Best Baby Monitors 2023 - Forbes Vetted

The best baby monitors take the guesswork and worry out of keeping an eye on your baby while they sleep. They provide peace of mind to new and veteran parents alike and alert you to babies in need of your attention. After testing 10 monitors—some Wi-Fi-based, some with dedicated handheld monitors, and some with both—I found the Eufy SpaceView Pro was the overall winner. Its large screen, adjustable settings and easy connectivity make it a quick and simple way to monitor your baby when you aren’t right at their bedside.

After months of testing, these are the best baby monitors, depending on your family's needs. Ultrasound Fetal Doppler

For a budget-friendly baby monitor that’s still portable, highly reliable, as well as easy to see, hear and use, I picked the Chillax Giraffe Cam Pro as a high-performing value buy at $160. And for the best overall portability, the Lollipop Baby Monitor with True Crying Detection is ideal. You can read my in-depth review of the Eufy SpaceView Pro or the Chillax Giraffe Cam Pro review for additional details on either.

The following is a list of all the winners after testing:

The Eufy SpaceView Pro had the easiest setup process of any monitor I tested, which is one of the reasons why it’s my pick for new parents as well as the best overall. It comes pre-paired with a “private channel” portable monitor that does not rely on Wi-Fi, so it’s seamless to use. The Eufy has everything you’d expect from a traditional baby monitor, but with extras like a convenient stand-up base. The user guide suggests charging before the first use, but in testing I found you really don’t have to—it comes pre-charged, which is great for parents getting started on the fly at bedtime.

The battery life was still going strong even after the first night, with an impressive 12 hours of active viewing and 30 hours of standby, and I never once encountered any sort of connectivity issue.

I used the Eufy SpaceView Pro to remotely pan and zoom around my baby's crib from all the way across ... [+] the house.

The Eufy had the most convenient design of any monitor we tested: the back of the handheld monitor includes a triangular base that lets it sit up on its own for easy viewing (it’s like a PopSocket on your phone, but sturdier). This makes the monitor a bit bulkier—it might be a disadvantage if you want to carry it around in your pocket. But I found it convenient to use. I could set down the monitor while cooking dinner, helping my other kids or working at the computer.

Eufy boasts one of the longest ranges of any monitor we tested, with a range of up to 1,000 feet. This can be helpful if you want to have a post-bedtime porch sit with your partner, or take a short evening stroll while keeping an eye on your baby.

Nobody wants a monitor that sounds an alarm every time the baby rolls or squeals, and the Eufy monitor offered the best sensitivity options of the monitors we tested. It has five sensitivities and only pops out of sleep mode to alert you your baby is awake based on the setting you pick. This eliminates a lot of unnecessary middle-of-the-night waking when your baby is simply soothing themselves back to sleep or rolling around to get comfortable.

Unfortunately, there’s no button for a quick transition back to sleep mode. Instead, the handheld monitor shuts down after a set time. Of course, the lack of Wi-Fi means you can’t check in using your smartphone, which could be an issue if you want to view the monitor while away from home. But you may prefer the added security that comes from a dedicated monitor, especially given the recent kerfuffle on Wi-Fi-connected Eufy security cameras.

Recently, some of Eufy’s Wi-Fi connected security cameras made headlines on The Verge for some possible vulnerabilities in its video stream that didn’t appear to be as encrypted as promised. Essentially, it appeared that someone could tap into an individual security camera stream online with the right amount of info, knowhow and interest. Eufy has responded to the charge by revamping its cameras to eliminate this possibility. However, these issues do not impact the Eufy SpaceView Pro baby monitor at all, because it cannot connect to the Internet—at all in any shape. In some ways, this may convince some other parents that they too would prefer extra security by selecting a non-Wi-Fi monitor.

After testing the Eufy for five months, I continue to appreciate the Eufy’s strong commitment to basics: a super clear picture, high security without Wi-Fi concerns and portability. I took the Eufy on multiple family camping trips when I wanted a monitor and needed it to be able to work without Wi-Fi given our location. It also came along on a family cross-country trip to Canada, where I’m happy to report that the monitor worked well in spite of the baby being even further away from our room than he would be at home. This is my go-to trusted monitor that I know will go the distance and continue to prove its reliability every time.

Wi-Fi: Yes (Also includes handheld monitor) | Camera resolution: 1080p (480 x 272 on handheld monitor)| Range: 1200 foot | Night vision: Yes | Screen size: 4.3 inches | App enabled: Yes | Additional features: Flexible gooseneck design, clip-on or wall-mount, lullabies, two-way audio, sleep analytics via the app, video record and storage option

For parents who want the best of both worlds—Wi-Fi and a private channel dedicated monitor—the Chillax Giraffe Cam Pro is the best value monitor I found. The 1080p monitor had the highest quality picture among the monitors tested, which helped me see small details like whether a baby is just starting to wake up, is sucking their thumb, or has drifted off to sleep. The portable monitor is also pre-paired, making setup easy, and clear directions helped me quickly pair the camera to the app with a QR code. It doesn’t sacrifice visibility, sound quality or overall usability despite costing less than the Eufy.

The Chillax Giraffe Cam Pro had the longest range of any monitors I tested at 1200 feet. Of course, you can check in from anywhere using the app if you set up the Wi-Fi connection—that way, you can monitor your kids when they are home with a babysitter. (That said, Shapiro warned against spending date nights worrying about whether your baby is sleeping, as long as you’ve left them with a trustworthy caregiver.)

I like that you can set up "smart zones" with the Giraffe Cam Pro to see if your child is roaming ... [+] around instead of nodding off to sleep.

I also appreciated some of the Giraffe Cam Pro’s standout features that make this monitor a great investment for growing kids. You can customize a “smart zone” on the monitor by setting a designated area as if you were cropping a picture of your baby’s crib. Then, the monitor will notify you if the baby moves outside that zone. This feature will be helpful as your infant grows up and moves to a toddler bed; it lets you know if your child is roaming around the room instead of nodding off to sleep.

If you’re worried about security with Wi-Fi monitors, you’ll appreciate the precautions available in this one. You have to grant permission for grandma or other users to see the camera feed. There’s also a privacy button to turn the Wi-Fi on and off, which Shapiro says decreases the likelihood of getting hacked if the monitor isn’t always available.

While you shouldn’t really on the app instead of a medical device, the app does provide health and wellness monitoring. It can monitor sleep times, diaper logs, feedings, growth, teething milestones and more.

When initially testing the Giraffe Cam Pro monitor, I was annoyed by the additional resources and information any of the apps provided, such as the fun facts that randomly appear on the screen. But I’ve come to watch for them, and I’m even learning something. For example, the last time the video was buffering I learned why babies lose their hair.

The crystal clear view of this baby monitor continues to outperform other choices, even the Lollipop which I love, making it much easier to observe the baby for facial expressions, and even to visually observe breathing.

One downside is that the Giraffe Cam Pro, like other Wi-Fi monitors, has to be repaired anytime it’s unplugged by a pesky toddler up to no good. This process is a bit cumbersome, and I wish it always automatically repaired to my phone’s app. One additional concern, which could be simply our Wi-Fi not performing at its best, is that when you are talking to the kid via the microphone function, sometimes the camera stalls or buffers a bit, causing a delay in regaining video after each comment.

The whimsically named Lollipop is the most versatile monitor I tested. It’s designed to wrap around almost any surface, from a crib rail to a nearby lamp. It can even curl up like a snake’s tail to create a stand for itself, making it a perfect traveling companion. The Lollipop is also babyproof; even though my son managed to unwrap the camera from his bedside rail, I wasn't concerned because the safe, smart design offers zero removable parts or choking hazards.

The Lollipop’s innovative design means you can view the baby even if you don’t have a shelf nearby for a monitor, and allows the camera to get closer to the baby in their early months when they aren’t big enough to grab and play with it. I felt confident that the Lollipop would be safe around other siblings who came in and messed with the equipment, as kids do.

Mount the Lollipop monitor almost anywhere, making it ideal for travel.

Lollipop’s so-called “true crying detection” distinguishes this monitor from its peers— it’s better at blocking out background noise, such as my son’s three older brothers stomping past the baby’s room during naptime. This feature prevents parents from being alerted to every little noise. Similar to the Chillax, it can alert you if your baby’s leg is stuck outside the crib or otherwise moves outside a preset zone. This is especially helpful when your baby reaches an ambitious age and thinks crawling out of the crib seems like a fun option.

The setup is extremely easy, but the app-based monitoring has its disadvantages. You can pan or tilt the camera using the app, for example. But if your child is mobile enough to move around the room and you want to follow them with the camera, you’ll need to move the camera further away and set up a boundary to see the whole room.

The flexible Lollipop camera has made its rounds throughout my nursery over the last five months, adjusting to the baby’s growing size and to his growing curiosity and ability to grab the camera. Now, it’s wrapped high up on a lamp base, giving a nice bird’s-eye view of the crib. Like the Chillax, sometimes the Wi-Fi can’t keep up with the livestream, and if I leave the monitor video open in the app for a while, it starts to struggle to keep up, delivering the dreaded spinning wheel instead of a picture of my baby. This prompts me to exit the app and go back in. I also have come to prefer the slightly larger default view of the Chillax over the Lollipop’s smaller picture (before enlarging each on the app).

I tested 10 baby monitors in total. They didn’t all make our list, but here are the other contenders.

Aside from the three winners, these five monitors might still be a good value for some parents.

Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro Baby Monitor: This handheld-only device features a 1,000 feet range, has active background noise reduction and pans 330 degrees. It’s a bit, well, mechanical looking, but that’s due to the various lenses available for optimal viewing, such as wide-angle and zoom lenses. The monitor is quite minimalist, though, and many parents will probably want more features.

Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor: The ultimate in sleep analytics, Cubo is a Wi-Fi-based monitor that collects sleep information and alerts parents to babies who roll over accidentally as well as if the baby’s face is covered. That sounds great, but I didn’t choose this monitor because an expert source warned that features like these can actually amp up anxiety in parents. For example, babies who roll on their own generally don’t need to be returned to their backs throughout the night. It’s a cute monitor, though: it’s subtly shaped like a bird watching over your baby.

Nanit Pro: The easy-to-navigate app on the Nanit Pro offers a superb and customizable Wi-Fi experience on your phone. It comes with a band that fits young babies for tracking breathing, and you can buy additional bands for older babies. I found the display was sometimes pixelated as it caught up with the Wi-Fi signal. I also had to manually reconnect the camera when switching rooms and it didn’t pair as easily as others.

Miku Pro Breathing and Sleep Tracking Monitor: This monitor also focuses heavily on health analytics that parents may or may not care about, such as breathing changes and the amount of time the baby spends sleeping or upset. It had similar pairing issues to the Nanit, which could create extra stress for new parents while setting up or moving the monitor. The cord didn’t securely fit in the charging brick, causing the monitor to occasionally lose power. Moreover, the price is quite high.

Papalook BM1: The Papalook features a thin but heavy portable monitor, and featured a cute, animal-shaped camera with 360-degree rotation—something most other models didn’t offer. But the range is shorter than most at 900 feet, the zoom function isn’t as clear and usable as some others and initial setup is harder than with our picks.

VTech Video Baby Monitor: This budget buy is the cheapest option we found, and will suffice for basic video monitor needs. However, the handheld monitor is large and clunky, and might not fit in your pocket. The image is lower quality, and you have to manually change the camera angle, whereas most of the others will pan on their own. The adaptive night light changes colors, which is a cute quality that saves parents from buying a separate nightlight.

Hubble Nursery Pal Premium: This handheld monitor had one of the most creative stands, which lets you use a ring kickstand-style feature to prop it up, or collapse it to carry in your pocket. But the picture quality was just average, and I had multiple issues pairing the monitor with the camera.

I tested monitors both inside and outside my 1-year-old baby’s nursery, using his multiple naps per day and his overnight sleeps to help us get to know each monitor thoroughly. First, I unboxed each monitor, examined the parts, checked out the directions, charged up all the necessary items and downloaded the app, if needed. I then determined how easily the camera, monitor and app connected (or didn’t).

After the initial setup, I tested the user-friendliness of the app by exploring the various features and capabilities within the app, noting how relevant they are to observing the baby. Next, I set up each camera in the nursery, noting how well a monitor captured a baby’s room, and tried various angles and zoom functions to see how much of the room I could see in the camera.

After extensively testing 10 popular baby monitors, I chose these three as the best: Eufy SpaceView ... [+] Pro, Lollipop Baby Monitor and Chillax Baby Giraffe Cam Pro (clockwise from left).

During naps and overnight sleeps I tested for sound quality, visibility and the degree of parent-friendliness. I also noted distress functions such as crying alerts and sensitivity. After getting to know each monitor’s basics, I tried to customize settings. I changed views and notifications and tested extra features like lullabies and two-way communication.

Finally, I discovered more about the various setup options people can use depending on their baby’s age and mobility. I tried out different options including wall and floor mounts and stand-alone camera settings to determine which would be most useful for most babies and toddlers’ rooms.

I continue to use the three top baby monitors in my youngest child’s room, and I provided details on how they’ve held up over the last nearly six months, noting my new likes and dislikes on each within their individual sections. I’m actually expecting another baby soon, and I plan to continue to test these as that child arrives, particularly if there are any differences in functionality while monitoring a newborn vs. an older baby.

Modern baby monitors are nothing like the audio-only models your parents used. Nowadays, many baby monitors support video, are Wi-Fi and app compatible (which lets you check in from anywhere) and even offer health and safety analytics. Some models come almost fully charged, which can be convenient for busy new parents.

Many baby monitors now offer the option for multiple cameras, allowing you to toggle among two or more children in separate rooms. Monitors can keep an eye on room temperature and other data as well, and can notify you with a ding. Here’s what to consider when choosing a baby monitor.

Setup is important, as technical issues are the last thing you want when you are first getting to know your monitor. Look for models that come pre-paired with a monitor to reduce the initial setup work. You can also look for products that feature QR codes for easy instructions, and directions with pictures.

When it comes to placing or mounting your monitor, we recommend putting it on a shelf with a view of the crib so it’s out of reach from your baby (or other kids). Some monitors go over the crib for a birds-eye-view; if you want this feature, we recommend securing the monitor per the manufacturer’s instructions, whether that’s with a wall mount or straps around the crib. You can get a closer view with a zoom function even without a birds-eye setup.

Given that every nursery or child’s room is different, some parents might prefer monitors that fit in with a certain style or décor. You might opt for bright and fun colors, or a more subtle design. More importantly, you should choose a handheld monitor that suits your needs. You might opt for a slim design for pocket carrying or one with a stand if you’ll put the monitor on the counter frequently.

Cameras that can capture HD video are generally better than 720p cameras. For models that include a monitor, the bigger the display the better. If you opt for a Wi-Fi-based app-only system, you can watch your baby on whatever size screen you own. Your screen could be small if you’re watching on your phone, or larger on an iPad or other tablet. Keep in mind, though, that the video quality may depend on your Wi-Fi connection.

A great baby monitor will have a sharp, detailed display you can see on any mobile device. This ... [+] image is from the Nanit, a notable competitor.

Most monitors do a solid job of helping you hear a crying baby. However, look for options that have multiple sensitivity levels so the monitor isn’t picking up too much background noise and alerting you when the baby doesn’t really need help.

Additionally, some parents might want two-way communication, Shapiro said. With this feature, parents can tell a toddler to get back in bed, or reassure them that they are safe (all of our winners have this feature, and most monitors have it too).

Shapiro warns that parents should be wary of relying on health analytics from a baby monitor. For example, if your baby has a health condition, watching their breathing analytics via an app shouldn’t replace data from certified medical devices which are used under the direction of a doctor.

“There are a lot of issues that can come up when we’re monitoring things like breathing,” Shapiro said. “We should assume the baby is breathing—they can make us hyper-anxious. These types of monitors can have fail moments... that cause panic for people.” Additional features like monitors that detect if something is over your baby’s face should theoretically be redundant for those following safe sleep practices, as pediatricians suggest nothing should be in the crib in the first place.

Baby monitors without Wi-Fi usually don’t have a range of more than 1,000 to 1,200 feet. Some monitors don’t perform as well when they need to penetrate thick walls or multiple floors, like when you have a second-floor nursery, or are going outdoors. That means you need to consider how far you need to go vertically as well as horizontally. Connectivity issues became apparent during setup in our tests, but you can consider returning a product that doesn’t connect well.

With a Wi-Fi monitor, you can check in on your baby from work or on date night. Most monitors don’t experience frequent hacks, especially when parents are keeping up with the safety and maintenance of their monitor and Wi-Fi system, but it’s still a risk. And some parents may prefer Wi-Fi, while others won’t. “There are interesting uses for watching a real moment... a lactating parent who is at work might use the monitor to look at the baby for a moment to get that sweet sense of their little one and that helps them with milk letdown (when milk starts to flow a few minutes after pumping or nursing begins),” said Shapiro.

But other parents might not want the ability to see their children from afar, as it can add to anxiety or lead to micromanaging a babysitter’s care.

Busy parents may not have time to mess with confusing apps. Choosing a monitor that optimizes the user experience and allows parents to easily set up their preferences helps. You can explore many apps partially before purchasing the monitor to get an idea of how they work. Some monitors come with some level of additional tracking and content, and many offered paid memberships or subscriptions that you can level up to after a trial period. You can likely view parenting content for free from other baby publications, but if having all of the information in your monitor app is more convenient, you can add a subscription.

I’m a parent to four sons ages 7, 5, 3 and 1, and I’ve spent my parenting years testing, analyzing and reviewing baby equipment for publications like the Washington Post, Popular Science and Consumer Reports. I’ve seen monitors evolve through eight years of parenting, and watched brands add numerous features that are sometimes helpful—and sometimes unnecessary.

For this article, I reached out to Jada Shapiro, postpartum doula, parenting expert, and founder of boober, where parents find providers and resources and are matched with experts such as doulas. Together, we analyzed the monitors for safety, efficacy, convenience and more.

After months of hands-on testing in my nursery, I believe the best baby monitor is the Eufy SpaceView Pro. It was easiest to use straight out of the box, eliminates Wi-Fi security worries (it doesn’t offer it) and has a nice, easy-to-read screen with great range and battery. There are additional top baby monitors that might work better for another family that prefers Wi-Fi or app monitoring, extra portability or another specific feature. The Chillax Giraffe Cam Pro is a top-performing, affordable Wi-Fi baby monitor that offers excellent image quality, along with some additional analytics like baby sleep stats that might appeal to some. And the Lollipop Baby Monitor with True Crying Detection is extra portable and easy to attach to your crib at night and then the playpen during the day. However, I appreciated that I never once encountered any sort of connectivity issue with Eufy.

Many parents are worried about the security of a Wi-Fi monitor. Shapiro says privacy has risen to a top concern for parents with she works. “There are a variety of [factors] in deciding between Wi-Fi monitors or not, what your privacy concerns are, and of course there have been recent hackings that happen through Wi-Fi monitors,” she says.

Of course, parents can also take care to ensure a safer connection by password protecting their network and a few other ideas. “There are various ways of keeping them safe, such as changing the password regularly, turning it off when you’re not using it, and making sure you only give the password to people you trust, [along with] updating the software regularly on it,” explains Shapiro.

Your monitor should make your life easier, not add to the stress and struggle that can come with everyday parenting realities. “Technology can make some things better for us, but we also want to check back in with our human instincts and our gut, and if you pick a monitor that doesn’t end up working for you, or it causes more stress than relaxation, maybe it’s time to check in and [use] something else,” Shapiro says.

Our top three baby monitor picks are all under $200 with two right at $150. Some other monitors can inch upwards into the $300-$400 range, especially when you add additional cameras for more than one child, so it’s also important to keep an eye on your budget and how much you want to spend as additional kids come along.

Young babies’ rooms have more flexibility when it comes to choosing a tall stand, possibly over the crib for optimal viewing, versus a camera sitting on a shelf or dresser. However, as the baby grows, they become more adventurous and try to pull on and play with anything within reach of the crib. So, cords and unsecured stands are no longer safe as soon as babies can pull up on crib rails and move around. After that, choose a setup option that involves securing cords, especially if an older child can move around the room, or by placing portable options such as the Lollipop monitor up higher in the room, wrapped around a structure.

Parents should balance placing the camera somewhere that they can see most of the room, with their need to be able to zoom in on the baby’s face and body to watch for sleeping and waking cues.

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I’ve been breaking news and writing features on these topics for major publications since 2010. As a freelancer, I worked for The Guardian, Vice, Wired and the BBC, amongst many others.

Tip me on Signal / WhatsApp / whatever you like to use at +447782376697. If you use Threema, you can reach me at my ID: S2XY9B9U.

If you want to tip me with something sensitive? Get in contact on Signal or Threema, and we can use OnionShare. It's a great way to share documents privately. See here: https://onionshare.org/

Got a tip? Get me on Signal on 00447837496820 or use SecureDrop to tip anyone at Forbes. Email at TBrewster@forbes.com or tbthomasbrewster@gmail.com.

I’m a senior fashion editor covering women's and men's fashion, accessories and fitness apparel. My writing has appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. Prior to joining Forbes, I wrote two books, including The New Beauty: A Modern Look at Beauty, Culture, and Fashion, and I currently hold certificates in the history of design from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and fashion styling from the Business of Fashion. I grew up in Rhode Island, studied art history at Brown University and was—and remain—a sneaker obsessive with far too many pairs of white sneakers.

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Full Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor I’m a senior fashion editor covering women's and men's fashion, accessories and fitness apparel. My writing has appeared in T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Vogue and The Wall Street Journal. Prior to joining Forbes, I wrote two books, including The New Beauty: A Modern Look at Beauty, Culture, and Fashion, and I currently hold certificates in the history of design from Sotheby’s Institute of Art and fashion styling from the Business of Fashion. I grew up in Rhode Island, studied art history at Brown University and was—and remain—a sneaker obsessive with far too many pairs of white sneakers.