But that was about all you could tell when using these ancient relics.
Well, we’ve come a long way since those first baby monitors. Some of today’s devices deliver a live, 24/7 video stream so you’ll always know what’s going on in your baby’s room. Others can connect to your smartphone, track sleep patterns, and even play music to help soothe your crying baby and help him or her fall back asleep.
Here are some of the best monitors currently available.
Anmeate Wireless Video Monitor with Temperature Monitor
This device delivers crisp, two-way audio so you can hear your baby and talk to him or her. In spite of the small display screen (2.4 inches), there’s still a clear picture, and you can zoom in to see more closely. It has night vision, so you can see your baby anytime day or night. Plus, the temperature monitoring feature alerts you if your baby’s room gets too hot or too cold (over 90 degrees Fahrenheit or below 55 degrees Fahrenheit).
The device includes preprogrammed polyphonic lullabies, so you can choose to play a song to soothe your little one to sleep. Run by a lithium-ion battery, the device runs for up to eight hours on eco mode (the screen on the parent unit goes into sleep mode unless it detects any activity from the baby unit). The range is up to 960 feet.
VTech Safe & Sound Digital Audio Monitor
While some modern baby monitors come with digital screens, you may decide that you don’t really need all of those bells and whistles. If you’re looking for an affordable, reliable audio-only baby monitor, you can’t get much better than the VTech Safe & Sound Digital Audio Monitor.
That isn’t to say that VTech’s monitor doesn’t come with some useful features. With a range of up to 1,000 feet and 18 hours of battery life, rest assured that you can freely use this device throughout your home without having to worry about losing contact with your little one. This baby monitor also features two-way communication — giving you the ability to talk to your child even when you aren’t in the room — and a five-level sound indicator that provides a visual depiction of the sound level in your child’s room. Heck, the unit even doubles as a night light. You can choose between one parent unit or two parent units at checkout.
Nanit Baby Monitor
For a few years, the biggest decision you had to make when choosing a baby monitor was whether you wanted an audio-only system or if you needed video. Well, what if you want more? What if you want a baby monitor that can track and analyze your child’s sleep patterns?
The Nanit camera and floor stand give you a bird’s-eye view of your baby’s crib, which you can view on your smartphone or tablet. The device also uses “computer vision” to tell if your baby is awake — even if they aren’t crying — and will send a notification to your phone.
The real reason to get a Nanit camera, however, is for Nanit Insights, a subscription service that provides features such as video history and sleep tracking. Our favorite feature of Nanit Insights is the nightly time-lapse. Since you likely don’t have the time to watch your baby sleep for hours on end, Nanit creates a time-lapse video encompassing the entire night, one you can watch in a couple of minutes. This makes for one of the most advanced systems available. You’ll have to pay an additional fee for Nanit Insights, but it’s well worth it.
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens
Most baby monitors outgrow their usefulness as your baby outgrows its crib. But not the Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor. This system comes bundled with a host of interchangeable lenses, which allows the camera to adapt to its environment. When your baby is spending most of their time in the crib, the close-up lens will give you an intimate view of your infant. As your child grows and starts moving around the room, you can upgrade to an optical panoramic lens to see all of your child’s activity. You can also add additional cameras to this system so you can monitor more than a single room.
In addition to the innovative lens options, the Infant Optics DXR-8 also has IR night vision, allowing for a clear picture via the 3.5-inch LCD when the lights are out. The system also features two-way communication, a 10-hour battery, and a temperature display. The monitor also works in audio-only mode and features sound-activated LEDs, so you can always tell the noise level in your baby’s room.
