The 6 Best Video Baby Monitors of 2025

Best WiFi Baby Video Monitor

Eufy S340

The Eufy S340 is a one-in-a-million product that shined in our testing with a score higher than any baby monitor we've ever tested! This WiFi-connected monitor has 2k resolution in a group that is largely 1080p or less. This pixel increase resulted in the best day and nighttime videos we've seen, with realistic day colors and perfect contrast and clarity in night vision mode, making it perfect for parents who want visual details. It offers sound activation that worked well in our tests and noise reduction (decibel reading of 44) that helped keep the monitor silent until the baby cries while still maintaining a high max volume output of 103 dBa in our tests. It can be paired with four other cameras, and up to 5 people can log in to monitor. The camera has an impressive pan and tilt that is mesmerizing to watch as it spins inside the base like Madeye Moody's magical eyeball. This impressive unit has vital monitoring (heart rate and O2 saturation) with an included sock and motion detection of gross motor movement in the nursery. Plus, you can continue to monitor sound even when the phone is locked, and there is no subscription. One tester remarked, “I believe this monitor is the superior option in this lineup, no question.”

This video monitor has a higher price tag than some competitors. However, it offers a quality product that can be used for several years, and it monitors movement, so the purchase of another product is unnecessary. In comparison, it is significantly cheaper than the Owlet Dream Duo 2, which offers similar features and functionality. If your budget can't stretch this far or you don't need movement capabilities, then the Lollipop is another WiFi option with good video that can save you a significant chunk of change, but the sound quality isn't as good. The Eufy also requires that you have your own smart device for use as a parent unit. If you don't want to clog up your phone with monitoring or lack an alternative compatible device, then a dedicated option like the Babysense MaxView or the cheaper HelloBaby HB6550 could be all you need to keep tabs on your sleeping baby. While neither has impressive video, they are adequate enough to see what is happening and if you need to respond, even if you can't see finer details. No matter what you want, our tests showed that Eufy probably does it and does it better than most competitors. Our tester emphatically stated, “If your budget allows for it, and you have WiFi, it is the one monitor I'd recommend to friends.”

Read more: Eufy S340 review

Best Dedicated Video Monitor

Babysense MaxView

The Babysense MaxView is a straightforward, easy to use, dedicated monitor that relies on camera to parent unit connection instead of WiFi. This camera and parent unit combo offer great sound quality and clarity with a maximum measured volume of 86 dBa in our tests. It also features useful sound activation that lowers sounds to the parent unit to 33 dBa, which was the ambient sound in our test room. Lower ambient noise means a better chance of falling and staying asleep. As our tester reported, “I love that there isn't constant noise or static coming from the monitor. It is easy to fall asleep when using it.” The Babysense also provides good video quality with 1080p and a pan and tilt of 360 and 90 degrees, respectively. The daytime video has sharp images that allow us to read the entire eye chart, and the night videos are clear enough to see what matters, even if they lean on the grainy side in our tests. This monitor can be paired with up to 4 cameras with one viewer, and our tests showed a 12-hour battery life. During testing, this option had a range of 190 feet through 7 walls, which is one of the best wall/distance results in the group of non-WiFi options; if this isn't enough, a dedicated monitor might not be in the cards for you.

The BabySense does not have the best color accuracy or the best night images with more graininess than some of the WiFi competitors like the Eufy S340 or the Owlet Dream Duo 2. It also has a limited range. However, for the dedicated monitors in our tests, the range should be adequate enough for most homes. While one of the furthest ranges and through most walls in the group, it still might not be enough. Your specific situation could require a WiFi option like the Lollipop that works with WiFi and is super easy to install with a similar price tag. Overall, if you want a monitor that doesn't rely on the Internet and you only need basic features (no movement monitoring), the BabySense could be all you need to get the job done. Our tester reports, “For simplicity and quick monitoring without the app hassle, I think the BabySense is perfect.”

Read more: Babysense MaxView review

Best WiFi Video Monitor on a Budget

Lollipop

The Lollipop is a cute and unique WiFi monitor that offers multiple forms of installation and placement for monitoring. This unit can loop or wrap around most crib edges and comes with cable guards to get the cords out of the baby's reach, which is (super important to avoid strangulation hazards). This camera is 1080p and can be paired with an unlimited number of cameras, with at least six viewers. It has great colors and decent clarity, though somewhat dim; it has a smaller field of view of only 122 degrees, while some competitors, like the Eufy S340, rotate almost 360 degrees. The night vision is even better with crisp and clear images and useful contrast differences between grey colorations. During testing, the Lollipop had a maximum volume level of 101 dBa, a level that is likely good enough to wake the walking dead.

While this unit has sound activation, it isn't as good as the same feature on Owlet Dream Duo 2. The sound coming through the parent device was still 52 dBa even when the baby wasn't crying, which means you will be listening to something from the baby's room, no matter if the baby is asleep or crying. Our tester reports, “I think it sounds like a constant blowing breeze into a microphone, with an occasional high-pitched static noise.” The Lollipop also lacks the ability to remotely move the camera. Unlike the Eufy S340 or BabySense Maxview, the Lollipop has a small field of view and no way to change this field of view without going into the nursery to manually move the camera. However, it is probably adequate for younger babies who aren't moving much anyway. It also requires a subscription depending on the features you want (like movement monitoring), and the constant reminders in the app to upsell you the subscription can get annoying. Both the Eufy and Owlet do not have a paywall, so if you want those features without the lifetime cost, they are the better choice, in our opinion, despite the upfront increase in cost. Given the lower price and the mounting variation of the Lollipop, you might be able to forgive the downside depending on your monitoring goals.

Read more: Lollipop review

Best Video Monitor on a Budget

HelloBaby HB6550

The HelloBaby HB6550 is a bare-bones video monitor for a lower price. This easy-to-use option worked well in our range tests, keeping a connection up to 190 feet through 7 walls. It has a full pan and tilt range of 360 and 120 degrees and works with up to 4 cameras. During testing, the battery lasted about 11.5 hours, giving ample time for naps or even overnight if fully charged. The maximum volume was 100 dBa in our tests, with the volume up when the baby cried and a quiet 33 dBa (the same as the ambient room) when the sound activation was on. This means the HelloBaby is relatively silent when your baby is silent but loud enough to wake most parents when the baby cries. Our tester says, “If you want a budget-friendly choice that is quiet when your baby is sleeping so you can sleep, I think this is a potential contender.”

This camera only has 480p resolution, which contributed to below-average video images. As one tester put it, “I felt the quality and clarity came off like a 90s-era video that lacks sharpness.” We didn't like that the volume control is inside a menu and not on the outside of the parent unit for quicker adjustment during the night. The BabySense MaxView has the volume control on the edge of the parent unit, so making adjustments quickly is a cinch. It also has significantly better video images than the HelloBaby. The HelloBaby also doesn't offer movement monitoring (aka movement indicative of breathing). This isn't a deal-breaker to us, and some parents will find that level of information anxiety-inducing. If that is important to you, the Eufy S340 is an alternative that has a sock for movement/vitals monitoring, and it includes significantly higher quality video with WiFi connectivity. While the HelloBaby is not a perfect monitor, it is a simple video option that costs less and does what it needs to do. We think parents on a budget looking for a straightforward video monitor will be more than happy.

Read more: HelloBaby HB6550 review

Best Video Monitor for Light Sleepers

Owlet Dream Duo 2

The Owlet Dream Duo 2 is a do almost all video monitor with an included sock for monitoring sleep tracking and other vitals. During testing, the Owlet had a max volume of 103 dBa, making it one of the loudest in the test group and most likely to wake even a sleep-deprived parent when crying occurs. It also has effective noise cancellation and sound activation that created one of the quietest monitors we tested with zero ambient sounds coming through the parent unit, which is why we love it for those who sleep lightly. One tester reports, “If you have trouble staying asleep or ambient noises wake you up, I think this is the best bet for getting and staying asleep.” The Owlet video is 1080p and has clear and consistent images that are crisp, with accurate color in the daytime. The nighttime images are better for the Cam 2 than the previous Cam 1 version, and we were pleasantly surprised by the improvement we saw during testing. This is a WiFi monitor, so it can work anywhere with an internet connection, making it a good choice for larger homes or locations with a lot of walls or interference. This option also has vitals tracking and motion capabilities, plus temperature and humidity sensing in the nursery.

The real bummer for this monitor is the camera can only be moved manually in the nursery, which means you cannot pan/tilt remotely using the app. This can be frustrating because your field of view is fixed and as your little one ages, it could result in a child out of frame. For the price of this unit, this feels like a failure compared to the Eufy S340, which swivels all over the place remotely through the app (it is seriously so fun to watch). Depending on your monitoring goals and mounting location, this could be less of a concern, but many parents will want to move the camera about to see more of the nursery than the Owlet allows. The Owlet app is easy enough to use, but it isn't as intuitive as the Eufy S340 which was more straightforward with features and menus that were easier to navigate. However, it is significantly easier than the Lollipop, which is slow to respond and has a confusing interface that will take time to get dialed in. The Owlet is not our favorite WiFi monitor, but if you are a light sleeper, it could be the best choice for you since the goal of monitoring is to create an environment where you can get more restful sleep, and the Dream Duo 2 is virtually silent when it should be. If you want accurate vital readings, it is also a good choice, and you can read more on this in our movement monitor review.

Read more: Owlet Dream Duo 2 review

Best Baby-Specific Features

iBaby M8 2K

The iBaby M8 2K is a baby-centric WiFi monitor offering good video quality, better-than-average sound clarity, and so many features you might lose track. Traditionally, we've loved the iBaby video monitors, and the M8 is no exception. This monitor offers lower average EMF readings (0.23 V/m in our tests), sound activation (only a white noise type sound with a decibel reading of 41 dBa), lullabies, ceiling projection, and more. Our tester said, “I think parents will love the easy-to-use app, and babies will love the projector.” Given that so many of the monitors are packed full of features, it is nice to see a monitor that keeps the baby's experience in mind.

The biggest downside to the M8 is an odd camera lag time when we panned the camera in the app. The lag is slow, then speeds up quickly to meet what it thinks are your expectations. It lacks the precision to focus on a single area quickly. While this is frustrating, we don't see it as a deal breaker, as it is momentary and rights itself. If you might be the type to get impatient with any kind of lagging when moving the camera, the Eufy S340 has a smoother interface, and the camera moved quickly in our tests. It has almost a 360-degree operation that is remotely controlled. That said, most parents will put the camera in a single location that centers on the crib and might never even use the pan feature until little ones are older and more mobile. Alternatively, the lag is certainly better than those that don't allow remote control of the camera movement, like the Lollipop and the Owlet Dream Duo 2. Overall, we are willing to overlook this hiccup to get a clear video, quiet noise cancellation, and fun, baby-centric features.

Read more: iBaby M8 2K review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	90	Eufy S340 Best WiFi Baby Video Monitor	$280
	86	Owlet Dream Duo 2 Best Video Monitor for Light Sleepers	$400
	78	Lollipop Best WiFi Video Monitor on a Budget	$170
	78	Cubo Ai Plus	$280
	76	Nanit Pro	$300
	75	Babysense MaxView Best Dedicated Video Monitor	$160
	75	iBaby M8 2K Best Baby-Specific Features	$220
	73	Nest Cam (indoor/wired)	$100
	72	HelloBaby HB6550 Best Video Monitor on a Budget	$100
	71	Wyze Cam V3	$40
	67	VTech VM901	$150
	64	LeapFrog LF920HD	$170
	59	Infant Optics DXR-8	$166
	58	Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO	$200
	54	VTech VM819	$69

How We Tested

Since 2012, we've purchased and tested more than 98 different baby monitors across types. Our monitor testing protocols put the products through a multi-point performance test to score and rank video quality and other functionalities. We've logged hundreds of monitoring hours during testing, covering everything from battery life and range to sound clarity and more.

Our video monitor testing is divided across 6 rating metrics:

• Video Quality (30% of overall score weighting)
• Sound Clarity (25% weighting)
• Range (20% weighting)
• Ease of Use (15% weighting)
• Battery Life (5% weighting)
• Features (5% weighting)
• EMF (not scored)

Video baby monitors went through more than 46 individual tests to compare their performance. The most important metric was video quality; it corresponds to 30% of the overall score. Our video quality rating is informed by 4 specific tests that include a color chart to review accuracy and tonal quality and an eye chart to assess clarity and ability to relay finer details. Our testing took place in the BabyGearLab in-house lab and homes with little ones to watch. The monitor reviews draw on over three months of investigation and data compiling information on how well the monitors worked, how easy they were to use, and how well they stayed “connected.” We used each monitor from setup through endless features to determine which contender has the best features, quality sound and video, ease of use, most extended range, and most reliable connection.

Why Trust GearLab

Overseeing our expert group of monitor testers is by BabyGearLab founder, Dr. Juliet Spurrier , a board-certified pediatrician and mother of 2. Dr. Spurrier utilizes her extensive experience and education as a pediatrician, with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, and her journey as a mother to choose products for testing. Our team of expert testers includes Bob Wofford, father of 7 and lead in-house product tester who has been an integral part of testing development and execution for video monitor since 2014. Plus, Senior Review Editor Wendy Schmitz, another vital team member (and mother of 2) who has been reviewing and investigating video monitors professionally since 2014. Bob and Wendy have evaluated over 48 video monitors since 2014 and well over 100 baby monitors, including video, top-ranked sound monitors, and movement over that time.

Analysis and Test Results

We tested and compared the top video products for monitoring little ones in comprehensive tests, side-by-side, for months. Our tests provide the details you need to decide which monitor is best for your baby or situation.

What's the Best Value?

With so many video monitors to choose from, prices are often reasonable, something we couldn't say in the past. While not on par with lower-priced sound monitors, they are significantly less expensive than video monitors from the days of yore. The HelloBaby HB6550 is a dedicated monitor you can often find for under a hundred dollars. This monitor has good sound and is easy to use. The video isn't as good as higher-priced competitors, but it is good enough to see what you need to see, and for the money, we were pleased. If you are okay with the features and limitations of a security-type monitor, the Wyze Cam v3 is very inexpensive and can get the job done in a bare-bones way, though we didn't love the sound features and monitoring could be limited if you use your personal smartphone instead of an alternate device. If long-term use or features are your bag, a good value can be found in the Eufy S340. This monitor has movement capabilities, excellent video and sound, and is easy to use with lots of features. So, despite having a higher price, we think you get your money's worth as you can use it for several years or several babies and it offers functionality out of the box that other monitors don't or need subscriptions for.

Video Quality

Video quality is a test metric you'd expect all of the competitors to perform well in. However, in our opinion, many failed to provide true-to-life images even in the daytime with adequate lighting. While all were adequate, they ranged from acceptable images you can tell are a baby to stellar video with impressive details.

Video Quality Performance Ratings

Product	Daytime Video	Nighttime Video
Eufy S340	9.0	9.5
Wyze Cam V3	9.0	8.0
Lollipop	8.0	8.5
iBaby M8 2K	7.0	8.5
Owlet Dream Duo 2	8.0	7.5
Nanit Pro	7.0	8.0
VTech VM901	8.0	7.0
Cubo Ai Plus	7.5	7.0
Babysense MaxView	6.5	7.5
Nest Cam (indoor/wired)	7.0	6.5
Infant Optics DXR-8	5.0	6.0
VTech VM819	6.0	5.0
Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO	4.0	6.0
HelloBaby HB6550	4.0	5.5
LeapFrog LF920HD	5.0	4.0

Eufy S340 Owlet Dream Duo 2

Given technology advancements, it is disappointing that most dedicated video monitors don't offer better visuals. Many video images aren't clear enough to see the baby's features and aren't even close to what you'd see if you were in the nursery. While you don't need this to use a video monitor effectively, it can be useful or, at least, adorable.

Eufy S340 Owlet Dream Duo 2

For many, night vision images are worse than daytime video. Some visuals are so blurry and hard to decipher when the room is dark that parents might find themselves rushing to the nursery because their baby has no face or demon eyes.

Daytime Video Quality

Daytime video is where any monitor camera should shine because they aren't hindered by their night vision technology or the lack of light. We tested the video in daytime conditions by using a color chart and eye chart to see what is or is not clearly visible, and we assessed how well the images matched reality.

The monitors with the best daytime images are the Eufy S340 and the Wyze Cam v3. The Eufy offers a practically exact one-to-one match between the real nursery and what we saw in the app. It has a wide field of view, and we can easily see the baby's eyes and the eye chart details. It can also be remotely moved (pan and tilt) to see almost every inch of the nursery.

iBaby M8 2K Lollipop

The Wyze offers accurate color and clear text with an impressive zoom feature that has no delay or blurring. While the Wyze is a security camera, it is a great example of how good video results can be for such a low price. With the group's lowest price, it offered impressive video quality. It is so good, in fact, that it left us wondering why significantly more expensive monitors had disappointing video and if it could be the upcharge of something being baby-related as opposed to being better.

Babysense MaxView HelloBaby HB6550

Night Video Quality

Most of the monitors have clear images with enough detail to potentially see your baby breathe, which is significantly more impressive than viewing a faceless (and terrifying) blob in the crib. Sure, you know that is your baby, but what is the point of a video feed if it doesn't show something useful?

Eufy S340 iBaby M8 2K

The best performance for the night video was obtained by the Eufy S340 and iBaby M8 2K . The Eufy offers a super crisp image with good shade separation on our color block page, and it isn't overly contrasted like some units. The iBaby image is also super clear, and even with a lagging pan and scan feature, it looks like what you would see if you were standing in the nursery. If you want the most accurate night images for viewing from outside the nursery, theses two would be your go-tos.

The worst night video was seen in the LeapFrog LF920HD. During testing, this unit has a green cast to the images, and the quality is largely influenced by the camera's angle, so it can take some troubleshooting. When facing the crib directly, it offers the worst quality image, and the baby often looks like a lump and not a small human.

Cubo Ai Plus Lollipop

Overall Video Quality

The overall video quality metric score combines the video quality of daytime and nighttime images. While both are important because your little one will sleep multiple times a day, we gave a slightly heavier weighting to nighttime images as these will be more crucial than napping videos, where the daylight will make most images easier to see.

The VTech VM901 and the BabySense Maxview earn the highest video quality for the dedicated monitors. The BabySense has easy-to-see details with no weird coloring and is relatively crisp. The image has some graininess in the night images, but it isn't a deal breaker. The VTech VM901 offers clear daytime images with a good range of colors. We were able to read three lines on the eye chart, but there was some blurring at night when moving the camera and zooming in. Most of the WiFi options offer the best video, but the Eufy S340 was the main standout for video quality, with images that largely reflected real life and left no mysteries about what was happening in the baby's nursery or crib. The colors and contrast showed up well, and there was no lack of detail in any portion of the wide field of view.

Sound Quality

Monitors should provide true-to-life video and they should have quality audio that is easy to hear and clear enough for you to determine if you need to see what is happening on the video, go back to sleep, or get moving to the nursery. So, while you might initially believe that video quality is the most important factor, we rated sound almost as high because, without sound, the video quality doesn't matter because you'll never look at the video if you aren't alerted by sound on when to look.

Sound Quality Performance Ratings

Product	Max Volume	Sound Clarity	Noise Reduction	Sound Activation
Owlet Dream Duo 2	9.0	9.0	9.5	10.0
HelloBaby HB6550	8.0	8.0	10.0	10.0
Eufy S340	8.8	9.0	8.5	9.0
Babysense MaxView	5.9	8.5	10.0	10.0
LeapFrog LF920HD	5.6	8.0	7.0	10.0
Cubo Ai Plus	8.0	9.0	4.0	6.0
iBaby M8 2K	5.7	7.0	4.0	10.0
Nest Cam (indoor/wired)	9.0	9.0	3.0	5.0
Lollipop	8.0	6.5	5.0	6.0
Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO	5.6	6.0	8.0	5.0
VTech VM901	5.3	5.0	7.0	7.0
Nanit Pro	6.3	7.0	2.0	5.0
VTech VM819	3.0	4.0	2.0	10.0
Wyze Cam V3	8.0	4.0	2.0	5.0
Infant Optics DXR-8	5.9	8.0	2.0	1.0

If a monitor has muffled sound, is difficult to decipher, or is not loud enough, you could miss your baby's cries and not know when you should look at the video screen. If the sound activation or thresholds for background noise don't work well, you might lose sleep listening to a loud monitor generating excessive white noise or, worse, noises completely unrelated to your baby. Once alerted by the sound, you need a clear view of your baby with enough details to determine their needs, or the video device isn't much better than a sound monitor.

Most of the monitors in our tests have average sound quality and clarity that isn't excessively muffled or muted. Most have bright and high sounds without many mid-range or lower tones. This lack of tonal range isn't a deal-breaker, but it can make babies' cries harsher than they are in real life.

Maximum Volume

The maximum monitor volume can be important, especially for deep-sleeping parents or those unlikely to wake up when their baby cries. While some parents may slumber in light sleep, alerting to a sneeze a block away, some parents will sleep very deeply and could miss cries if the volume on a monitor is too low. We measure the maximum decibels of each monitor at full volume using the same crying bay loop.

The loudest monitors in the group were the Nest Cam (110 dBa), Wyze Cam v3 (100 dBa), Cubio Ai Plus (102 dBa), HelloBaby HB6550 (100 dBa), Lollipop (101 dBa), Owlet Dream Duo 2 (103 dBa), and the Eufy S340 (103 dBa). The monitors with the lowest volume were the VTech VM819 (67 dBa), and the VTech VM901 (82 dBa).

Sound Clarity

The clarity or quality of the sound might be one of the most important aspects of a monitor. If the sound coming from the nursery is hard to decipher, then it isn't as useful as monitors that provide realistic sounds akin to being in the room with your baby. We look for units that allow you to hear clearly the nuances of what is happening in the room. If the baby's cries sound robotic or tinny, it could be hard to determine how urgent the need is for you to respond.

The monitors with the best sound clarity with the Eufy S340, Owlet Dream Duo 2, Cubio Ai, and Nest Cam. These monitors provide sound that best aligns with the sounds in the nursery, leaving no doubt on the baby's level of cries or need for attention. The lowest performing options were the VTech VM819 and the Wyze Cam v3. The VTech had a lot of robot and mechanical noises with an inability to hear the words on the song playing during testing. The Wyze Cam v3 had a lot of fuzz and static with “shower-like” sounds in the background. So, even though we could tell what song was playing, we couldn't really hear the lyrics. It isn't a huge surprise that a security camera with less concern about sound wouldn't perform well in this test. The VM819 was a bigger disappointment since it is designed for baby monitoring, and the VTech sound-only monitors were better.

Background Noise Reduction

A monitor's ability to reduce the amount of background noise it transmits to the parent unit is critical. Using a monitor should help increase the odds of a better night's sleep; it should not result in monitor sounds keeping you awake. Other than cries from your little one, there is little going on in the nursery that you need to hear. Noisemakers, lullabies, HVAC, and other sounds can all transmit from the nursery to your bedroom, so finding a monitor that can be silent is a big deal. We tested the volume output for each monitor under regular use when the baby was sleeping and not making noise.

The top performers with quiet parent units while in use were the Babysense MaxView, HelloBaby HB6550, and the Owlet Dream Duo 2. Each creates an almost silent or silent monitoring experience when the baby is silent and not crying. The loudest monitors when the baby was silent were the Infant Optics DXR-8, Nanit Pro, VTech VM819, and the Wyze Cam V3 (which had a lot of strange static).

Sound Activation

All parents should seriously consider sound activation functionality. This feature helps keep the monitor silent unless a baby is actively making noise.

This feature potentially results in more sleep as you aren't exposed to unwanted, annoying background noise. Sound activation translates to hearing only what you need to hear, a fussy or crying baby. This feature isn't available on all monitors.

Notifications and Alerts

Alternatively, notifications and alerts relay a message or email to your personal device (i.e., smartphone) when motion or sound occurs. This kind of feature is only found on WiFi monitors. It isn't ideal for monitoring a baby because it is typically delayed, sometimes as long as 30 minutes after your little one starts crying. The alert also can't provide details about the type of sound or motion, and excessive, vague messages can get annoying. For these reasons, we prefer sound activation over notifications/alerts, which we believe are not useful for monitoring children.

Overall Sound Quality

The overall sound score results from how easy the monitor is to hear, how closely it compares to the sound inside the nursery, and how well filtering or sound activation works for the unit. Do not ignore this metric, as it is the monitor's sound capabilities that alert you to the need to look at the video. Without good sound quality and features, you might not get the information you need to even consider looking at the video.

In our tests, the best sound score was earned by the HelloBaby HB6550, Eufy S340, and the Owlet Dream Duo 2. They each have good quality sound with clear audio that is easy to hear and decipher details. They have features that help you sleep and wake you up when your baby needs you. It is worth noting that the Owlet Dream Duo 2 is a standout if having a silent monitor is critical for your ability to get sleep. It is silent when your baby isn't crying and quickly activates when they do. The lowest-performing sound option is the VTech VM819. The sound is very mechanical and robotic sounding, with poorly performing features to reduce noise or sound activation.

Range

The range for video monitors is the distance and the number of walls between the nursery and parent units where the product stays connected and works without interruption or interference.

Range Performance Ratings

Product	Field Range	Indoor Range
iBaby M8 2K	10.0	10.0
Nanit Pro	10.0	10.0
Nest Cam (indoor/wired)	10.0	10.0
Wyze Cam V3	10.0	10.0
Cubo Ai Plus	10.0	10.0
Lollipop	10.0	10.0
Owlet Dream Duo 2	10.0	10.0
Eufy S340	10.0	10.0
HelloBaby HB6550	10.0	8.0
Babysense MaxView	8.0	8.0
LeapFrog LF920HD	6.0	8.0
Infant Optics DXR-8	6.0	5.0
VTech VM819	4.0	7.0
VTech VM901	3.0	8.0
Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO	4.0	6.0

A useful range is necessary to ensure connectivity and continued monitoring when you are sleeping.

Open Field Range

While most manufacturers offer a “line of sight” or “open field” range to describe their monitors, this distance does not necessarily indicate how well it will work inside your home, where walls and interference abound. It doesn't matter how much you want a particular model or brand; if it doesn't have good connectivity in your home, you won't be happy or have the monitoring you desire. And since we assume, and don't advise, you are leaving your baby in an open field and walking away, the open field range test and the related claims by manufacturers are largely useless. It simply isn't how monitors work or how you will use them. The HelloBaby HB6550 had the longest open field range in our tests of 1,330+ feet, and we ran out of space before the monitor started to struggle. Any WiFi monitor will stay connected anywhere there is Internet connectivity.

Indoor Range

We tested for indoor range and open field tests to provide a complete picture using the same measuring devices in the same field and house with the same walls and interference. Remember that the values inside your home are more important than those in an open field unless, of course, you are leaving a baby alone in an open field (which we don't recommend. Seriously, don't do that!).

Larger homes with more than 4 or 5 walls between the camera and the parent unit might be stuck using a WiFi camera. Most of the dedicated units only work through up to 4 walls with spotty connections with more walls. Both the BabySense and the HelloBaby worked through 7 walls and up to 190 ft. These results will likely work for most homes, especially if no level/floor change exists. But, if your needs exceed that, none of the dedicated monitors in this review will likely work in your home.

On the other hand, WiFi-connected cameras are limited only by the wireless router location/power in relation to the camera and parent unit and the strength and speed of your WiFi. If necessary, you can often move routers or add range extenders to increase the range between the components if the WiFi monitor struggles to maintain a consistent connection. Purchasing a monitor from a retailer with a useful return policy (like Amazon) will allow you to test the monitor in your home to determine how well it works with less risk.

Overall Range

A monitor's connection range is a make-or-break metric that determines whether or not a specific monitor will work in your home and for your needs. You must test your monitor immediately in the home where you plan to use it. Don't rely on the manufacturer's claims or even our test results. Because every home is different in materials, design, and possible interference, our test results are intended to show which monitors have the best potential performance, as opposed to hard and fast, “for sure” distances.

While the WiFi-enabled monitors can work wherever there is WiFi, it won't work if your internet goes out. However, this style could be your only choice if you have a large home or one with lots of walls or interference. If you prefer a dedicated monitor that is less complicated, then the range will be more important. Top performers for indoor range in our tests include the BabySense MaxViewand HelloBaby HB6550, which work up to 190 feet through 7 wallst.

Ease of Use

Ease of use may seem less important because once you know how to use a product, it typically stops being challenging, and after a while, it can even feel intuitive when it wasn't in the beginning. However, monitors can have a learning curve depending on the type you select and its features. While the dedicated monitors are plug-in-and-go products that even technology-challenged grandmas can use, some take more skill or tech-savvy to negotiate.

Ease of Use Performance Ratings

Product	Setup	Useability
Nanit Pro	10.0	8.5
Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO	10.0	8.0
LeapFrog LF920HD	10.0	8.0
VTech VM901	10.0	8.0
Babysense MaxView	10.0	8.0
HelloBaby HB6550	10.0	8.0
Eufy S340	9.0	9.0
Infant Optics DXR-8	10.0	7.5
Cubo Ai Plus	9.0	8.5
Owlet Dream Duo 2	9.0	8.5
VTech VM819	10.0	6.0
Lollipop	9.0	6.0
Wyze Cam V3	9.0	5.0
iBaby M8 2K	6.0	6.0
Nest Cam (indoor/wired)	5.0	5.0

On the other hand, the WiFi monitors require some knowledge of technology and app navigation or the patience to learn new things. With all of them, you need to set up the camera with your computer or another device, and you need to set up an account and manage things like WiFi passwords and other settings within the app. While this can be a no-brainer for some, it can be more challenging if you lack technical knowledge, and it could be useless if your caregiver doesn't have the app required for using the monitor.

If you struggle with technology and don't need or want to see your baby from anywhere outside your home, you might want to choose a dedicated monitor that requires little setup and has a more straightforward user interface. We aren't saying that most people can't sort out the WiFi monitors, but it is undeniably less work to plug the monitor into an outlet and turn it on than download and sign up for an app you need to learn.

The LeapFrog LF920HD, Babysense, and HelloBaby are the easiest dedicated options to use. These monitors are a “plug and play” and pair the camera and parent unit automatically. The parent units have limited buttons, and the menu options are intuitive. We think most parents will stick to the buttons on the front of the unit without much menu searching. The Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO is also an easy-to-use dedicated monitor. It comes with multiple lenses to add to the camera, which you can easily interchange, even if it is annoying that you must go into the nursery to do it.

Most of the app-required monitors are easy to set up for those who are comfortable downloading and setting up apps. All options walk users through the setup process step-by-step and have fairly intuitive menus that will seem familiar to most users who regularly use smartphones. They all come with a quick start guide that will have you up and watching your baby swiftly. Our favorite during testing was the Eufy S340, which has a user-friendly and intuitive app. The ability to continue monitoring when doing other things with your phone is easy to do, and it works well. However, for those who loathe technology or older generations, it is tough to beat the setup of plugging in a monitor and turning it on, which you get with the dedicated options.

Battery Life

Testing battery life was for the parent device only. While some of the dedicated options have a battery in the camera in a power outage, most don't, and they are not intended for all-night use. So, our battery tests only focus on the parent device.

The battery life ranges between 5 and 16 hours for the parent devices of dedicated monitors. The WiFi options are more challenging to gauge because the battery life depends on the parent device, whether or not it is used for other applications, and how old the battery is. However, we feel it is safe to say that most personal devices will work longer than the best-dedicated monitor battery if they are only used for the WiFi camera and are not running other applications simultaneously.

The VTech VM819 has the longest dedicated monitor battery life with 16 hours of runtime. The VTech VM901 has the worst battery life with a time of 5 hours in our tests. The Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO and the VTech VM901 came in close with a slightly better time of about 6 hours. While not a deal-breaker, as most nap times last for less time, it could leave you wanting. None of the monitors in this review offer a battery in the camera for long-term use away from a plug. While this could be useful for travel, etc., you will still need a WiFi connection, which isn't as helpful as it may seem.

Using your WiFi camera with your smart device will have variable runtime depending on your device and what else it is being used for. For scoring the WiFi options, we based our runtime on the average iPhone runtime of 9.6 hours.

Features

All of the products in our tests provide features for convenience and functionality. Some of the options also have additional features for fun or nursery details. All of the cameras have night vision with an automatic sensor that shifts as the ambient light changes, and all have 2-way communication with the baby so that you can talk to your little one from a distance.

Some monitors come with lullabies, while others can relay the nursery's temperature and humidity. No matter which features or functionality you want or need, this review likely has a monitor to meet your goals.

The features we focus on are those we feel increase the monitor's performance or make life easier for parents and increase the odds of you achieving a good night's sleep.

We prefer options with sound activation that keep the parent unit silent as long as the baby is quiet. We believe this functionality allows parents to fall asleep faster because any ambient noise through the monitor speaker could potentially keep you awake. Some of the monitors are loud enough (even at low volumes) that they could keep light sleepers from getting the shut-eye they need. This lack of sound filtering defeats the purpose of using a monitor. We also like units with automatic “wake” screens that turn off after a certain amount of time with no use.

Other features to consider when looking for the best monitor for your needs are does it detect movement indicative of breathing, also known as a “movement monitor,” the ability to move the camera (pan/tilt/zoom) remotely, the number of cameras you can add, the number of viewers who can monitor, temperature, and humidity.

Overall Features

Features are important, but we encourage you to consider which features you will use and which sound like fun in theory but probably won't be used over time. Many options have a higher price tag and justify this with features parents are unlikely to use. Features like alarm clocks for feeding schedules and alerts for low humidity might seem like something you would use, but sound activation and quality images are more critical in practice. In fact, additional features often translate to being harder to use, and many are novelty functions that most parents stop using. Don't be persuaded by bells and whistles that you might stop using in the first few weeks. Ultimately, you want a good monitor with great sound and video quality.

The top-scoring monitor for features is the Eufy S340. This option includes movement capabilities, motion detection inside the room, temperature, sound activation, working with four cameras and five viewers, being fully remote-controlled, and more. The iBaby M8 has fun features for babies, like lullabies and an overhead projector, and provides multiple features that increase convenience for parents.

For parents, this camera works with WiFi, can be accessed anywhere with the Internet or cell reception (with a data plan), works with multiple cameras, and has sound activation. The user interface is intuitive, and it has zoom/pan/tilt functionality. The iBaby M8 has a remote-controlled camera with a wide field of view in the group, motion detection, and built-in remote-controlled lullabies that include the ability to add personal music choices or a parent voice recording. The iBaby M8 also has sensors for temperature, humidity, and air quality, so parents can ensure the baby is cozy. If that isn't enough, the app will remain operating even if you use other apps or turn the screen off. The only thing lacking is an auto screen wake and sleep, which isn't a deal-breaker with all the other features onboard.

The Nanit Pro, LeapFrog LF920HD, and Wyze Cam V3 scored just below the top. Because some WiFi cameras like the Nest Cam and the Wyze Cam v3 are more for security and are not solely about baby monitoring, they have features that make parents' lives easier but nothing fun for a baby. They provide 2-way communication but no lullabies or room sensors. Given that many nurseries have “noise makers” (aka lullabies or white noise), the lack of this feature isn't a loss, in our opinion. So, while these WiFi options lack the gadgetry fun, sensors, and the other bells available on the Nanit Pro and iBaby M8, they get the monitoring job done in a way that is easy to use. The bonus of most WiFi cameras (possibly not the iBaby) is that they can work for multiple purposes when baby monitoring is over. These options can seamlessly shift into a nanny cam, security, or pet camera. We think this takes the sting out of the lack of baby-centric features, which, in our experience, most parents typically stop using when the novelty wears off.

The dedicated products didn't score as well as the WiFi options for features. They don't offer as many features as their WiFi counterparts, their features don't make the camera easier to use, or they don't work that well. The dedicated monitors have a 2-way talk but can only be viewed on the parent device that pairs with the monitor. Some provide temperature sensors and lullabies, but most don't include motion detection or a real zoom.

Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Levels

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are something we feel should be discussed when considering any baby monitor. Given that all wireless devices emit some level of EMF, we believe it is negligent not to discuss the potential health risks associated with the kind of radiation emitted by wireless products. While the jury is still out, and studies are not conclusive yet, there is enough evidence that EMF can potentially cause health problems that we feel it is better to err on the side of caution when it comes to exposing children than to ignore the potential impact.

Wireless devices and dirty electricity are nearly impossible to avoid in our technological age, but this doesn't mean that you shouldn't make an effort to limit exposure for your family. Despite current scientific evidence being somewhat conflicting, we feel parents should make informed and deliberate decisions about their children's exposure to potential health risks. Especially given that their developing bodies and systems are more susceptible to this kind of radiation. We can't say with absolute certainty that monitors pose a potential health risk, but we also can't say for sure that they don't. Given this, we feel it is critical to test and report on the EMF emission levels of each competitor in our review. With this knowledge, you have the information you need to determine which products align with your goals and beliefs concerning EMF exposure.

The lowest average EMF readings were 0.20 V/m for the Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO, 0.23 V/m for the VTech VM819, the iBaby M8 2K, and the LeapFrog LF920HD with the EMF reader 6 ft from the unit. The highest EMF reading was the BabySense Maxview with an average of 1.91 V/m.

You can lower your baby's potential exposure if your camera is more than 12-15 feet away from your baby's usual resting place (adequate distance for night vision for most units). Given the sensitivity of a baby's developing systems, we recommend setting the monitor as far away from your little one as possible while adhering to night vision requirements. For most video monitors in this review, this distance is 10-15 feet away from the baby.

How to Pick the Best Video Monitor

Video monitors come in various types and have a variety of features. While we've identified our favorite features like sound activation and true pan and tilt video, many parents will want features like two-way talk to baby or expandability. Some key considerations include:

Wifi or Dedicated?

Dedicated options don't rely on WiFi, but some homes might require a WiFi option if the dedicated video range is not far enough or if there are too many walls between units. The dedicated options tend to be more straightforward and great for grandparents or babysitters; WiFi often means great range, better connectivity, and watching little ones away from home. While you might have the option of either, sometimes your home or your needs will make the decision for you.

Baby-centric Features

While we don't think baby-centric features or lack thereof are deal-breakers, some parents might. If you want an option with features like a nightlight or lullabies, you'll want to pay special attention to what each option offers. Some are very baby-centric and even include features like tracking breathing, while others are more utilitarian with video and sound. There are lots of fun night lights or sound machines to help keep little ones soothed without placing that burden on a video monitor, so keep your options open that having multiple products designed specifically for specific tasks could be a better solution than a one and done multi-use option.

Expandability

There are dedicated monitors that can expand by a camera or two, but most are a one-camera operation, which could be frustrating if you have a second child down the line. If you hope to expand your system to two bedrooms or set up nanny cams, then a WiFi option with a less baby-centric design is probably the better fit for your long-term needs. Some of the options we tested can add four or more cameras to create a more comprehensive monitoring system.

Conclusion

The peek-in on your baby using a video monitor can be a game-changer for parents looking for peace of mind or just enjoy watching their baby sleep. The ability to view inside the nursery can help you decide whether or not you need to check on your baby in the nursery or if your little one can settle without help. We believe our months of intensive, hands-on, side-by-side testing of video monitors can help you narrow the products to the right solution for your family. Don't forget that a monitor is a useful and much-appreciated baby gift.