The Overall Best Baby Monitor of 2024 is the Nanit Pro, with its variety of features and WiFi connectivity. However, if you are looking for different features or non-WiFi, read-on. We are actual parents performing hands-on, real-life testing of the best baby monitors to help you identify the most important features for you and your family. We go beyond just lab testing to help identify the best baby monitors of 2024.
Our Picks for the Best Baby Monitor of 2024
With so many options available online, we focus on the best baby monitors of 2024 that are safe, practical, and can really help you and your baby sleep better. We personally used and tested each monitor in our ranking before sharing our thoughts.
QUICK GUIDE: IN THIS ARTICLE
Our mission is to help you find the absolute best baby monitor of 2024 for your home. We also share 3 essentials tips to consider in deciding which baby monitor is best for your family. You can also compare our list of Best Baby Monitors of 2024 with other popular best baby products lists from others.
Please note that occasionally we receive free baby monitors from manufacturers. However, our reviews are unbiased and we do not receive payment or compensation for them. To maintain objectivity, we use ranking criteria and we only recommend products that we use personally. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through our affiliate links, but this has no additional cost for you. For more information, please refer to our earnings disclaimer.
Best Baby Monitors of 2024: Product Details
Nanit Pro: Overall Best Baby Monitor of 2024
Bottom Line:
We picked the Nanit Pro as the Best Overall WiFi Baby Monitor of 2024 because we loved the variety of features, its usability, and its low EMF. But we don’t love its higher price tag.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- High-quality video in both daytime and nighttime settings.
- Can bundle with breathing wear.
- Adjustable movement and sounds notifications.
CONS
- No pan or tilt.
- Expensive.
- Subscription fee after first year for sleep data.
We think the Nanit Pro is one of the sleekest WiFi baby monitors on the market, and it’s the very latest from Nanit—a brand known for its smart approach to infant sleep science. We found it easy to use and one of the simplest baby monitors to install, with a variety of installation options including wall mount, floor stand ($80) or a table mount ($49) (aka Flex Stand).
We downloaded the Nanit Pro app on our iPhone and found that it provides an incredible amount of data, is intuitively-designed and works while using other apps. However, keep in mind the Nanit Pro requires a good internet connection for consistent monitoring.
Read our full in-depth Nanit Pro review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi, smart
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: iOS, Android, Alexa
- Mounting: wall, floor stand or table
- Mobile App: yes
- Dedicated Monitor: no
Buying Options
Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro: Best Baby Monitor Without WiFi
Bottom Line:
We feel the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro sets itself apart as the Best Non-WiFi Baby Monitor we tested due to its stellar noise reduction feature and impressive audio and video quality, which was better than the competition.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Excellent active noise reduction.
- Great zooming with interchangeable lenses.
- Accommodates up to four cameras.
- Replaceable battery.
CONS
- No white noise or lullabies.
- Requires special charging port (not USB).
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro improved several features from its predecessor, including a larger 5-inch screen, improved range, louder speaker, a better battery life, background-noise reduction, and a higher-resolution camera. We feel it has better picture and night vision quality compared to our runner-up, the Eufy SpaceView Pro, but the price is just a little higher.
We love the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro monitor’s LED audio indicator, but the feature that we feel sets it apart from other baby monitors is the Active Noise Reduction which filters out background noise and unwanted sound from fans, humidifiers and so on.
Read our full in-depth Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: non-WiFi, radio
- Resolution: HD 720p
- Compatibility: none
- Mounting: table (with wall/ceiling mounts available separately here)
- Mobile App: no
- Dedicated Monitor: yes
Buying Options
Eufy SpaceView Pro: Best Baby Monitor Without WiFi Runner-Up
Bottom Line:
We love the simplicity of non-WiFi monitors, and had to include the Eufy SpaceView Pro as a Best Runner-Up due to our experience with its amazing battery life and pan and tilt features!
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Easy to use & simple set-up.
- Sound activation and VOX mode.
- Longest battery life of any dedicated device unit we tested.
- Pans 330 degrees and tilts 110 degrees.
CONS
- Price.
- Zoom is not great.
- No movement alert.
We love Non-WiFi baby monitors because they come with the parent/monitoring device and require very little set up, and the Eufy SpaceView Pro is no exception! We love its unique wedge-shaped design and the many features it offers including temperature and humidity sensors, sound alerts, two-way communication, five lullabies, white noise and an alarm clock (although we aren’t quite sure why one would use this).
We found the Eufy SpaceView Pro’s monitor easy to use, displaying the time of day, signal strength, battery life, temperature, and which camera you’re looking at – since it can support up to four. We found the video monitor picture quality to be really good with a reasonably good night vision mode. However, the sound is less impressive and we found it to be a little quiet and fuzzy at times.
Read our full in-depth Eufy SpaceView Pro review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: non-WiFi, radio
- Resolution: HD 720p
- Compatibility: none
- Mounting: wall or table
- Mobile App: no
- Dedicated Monitor: yes
Buying Options
Owlet Dream Duo 2 Camera and Smart Sock: Best Baby Monitor with Health Tracking
Bottom Line:
The Owlet Dream Duo 2 Smart Baby Monitor is our pick for the Best Health Monitor with its camera and smart sock, but we feel its video and audio fall short compared to some of the other Best Baby Monitors we tested.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Smart Sock tracks baby’s heart rate, oxygen level, movements, and temperature.
- Extremely good night vision.
- Configurable movement and sound notifications.
CONS
- Expensive.
- Sock can give false alarms.
- No nightlight, lullabies, or sound activation.
We feel the Owlet Dream Duo 2 Smart Baby Monitor is an excellent option for any family wanting some additional peace of mind. It provides monitoring and tracking of your baby’s vitals, alerting you when they deviate from normal. We love that the Owlet app doesn’t charge an extra subscription fee like many of its WiFi competitors.
We found that the video and sound quality of the Owlet Dream Duo 2 Smart Sock and Camera to not only be subpar, but also frequently lags, and the app itself is known to have a small ratio of false alarms.
Read our full in-depth Owlet Dream Duo 2 Smart Sock and Camera review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi, smart
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: iOS, Android
- Mounting: wall and table
- Mobile App: yes
- Dedicated Monitor: no
Buying Options
VTech DM221: Best Baby Monitor Audio Only
Bottom Line:
The VTech DM221 is an excellent pick if you are looking for an old-school, non-video baby monitor. We love its simplicity and we feel it has solid audio features, even though it does not have all the features of its video monitor competitors.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Clear, crisp audio.
- Noise detection alerts, including a vibrate alert.
- VOX mode.
- 1,000-foot range.
- Battery lasts over 16 hours on a charge.
CONS
- Basic audio-only device.
- Annoying if disconnected.
If you have a limited budget or aren’t worried about the bells and whistles of a video monitor, we feel the VTech DM221 is an excellent option. Think glorified walkie talkie. We continue to see this audio-only monitor as a best seller at multiple retailers, with a super-simple set up and decent audio. We love the VTech DM221 as a travel companion or back-up baby monitor, since it is so easy to begin using.
The VTech’s parent unit lights up when it detects sound, and even includes a vibration feature. During our tests the battery lasted over 18 hours and had a range over 1100 feet. However, when the parent becomes disconnected from the child unit, it does emit an annoying beeping sound (which is helpful, but a bit much).
Read our full in-depth VTech DM221 review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: radio (audio-only)
- Resolution: none
- Compatibility: none
- Mounting: table
- Mobile App: none
- Dedicated Monitor: none
Buying Options
Lollipop: Best Baby Monitor for Traveling
Bottom Line:
The Lollipop baby monitor is an excellent WiFi baby monitor that is extremely easy to set up and earns our award for the Best Travel WiFi Baby Monitor. We were able to install and mount the Lollipop Baby Monitor in seconds!
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Great picture and sound quality.
- Smart Detection (cry, motion, noise).
- Local WiFi option.
- Supports multiple cameras.
CONS
- No pan and tilt.
- Temperature and humidity tracking sold separately.
- Wired only with no battery backup.
We love the Lollipop Baby Monitor’s unique bendable silicone stick stand that attaches just about anywhere, making it a good traveling option. The accompanying mobile app is easy to use and you have the option to keep it on your local WiFi network for extra security. The Smart Detection differentiates the cry of a baby from other noises and alerts you accordingly.
The Lollipop did not have as good video and audio quality as some of our other recommended WiFi baby monitors. The app supports playing audio in the background, but does require a subscription for additional sleep tracking data and continuous video recording, which we don’t love.
Read our full in-depth Lollipop review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi, smart
- Resolution: HD 1080p (Note: Before October 2020 the resolution will be 720p)
- Compatibility: iOS, Android
- Mounting: wall, crib or table (anything you can wrap around)
- Mobile App: yes
- Dedicated Monitor: no
Buying Options
Google Nest Cam 2nd Gen: Best Flexible Baby Monitor
Bottom Line:
If you’re looking for a long-term camera, the Google Nest 2nd Generation Camera wins our Best Flexible Baby Monitor of 2024, offering quality, durability, and security with great video.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- 2K video recording and local storage.
- Motion tracking capabilities.
- Night vision.
- Sound activation.
- Remotely pan, tilt, and zoom.
CONS
- No baby-specific features (white-noise, lullabies, nightlight, etc).
- Barebones app, less intuitive.
- Wired only with no battery backup.
The Google Nest is a great option for those looking for great video without all the baby-specific features. We compared this with other non-baby monitor competitors like the Ring and Wyze cameras, and Google definitely was a better option (we were unimpressed with Ring in our tests). This WiFi monitor is flexible enough to use as a security camera for monitoring your little ones as they grow and it provides excellent video quality day or night.
The Google Nest does not offer many of our favorite best baby monitoring features we see with competitors, but does offer both two-way talk and sound activation. The app itself requires a Google account and it does not have the clearest sound, but we love the flexibility of the Google Nest and that we were able to easily transition it into a playroom camera and build out our Google Hub.
Read our full in-depth Google Nest Cam 2nd Generation review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: WiFi
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: iOS, Android, Alexa, Google
- Mounting: wall or table
- Mobile App: yes
- Dedicated Monitor: no
Buying Options
Bonoch Long Range: Best Baby Monitor for Long Range
Bottom Line:
The bonoch Long Range Baby Monitor is our pick for the Best Long Range Baby Monitor due to its many features, excellent video performance, and intuitive user interface.
OUR RATING
AMAZON RATING
PROS
- Excellent range: up to 1800 feet!
- Monitor has over 30 hours battery life on VOX mode.
- Easy to install and intuitive navigation.
- Pan and tilt features work great and are very quiet.
CONS
- Smaller monitor screen than the classic.
- Camera cable is too short.
- Buttons do not light up making them more difficult to use at night.
As the name suggests, the bonoch Long Range Baby Monitor is a non-WiFi baby monitor that provides a wider coverage area of up to 1800 feet! We think its the best baby monitor for larger homes or parents who prefer to have more flexibility while still keeping an eye on their little one.
The bonoch Long Range Baby Monitor was one of our easiest baby monitors to use and initially set up. However, we found it to be limited with mounting options since it cannot be mounted on the ceiling, due to its inability to invert the video, plus we needed to purchase an additional cable (the included one is a little too short).
Read our full in-depth bonoch Long Range Video Baby Monitor review.
Technical Specs
- Monitor Type: Non-WiFi
- Resolution: HD 1080p
- Compatibility: none
- Mounting: wall or table
- Mobile App: no
- Dedicated Monitor: yes
Buying Options
3 Essential Tips To Buying the Best Baby Monitor
Baby monitors come in different shapes and forms. Some will use your phone to show the video of your baby, while others will come with a dedicated display monitor. Some use your WiFi network while others have their own radio-frequency.
To help you understand the pros and cons of each of the best baby monitors, we’ve written an in-depth guide to choose the best baby monitor for your needs. To summarize, here are a few questions that we feel can help you in deciding which of the best baby monitors are a fit for your family.
1. What baby monitor category do you need?
There are 3 categories of baby monitors that you can choose from:
- Audio-only baby monitors
- Audio and video baby monitors
- Health tracking baby monitors
Audio-only baby monitors are similar to walkie talkies and are a little old school, but we love this minimalist option. They typically include a monitoring device that goes in the baby’s room and a parent device for listening. They are the easiest to set-up, does not require WiFi, but do not provide video.
Audio and video baby monitors are the most popular baby monitors available on our list. They can be WiFi (uses an app) or Non-WiFi (includes monitor) and they offer a variety of extra features (see below). They vary in price range, but in our experience they are more expensive than audio-only baby monitors and less expensive than health-tracking baby monitors.
Health-tracking baby monitors are becoming increasingly popular, especially among parents worried that their child might be at risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). These new tracking devices monitor your baby’s breathing and movement. However, they are not always accurate, so our goal is to help you find the model that minimizes false alarms.
2. What baby monitor connection is best for your home?
There are 2 types of baby monitor connections available:
- Radio Frequency (RF), aka Non-WiFi baby monitors
- WiFi baby monitors
Radio Frequency baby monitors have limited range and can potentially increase exposure to unhealthy electromagnetic exposure for your child (read our article on the health and safety considerations). But radio frequency baby monitors function independently from your WiFi connection which greatly reduces the risk of baby monitor hacking (read our article on privacy concerns).
WiFi baby monitors use your internet connection to stream your baby’s video to your phone via an app. This opens the door to a lot more functionality and monitoring options, but also exposes you to potential security issues.
3. What features are most useful in a baby monitor?
You’ll see below the impressive list of baby monitor features we tested on the best baby monitors of 2024. Depending on your lifestyle and the configuration of your house, you might not need a monitor that has all of these baby monitor features.
Here are a few of the best baby monitor features we consider to be the most useful:
- Night vision: Infrared night vision is essential in our mind, since you will be using your baby monitor mostly at night and it allows you to see your baby in the dark. If needed, we have found that having a dim light source in our child’s room improves the night vision feature.
- Voice activation (VOX): Voice activation is a feature that turns the monitor on when certain sound or movement thresholds are reached. Some baby monitor manufacturers call this VOX, others have their own marketing jargon, but really it just helps save battery life and let’s you know your child is awake without having to check constantly.
- Multiple camera support: We think this feature is especially important if you have more than one child or room you are trying to monitor.
- Two-way talk: Although we don’t use this feature often, we feel being able to talk to your baby to soothe them is helpful when we want them to know we are coming.
- Lullabies: Some baby monitors provide the ability to play white noise or lullabies. We include this feature because we love not needing an extra sound machine, but be aware that some baby monitors we tested sound very clanky and we can’t imagine their lullabies as soothing.
- Room temperature: This is important to make sure that your baby is comfortable, especially if temperatures can vary widely through the night where you live.
Best Baby Monitors Spec Comparison Table
 Nanit Pro |  Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro |  Eufy SpaceView Pro |  Owlet Dream Duo 2 |  VTech DM221 |  Lollipop |  Google Nest |  Bonoch Long Range | |
| Price | $250-300 | $150-200 | $100-150 | $350-400 | $30-45 | $150-200 | $75-125 | $150-200 |
| Our Rating | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |  Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review | Full Review |
| Type | WiFi | Non-WiFi | Non-WiFi | WiFi | Non-WiFi | WiFi | WiFi | Non-WiFi |
| Range | Unlmtd | 1000 ft | 1000 ft | Unlmtd | 1000 ft | Unlmtd | Unlmtd | 1800 ft |
| Resolution | 1080p | 720p | 720p | 1080p | n/a | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Field of View | 130 degrees | 270 degrees | 330 degrees | 130 degrees | n/a | 128 degrees | 130 degrees | 300 degrees |
| Compatibility | Google, Alexa | n/a | n/a | none | n/a | Google, Alexa | n/a | |
| Battery Life | n/a | 10 hrs | 13 hrs | 16 hrs (sock) | 9 hrs | n/a | n/a | 30 hrs |
| Night Vision | y | y | y | y | n | y | y | y |
| VOX | y | y | y | y | y | y | y | y |
| Multiple Cameras | y | y | y | y | n | y | y | y |
| Two-Way Talk | y | y | y | y | n | y | y | y |
| Lullabies | n | n | y | n | n | y | n | y |
| Temperature | y | y | y | y | n | y* | y* | y |
| Humidity | y | n | y | y | n | y* | y* | n |
| Pan and Tilt | n | y | y | n | n | n | n | y |
| Zoom | y | y | y | y | n | y | y | y |
| Nightlight | y | n | n | n | n | n | n | n |
| Recording | y | n | n | y | n | y | n | y |
How we test and compare the Best baby monitors?
Baby Gear Essentials started off as a group of parents looking for honest recommendations from friends and family to pick products that are safe, long-lasting, and fairly priced. We apply the same principles to everything that we publish on our website to help you find what’s right for your family.
We purchase each baby monitor, bring it back home, and use it personally for several weeks before sharing our thoughts. We run each baby monitor through a variety of feature tests with our hands-on experience.
Because our goal is honest, real-life reviews we want to stay impartial, and we don’t accept advertising or sponsorship from manufacturers of baby products. Plus, we only review products that we think are worthwhile for you and we only recommend those we use ourselves, feel excel in our tests, and genuinely like. You can learn more about us here.
Best Baby Monitors: Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the best baby monitors for 2024?
The Nanit Pro is the best WiFi baby monitor of 2024. It delivers superb image quality and packs a long list of helpful features. The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is the best non-WiFi baby monitor of 2024.
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What is the safest baby monitor?
The safest baby monitor is the Owlet Dream Duo 2, with its Smart Sock that can track a baby’s heart rate, oxygen level, movements, and temperature.
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Can baby monitors be hacked?
Yes, baby monitors can be hacked. This is particularly the case with WiFi monitors that transmit video and sound over the Internet. But no need to panic, we have a solution. Check our guide on how to protect your baby and yourself from hackers.
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What is the most reliable baby monitor?
The most reliable baby monitors are non-WiFi monitors such as the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro or the Eufy SpaceView Pro which do not rely on internet connectivity to work.
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Are baby monitors dangerous?
Baby monitors can be considered dangerous considering two main categories: hacking and health safety from electromagnetic exposure.
WiFi monitors are more known for hacking, but have additional security measures. To minimize electromagnetic radiation exposure from a baby monitor opt for a low-frequency monitor and place it a safe distance away, at least 6 feet (other ideas to reduce exposure at home).
Megan is a wife and mother of three, as well as an experienced foster mother. She loves building and testing new products, and helping identify what works best for readers and clients. She has her degree in Computer Software Engineering and has been a Product Lead with over 8 years of experience designing, building, testing, and selling products to companies ranging from sole proprietors to the largest retailers in America!
