Hi friends! Ever since moving to Dallas 10 days ago, I have been in full nesting mode –  it feels so good to have the move behind us and finally be able to have a home for all baby’s things!

One of the items I haven’t checked off my list though is a baby monitor. There are so many options – each with so many reviews opinions – that it can be overwhelming to choose one! Based on my research, it seems there’s no *true* winner out there. Each one has it’s own pros and cons.

I decided to reach out to all of you for your recommendations with a question box on stories and you guys did not disappoint! I was so thankful!

Based on your responses, there are a few common themes. The first debated subject is if the monitor should be connected to wifi. A monitor that connects to wifi is reliant on the internet working. The coverage can be spotty at times. A wifi-connected monitor also runs the risk of getting hacked. Others said they love the wifi option because they can check on baby when they’re out of the house. This is a personal choice – so based on whats most important to you, you can look at the wifi list or the non-wifi list.

Many of you also had thoughts on if the “extra stuff” like room temperature, breathing monitoring, etc is important. Some of you believe it gives you peace of mind knowing that the monitor alerts you to any fluctuations in breathing, room temperatures, and sounds. On the flip side, many of you said that all the additional information actually increases your anxiety. The alarms go off sometimes when there is no need, creating more panic than needed. And the apps make you hyper-aware of everything going on with your baby, which encouraged some of you to overthink and over-worry. Every mom knows what is best for her and her baby. Therefore, as I list out positives and negatives for each monitor, please know that these are opinions and can be subjective. But even still, I just felt like y’all gave me way too much valuable information not to share!

So lets get to it! I’m sharing all of your thoughts and recommendations about baby monitors. I’ve listed out the most popular monitors along with each monitor’s strengths and weaknesses (according to this community).

WIFI MONITORS

Nanit

Price: $249

Monitor or App: App

Purchase Here: Nanit

Strengths:

• Family members and babysitters can watch & join.
• Measures the room temperature and humidity.
• The sleep tracker helps with sleep training.
• 30 days of video storage.
• You can buy a sleep sack that will monitor your baby’s movements and breathing.
• It’s easy to travel with.

Weaknesses:

• You have to use your phone constantly because you have to have the app open on your phone to monitor the baby. A few people have suggested to purchase an iPad to download the app onto. Then your phone is free to use.
• Size up on the sleep sacks for the breathing technology. They run small.
• Customer service is poor.
• The Nanit original does not have two-way communication. The Nanit plus does.
• You can’t rotate the camera’s orientation.

Owlet

Price: $149-$399 (Sock & Camera)

Monitor or App: App

Purchase Here: Owlet

Strengths:

• Family members and babysitters can watch & join.
• It can monitor your baby’s heart rate and oxygen levels.
• It can be purchased with your HSA.
• It measures the room temperature.
• The wifi is encrypted.
• It has great picture quality.

Weaknesses:

• It occasionally gives false alarms.
• Does not give alerts for voice or movement.
• It is recommended to buy both the sock and the camera if you opt for the Owlet.

Nest

Price: $129-$299

Monitor or App: App

Purchase Here: Nest

Strengths:

• You can check in on the baby while you are out of the house.
• You can review the last 24 hours recorded.
• It has great camera and sound quality.

Weaknesses:

• You can’t hear the baby unless the app is open.
• Must subscribe to a plan if you want motion notifications.

Lollipop

Price: $149

Monitor or App: App

Purchase Here: Lollipop

Strengths:

• Easy to take when traveling.
• The monitor automatically starts recording when movement is detected.
• The monitor can play white noise.
• It has two different night-vision settings – making it easy to check on baby throughout the night.
• It has 7 days of recording for free (no subscription needed).
• The monitor can detect the difference between a baby cry and noises the baby makes while sleeping.

Weaknesses:

• Picture quality is good but not great.
• If you want to measure room temperature, humidity and air quality, you have to buy an extra sensor that takes up an extra outlet ($55).

Motorola MPB

Price: $129

Monitor or App: Monitor & App

Purchase Here: Motorola MPB

Strengths:

• It comes with both a monitor and an app.
• There is an option to have multiple cameras if you have more than one child.
• Monitors the room temperature.
• Good price.
• The camera can pan, zoom and tilt.

Weaknesses:

• The battery life is short.
• The two-way microphone is hard to use.

Miku

Price: $399

Monitor or App: App

Purchase Here: Miku

Strengths:

• The monitor tracks breathing patterns and movement without baby needing anything special to wear.
• The monitor measures room temperature and humidity.
• It has great camera quality.
• Free 30-day video storage.
• It is wifi connected and has a bluetooth radio. Therefore, it will continue to send alerts even if you’re internet disconnects.
• The monitor has a white noise feature built into the monitor.

Weaknesses:

• One of the most expensive monitors on the market.
• The monitor alerts sound like a normal phone alert. It’s hard to differentiate a monitor alert from a text message.
• The microphone is ultra-sensitive. Therefore, you hear the white noise or a fan in the background while the monitor is on.

MONITORS THAT DONT CONNECT TO WIFI

Vava

Price:$159.99

Monitor or App: Monitor

Purchase Here: Vava

Strengths:

• It has great picture quality.
• It does not have wifi – therefore, it cannot be hacked. You also don’t have to rely on the internet for it to function.
• The camera can tilt, pan and zoom in.
• It has the ability to connect up to four cameras to one monitor. This function is great if you have multiple kids.
• It has a long battery life.

Weaknesses:

• The volume on the monitor is not loud – even at it’s loudest setting.
• There is no cloud-based recording or storage. It only has a live feed.

Infant Optics DXR-8

Price: $165.99

Monitor or App: Monitor

Purchase Here: Infant Optics DXR-8

Strengths:

• The monitor has all of the functionalities you need without any of the fluff.
• It is easy to travel with.
• It has a backup battery and good battery life.
• The camera pans and tilts.
• You can connect up to four cameras to one monitor.

Weaknesses:

• The camera quality is poor.
• The signal is weak in homes with thick walls.
• You have to buy the zoom lens to have the zoom functionality.

Eufy

Price: $159.99

Monitor or App: Monitor

Purchase Here: Eufy

Strengths:

• You can adjust the camera view from the screen.
• There is an alarm for any loud noises.
• The monitor shows the time and room temperature.
• You can carry the monitor throughout your house without losing connection.
• Its easy to travel with.
• The monitor has a large viewing screen.

Weaknesses:

• It doesn’t have great picture quality.
• It has poor sound quality.