Choosing a baby monitor: audio, video or app?
The difference between an audio monitor, a video monitor and a Wi-Fi camera with an app, and what to look for in range and privacy.
Three kinds of monitor
An audio monitor has a transmitter near your baby and a receiver you take with you. It is simple, often the cheapest, and the receiver usually lasts long on one charge.
A video monitor has a camera in the nursery and a parent unit with a screen. Picture and sound go straight from camera to screen, without the internet. Look at the screen size and whether you can pan and zoom the camera remotely.
A Wi-Fi camera sends the picture to an app on your phone, even when you’re away from home. Some brands combine both: their own parent unit and an app.
Range and connection
Manufacturers state a range, for example ‘up to 300 metres’. That is usually measured in the open air. At home, walls, concrete floors and other devices reduce it. Many parent units beep when the connection drops.
Audio monitors with DECT technology transmit digitally, which limits interference from other devices. Some have an eco mode that lowers the transmission power when the room is quiet.
Wi-Fi and privacy
A Wi-Fi camera needs a good internet connection, and your phone must stay on and keep the app open or allow notifications. Also check whether extra features, such as playing back footage, need a subscription.
Footage from a Wi-Fi camera often goes through the manufacturer’s servers. Set a strong password, turn on two-step verification if you can and install updates. The manufacturer’s privacy policy says what it does with footage.
Useful features
Many monitors have night vision (infrared), a thermometer, talk-back, lullabies or a night light. Look mostly at what you’ll use every night: a readable screen, a parent unit that lasts the night and a sound sensitivity you can set yourself.
Sensor pads and smart socks
Some monitors come with a sensor pad under the mattress or a sock or band with sensors. Manufacturers describe what they measure; read in the terms whether the product is a medical device. LeBaby gives no health advice: discuss concerns with the consultatiebureau, Kind en Gezin or ONE.
Where do you put the camera?
Manuals ask you to keep the camera and especially its cable out of your child’s reach, often at least a metre from the cot. Mount the camera securely or put it in a fixed place, and follow the instructions for your own model.
Common questions
What is the difference between a video monitor and a Wi-Fi camera?
A video monitor sends the picture straight to its own parent unit with a screen, without the internet. A Wi-Fi camera works through your network and an app, so you can also watch when you’re out.
How far does a baby monitor reach?
The manufacturer states it, usually measured in the open air, for example 300 metres. Indoors the range is shorter because of walls and floors.
Do I need a subscription for a Wi-Fi baby monitor?
Usually not for watching live. Some brands do ask for a subscription for extra features, such as playing back footage or sleep reports. The manufacturer says so.
Keep looking
LeBaby doesn’t test products. This guide sets out what the standards and manufacturers say. Always follow the manual of your own product.
More guides
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- Crib, bedside crib or cot? The difference between a crib, a bedside crib and a cot, which sizes are common and when your baby outgrows them according to the manufacturer. Read the guide
