Keeping an eye on your baby is important to parents and what better way than with a baby monitor with a camera? In today’s market, there are hundreds of video monitors that can give you the peace of mind that your baby is safe and sound.
One of the best video monitors on the market is the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor. It combines a top-quality camera with a powerful sensor to keep you updated on your baby’s movements, an important thing when they rollover. App-enabled, you can also keep track of your baby from anywhere in the house without worrying about a limited range.
The first step is understanding the types of video monitors available. There are the more traditional audio and video monitors, which are the most popular. They typically have a handheld monitor with a limited range, but often feature night vision and zoom. A perk of the traditional audio and video monitors is they are on a closed system, meaning you’re not connected to Wi-Fi.
There are also video monitors that feature health sensors. These typically track temperature and movement, though some have separate accessories to track things like oxygen levels, heartbeat and humidity levels.
Another popular video monitor type are Wi-Fi baby monitors. These usually stream a live feed of your baby from the camera to an app through your home’s Wi-Fi. Many of these have features that other baby monitors don’t. However, they open you up to privacy issues. You’ll have to make sure your Wi-Fi network is secured with a heavy-duty password to ensure your privacy. A downside is that if your Wi-Fi glitches, you lose the feed.
While you shouldn’t be swayed by fancy upgrades if you’re simply looking for a basic video monitor, buying one with extra sensors gives you even more aware of the health and wellness of your baby. These can monitor their health and will alert you if something goes wrong.
There are tons of benefits to getting a camera that streams via Wi-Fi. They often have more functions and work on any smartphone. It also eliminates the issue of a limited range and lets you check up on your baby if you’re out of town and missing them. However, just like your computer or phone, a camera connected to your Wi-Fi network is open to being hacked.
On the other hand, a digital monitor that connects through radio frequency on a closed system has far fewer privacy issues. All you do is place the camera and turn on the monitor, while many of the Wi-Fi cameras take some work to set up. However, these are more basic and have fewer features.
With a traditional digital monitor, you will have a certain range that you have to stay in. This is only a problem if your room is too far from the baby’s room. In that case, your monitor is effectively useless. On the other hand, a Wi-Fi-connected baby monitor that streams to an app has no range limit.
The best baby monitors with cameras have great night vision. The quality of the night vision is important because that’s typically when you’ll use your monitor the most. If the night vision is grainy or hard to see, your monitor won’t do you any good.
Especially important with a digital video monitor is the battery life of the parent unit and whether or not it runs on a rechargeable battery or disposable batteries. You should ideally have one with enough charge to last through the night.
The best video monitors have remote adjustment, meaning you can adjust the camera remotely either from the parent monitor or from the app on your phone. This will let you see the whole room or get a better angle on your baby.
Some video monitor systems will allow you to add additional cameras while other systems don’t. The benefit to having more cameras is always having the best view of your baby throughout the night. It would also give you the option to place a camera in the playroom and stay on the same system, rather than having multiple systems and monitors to keep track of.
Most baby monitors with cameras will cost between $100-$200. These will have all the necessary features and maybe a couple of extras. The more high-end video monitors will be $300 and up. These typically feature more sensors, better cameras and better monitoring.
A. Generally speaking, yes, Wi-Fi-connected baby monitors are safe as long as your network is secure. There are a couple of ways to ensure your network is safe. First, you will want it encrypted to keep out any unwanted network visitors. You should also use a secure password that has a good mix of numbers, letters and symbols.
A. A baby monitor with a camera isn’t completely necessary. However, it will give you the most peace of mind. The benefits are huge and could help you sleep more soundly simply by having a closer eye on your baby. They are especially good for new parents with young babies transitioning to their own room.
A. When looking for a baby monitor with a good-quality camera, look for anything HD. You should also pay attention to the size of the monitor. Look for one with a bigger monitor and one that has the most pixels.
What you need to know: The Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor combines the benefits of a camera with a motion sensor to let you know if your baby starts moving.
What you’ll love: This camera is especially versatile, with a wall-mount and floor mount so you can position it exactly where you need it. It also has a time-lapse feature so you can better understand your baby’s sleeping patterns.
What you should consider: Some users report the video quality isn’t what you’d expect for the price tag.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Buy Buy Baby, Bed Bath and Beyond and Home Depot
Babysense V24R Video Baby Monitor
What you need to know: If you want a good, basic video monitor without breaking the bank, this is an excellent choice.
What you’ll love: Using infrared night vision, you’ll be able to easily see your baby, albeit on a 2.4-inch display. It includes a room temperature sensor that will alert you if the temperature rises or drops past comfortable levels.
What you should consider: Some users have reported connectivity issues and that the cords are a bit short.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
What you need to know: Highly praised as one of the best on the market, the Infant Optics DXR-8 has an interchangeable lens and great features, especially for the price.
What you’ll love: With the Infant Optics DXR-8, you can have a 170-degree view of your baby’s room. It also has a 10 hour battery life, so you won’t have to worry about it running out in the middle of the night.
What you should consider: After using it for a few months, you may have to replace the rechargeable battery.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Bed Bath and Beyond
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Kasey Van Dyke writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
