Best Baby Monitors of 2024

Pros:

• Tracks sleep, motion, vitals and growth
• Access live, high-definition video from anywhere in the world
• Split-screen option for multiple kids

Cons:

• Expensive (price doesn’t include annual membership, an extra $50-300 per year)
• Amount of tracking information can be overwhelming
• Only works with your phone (no separate display monitor)

My kids are seven years apart, so a lot had changed in the years between when I registered for a baby monitor for my first son versus my second. I had heard great things about the Nanit but was hesitant about using a WiFi monitor that I could access only via my phone. I ended up taking the plunge, and am so glad I did. Fast-forward almost three years later and the Nanit easily ranks as one of my favorite items of baby gear and a product I consistently recommend. And I’m not the only one who loves it; it was the number one most-loved baby monitor in our Best Baby Products survey, with 18% of parents telling us it was their top monitor pick.

“I use the Nanit every single day and it makes my life so much easier. It gives me peace of mind and that is priceless as a first-time mama,” one survey respondent told us. “It helped an anxious mom get some sleep. I recommend it to everyone,” another said.

The Nanit Pro tracks your baby’s sleep patterns, movement, vital stats and even growth, all via a livestream right from your phone. It’s really intuitive, both in setup and in use, which is saying something considering everything this baby monitor can do. And the camera is crystal clear in the daytime and overnight (it’s 1080p HD), so you’ll always have a good view of what’s happening in the crib.

The two smart features I like most about the Nanit are its sleep tracking and motion sensor capabilities. Through Nanit Insights, the monitor’s custom app, you can track your baby’s sleep stats each day and night. That means you’ll know how much time your baby spends awake and asleep (and how those times change as your baby grows) and even how much time has elapsed between wake times—a data point I found invaluable during those first six months or so when I was trying to establish a nap schedule but too exhausted to track my son’s sleep on my own. “I did not realize how much I would love the sleep data/dashboard,” one mom told us. “We love the ‘I fell asleep x number of hours/min ago’ function and cannot imagine not having it.”

The motion sensor technology utilizes something called a Breathing Band—a soft fabric band that fits right over your little one’s swaddle or pajamas—that monitors movement and breathing motion without the use of sensors or a sock. While it’s not a medical device (and shouldn’t be used as one), lots of parents find reassurance in using it regularly, while others use the band only when their little one is sick and they’re feeling a bit anxious. (I fell into the latter category and found it gave me so much peace of mind when my baby wasn’t feeling great.)

Other features to love include personalized, science-backed sleep guidance from experts, two-way audio, white noise, temperature and humidity sensors, and, most recently, the ability to monitor two children at once with split-screen viewing. (You’ll need to buy a second camera, though.)

And while you’ll need your phone to use the Nanit, I found setup was easy and that the app doesn’t put too big a strain on my phone battery. I love that I’m able to check in on my little one when I’m away from home or on a work trip. (The grandparents have also been known to do their fair share of baby spying.) I also love the background audio capabilities (you don’t have to have the Nanit app open on your screen to hear what’s going on in the nursery) and the picture-in-picture function that lets me view my son via a small, separate pop-up screen while I’m in other apps.

The Nanit is definitely an investment—especially if you need two for multiple kids. You’ll also have to pay for Nanit Insights, the sleep trends and timelapse highlights reel app, after the first year. The sleep-tracking analytics are brilliant if that’s your thing but can be a little overwhelming if you get anxious from information overload. And if you don’t want a baby monitor that works via your phone, you’ll want to skip the Nanit and look for a more traditional video or audio monitor instead.

This Babylist exclusive bundle comes with a Nanit Pro camera, wall mount, small and large Breathing Bands, Smart Sheet, FlexStand, travel case and one year of Nanit Insights.

Real Parent Reviews

“Every morning I love reading the summary of the night before and the ratings on how he slept. It’s also great that we can use our phones to monitor, and I’ve even put the app on an iPad that sits in the main room.” — Jessica M.

“Being able to glance at my phone and see my baby is breathing is priceless. Babies don’t move for long stretches of time often, so seeing that my baby is breathing with the breathing band prevents me from getting up and going to check on my baby multiple times a night. The sheets are not necessary, just kind of cool to measure the height.” — Annam A.

“I literally don’t know how I could have children without this camera! It gives me such peace of mind / all the details I could need while I’m also asleep!” — Rachel W.

“This is our second Nanit purchase for our newborn after using our other Nanit with our (now) toddler. The Nanit is easy to assemble and use, plus the features of the Insights membership afforded us the peace of mind all parents deserve in the newborn stage and onward. The flex stand is great for traveling and easy to stow and go. We’ve preferred to use the sleep sacks through the different growth stages, which have been durable and have afforded us the ability to reuse them this time around, resulting in some “savings.” Our only complaint with Nanit to this point have been minor hiccups when renewing our Insights membership, which was easily resolved by Nanit customer service. Additionally, a discount for multiple Insights memberships would be appreciated!” — Eric F.

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Very affordable for a WiFi video monitor
• Easy setup
• Can be accessed by multiple family members at the same time

Cons:

• Live audio & video feeds only work when your phone is unlocked
• Cloud-based storage might not feel like the most secure option for some families
• Notifications feature & cloud storage cost an extra $20/year

Leave it to enterprising parents to find a hack for everything. The Wyze, originally designed as a home surveillance camera, is used by tons of parents as a baby monitor. And with its easy setup, live HD streaming and incredibly affordable price tag, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a WiFi option at a fraction of the cost of the Nanit. “Why buy an expensive camera when a cheap Wyze camera does it all?” one Best Baby Products respondent said.

The Wyze is controlled remotely via an app and can be shared by multiple family members. When used as a baby monitor, you can view the live stream in real-time or set up push notifications to alert you to motion and sound. (You can also adjust the sensitivities on these so you’re not being constantly bombarded with a message every time your little one makes a move.) The camera has color night vision, two-way audio and can pan, tilt and zoom. “I am able to peek at my boy from out of the house with both a visual and sound,” another parent told us. “It has excellent night vision since it is technically a security camera.”

You get free 14-day cloud storage right out of the box with the Wyze (and can purchase more if needed) and the camera records 12-second video clips. And it works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

If you’re comparing the Wyze with its higher-priced, baby-specific WiFi counterparts, there are a few downsides. You’ll need your phone around, unlocked (there’s no background audio feed option like with the Nanit) and always charged to use the Wyze cam. If you want a caregiver to use the monitor, you’ll need to have them download the app and give them permission access to your camera. Some parents also don’t love the cloud-based storage—but there is an option to insert a micro SD card instead and store the files locally.

It’s also worth noting that In September 2023, The Verge reported an incident where a small number of users (the company has estimated roughly 10) who used a web browser to log into their Wyze cameras may have seen camera feeds of other users who were logged in during that time frame. We recommend reaching out to Wyze directly if you have any concerns about your monitor’s security.

Real Parent Reviews

“The night vision is excellent, even in a totally dark room (at night with blackout curtains). The panning ability and motion sensing are handy as well, but the motor that moves the camera is kind of loud so we don’t recommend doing it when baby is sleeping. The two-way communication is nice to remotely talk with the baby and the audio/video quality from the camera is great.” — William

“I love this cam for many reasons. It’s affordable, super easy to set up, and can be quickly moved to any room in the house. The 2-way communication is great for the toddler years and I appreciate the sd card storage option to feel more secure than cloud-based.” — Tonya

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Interchangeable lenses (zoom or wide angle)
• Can accommodate up to 4 cameras
• Reliable noise-filtering feature

Cons:

• Pricey for a non-WiFi, non-tracking monitor
• Battery life decreases quickly over time
• No wall mount option for camera

WiFi monitors aren’t for everyone; 46% of the 6,000 parents polled in our Best Baby Products survey said they preferred a video-only monitor. Parents appreciate the security and reliability of video monitors along with their easy setup and that any parent or caretaker can use them without worrying about downloading an app or accessing an account. But video monitors can be notoriously finicky. Lots lose night vision clarity over time, many have a quickly fading battery life and some just stop working altogether for no apparent reason.

While not the newest or slickest video monitor on the market, the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is a tried and true favorite that many Babylist parents swear by. It’s not perfect, but the video and sound quality are solid and it’s consistently reliable, all things that contribute to it earning the top video monitor spot in our survey according to Babylist parents.

“We are so happy with our Infant Optics monitor,” one survey respondent told us. “It has worked perfectly from day one and set up was a breeze. It’s also super easy to travel with! No connecting to WiFi, just plug [it] in and it’s ready.” Another highlighted the lack of information overload as a huge pro. There’s “just enough information to comfort us without making us anxious,” they said.

This monitor is known for its video quality, with parents describing the view as “high quality” and “ultra clear.” There are interchangeable lenses: a zoom lens included in the box if you need a closer view of your baby and a wide-angle lens sold separately if you need a different view. Parents also love the Active Noise Reduction feature. It’s designed to filter out background noise so you only hear the sound of your baby—not the air conditioner, humidifier or whatever else is humming along in the background.

The five-inch LCD screen offers a good view and there is a pan/tilt/zoom feature and an LED sound indicator that lights up when it detects noise. There’s an intercom feature (“You can talk back when baby wakes to let him know you’re coming!” one parent said) and the monitor is expandable with up to four cameras if you plan on growing your family. Just note that parents say the portable parent console does lose battery power over time. And the original version of this monitor isn’t compatible with the Pro, so don’t get the two confused if you’re purchasing additional cameras.

Real Parent Reviews

“This monitor has a clear picture, clear audio, good battery life, and is easy to use. Great range-we use it throughout our entire home (upstairs and down) as well as outside in the yard without issue. We scan through three cameras all night long and feel confident that we’ll be alerted quickly to anything going on in any of the three rooms we’re monitoring. Customer service is bar none. Our monitor started glitching, and when some troubleshooting with Joseph at Infant Optics didn’t fix the issue, we had a brand new monitor sent to us free of charge. If you’re looking for a quality monitor AND a company who stands behind their product, this is it!” — KRH

“I chose this monitor because my sister had it and liked it. I didn’t do much research into monitors, but it definitely gets the job done. A few pros: I like that this camera comes with a monitor. I also have the Nanit and hate that it needs to be attached to a phone or device with an app. Great camera & sound quality. Easy to zoom in and turn up/down the volume. Easy to pack up and bring places. Great for caretakers. (As I mentioned, we have a Nanit and use this camera/monitor when someone else is watching our child because they don’t need an app to access the camera). No WiFi needed to use this camera/monitor. Some cons: The monitor has a pretty short battery life. Won’t last through a full night after a few months of use. It also doesn’t have a great roaming range. We like to bring this monitor/camera on vacations, and often find ourselves having a limited range of how far away from the camera we can go. (ex: We have issues sitting outside while our child is sleeping if we were to visit a lakehouse.)” — Laura

Additional Specs

Pros:

• 1,000-ft range
• Affordable compared to similar video monitors
• Extra features like room temperature monitor and automatic adaptive nightlight

Cons:

• Can’t fully pan or tilt, so there’s less visibility that with some other video monitors
• Low battery life
• Minor connectivity issues

Finding a well-priced video monitor that’s also reliable isn’t easy. This straightforward monitor from VTech is our affordable video pick and the monitor I’ve traveled with for years. Considering the features, the price and the functionality, it’s a solid choice that lots of parents really like.

“The Vtech baby monitor is cheap and simple and I prefer it to the more complex high-tech one that we also have,” one parent we spoke to told us. The monitor’s standout features include the five-inch color LCD screen that offers a good view both during the daytime and at night, 1,000-foot range, a room temperature sensor and an adaptive night light that automatically adjusts to the brightness of your nursery. (You can also enable the night light to turn on automatically when it detects sound in the nursery). The monitor has five melodies and four soothing sounds (the white noise is “perfect,” said one mom in our survey) and two-way audio.

The biggest complaint with this monitor is that while you can adjust the camera angle a bit, you won’t be able to fully pan and tilt it with the same wide range as you would a more expensive monitor. I’ve found this to be a minor annoyance rather than a dealbreaker. Parents also complain about the poor battery life (a common problem among budget-friendly monitors) and minor connectivity issues.

Real Parent Reviews

“I waited 9 months before writing this review. This monitor has exceeded my expectations. This would have easily cost much more several years ago before Wi-Fi monitors hit the scene. I did not want a Wi-Fi monitor. The VTech is simple, easy to use with great quality. I’ve traveled with it and the setup is straightforward. If this monitor ends up breaking in the future I will buy this exact one again. The only thing I don’t love is the brightness. Even on the lowest setting the monitor is bright when turned on. I set the screen to be on black mode while I sleep but will [turn] the screen on to see the baby if I hear him.” — Lam C

“I needed a backup monitor for travel and didn’t want to spend a lot of money. I’ve been really impressed with the VTech since I started using it almost two years ago. It’s super easy to set up, the large screen size and good resolution make it easy to see your baby both in daylight and overnight, and it’s reliable.” — J.L.

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Includes 2 cameras and split-screen view monitor
• 360-degree view
• Can support up to 4 cameras

Cons:

• Audio only works for one camera at a time
• Lowest settings for brightness and volume are still pretty high (may feel too bright and loud at night)
• Lullabies sound a bit tinny

There are plenty of video monitors that allow you to view two separate rooms simultaneously, but the Babysense Full HD makes it even easier with its split-screen technology. Instead of toggling between two separate screens, this monitor splits the screen in half, giving you a view of both spaces at once. It’s a great feature to have if you have twins or multiple kiddos close in age, of course, but is just as useful if you want to keep an eye on two separate spaces (a nursery and a playroom, for example). “When we had our third baby and our kids were in separate rooms we got the Babysense dual monitor and I loved the big screen display,” Rachael Shephard-Ohta, a sleep consultant and Certified Lactation Counselor and the founder of Hey Sleepy Baby told us.

The camera quality on the Babysense is the other feature parents rave about consistently. The picture is crisp and clear, even in night mode, and the 5.5” LCD display makes it easy to take it all in. There’s also a 360-degree pan along with tilt and zoom feature. And unlike with some monitors where you’ll experience a scrolling lag, you won’t find that here—the buttons are really responsive and it’s easy to pan a room quickly.

There’s also a night light, two-way audio, built-in lullabies and white noise, and a 12-hour battery life on the Babysense. This version includes two cameras, but if you only need one (or plan to add a second camera later on), there’s a single-camera version, too. You can also add two more cameras to this unit if you need to keep an eye on more children. (The screen will toggle between each pair of cameras.)

Real Parent Reviews

“Love the fact that I can have multiple cameras and choose from split screen, alternating cameras or just one camera being viewed at a time. I love all the added features like being able to talk to my kids through the parent unit, the night light is great, my kids love the color options. The lullabies, the temperature monitor, and the fact that it charges with a usb-c are all great. The battery life also seems to be a great improvement. The only thing I’d change is it would be nice to have a timer for the night light so you don’t forget to turn it off in the mornings. I use this monitor system for not only a baby but also 2 nonverbal autistic children so it’s so important to have a good quality dependable camera system.” — Bonnie

“Purchased this monitor as our old monitor was on its way out. We liked the dual-screen setup and the ability to add additional monitors down the road! Picture is clear and is really helpful when seeing the kids starting to stir. The system is full of options and is really easy to use.” — Kevin

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Budget-friendly and travel-friendly
• 1,000-foot range
• Built-in nightlight and sound machine

Cons:

• Audio only, no video
• Poor battery life

“Hands down we say it all the time—this is one of our favorite baby products! It was my night light from bedroom to nursery during late, dark night runs to feed. It is our favorite accessory on our diaper bag when traveling. It remains the key to restful sleep every night since our baby came home—the white noise feature for naps during the day and lullabies for nighttime is his routine he knows so very well. We love monkey and it’s been a product I use just as much as diapers. It deserves praise!”

As this Best Baby Products survey parent quote highlights: Don’t discount the value and usefulness of an audio monitor. Audio monitors are affordable, functional and portable. They can also be a lifesaver for anxious parents who are often overwhelmed by the thought of being glued to a video monitor screen trying to keep an eye on their baby 24/7.

This VTech monitor has all the features you need in an audio-only monitor. It picks up the quietest of sounds very well, but won’t emit the constant (and annoying) white noise you often hear from other audio monitors. It features a two-way intercom, a feature that’s especially useful during the toddler years, and a visual five-level sound indicator on the parent unit so you can visually monitor the noise level even when the unit is muted. The baby unit features a dimmable light as well as five songs and four ambient sounds (including white noise). It’s small and portable for use either at home or for travel (there’s a built-in hook for taking the monitor on the go) and the price tag is really easy on your wallet. Many parents use it for travel, but if you do prefer an audio-only monitor it’s a great option for everyday use, too.

The one downside is the battery. It’s supposed to last for about eight hours, but many users report that it dies in less time. If you want to use it for longer stretches, plan on keeping it plugged in.

Real Parent Reviews

“So simple but absolutely perfect for baby to sleep and parents/grandparents to hear little one. I love it!” — Jane S.

“This is a cheaper monitor, but the white noise and monitor have been great for naps. We like to use this monitor when we are traveling out of town because it’s so portable. I wouldn’t use it as my only monitor (we have a video monitor at home), but it definitely fills a need and we have used it every day since buying! Battery is so-so, but we don’t mind plugging it in.” — booksilove

“We bought this to be our travel monitor for when we visit family and it does the trick. The features all work as described and the range is good. The only annoying part is, when you plug in the receiver, it tries to connect to the monitor and beeps because the monitor isn’t on. You have to turn it off every time you plug it in. A very minor flaw.” — A-Dogg

Additional Specs

Pros:

• Wearable + video monitor all in one
• Tracks heart rate, oxygen level & sleep trends
• Free personalized sleep program for baby

Cons:

• Connectivity issues are common
• App can be glitchy
• Not considered a medical device even though it tracks vitals

Owlet was one of the first brands to offer a wearable tracking component for babies. This FDA-cleared monitor uses a wearable called a Dream Sock that slips over your baby’s foot to track their pulse rate and oxygen in real-time and alert you if something looks off. (If you’re curious what “FDA-cleared” actually means, this FDA-approved vs. FDA-cleared explainer breaks it down.) The sock can also track sleep trends like wakings, quality of sleep and total hours slept. It has a 16-hour battery life and charges on a separate base in about eight hours.

Even a quick scan of parent reviews on the Owlet will yield very mixed opinions. Some parents swear by it. “The peace of mind the Owlet gave me while sleeping was incomparable,” one parent told us. “It just really puts our minds at ease knowing we can check on baby’s vitals at any time,” said another. But on the flip side, you’ll hear things like “it malfunctioned a lot and caused unnecessary stress,” and “it’s too pricey and it was so glitchy.” So who should you believe?

If you’re the type of parent who is comforted by more information rather than less, we think the Owlet is a great choice. It does have its connectivity glitches, although they seem very dependent on who you ask—some parents report false alarms while others use the sock for over a year with zero malfunctions. But many parents value the peace of mind it provides and especially lean on the vitals data when their little one is a newborn or when they’re sick. For other parents, though, the Owlet can actually cause added anxiety rather than relieve it. It simply depends on your disposition and personal preferences.

The most important thing to remember about the Owlet is it’s not a medical device, and it shouldn’t be used or relied on as one. If you ever have any concerns about your baby’s health, your pediatrician should always be your first source of information. You should also never use it to monitor your baby if they fall asleep in an unsafe sleep situation like a lounger or with loose blankets nearby; instead, move them to a firm, flat surface free of soft objects and loose bedding.

This bundle includes a camera that turns the system into a WiFi baby monitor. The camera offers a 180-degree room view and a four-times zoom.

Real Parent Reviews

“I’ve been using this every day for about a month, and I can’t say enough great things about this device. It’s easy to put on the baby and very soft. IMO the best things are seeing clearly how your baby’s vitals are (esp heart rate) and if you add in your baby’s naps, it’ll give you predictive sleep windows & they’re spot on for us every time. It’s worth every penny!” — CPRucker

“Having a preemie baby, the Dream Duo has really given me peace of mind. The ability to see the room temp along with tracking [baby’s] HR and SPO2 really put me at ease as a first-time mom and ER nurse.” — Tine2192

“Don’t bother with the Owlet. It generates false alarms all the time. The app is extremely buggy as well. The pairing was a total and complete disaster that took 15 tries before it worked. It also took countless back-and-forth emails. A complete disaster of a product. My husband and I are also good with gadgets. That’s how bad this is.” — JenniferAddison

“As someone who works in the medical field I worry more than most about the possibilities. This product gave me and my husband so much peace of mind at night. The first couple of months we only used the sock because she slept next to our bed in a bassinet and then moved her to her crib and used the sock and camera. We have even used it when our daughter was sick and congested to monitor her oxygen and pulse. We love that it alerts us when she moves or wakes up and tells us the temperature in her room. This product is amazing and honestly every parent should get it. You will sleep so much better. The only issue we had is that the owlet sometimes disconnects from your device and you have to go back through the whole process of pairing it. If it’s during the night and you’re sleeping you wouldn’t know that it stopped pairing. [The] good thing is the sock base station will still go off and alert you if there is a problem with the baby.” — Smith22

“We spent 8 months in the NICU with our daughter and looked forward to the peace of mind that Owlet promised us when we came home. However, we have been so disappointed in the quality of the product. The app times out in the middle of the night, and we have woken up 10+ times to having no sound or video. We’re frustrated that we spent $400 on this product and can’t return it. We’ll have to spend more money on a different monitor, and you should too.” — JamieB4

Additional Specs