Nanit Pro Complete Review

Nanit is operated by “scientists, parents, and designers.” It is a relatively young company and somewhat unique. They are trying to provide something beyond basic monitoring and provide what they call “breathing wear” that uses algorithms to monitor movement that indicates a baby is breathing.

Performance Comparison

Expected Reliability

Our expected reliability test results are based on our experience and extensive research on user experiences. The breathing wrap for the Nanit is easy to use, stayed on during our testing, and seemed to work well.

We did not experience any false alarms during testing and even had trouble tricking the device into thinking our fake baby had stopped breathing. It would even recognize our doll as a baby; the technology and algorithm are so good. While any monitor of this kind could have false alarms or fail to alarm when motion that indicates breathing stops, this monitor seems better than much of the competition we tested.

Set Up

The setup for this monitor is more convoluted than the competition. On the upside, it includes everything you'll need for a successful installation outside of a possible ladder and stud finder, but it has a lot going on and will require some planning.

Setup includes mounting the camera above the crib, routing wires for safety, downloading an app, setting up an account, and connecting it with your WiFi and camera. While not a difficult process, it is more than much of the competition we tested.

Ease of Use

This monitor is not the most portable in the group, and if you choose to unmount it for travel, you'll need a stand or a high vantage point to use it elsewhere. It is arguably easier to move and travel with than mattress sensor pads that require hard surfaces and certain mattress types, but it isn't as straightforward as a wearable that doesn't need an app, smartphone, or internet.

Monitoring Cababilities

This monitor monitors almost everything, but when your baby needs a change. If you want a one-and-done solution, the Nanit is the one we'd choose for everything you can monitor or get an alert for.

The Nanit has sound, video, motion, temperature, and humidity sensors and monitors heart rate, growth and activity too! Having so much information can cause anxiety for some, and we aren't convinced anyone needs all these details. We understand that new parents tend to be anxious already, and some might find comfort in the details Nanit offers, but others might find it makes the experience worse.

Alerts

The Nanit has alerts for almost everything and anything. It was a struggle in testing to get an alarm for a non-breathing baby, but we did get alerts for nearly anything and everything on the planet.

Most of the alerts for this monitor are a ping and popup similar to a missed text or email notification you might receive. This means it might be something you end up ignoring, missing, or sleeping through. While it scored well in this category because it alerts to everything from motion in the room and movement of the baby to temperature and humidity, we can't say with certainty that it will rouse a sleep-deprived parent deep in slumber.

We recommend you set the app and your phone settings to the highest possible volume to give you the greatest chance of hearing alarms or alerts. Be aware that this monitor doesn't alarm in the nursery, so it is up to the caregiver to hear the alarm and respond as necessary. We appreciate that this design only causes trauma for caregivers should a false alarm occur. Still, it does mean there is nothing in-nursery to encourage your little one to move/breathe.

Electro Magnetic Field (EMF)

The Nanit did not have an EMF reading higher than the ambient EMF in the test room. This low level of EMF proves that it is possible to create a quality and functional monitor that doesn't expose little ones to unnecessary EMF.

Should You Buy the Nanit Pro?

If you want a one-and-done solution and price is not a problem, then the Nanit is a potential solution that provides all the fancy features you want without buying multiple products. While it offers good video, sound, and potentially reliable movement monitoring, it has a very elaborate setup. It requires the internet, a smart device, an app, and an account to operate, which could be more than some parents want to tackle. To get all of the features, it also requires a subscription, and this can increase the lifetime cost of the unit. However, unlike some competitors, the subscription is largely a sleep plan, saving memories from the video and tracking milestones. All of the monitoring components are free with the Pro. So whether or not it is the monitor for you will depend on your monitoring goals, tech-savvy skills, and budget.

What Other Movement Monitor Should You Consider?

If you like technology but want an easier setup, the Owlet Dream Duo 2 Smart Baby Monitor uses a sock for tracking vitals and has a more straightforward camera and base station setup compared to the Nanit. If you need something travel-friendly, the Snuza Hero SE is a simple clip monitor with an in-nursery alarm that is good for same-room slumber or paired with a monitor that can relay the alarm to a parent's room.

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