How to choose a baby monitor without overspending

Audio monitors tell you the baby is crying. Video monitors also show why. Most new parents do fine with either, and the choice comes down to how your home is laid out and how much you want to check. A monitor is an extra pair of ears and eyes. It is not a safety device that replaces safe sleep rules or being close by.

The decision rule

Ask three questions:

1. Do you live in a small home where you will hear the baby anyway?
2. Do you want to look in without waking the baby?
3. Will you check the screen so often that it makes you anxious?

If the first answer is yes and the third is yes, audio is fine. If you want reassurance and can set limits on checking, video is a good choice.

Audio or video

Audio only. Simple and cheap, and the battery usually lasts. You hear sounds. You do not see the baby. Good for small homes and for parents who do not want a screen.

Video. Shows the baby, often with night vision. Handy for working out if a cry is a real wake-up or a short stir. The screen can lure you into watching too much, and some people sleep less because of it.

Ruling: start with audio, add video if you find you need it.

What to check

• Range. Check the maker's range and assume walls cut it by a lot.
• Signal. Some use a dedicated radio link, others use Wi-Fi. A dedicated link is typically simpler and does not need an internet connection.
• Battery. For a parent unit you carry around, look for a battery that lasts a night.
• Night vision. Useful for video, check that the picture is clear in a dark room.
• Sound alert. Some units show sound as lights, which helps if the volume is low.
• Temperature display. A nice extra, not essential.

Ruling: pick for range and battery first. Extra features come last.

Safety points

Official bodies such as the CPSC publish guidance on cribs, cords and infant sleep. Monitor cords are a known concern in general, so:

• Keep the camera and cord out of the baby's reach, as the maker instructs.
• Mount the camera on a wall or a high shelf, not in the cot.
• Follow the maker's instructions on placement and distance.
• Check the latest guidance from your health visitor or paediatrician on safe sleep.

A monitor does not detect all problems. If you are worried about breathing, colour or behaviour, call your doctor or emergency services. Do not rely on a device to do that for you.

Wi-Fi monitors and privacy

Monitors that connect to the internet can be handy, since you can view from your phone. They can also be a privacy risk if the account or the Wi-Fi is weak. In general: use a strong, unique password, keep the software updated, and turn off remote access if you do not need it.

Ruling: if you do not need to see the baby from outside the house, pick a local, non-internet monitor.

A worked example

Say you live in a two-storey home and the nursery is upstairs. Your living room is below. These are round numbers, just to show the thought. A monitor with a range of 300 metres in open air may give far less through two floors and a few walls. In that case, test it before the baby arrives. Walk to the far room, the garden and the kitchen, and see where the sound fades.

Placing the camera

Mount it high, angled down, and out of reach, using the maker's mount and instructions. Do not place a camera or its cord within the baby's reach. Check the field of view in the dark. Keep the cot clear of extras, as health guidance advises.

Common mistakes

• Buying a top-end model before you know your layout.
• Placing the camera so the cord hangs in reach.
• Staring at the screen all night. Set a rule, such as checking only when you hear a sound.
• Skipping the first night test. Try it in your home before the baby arrives.

What new parents usually set up

A monitor on a wall or shelf, a parent unit near the bed and a night-light. If you are planning the whole corner, read the 3 am station and diaper bag vs backpack for the other gear you will reach for first.

Night use

Most parents use the monitor mostly at night, so test the sound level then. A low hiss that wakes you every ten minutes will make you turn it off. Pick a unit with a sensitivity or volume dial and a light bar for sound. Turn the screen brightness down so it does not light the room.

End of shift

• First to go: the parent unit battery, then the charging port.
• Check on Friday: charge level, range and that the cord is still out of reach.
• Do tonight: test the sound alert, so you know it works when you are tired.