Best baby monitors of 2024

Ask any new parent how he or she sleeps and you’ll usually hear the words “not at all” and “not enough.” Newborns typically wake up every two to three hours to eat, which means mom and dad are up too. A high-quality baby monitor can ease new parents’ anxiety while the little one (hopefully) sleeps, by keeping an eye on the sleeping baby without disturbing him or her.

The best baby monitors come with many advanced features – so many in fact that choosing one for your newborn can be confusing. We’ve cut through the clutter to deliver our favorite baby monitors of 2024, so all you have to focus on is your (hopefully) well-rested baby.

Below are our favorite baby monitors of 2024. We looked for products with a four-star rating (or higher) with the most up-to-date features and privacy settings to compile our list.

Keep reading for features, prices, and where to buy the best baby monitors of 2024.

Baby monitor with the best price-quality ratio: HelloBaby baby monitor with 4 inch IPS

HelloBaby offers a 4.5-star baby monitor that delivers vibrant colors, intense clarity and a wide-angle view of your sleeping baby. The remote camera rotates up to 350° horizontally, 120° vertically and offers 2x zoom magnification when mom, dad or caregivers want a closer look.

We like that the room temperature, date and time are displayed directly on the monitor. The built-in temperature sensor on the baby unit sends a warning to the parent unit when the temperature thermostat in the baby room needs adjustment to ensure a comfortable sleeping environment.

The monitor’s infrared night vision allows you to see your baby’s movements at night. The system’s two-way communication makes it easy to communicate with your baby when you’re not in the same room. This monitor has eight lullabies to help your baby fall asleep peacefully.

This monitor offers a signal range of up to 300 meters and uses FHSS technology to secure transmission and privacy. You don’t need to connect to WiFi or an app.

This HelloBaby monitor is available at Amazon for $45 with coupon, reduced from $60.

Pros: This camera is a more budget-friendly option that still offers robust features. The device has a 4.4-star rating on Amazon with over 27,000 reviews. The compact monitor is easy to carry.

downside: Some reviewers have experienced connection issues.

Baby monitor with the most features: Owlet Dream Duo dream sock baby monitor and HD camera

The 4.3-star rated Owlet Dream Duo includes Owlet’s smart baby monitor camera and a Dream Sock smart baby sensor. It is a comprehensive tracking system for parents who want to keep an eye on their baby while keeping track of important health and sleep data.

The included Owlet cam smart baby monitor comes with an HD video camera with wide-angle lens. It provides sound and motion alerts on the parents’ smartphone. The video live stream can be viewed over a secure encrypted network, so that only approved parties can view video footage of your baby.

The smart sock can be worn to track the baby’s sleep, including how many times the baby wakes up during the night, the baby’s heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep quality and total hours of sleep.

“I got this for the transition to our baby’s crib so I could just check my phone instead of constantly jumping up to check on her in the middle of the night when I was worried,” says one reviewer. “It definitely puts my mind at ease. Plus, the sock tracks her sleep and predicts her next sleep window.”

The duo costs $369 at Amazon.

Pros: Includes access to Owlet’s expertly curated sleep programs. The monitor predicts the baby’s next sleep time, so parents can anticipate sleep needs.

downside: If your baby is an active sleeper, the sock may occasionally slip off.

Best Sound Detection Feature: VTech Wi-Fi Smart Baby Monitor with Night Vision

The VTech smart Wi-Fi baby monitor has a 1080p camera with night vision capabilities. The video can be viewed on the included five-inch 720p monitor or on your smartphone. The monitor offers two-way audio functionality, so parents can talk to their babies anywhere. The monitor can also send motion and temperature alerts to parents.

We like that the monitor can play soothing sounds and soothing lullabies to help your baby fall asleep. The device offers five melodies and four ambient sound settings.

“Honestly, there’s really no downside to this camera,” says one Amazon buyer. “We loved it and it was perfect for us. The brightness is good enough for what we need. It has night vision and you can zoom in on each baby. We love the sound detection feature. Our babies were very noisy sleepers so We turned the volume down and just had the sound detection on, so we didn’t hear every sound and we could sleep a little.”

This device costs $117 after coupon at Amazon, reduced from $127.

Pros: Night vision capabilities make it easy to keep an eye on your baby while he sleeps. Reviewers note that the device is easy to install right out of the box. The camera offers pan, tilt and zoom functions so you get the best view of your little one.

downside: The monitor has received mixed reviews regarding battery life.

Most advanced features: Nanit Pro complete monitoring system

The 4.6-star Nanit Pro complete monitoring system includes an HD baby monitor with a built-in night light, plus a monitor stand. The monitor has a 1080p camera and two-way audio. In addition to monitoring your baby’s movements, the system’s camera also tracks your baby’s growth. The included Flex Stand provides a 130-degree view of your baby’s sleeping or play area.

The system also includes a breathing tracking belt and sheets with printed patterns that help track movement. Nanit tracks your baby’s breaths per minute and sends real-time sound and motion alerts to your phone with the compatible app.

“This monitor was great! It’s pricey, but worth it with all the features,” says one Amazon reviewer. “The breathing strap provides peace of mind for our newborn and the travel stand makes it easy to transition between his bassinet and bassinet depending on the bed or nap situation.”

This baby monitor is available from Amazon for $328.

Pros: The Nanit offers a split screen feature that allows users to view two cameras on one screen. It can track sleep patterns and send parents expert tips on how to improve their child’s sleep.

downside: This is definitely a more expensive system and therefore has a higher price.

Most reliable: Bonoch video baby monitor with camera and audio

This 4.6 star rated baby monitor comes with a camera and a 5-inch 720p monitor screen. The monitor has two-way audio and zoom capabilities. Unlike many baby monitors, this privacy-friendly monitor does not connect via WiFi. Instead, the monitor’s wireless connection provides a secure live stream sent only to the linked monitor screen.

“I’ve had this baby camera for over a year now and have had no complaints,” says an Amazon customer. “The monitor lasts all day without needing to be charged and the picture is so good. I absolutely love it.”

This monitor is available from Amazon for $133 with coupon, reduced from $140.

Pros: Reviewers note that the brand’s customer service team was very responsive when issues arose.

downside: Some reviewers report that it charges slowly.

Best baby monitor for twins or multiples: BabySense baby monitor with split screen

Keep an eye on twins or a baby and toddler with the BabySense split-screen baby monitor with two cameras. Scan mode effortlessly alternates audio between both cameras every 15 seconds, while keeping audio focus on one camera at a time – ensuring clear audio and uninterrupted listening.

This system is hack-proof and the large 5.5-inch TFT LCD screen delivers a crystal clear image, guaranteed safe. Use the parent monitor to access remote pan and tilt, and up to 4x zoom with a range of up to 300 meters. This baby monitor offers a six-color RGB night light, night vision, white noise sound or a programmed lullaby to soothe your little one from a distance.

This baby monitor is available from Amazon for $180 with coupon, reduced from $200.

Plus points: You can connect up to four monitors to one system.

Con: A small number of buyers felt that this monitor offers superior basic features, but the premium features were better performed on competitor products.

Wi-Fi vs. Local Baby Monitors: Which is Best?

When it comes to purchasing a baby monitor, there are two types to consider: a local baby monitor and a Wi-Fi baby monitor. A local monitor does not use Wi-Fi, but connects via FHSS or DECT, similar to a radio connection. Some parents prefer a local baby monitor because it is not dependent on the status of the Wi-Fi network in the home (if the network goes down, so does the baby monitor). Because they are not connected to the Internet, local monitors are more secure.

Wi-Fi baby monitors connect over a Wi-Fi network and use a cell phone app as a monitor for the parents. This allows you to remotely log in to the baby monitor’s feed with your phone. A Wi-Fi baby monitor usually offers more options than a local monitor, including a clearer image. However, there may be some delay in transferring via Wi-Fi baby monitor due to the lengthy data transfer process.

If a real-time, secure view is your top priority, a local baby monitor is for you. But if you want to monitor your baby remotely or you need advanced technology and measurement data, then a Wi-Fi baby monitor is for you.