5 Things New Parents Should Know About the Nanit Smart Baby Monitor System

If you’re expecting your first baby, one of the biggest surprises is just how often you’ll want to “check in” on them. A quick peek during naps. A middle-of-the-night glance to confirm baby’s breathing. A reassurance check while you’re folding laundry in the next room. 

That’s exactly where a smart monitor system can make a real difference. The Nanit Smart Baby Video Monitor is designed to do more than stream video—it supports better sleep habits, simplifies check-ins, and helps parents feel more confident (without hovering).

And now, Nanit has a new addition to the system: the Nanit Home Display, an 8” touch-screen that shows you a real-time view of baby without needing to be tied to your phone. To give you the scoop on the system before adding to your registry, we tapped Morgan, Babylist mom of 2, to share the five things you should know. 

1. It’s an entire monitoring setup—not just a camera

Nanit is built as a full baby monitoring system, not a basic video feed. Bundles include the camera and mounting options so you can find what works best for your space (see those at 0:40), plus features that go beyond “see and hear baby.” For many families, it feels like a more complete solution from day one—especially for parents who want sleep support, insights, and tips baked into their monitoring system. 

And now that the system includes the Nanit Home Display, it adds a simple but meaningful upgrade: a real-time view of the baby on a dedicated screen. It’s also available to purchase separately if you already have a Nanit camera and want to add the display later.

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2. The Home Display makes check-ins easier (and less distracting)

The biggest difference with the Nanit Home Display is that it removes the need to rely on your phone for every check-in. Instead of unlocking your smartphone, opening an app, and inevitably getting pulled into other notifications or scrolling (no judgement!), you can glance at the dedicated display and instantly see what’s happening.

This is especially useful overnight or during naps—those moments when you want reassurance without disrupting your own rest. It’s also a great option when someone else is helping with care, since the Home Display is straightforward and easy to use.

It syncs with the Nanit app and camera, includes two-way audio, and offers customizable notifications. And for families using two or more cameras, split-screen mode makes it possible to keep an eye on multiple rooms at the same time without juggling devices. Take a look at how that works at 1:30 in Morgan’s review.

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3. Nanit tracks sleep and monitors breathing motion, too

In the early newborn weeks, it’s common to feel like you’re constantly checking whether baby is breathing, waking up, or just shifting positions. Nanit is made to help reduce that new-parent anxiety by tracking more than what you can see in the moment. It monitors movement and can capture key milestones like rolling over or sitting up, along with wake-ups throughout the night (2:06).

The custom Breathing Band fabric pattern is uniquely designed for the monitor’s camera to detect the rise and fall of your baby’s chest, so instead of relying on repeated room check-ins, parents can use this tracking to stay informed and feel more confident about what’s actually happening during sleep. 

4. You get helpful sleep insights—and a recap of the night with Sleep Score

One of Nanit’s most parent-friendly features is how it turns baby sleep into something you can understand. Each morning, you’ll get a recap that summarizes how the night went, including sleep length, wake-ups, and movement.

Even more helpful: Nanit now includes a Sleep Score, which they describe as the first-ever holistic sleep metric for babies. Instead of staring at a bunch of charts and guessing what it all means, Sleep Score distills baby’s night into one simple number (up to 100) that helps you track sleep quality over time—and better understand patterns as your baby grows. 

For many parents, this is the difference between starting the day guessing and starting the day informed. It’s also a great tool to help you make sense of wake windows, nap schedules, and bedtime routines so you can get a handle on the ever-elusive world of baby sleep. 

5. The system works across devices—and supports shared caregiving

Nanit is designed to sync across the devices families actually use: the app on your phone and the Home Display that offers access for additional caregivers when needed. So whether you’re checking in from another room, running errands, or sharing care with a partner or grandparent, everything stays connected. Jump to 2:36 to see it in action.

Setup is also simpler than many parents expect. Families choose a mounting style (wall mount or floor stand), follow the app prompts to pair the camera, then sync it to the Home Display. Plus: the cords are kept safely tucked inside the mount or stand, which helps keep the nursery cleaner and reduces cord-related safety concerns.

Who do we recommend it for?

If you’re looking for a baby monitor system that supports sleep, reduces mental load, and makes it easier to check in without only relying on your phone, the Nanit Smart Baby Monitor System is worth considering.

The Nanit System also includes thoughtful details that make day-to-day life easier, like a Shared Care Log for tracking naps, feedings and diaper changes across caregivers. And because privacy matters with any smart monitor, Nanit includes strong security features like 256-bit encryption, multi-factor authentication, and customizable caregiver permissions, so parents stay in control of who can access the camera.

This article is sponsored by Nanit. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.