Tool Reviews

A baby monitor is an electronic device for monitoring an infant who is out of sight of parents or other adults caring for the child.

Device and principle of operation

It is a system of two blocks, similar to a walkie-talkie:

• Children’s – is installed near the baby’s bed.
• Parental – in the area where adults are located.

Visually, the devices differ in design – a baby is usually drawn on a children’s one.

Depending on the model, the package includes:

• battery charger;
• electrical adapter;
• 2 coasters;
• monitor (for models with a camera);
• a clip for fixing on a waist belt or a lace for wearing around the neck.

Purpose and functions

Modern baby monitors according to their purpose are divided into:

• nurseries for monitoring one child;
• children’s for twins (three, four kids);
• for the elderly;
• for adults and children with hearing impairment;
• for children with impaired respiratory function (control the respiratory process);
• for dogs and other pets.

By design:

• wireless;
• on batteries;
• with vibration;
• with a large radius of action;
• with a video camera.

By type of signal transmission:

• digital;
• analog.

By type of connection:

• with one-way communication;
• with two way communication.

In high-quality models, a digital signal is installed, which, when extraneous interference appears, automatically changes the frequency, transmitting a perfectly clear sound.

By type of food:

• from batteries;
• from batteries.

In almost all models, the baby transmitter is powered by 4 replaceable AAA batteries, the receiver is powered by 1 or 2 batteries recharged from the base.

Main functions:

• continuous monitoring of the child during the day;
• two-way communication;
• temperature control;
• indication of noise level, signal loss, battery charge;
• control of the degree of wetting of the diaper (models with a touch sensor);
• night light function;
• timer;
• lullaby polyphonic melodies;
• backlit electronic display.

How to choose a baby monitor

Before buying a baby monitor, you need to determine:

• the purpose of the device (to control a child, an elderly person, an animal);
• device type – radio or video baby monitor;
• whether additional functions are needed, which ones;
• duration of operation of the device before recharging the battery;
• the amount to be spent on the device.

Important parameters:

• radius of action indoors – 50-100 m;
• coverage radius in open space – 250-400 m;
• number of reception channels (for wireless) – 2;
• camera viewing angle (for baby monitors) – up to 360°;

Secondary options:

• display type;
• sound level control;
• timer;
• night light function;
• thermometer to control the temperature in the child’s room;
• the presence of lullabies.

The best wireless baby monitors

Rating:

• Switel BCE27 (2 channels, Switzerland);
• Babymoov Babyphone Limited (2 channels, France);
• Maman FD-DBM01 (2 channels, China).

It is essentially a walkie-talkie consisting of a receiver and transmitter operating on radio waves of high frequency (FM).

There are two types of construction:

• baby monitors – communication in audio format;
• baby monitors – communication in video format.

The baby monitor kit includes:

• receiver and transmitter;
• 2 coasters;
• clip for attaching to the waist belt.

Some models additionally have:

• mounting hole at the transmitter for placement on the wall;
• night light on a children’s transmitter;
• system for playing lullabies on the baby unit.

Video baby monitor includes:

• camera;
• monitor receiver;
• two batteries;
• 2 stands (one magnetic for the camera, provides 360° rotation of the camera);
• camera and receiver power systems;
• headphones for the receiver.

When noise occurs, the receiver and nightlight automatically turn on.

Main characteristics:

• number of channels – 2;
• indoor signal coverage radius – 30-50 m;
• coverage radius in free space – 250-400 m;
• adjustable signal volume;
• light indicators;
• power – replaceable batteries or accumulator;
• adjust the sensitivity when noise occurs.

Pros:

• affordable price of baby monitors;
• control over the baby without the need for personal presence near him;
• release of free time;
• operation from batteries and network (network adapter).

Minuses:

• small coverage radius in a closed space;
• high price of baby monitors;
• the occurrence of interference in some types of baby monitors (with an analog signal).

The best baby monitors for dogs

Rating:

• petbot (Canada);
• Petcube Interactive Wi-Fi Streaming Pet Camera (UK).

Helps the owner to observe the animal, being in remote access. Provides the relationship of the owner with the dog via the Internet. The device includes:

• widescreen camera (in the form of a cube, parallelepiped or other);
• microphone.

Additional functions:

• Feeding pets with the built-in dispenser.
• Recognize sounds and send an alarm to the owner.
• Built-in games. Some models have a built-in laser pointer that reflects on the floor in the form of a red spot.

Using Wi-Fi, the camcorder connects to a smartphone, allowing you to watch an animal from a distance.

Pros:

• makes life easier for pet owners;
• provides continuous monitoring of the dog’s behavior.

Minuses:

• high price;
• limited edition.

The best baby monitors for the elderly

Rating:

• Motorola MFV700 (digital with infrared LEDs for shooting in the dark, USA-Taiwan);
• Goscam 830E (digital video baby monitor, Hong Kong);
• Philips AVENT SCD 610/00 (video baby monitor with breathing monitor, the Netherlands).

To control the elderly, the same baby monitors are used as to control the baby. If there is a bedridden patient in the house, then a transmitter is attached to his bed or near it, and the receiver is next to the person caring for him.

By design, baby monitors for the elderly can be:

• wireless;
• digital with monitor and video camera.

Main characteristics:

• indoor coverage radius – 30-60 m (for digital models – up to 100 m);
• night vision radius for baby monitors (in complete darkness) – 5-7 m;
• battery life is 5-6 hours.

As additional features for the elderly are important:

• function of automatic inclusion of a night light;
• respiratory function monitor;
• observation in complete darkness;
• vibration mechanism for people with hearing loss.

Especially effective are digital baby monitors that allow you to watch a seriously ill elderly person through an LCD screen.

Pros:

• constant monitoring of an elderly person without a round-the-clock stay with him;
• the possibility of quick assistance in case of emergency;
• image acquisition even in the dark.

Minuses:

• high price;
• limited range.

The best battery powered baby monitors

Rating:

• Ramilli Baby RA400 (with vibration signal, UK);
• EvenFlo (USA);
• Maman FD-D601 (China);
• Snuza Duo (with breath monitor, South Africa).

Differs in the presence of two batteries, consists of:

• transmitter – baby unit;
• receiver – parent unit with a light indicator of battery charge;
• 2 stands for radios;
• 2 power supplies;
• 2 bases for recharging batteries.

Main characteristics:

• number of channels – 2 (to minimize interference);
• indoor radio coverage – 30-100 m;
• battery life before recharging – 5-6 hours.

Additional features may include:

• night light;
• thermometer for measuring temperature in the children’s room;
• a system for playing lullabies or children’s songs and melodies;
• function of connecting to the telephone network (when the sound is fixed, a call comes to the telephone number);
• replacing sound with a light signal;
• vibration signal;
• efficient power consumption mode;
• breathing monitor;
• high humidity alarm function.

Pros:

• affordable price;
• a large number of additional functions;
• continuous work without recharging up to 5-6 hours.

Minuses:

• the need for periodic charging of batteries;
• for many models, only parent units are equipped with batteries, while children’s units run on replaceable batteries;
• hearing deteriorates over time.

The best baby monitors with a breath sensor

Rating:

• Babysense II (Israel);
• Snuza Duo (South Africa-China);
• Ramili Baby (China);
• Angelcare FC701 (China).

Allows you to control the breathing of a child or an elderly person at a remote distance.

The design includes:

• receiver (in the parents’ room or at their location);
• transmitter (in the room of a child or a sick person);
• breath sensor;
• battery for the parent unit;
• battery charger;
• 4 batteries for the baby unit;
• food of the children’s block from a network of 220 V.

Characteristics:

• radio coverage in an enclosed space – up to 50 m;
• radio coverage in open space – up to 300 m;
• frequency – 1.8-1.9 Hz;
• sound signal power – 85 dB;
• the delay time of the sound signal is 15-20 seconds after breathing has stopped.

Operating principle:

• the breath sensor is attached to the baby’s diaper or under the diaper;
• if breathing stops for more than 15 seconds or the rhythm of breathing changes (less than 10 times or more than 60 times per minute), it starts to vibrate;
• if breathing is not restored after vibration, an audible alarm signal is sent to the receiver in the adult room;
• the indicator on the parent unit’s monitor lights up momentarily.

Additional functions:

• night light with a projector;
• lullaby melodies;
• vibration signal;
• automatic activation of the screen of the parent unit after the sound signal of the baby unit;
• indication in case of signal loss on the parent unit;
• thermometer.

Pros:

• safety for the health of the baby;
• constant monitoring of the baby’s breathing in the first year of life;
• instant help to the baby when breathing stops or changes in its frequency;
• the opportunity to do your own thing;
• restful night sleep of parents.

Minuses:

• limited edition;
• rather high price;
• limited range.

The best baby monitors with vibration for the deaf

Rating:

• Reer (Germany);
• baby ono (Poland);
• Lulu 3.0 (Russia).

Designed for deaf or hard of hearing parents.

Consists of:

• transmitting (children’s) unit;
• receiving (adult) unit with fastening on the belt;
• power supply for the baby unit;
• receiving unit charger;
• receiver battery.

Characteristics:

• signal coverage radius in open areas – up to 600 m;
• number of reception channels – 2;
• channel coding parameters – up to 8;
• number of sensitivity levels – 3-4;
• noise level indication.

Operating principle:

• the baby unit is installed near the baby’s crib;
• an adult, made using the “pager” technology, is attached to the belt of an adult;
• after the slightest movement appears when the baby wakes up or cries, an audible signal is sent to the receiving device;
• when a signal is received, the receiving unit starts to vibrate.

Pros:

• the ability to control the child for deaf people;
• safety for the health of the baby;
• use by healthy parents during repairs or other noisy work in the house;
• the possibility of a good rest for parents with a hearing impairment.

Minuses:

• limited range;
• rather high price.

The best digital baby monitors

Rating:

• Motorola MBP-11 (USA-China);
• Philips Avent SCD505 (Netherlands);
• Miniland Digital Advanced (Spain).
• Sweetel BCE-27 (Switzerland).

The most interference-free option, which uses DEST digital audio transmission technology. Operates on frequencies that do not match Wi-Fi. The digital baby monitor finds a free frequency to work with and only transmits on that frequency.

The design includes:

• parent receiving device;
• baby transfer device;
• rechargeable batteries (2 pieces) of the parent device;
• Charger;
• power supply for the children’s block, powered by the network;
• replaceable batteries for the baby block (4 AAA batteries);
• clip for fixing on the waist belt.

Main characteristics:

• signal coverage radius in open space – up to 300 m;
• signal coverage radius indoors – up to 50 m;
• the operating time of a charged battery is 8-10 hours;
• sound signal indication;
• low battery indication on the receiving device;
• warning about the transmitter leaving the control zone.

The transmitters (baby units) of digital models are equipped with sensitive microphones that pick up the slightest sound, up to the sound of the wind outside the window.

Main functions:

• control of the awakening of the child;
• two-way communication with the child;
• volume control on the receiving unit;
• sound signal indicator;
• sound indicator of entry beyond the range.

Additional functions:

• night light on the children’s unit;
• a set of lullabies;
• an electronic thermometer on the transmitter to control the temperature in the nursery and transmit a signal to the receiver in case of a change;
• vibration signal;
• receiver search system;
• timer to control the hours of feeding, sleeping or taking medication;
• the possibility of fastening to the belt or hanging on the neck;
• menu on the parent unit.

Pros:

• perfect sound quality;
• absolute safety for the child;
• the child can sleep in his room from the first day;
• climate control in the baby’s room;
• the best option for a 2 or 3-storey building;
• complete confidentiality.

Minuses:

• high price;
• limited range;
• more appropriate for those living in a private house of a large area.

The best baby monitors for twins

Rating:

• Switel BCF900 Trio (3 chambers, Switzerland);
• Switel BCF900 Quadro (4 chambers, Switzerland);
• Miniland Digimonitor 3.5” Plus (2 cameras, Spain).

Designed for a family with two kids. By design, this can be:

• audio babysitter;
• baby monitor.

For audio surveillance, a conventional baby monitor of any type is used – wireless or digital, including:

• children’s and parental blocks;
• batteries for the parent unit;
• battery charger;
• 4 AAA alkyd batteries and a power adapter for the baby block;
• clip-clip for fastening on a belt.

The principle of operation is similar to a baby monitor for one child:

• the parent receiver is installed in the adult’s room or is attached to the belt or hangs around the neck;
• the baby unit is not attached to the crib of one child, but is placed between two cribs or in close proximity to them.
• when one of the babies wakes up, the signal is immediately transmitted to the parent receiver.

If it is initially decided that the children will sleep in different rooms, it is necessary to purchase two baby monitors.

The situation is simpler with video baby monitors. Almost all baby monitors are compatible with 3-4 video cameras.

The design of the baby monitor includes:

• video cameras (2-4);
• LCD monitor 2-7 inches (parent unit);
• battery for the parent unit;
• battery charger.

Characteristics:

• range of action in an enclosed space – up to 30-50 m;
• outdoor range – up to 150 m;
• IR night vision system (up to 4-6 m);
• camera viewing angle (up to 360 °, adjustable by turning the camera along the axis);
• automatic activation of the parent unit (screen and sound) when receiving a sound signal.

Additional functions:

• remote control of cameras;
• possibility of double magnification of the image;
• mounting video cameras on the wall;
• AV output for connecting to a TV;
• a night light controlled from a parental receiver or switched on automatically when a child cries;
• lullaby melodies, the choice of which is carried out from the parent unit;
• battery charge indication;
• interfaces on the monitor for watching video and listening to audio files.

Pros:

• round-the-clock supervision of children;
• high sound quality (100% interference-free);
• simplicity and ease of use;
• free movement around the house with a battery-powered unit;
• complete confidentiality.

Minuses:

• high price;
• the need to purchase an additional camera that is compatible with the system of the purchased baby monitor.

The best long range baby monitors

Rating:

• Switel BCC50 (analogue, radio coverage up to 2000 m, Switzerland);
• babymoov (analogue, 1000m, France);
• Ramili Baby (digital, 650m, China);
• Hartig + Helling MBF 1213 (digital, 400m, Germany).

Allows you to use it as a walkie-talkie in open space. It has the ability to select channels to control the room and separate channels to use it as a radio station.

According to the type of signal, the baby monitor can be:

• with digital;
• with analog signal.

The design includes:

• two blocks (parent and child);
• batteries and charger for the receiver;
• power supply system for the transmitter;
• clip for attaching to a waist belt or a cord for wearing around the neck.

Characteristics:

• communication range – 300-2000 m;
• two-way communication;
• instant activation when the baby cries;
• informative color display;
• operation of the children’s device from the mains or 4 AAA alkyd batteries;
• operation of the parent device from the network, batteries, 4 AAA batteries;
• the parent unit has a radio station function.

Additional functions:

• a night light controlled from a receiving device, or turned on automatically when a child cries;
• night light with a projector of colored stars, balls or other figures;
• selection of lullabies from the parent unit;
• indication of battery and batteries charging;
• adjusting the volume and sensitivity of the signal.

Pros:

• large range (can be used while walking with a baby);
• constant monitoring of the child without personal presence in his room;
• several communication channels (in digital models up to 100 and more).

Minus:

• high price.

The best baby monitors with a camera

Rating:

• Beurer (digital, Germany);
• Gynoii (digital, Taiwan);
• Motorola MBP36 (digital, USA-China);
• Switel BCF930 (digital, Switzerland).

It’s called a video monitor. Allows not only to listen to the child, but also to visually observe him in remote access. Some models with a Wi-Fi interface allow you to monitor your child from the screen of a smartphone or tablet.

The design includes:

• video camera – installed in the child’s room;
• monitor or receiver with LED screen – installed in the adult room or in the area where adults are located;
• monitor stand;
• camera stand (magnetic with 360° rotation);
• battery for the receiving device;
• battery charger;
• clip for wearing on a waist belt.

Characteristics:

• coverage radius – 150-250 m;
• camera rotation angle – up to 360°;
• monitor screen diagonal – 2.4-7 inches;
• battery life before recharging – 3-8 hours;
• infrared night vision.

Additional functions:

• automatic activation at the slightest sound (VOX);
• Wi-Fi for communication with a mobile phone;
• lullabies controlled from the parent unit;
• adjusting the brightness (contrast) of the image;
• volume control;
• audio recording and playback of audio recordings;
• a sound signal about crossing the line of the reception area;
• connection of additional cameras with simultaneous display of all 4 pictures (up to 4 pieces)
• temperature control in the nursery

Pros:

• constant visual control of the child from anywhere in the house;
• two-way communication;
• night vision mode;
• opportunity to talk to the child.

Minuses:

• high price;
• on many models, the function names are written in English.

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