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Buying Guide: Choosing a Premium Smart Baby Monitor
Putting your baby down to sleep can be a nerve-wracking experience for new parents. You want to hear each breath and know that everything is okay, but it’s not always practical to sit in the nursery all night. That’s where smart baby monitors come into play — designed to offer you peace of mind, these cutting-edge devices have an array of features like two-way audio, temperature sensors, and night vision modes that can help parents keep tabs on their little ones while they snooze.Smart baby monitors can also send alerts to your phone or computer if something seems amiss. With so many different brands on the market, though, finding the right smart baby monitor can be a bit challenging. To help you out, we’ve reviewed some of the highest-rated smart baby monitors of 2023 below.
VTech Smart Baby Monitor
Best Overall
Kasa Smart Smart Baby Monitor
High-Quality Video
Nanit Smart Baby Monitor
Great Features
CüboAi Smart Baby Monitor
Most Secure
Simshine Smart Baby Monitor
Best Coverage
Camera Quality
The most important thing to consider when buying a smart baby monitor is the quality of its camera. You’ll want a high-quality camera that allows you to see everything in crystal-clear detail, even in low light conditions. If you’re using the monitor in the dark, look for models with night vision. This reduces screen brightness at night and allows you to monitor your baby without disturbing their sleep. Besides quality, you should also check that a smart baby monitor comes with various other camera features, such as zoom-in capabilities for seeing everything in detail and adjustable brightness that lets you optimize settings according to ambient light.Two-Way Audio Capabilities
Unlike traditional baby monitors, a smart baby monitor comes with two-way audio capabilities that let you communicate back and forth with your child. With this feature, you can soothe your little one back to sleep if they wake up in the middle of the night, or even talk back and forth throughout the day while you’re away from home. Some models even come with built-in lullabies and white noise, allowing you to calm fussy babies and help them drift off to a peaceful sleep.For this feature, sound quality is important — you want a smart baby monitor that delivers your voice clearly and without static or interference from other noises around you.Motion and Temperature Sensors
Motion and temperature sensors are among the latest innovations to be incorporated into smart baby monitors. Motion sensors can alert you if your baby is crying or moving around in their crib, whereas temperature sensors notify you if the room gets too hot or cold, allowing you to adjust it accordingly. Both sensors can be helpful if your child has trouble staying asleep or is prone to waking up throughout the night.Video Streaming Functionality
One of the biggest advantages of modern smart baby monitors is their ability to stream live video directly to your phone or tablet, helping you keep an eye on your child from anywhere in the world. To make the most of this feature, ensure that your smart baby monitor is compatible with Wi-Fi — if it’s not, it defeats the whole purpose of having such a device. You also need to consider whether you want the option of storing video footage on your device, either locally or via cloud storage. If the answer is yes, then you’ll probably want a smart baby monitor that comes with a microSD card slot or supports cloud storage with end-to-end encryption.Battery Life
Some smart baby monitors run on batteries, meaning they don’t need to be plugged into an electrical outlet while they’re being used. These monitors are usually pretty portable, and a great choice to take with you when your family is traveling or camping. For maximum efficiency, look for a smart baby monitor that uses rechargeable batteries rather than ones that need to be replaced every few months.VTech Smart Baby Monitor
Best Overall
The VTech Smart Baby Monitor is a great choice for anyone who wants to keep an eye on their child while they’re napping. Featuring a 1080p camera, this monitor has 360-degree adjustable tilt, pan, and zoom capabilities for more convenient viewing, while its night vision mode makes it easy to see your child, no matter how late it is.With a 720p 5-inch LCD screen and two-way sound capabilities, this smart baby monitor delivers a crystal-clear view of the room and lets you talk to your baby. The monitor even has lullabies and soothing sounds which can be played to help your little one drift off to sleep, and its temperature alerts will let you know if your little one gets too hot or cold during the night. Because of its easy configuration, app compatibility, and exceptional features, this smart baby monitor stands at the top of our list.
Pros
- Wide-angle lens for an increased view
- Ultra-crisp night vision mode
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
Cons
- Battery drains quickly
Kasa Smart Smart Baby Monitor
High-Quality Video
This smart baby monitor from Kasa Smart has all the features you’ll need to keep your baby safe and sound as they sleep. This monitor is equipped with a 2K HD camera that can rotate 360 degrees and tilt up to 113 degrees for maximum coverage, and with its motion sensors, this smart baby monitor detects when someone moves in front of the camera and delivers an instant notification to your phone or tablet. You can also set up this smart baby monitor’s patrol mode to let you know what’s happening at certain points throughout the day, and thanks to its Alexa and Google Home compatibility, you can control it using voice commands from anywhere in the house. With premium end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and 24/7 local recording, you can rest easy knowing that your child — and your data — will be safe with this smart baby monitor.
Pros
- Two-way audio for maximum interaction
- Night vision mode with 30 feet of coverage
- Easy to set up and install
Cons
- Does not come with a user-friendly app
Nanit Smart Baby Monitor
Great Features
With a high-resolution camera, breathing motion tracker, and two-way audio capabilities, the Nanit Smart Baby Monitor is designed for your baby’s safety. Its HD camera and night vision mode provide you with a crystal-clear view of your baby, whether they’re in their crib or on their play mat, and unlike traditional baby monitors, it features a sleep tracking and guidance mode that helps you create a healthy sleep routine for your little one. One awesome feature of this smart baby monitor is the inclusion of nature sounds and white noise that’s perfect for soothing fussy babies and helping them fall asleep. As a bonus, this smart baby monitor comes with a comfortable breathing band that your little one can wear as they drift off, providing you with real-time stats of their breathing pattern.
Pros
- Strong, safe design
- iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, and Echo compatible
- Includes temperature and humidity sensors
Cons
- Wi-Fi connectivity can be an issue
CüboAi Smart Baby Monitor
Most Secure
Want to get a complete picture of your baby’s well-being? Then check out the CüboAi Smart Baby Monitor. With its 1080p HD camera, night mode, and two-way audio capabilities, you can keep track of every one of your baby’s precious moments. This smart baby monitor also detects temperature and humidity levels in the room, letting you know whether it’s time to add a blanket or turn up the heat. This smart baby monitor also features a danger zone that alerts parents when their child has left the safe area so they can intervene before any accidents occur. Its CTIA (Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association) Cybersecurity-certified camera comes with bank-level encryption and two-factor authentication to keep your data safe, and with its smart home integration capabilities, you can control this smart baby monitor from anywhere in the house.
Pros
- Plays soothing sounds
- Provides danger zone alerts for maximum protection
- Long-lasting battery life
Cons
- Mediocre camera quality
Simshine Smart Baby Monitor
Best Coverage
The Simshine Smart Baby Monitor is a high-quality device that helps you stay in the loop with your baby’s activity. With advanced 2K Quad HD (even at night), an impressive monitoring range, and 360-degree pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) rotation, this smart baby monitor offers you a top-class experience for keeping tabs on your baby. Its handy crying detection feature lets you know when your baby is upset, while its soothing music helps them fall asleep without any fuss. But that’s not all! With one click, this smart baby monitor can generate a detailed report of your child’s sleep patterns over time so that you can adjust it accordingly if need be. Unlike traditional monitors, this smart baby monitor also comes with an auto photo feature and includes local SD card storage, allowing you to capture and save all of your little one’s milestones along the way.
Pros
- Offers two-way communication
- Wi-Fi support for seamless connectivity
- Hassle-free installation process
Cons
- Its app is not user-friendly
People Also Asked
Can I use a smart baby monitor as a surveillance camera?
As long as you have an IP camera that has Wi-Fi capabilities and supports third-party apps with 24/7 monitoring, then yes, you can use your smart baby monitor as a surveillance device.
Are smart baby monitors costly?
Generally speaking, yes — smart baby monitors are more expensive than traditional ones. You’ll typically pay anywhere from $70 to $200 for a quality model with temperature sensors, sound/motion alerts, and video streaming capabilities.
Can someone hack a smart baby monitor?
Yes, a hacker can take over your Wi-Fi network and access all devices connected to it, including your smart baby monitor. For maximum security, change the default password when setting your smart baby monitor up and make sure that you have secured it with strong encryption.
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