LCD display. The CityMama uses wireless technology and other attractive features to ensure caregivers are always up-to-speed with their little one’s safety. This well-designed monitor includes two-way talking capabilities, real-time room temperature, and a high-quality black-and-white image that won’t distract a drowsy kiddo. This affordable baby monitor even includes four built-in lullabies to soothe baby when a parent’s arms aren’t immediately available.
Babysense Video Baby Monitor
$77.00
For those (many) parents wary of WiFi-based baby monitors, the Babysense Video Baby Monitor is an excellent alternative. This affordable camera connects to its 2.4-inch monitor via a secure connection free of any interference. And while it may not need WiFi, this top-ranked baby monitor comes chock-full of other features expected from its WiFi-enabled competitors. Additional peace of mind comes from the monitor’s 900-foot range, two-way talking capabilities, night vision, 2x zoom, and temperature monitoring, to name but a few.
Baby Delight 5” Video, Movement, and Positioning Monitor
$85.00
The Baby Delight 5” Video, Movement, and Positioning Monitor may be basic, but it gets the job done with an appealing price of under $100. The monitor requires neither a WiFi connector nor a smart device to provide peace of mind. Rather, parents simply clip the included small magnet to the child’s clothing. The Baby Delight picks up and alerts any movement and position changes.
Sense-U Baby Movement Monitor
$89.99
The first of a few wearable monitors on our list of the best baby monitors of 2018 is the award-winning Sense-U Baby Movement Monitor. Winner of the IF Design Award 2018, the Sense-U simply clips to the baby’s clothing, swaddle, or sleep sack. It alerts the caregivers in the event of any extreme temperature changes, changes in breathing, or rolling over. An additional sharp alarm is activated if the Sense-U does not detect abdominal movement for more than a predefined length of time. At only $90, parents often choose the Sense-U for traveling or as additional peace of mind.
Snuza Go! Baby Movement Monitor
$95.99
The Snuza Go! is another wearable device to make our list of 2018’s best baby monitors. This extremely sensitive, flexible, and comfortable monitor clips to the baby’s diaper, and alerts parents to any changes in abdominal movements. The alarms vary, but are especially loud and sharp if no breathing movements are detected for 15 to 20 seconds, as decided by the parent.
Summer Infant In View 2.0 Color Video Monitor
$99.99
Parents looking to spend less than $100 on a baby monitor would be hard pressed to find an option better than the Summer Infant In View 2.0 Color Video Monitor. This monitor has a number of features typically seen in higher end monitors, including a big screen, a built-in nightlight, and zooming capabilities. The camera itself can be set on a flat surface or mounted to the wall, while the monitor works with up to four cameras. Features like these make the In View especially convenient, as does its 800-foot range and battery life of 6-8 hours.
iBaby M6S Smart Baby Monitor
$109.90
The affordable iBaby M6S Smart Baby Monitor doesn’t come with a monitor screen like so many other products on our list. Rather, it works via the parents’ smartphones, transmitting a high-quality, 1080-pixel picture of both baby and baby’s total environment. In addition to the excellent picture, the iBaby features two-way audio, motion and sound detection, event-triggered recording, and pan and tilt options, among many other features.
Snuza Hero Baby Movement Monitor
$109.99
Like the Snuza Go!, the Snuza Hero is a wearable monitor that clips to the baby’s diaper and monitors for any changes in the baby’s breathing or sleeping position. The difference between the Hero and the Go!, however, is the Hero includes a specialized 15-second vibration that occurs in the event of no abdominal movement. If the vibrating Rouse Warning fails to work, a sharp sound will alert the parents.
Philips Avent SCD-570 DECR Baby Monitor
$111.00
The affordably priced Philips Avent SCD-570 DECR Baby Monitor is consistently ranked among the best baby monitors of the year. Though it comes with a slew of impressive features, it’s usually celebrated for the crystal-clear sound and picture its DECT technology provides at an impressive 900-foot range. It’s ideal for families in large and/or two-story homes.
Samsung SEW-3043W Video Baby Monitor
$120.00
Samsung is a powerhouse name in electronics. It makes sense that the company’s SEW-3043W is consistently ranked as one of the best baby monitors on the market. Like most Samsung products, this video baby monitor is extremely user friendly, with an easy set-up process and high-quality video at the press of a button. Though Samsung offers a few different baby monitor models, the SEW-3043 does not depend upon WiFi, making it useful for travel.
Motorola MBP36XL Baby Monitor
$120.98
Babylist calls the Motorola MBP36XL Baby Monitor the best baby monitor on the market for those with large houses or rooms. This prestigious nod is almost certainly due to the fact that this affordable baby monitor is loaded with convenient features. It includes:
- pan, tilt, and zoom options
- the ability to play lullabies at the press of a [remote] button
- a room temperature display
- a long battery life which allows the monitor to be moved from room to room.
Perhaps most impressive is the Motorola MBP36XL’s 1,000-foot range, one of the longest ranges of any baby monitor on the market today.
Cocoon Cam Breathing and Baby Monitor
$129.99
If a simple picture of your baby sleeping isn’t enough for you, consider all that the Cocoon Cam Breathing and Baby Monitor does. Priced at less than $130, this impressive and affordable monitor watches and analyzes every breath and movement. It sends an instant notification to parents via smartphone should anything seem off. Additionally, the Cocoon Cam graphs the baby’s breathing so parents can pick up on on their child’s sleep patterns.
Netgear Arlo Baby Monitor
$142.79
The Arlo Baby by Netgear is one of the best-selling baby monitors of 2018, and for good reason! Priced at less than $150, the Arlo Baby is packed with cool features like motion and sound detection, a crystal-clear 1080p picture, and lullabies, to name but a few. The Arlo Baby can also access the internet, includes free cloud storage, and works via WiFi. This means parents can access footage of their child from either their smartphone, Mac, or PC.
Panasonic Long-Range Baby Monitor KX-HN3001 Review
$149.99
Priced around $150, the KX-HN3001 by Panasonic has a lot of competition. Still, between its myriad features and ability to work without WiFi, this affordable baby monitor holds its own. Features include:- alerts for motion, sound, and temperature
- two-way talking capabilities
- dark night video
- some pan and tilt options.
Parents can also use the Panasonic to play lullabies or white noise.
Summer Infant Panorama Baby Monitor
$149.99
Summer Infant makes a number of nursery essentials, including the Panorama baby monitor. This aptly named monitor, easily one of the best baby monitors of 2018, includes a massive five-inch screen and 180-degree pan and tilt capabilities. This impressive and unique features allow caregivers to zoom in on a sleeping baby, or conduct an entire visual sweep of the room. Should the baby wake up, the monitor’s two-way talk capabilities allow parents to soothe the baby back to sleep without having to entire the room.
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
$164.99
Parents flock to purchase the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor because of its long list of unique features. One such notable feature is the zoom lens, which allows parents to zoom in on their child from across the room. As if this weren’t impressive enough, the camera can also be adjusted remotely. Parents who chose Infant Optics have also reported appreciating the good picture and sound quality, as well as the impressive battery life. In the power-saving mode, the monitor continues to communicate high-quality sound for up to 10 hours without having to be plugged in.
Samsung Wisenet SEW-3053WN BabyView Monitoring System
$179.00
Just slightly more expensive, the BabyView Monitoring System from Samsung feels like a step up. Like the Summer Infant, the BabyView includes a 5-inch monitor. This one comes with touchscreen capabilities to make panning and tilting, two-way communication, and night vision mode easier than ever before. The BabyView operates via WiFi and its own app. It even allows caregivers to capture images and video to save as part of the monitoring system’s built-in diary.
Samsung SafeVIEW Baby Monitoring System
$189.99
With a pice tag of almost $200, you expect the Samsung SafeVIEW Baby Monitoring System to come with all of the bells and whistles. Fortunately, this high-tech baby monitor lives up to expectations. It has such features as:- a 900-foot range
- two-way communication
- remote zoom, tilt, and pan options.
The SafeVIEW is one of the most sensitive to baby’s sounds and movements on the market. In fact, some reviewers even report that the SafeVIEW is too sensitive (in which case, parents can simply decrease the monitor’s sound sensitivity.
Levana Aria 7-inch Touchscreen Video Baby Monitor
$196.00
Priced at just under $200, the Levana Aria is a popular choice among parents of multiples or children close in age. As expected for a monitor in this price range, the Aria comes with a slew of features, including a massive, seven-inch touchscreen. Parents can also purchase up to four additional cameras to use with the same screen, making it a breeze to watch several babies on a split- or quad-screen.
Project Nursery 5” Baby Monitor System with Mini Monitor
$199.99
Project Nursery seems to do it all, including great baby monitors. Its affordable 5” Baby Monitor System with Mini Monitor includes such convenient features as:- two-way communication
- white noise and lullabies
- remote camera control
- alerts for motion, temperature, and sound.
Uniquely, this monitor also comes with both a 5-inch screen and a 1.5-inch “mini” screen that can be worn like a bracelet.
Safety 1st HD WiFi Baby Monitor with Smart Audio Unit
The Safety 1st HD WiFi Baby Monitor with Smart Audio Unit doesn’t include lullabies, recording capabilities, or environmental sensors — features that might be expected for a monitor at this price point. But it holds its own among the best thanks to features such as:
- easy installation
- a separate audio unit
- crystal-clear images
- free cloud storage
- sensors for motion and sound
Summer Infant Baby Touch Monitor
$216.50
The second of two Summer Infant monitors to make our list of the best baby monitors of 2018, this impressive monitor is full of one-of-a-kind features that make its $216 price tag seem like a steal. The wireless-optional camera can be mounted or placed on a dresser, then panned, tilted, and zoomed to provide close-up images of baby or a complete scan of the room. All of the crystal-clear images are then transmitted to the included 3.5-inch color screen, or even to a nearby television. Other attractive features include:- two-way audio
- a magnetic charging station
- the ability to add additional cameras
- a 400-foot range.
Motorola Smart Nursery 7 Portable WiFi Video Baby Monitor
$219.99
The Motorola Smart Nursery video baby monitor has one especially big thing going for it — it offers a crystal-clear picture on a 7” screen. This is one of the largest screens on our list. But that’s not all! The monitor is completely portable, making it easy to move around from room to room or place to place without too much hassle. To get the most out of the Smart Nursery, sync it with the Smart Nursery humidifier and the Dream Machine sound and light machine to control your baby’s room’s temperature and sound/light effects from anywhere.
Fisher-Price Sproutling Smart Sleep Wearable Baby Monitor
$249.99
Like the Owelet and the Snuza, which are included on our list of the best baby monitors of 2018, the Fisher-Price Sproutling is a wearable monitor. Though the Owelet and Snuza arguably get more marketing, it’s the Sproutling that often beats the bunch on rankings. Among other things, Sproutling monitors include:- heart rate
- motion
- sleep position
- skin temperature
- room temperature
- noise.
Additionally, this smart device works to get to know the baby’s sleep patterns and soon begins to predict future behaviors.
Angelcare AC517 Baby Movement Monitor
$250.00
Though it’s one of the more expensive products on our list of the best baby monitors of 2018, few others do as much as the Angelcare AC517 Baby Movement Monitor. For baby’s earliest months, use the Angelcare’s activity sensor pad that goes under the crib mattress and monitors for lack of movement. Though the activity sensor pad isn’t necessary once the child reaches a certain age, parents can still use the Angelcare’s audio and video monitor to ensure their baby is safe at all times.
Nanit Smart Baby Monitor and Wall Mount
$265.00
For parents who are especially dedicated to their baby’s sleep, there is perhaps no better option than the Nanit Smart Baby Monitor and Wall Mount. The Nanit watches your baby closely — so closely, in fact, that it notices and analyzes the baby’s every move. It then sends a message to your cell phone to inform you as to what those movements mean. Each morning, the previous night’s sleep is also given a sleep score which includes how long it took for the baby to fall asleep, how long he stayed asleep, and any tips the computer has for the upcoming night’s sleep.
Owelet Smart Sock Monitor
$290.00
Unlike much of our list, the Owelet Smart Sock Baby Monitor is a wearable device, not a traditional camera. The Owelet is a comfortable wrap that is placed over the baby’s foot while she sleeps. The sensor in the wrap then tracks the baby’s oxygen levels and heart rate, alerting the parents via smart phone if the sensor notices anything wrong. Despite all the peace of mind the Owelet Smart Sock offers parents, it’s important to note its hefty price tag and the fact that it has not been tested to prevent SIDS.
