Best Baby Monitors for 2024

The Nanit Pro is a Wi-Fi-powered baby monitor that you can manage on your smartphone via the Nanit app (available for iOS and Android). You can also connect it to your Google Home, Amazon Alexa or webstream it on my.nanit.com. This is the baby monitor I've been using since my son was born, so I already had some firsthand experience with it. You can purchase it with a floor stand, a wall mount or a flex stand. I have it on a wall mount right above my son's crib. Overall, it's easy to set up the Wi-Fi connection, but in the past, I've had issues with the Wi-Fi disconnecting — even with a Wi-Fi extender. Considering the price point of this monitor, I would expect the connection to be pristine the majority of the time. If you experience connection issues, you can contact Nanit's support team via email and they usually respond, but by that point, you've most likely troubleshooted the issue. I will say, I didn't experience any connection issues during this past month, and I suspect that upgrading to the Milestones subscription may have improved it.

You don't need a subscription to use this monitor, but if you want extra insight, Nanit offers a Memories ($120/year) and Milestones ($300/year) subscription. Milestones lets you add 50 users and captures all of your baby's milestones with unlimited access, whereas the Memories plan captures 200 memories to an in-app baby album and offers 30 days of sleep data and video clips. Some other additions you can purchase are the breathing band (to monitor baby's breathing), the breathing wear sleeping bag, Nanit smart sheets (to track baby's measurements) and more.

I like having the video monitor on my phone because it's easy to access. This was particularly helpful one night after I put my son to bed and he suddenly started projectile vomiting. I could see and hear clearly through the video and audio coming through the app, plus I got an alert. The Nanit has a picture-in-picture video option that allows me to access other apps while using my phone. I also like that I can keep an eye on my son in the crib even while away from home. I can see how this feature could be a nuisance if someone prefers to have a separate monitor instead because you would need to keep the app open overnight. Nanit does have a night mode option that darkens the screen and lights up when there's an alert. It also doubles as a nightlight and sound machine. You can customize which alerts you want to receive, which is always a plus. One of the downsides to consider is that if the app malfunctions or the Wi-Fi goes out, there is no alternative way to view the monitor.

One of the advantages of upgrading your subscription is that you get a daily and weekly overview of your child's sleeping habits. I found this particularly helpful because my son hasn't always been the best sleeper, so it gives me peace of mind seeing the stats that tell me he's getting enough sleep. You also have the option to connect with a community of other Nanit users through the app. Nanit offers tips on improving baby sleeping habits, but I wasn't a fan of these and chose to opt out. I've learned parents sometimes have to go through trial and error to find the right sleep approach for their kids. Some parents may love the additional details this monitor offers, while others may find the features superfluous or anxiety-inducing. Ultimately it's up to you if you want a baby monitor with this many features and don't mind the price point. But if you aren't set on this one, there are others on the list that may be a better fit for your family.

The Dream Duo 2 includes the Owlet Smart HD monitor and the Owlet Dream Sock, which was FDA-cleared in 2023. The Dream Sock is the first and only over-the-counter medical pulse oximetry solution for infants. This baby monitor is powered through Wi-Fi and connects to the Owlet app (available on iOS and Android). The app is free and there is no paid subscription. The setup requires you to use the Owlet camera to scan a QR code found through the app. I had to try it several times before the app and the camera synced together. One thing I liked about this camera is that the cord was the longest of all the monitors, and its magnetic base made it the most adjustable, so you get the best camera angle possible. This was super helpful since the area where I have my son's pack 'n play requires a tricky angle to get the whole view.

I was somewhat familiar with the Owlet Dream Sock before testing, but had never explored it as an option for my family. Please note: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against using direct-to-consumer heart rate and pulse oximetry monitoring devices to prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or other sleep-related deaths. The AAP warns that there is not enough evidence to support that these types of devices can prevent these deaths from occurring and give parents a false sense of security. Owlet states on its website that the Dream Sock is intended for tracking your child's well-being by monitoring sleep patterns, quality and duration of sleep.

As long as you use the Dream Sock correctly, you can reap the benefits. Setting up the sock requires connecting to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The package came with four different-sized socks that are meant to fit healthy infants weighing 6 pounds to 30 pounds. The socks contain a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, which is similar to what hospitals use to test your heart rate. The sock has velcro straps so you can easily adjust it around your child's foot. I found the setup for the sock to be easier than the camera, but using the sock on my son took some trial and error. For one, he was not a fan of having something attached to his foot and kept trying to take it off. Secondly, sometimes I'd have to troubleshoot getting the sock and camera to work from the app if it lost connection. You also need to keep the sock on the charging base when it's not in use in order for it to remain charged. If you don't place it back on the base, the battery will drain and it won't work correctly. The base itself lights up different colors and each one has a different meaning:

• Green light: A blinking green light means it's capturing the heart rate and oxygen readings. Once established and everything seems in range, the blinking becomes more steady.
• Red light: If the base starts blinking red this means oxygen levels or heart rate levels are out of range.
• Blue light: This means the base is unable to detect the sock via Bluetooth and it will also play the lullaby "Hush Little Baby" to notify you.
• Yellow light: This indicates that the sock is unable to find a reading on your baby's foot.

I eventually managed to get the sock to stay on my son's foot and captured some sleep session readings during his naps. The readings show you the baby's pulse rate, oxygen levels, if it detects movement, the noise in the room, the room temperature and when the baby wakes up. After the baby rises, you receive a full report of the sleep session that tells you how long the baby slept and their average heart rate and oxygen levels. One of the things that surprised me was how the sock was able to tell when and for how long my son was awake and when he was in a light or deep sleep.

This tool can be helpful for parents with newborns and babies because the data can be shown to their pediatrician if their baby is experiencing a sleep regression or if they're having a hard time figuring out their wake windows and establishing a sleep schedule. If your goal is to get a better understanding of your child's sleep patterns, the Owlet Dream Duo 2 could be a good choice for your family. If the Dream Sock seems a bit much, the camera is also sold separately and offers a clear picture of your child as well as two-way audio, temperature check and cry notifications. It also predicts their next nap based on their wake windows and offers a picture-in-picture option on your phone app.

The Eufy Spaceview Pro Baby Monitor was one of the easier baby monitors to set up because it doesn't require much as far as setup goes. It isn't as advanced as some of the other monitors on this list. That's not a bad thing because sometimes you want a monitor that's straightforward without a lot of troubleshooting. I liked that it had a camera that came with a separate handheld monitor, so I didn't have to download an app on my smartphone. All I had to do to get this monitor working was charge the camera and monitor and place it in an area where I could get a clear view of my son's sleeping space. You also have the option to mount it on a wall if that's more convenient.

Depending on where you place it, you may need an extension cord because I found the camera cord to be on the short end. My son's pack 'n play is located next to the radiator, so that's where I propped the camera. The handheld monitor has arrows in the upper right-hand corner so you can easily navigate the menu options. It also lets you adjust the camera angle so you get the best view of your child's sleeping location.

The monitor itself is wireless, so you have to ensure it's always charged — otherwise, you risk the device having a low battery every time you use it. This is where I thought the monitor could use some improvement. Considering babies take multiple naps a day, not counting their bedtime, I found that I had to recharge the monitor in less than a day. But the monitor did what it was supposed to do and easily synced up to the camera. The daytime and nighttime images appear clearly on the 5-inch screen, lets you play lullabies, uses two-way audio so you can speak to your baby, alerts you when the baby cries and tells you the temperature of the room.

Although the other more advanced cameras on the list give you the option to take pictures, videos, and save all this extra data on your child, the Eufy Spaceview Pro does not. That wasn't a dealbreaker for me because it functioned well and did what it promised. This is a great option for those who want a camera with less advanced features but still want to keep an eye on their children. It's also an ideal monitor if you have grandparents or other caregivers watching your children since it's foolproof to use.

The Cubo Ai monitor had the most interesting design on this list. The camera is shaped like a bird, so it looks like a fitting accessory for a nursery. You have the choice to order it with a wall mount set or a three-stand set. Keep in mind the stand option will cost more. This monitor connects to Wi-Fi, similar to the Nanit, Owlet and VTech monitors, and is powered through the Cubo Ai app (available for iOS and Android).

I was able to make use of the stand for this monitor, but I was not a fan of the design since it seemed flimsy and easy to knock over despite the weighted base. The weighted base comes with a water bag that you're supposed to fill with water, and that's what keeps it from tipping over. To set up the Cubo Ai, you have to scan the monitor with a QR code that pops up on the app during setup. It took a few tries to get them to sync, but eventually I succeeded. Setting up the Wi-Fi is straightforward and I had no connection issues once it was installed.

The monitor captures a clear HD image of your baby's sleeping space and you can opt to shut off the camera when it's not in use by clicking sleep mode in the homepage settings. When the camera is on, it reminds me of a home security camera with the timestamp located on the upper left-hand side. Cubo Ai uses artificial intelligence to tell you the room temperature and humidity levels, and you can enable notifications to get alerts if your baby cries, coughs, rolls over or if their face is covered. I kept most of those settings off — with the exception of the cry alert because, at this point, my son is no longer a newborn and I'm familiar with his sleeping habits. If I was a brand new parent, I might keep on the cries, roll over or face cover alert, since that's when you have to be most wary.

I did like that the camera functions like a sound machine and nightlight. You have the choice to pick from lullabies, melodies (which can be scheduled) and sound options like white noise. The Cubo Ai is able to record your child in real time so you get daily highlight clips based on what the monitor captures during their sleep sessions. I personally prefer to pick and choose what I record or capture in a photo.

Similar to the Nanit, the Cubo can provide a sleep analytics summary so you can see how long your child was asleep, how many times they woke up and the number of times a caregiver visited. If you're looking for additional safety features, you can purchase the Cubo Ai sleep sensor pad or smart temp items that easily sync with the monitor. If you're looking to receive additional data or access to other features, Cubo offers two different subscriptions: the Premium plan and Ultimate plan. The Premium plan is $49.99 a year and offers a nighttime sleep report and daily highlights. The Ultimate plan has extra features like a daytime sleep report and a daily sleep summary. If you purchase a Cubo Ai set or bundle, you get a free year of the Premium subscription, so you have plenty of time to decide if you want to commit.