Best baby monitors

Trying to find a baby monitor that suits your needs can seem daunting, especially when there is so much choice on the market.

From those with high-tech features to those that simply do the job, we’ve done our research and found the best baby monitors that have been peaking in popularity this year.

Here are the BabyCentre picks for the best baby monitors our editors have highlighted, supported by the recommendations our parents in the BabyCentre Community have shared.

The best baby monitors in the UK – at a glance

• Best budget baby monitor: Victure Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera & Audio
• Best smart baby monitor: Motorola MBP 855C Smart Video Baby Monitor
• Most versatile baby monitor: Babymoov Yoo Moov

Find out more about why we love these baby monitors below.

Tips for buying a baby monitor

Baby monitors are useful gadgets to have and many parents would say they couldn’t imagine their baby years without them. They allow you to see, hear, and talk to your baby, so you can rest assured you will never miss out on a precious moment. They can also give you peace of mind once you move your baby to a separate room, or let you monitor your baby when out and about.

From video, sound and picture quality to those with exciting technical features and sensors, there are lots of things to consider when buying a baby monitor. Some can be bought on a budget or you might find yourself saving the pennies for a smarter model. Don’t forget that there is no right or wrong choice when it comes to baby monitors. It's entirely up to you.

Although features vary from model to model, baby monitors come with a minimum of two monitors: the parent unit, which you will have control of, and the camera set up in your baby’s room. Some can be mounted on to the wall or others simply clipped to the side of the cot, although these ones may not be very popular now.

Some have two-way audio features so you can talk to your baby as well as hear your baby's breathing, and some have video too for parents' peace of mind. There are also some that are able to register your baby's heart rate and some have infrared night vision to help see your newborn in the dark while your baby sleeps.

Here are some features you might want to look out for:

• Talk-back system: This lets you speak to your baby through your monitor.
• Temperature sensor: This can track the temperature of your baby’s room and can be useful if you're worried about your baby overheating. Some baby monitors even allow you to control the temperature of the room.
• 360° adjustability: The camera’s adjustability will allow you to see your baby at every angle. This can be particularly handy if there is more than one child in the room.
• Sensor pad: Some monitors have an additional sensor pad which can be placed underneath your baby’s mattress. It sounds an alarm if your baby stops moving or breathing.
• Optional mains or battery operation: This allows you to either plug the monitor into the mains or use the battery, which means you don’t have to rely on spotty WiFi connection.
• VOX mode: Some monitors have an eco-friendly option that only activates your monitor’s display screen if your baby moves or makes a sound.
• A night-light and lullabies: Night-lights and lullaby melodies on your baby’s unit can help comfort them as they drift off to sleep.
• App connected: Some smart monitors can be connected to an app on your phone which allows you to still see and talk to your baby.

To help you make up your mind, we’ve looked at the baby monitors our Community parents think are must-buys.

Our picks of the best baby monitors in the UK 2023

 

Victure Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera & Audio

 

• Price: from £48.99
• Range: up to 260m
• Screen size: 3.2 inches
• Battery life: 2 hours
• Our pick for: Best budget baby monitor
• Key features: 360° Rotatable Screen and 60° tilt; two-way talk system; temperature sensor; VOX mode; lullabies; mains connected; non-WiFi

Victure’s Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera & Audio won’t have you counting your pennies and comes with all the standard features you might expect from a baby monitor.

Its two-way talk system allows you to communicate with your little one, hushing them when they need a little reassurance, or simply making you feel like you’re closer to them. You will also be able to hear them to give you peace of mind when you’re turning in for the night.

Its infra-red night vision means you will have good visibility of your baby both day and night and the adjustability of the screen has been a favourite among parents, letting you keep sight of your little bundle. It has an eco-mode which can come in handy when you want to save on your electricity bill.

Another plus is that it doesn’t require a WiFi connection, which may make you feel a greater sense of privacy while you watch over your child.

Heads up

Its screen size of 3.2in is comparably smaller than others on the market.

When not plugged into the mains, parents have found that its battery life doesn’t last too long on display mode.

BabyCentre parents say

“We downloaded the app so we both have it on our phones and only really use it when we put her down at 7.30pm. It's perfect for us! We can talk and hear her. It is password protected so feels safe. Nothing fancy but beautiful picture and great sound. I have used it outside the home when my son was babysitting so that I could keep an extra eye on them.”

“The picture quality and sound is great, and it has great distance as well. It also has a built-in temperature display which has come in handy more than I expected. The sound recognition is brilliant and even comes on when the next-door neighbour’s dog barks.”

Available from VictureOpens a new window.

Motorola MPC 855C Smart Video Baby Monitor

 

• Price: from £170
• Range: up to 300m
• Screen size: 5 inches
• Battery life: 24 hours
• Our pick for: Best smart baby monitor
• Key features: Pan, tilt and zoom function; night vision; two-way talk system; WiFi; iOS and android app compatible; wall-mountable camera; temperature sensor; lullabies

The Motorola MBP 855C Baby Monitor comes with all the high-tech features you might expect from a smart monitor while remaining easy to use. Many parents have said that it only took them ten minutes to set up!

Using WiFi, you can connect your monitor to the Hubble app which allows you to see, talk and listen to your baby from anywhere, as well as control the temperature, sound and motion of the camera from your mobile. The app also provides parenting tips that can be useful, especially if it's your first baby.

The portability of the device also allows you the freedom to move around your home, while keeping tabs on your little one, which many parents have found handy, especially when cooking meals.

Heads up

If you forget to plug it in overnight, the battery runs down and makes a loud beeping noise which some parents have found can disturb your own sleep.

BabyCentre parents say

"It has sound, video, music, speech and temperature features. The video lets us see how unsettled she is and if we need to go to her, or let her settle down alone. The temperature gauge is also helpful. It's a good monitor, works well, and never had any connection issues."

"One of its plusses, is it can be configured with multiple cameras, so it's really handy if the child naps in one room and sleeps overnight in another. If I'm honest, the temperature sensor got the most use. During the night I would keep it on mute and just use it to check if my child was wide awake or just restless."

Available from AmazonOpens a new window and other major retailers.

Babymoov Yoo Moov

 

• Price: from £159.99
• Range: up to 300m
• Screen size: 4.3 inches
• Our pick for: Most versatile baby monitor
• Key features: 360° Pan and Tilt; temperature monitor; two-way talk system; VOX mode: activated by sound; multi-coloured night light; lullabies

Babymoov's Yoo Moov is an impressively versatile baby monitor and a worthy opponent for its more established competitors on the market, packed with lots of high-tech features.

It comes with a wide screen and lengthy range, making sure that you can keep a clear view of your child, even when far away. The 360° adjustability of the camera also allows you to have a full view of the room, which can come in handy, especially if you have more than one child to keep tabs on.

It comes with five soothing lullabies and a temperature sensor, as well as a soft multi-coloured night light, providing your little one with small comforts as they drift off to sleep.

Heads up

The camera comes with USB cables, but not a USB plug.

Some parents have flagged that the volume of the parent unit is not very loud, and can depend on how close your baby is to the monitor.

BabyCentre parents say

"It might seem pricey, but it has everything I could ask for: video, audio, night light, lullabies, two-way speaking, good sound quality and great picture - even more so in night vision. And you can move the camera 360° to the left and right and up and down by using the parent control. It's also got vox mode so the screen turns on when baby makes a noise during the night."

 

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