Keep an eye on your baby and make sure they're safe & sound with these top picks.
By: Tali Ditye, Ph.D., Co-founderMommyhood101 independently tests and curates baby gear to help you make informed decisions. If you buy products through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Baby monitors offer the ability to see and hear your baby clearly during day and night, from near and far, and with bonus smart features like wifi and smartphone connectivity.
If we made our own baby monitor, here is what it would look like:
✔️ High definition video.
✔️ Large (5" plus) display.
✔️ Smartphone streaming.
✔️ Remote zoom & pan.
✔️ Two-way intercom.
✔️ Wide angle lens.
✔️ Multiple cameras.
✔️ Split-screen viewing.
✔️ Temperature monitoring.
✔️ Noise alerts.
✔️ Breathing alerts.
✔️ Movement alerts.
✔️ Long-range transmission.
✔️ Encrypted transmission.
✔️ Works in a power outage.
✔️ Works an internet outage.
✔️ High battery capacity.
✔️ Easy installation
✔️ Multiple mounting options.
Of course, you also want the product to be reasonably priced, fit your nursery decor, and be durable and reliable. That's a lot to ask for, and very few models meet the needs of picky parents!
Full disclosure: Some of these baby monitors, including the Nanit, VAVA, Miku, Cubo, Owlet, Lollipop, and Safety 1st models, were sent to us as free test samples by the manufacturer.
We've personally tested over 100 different baby monitors and we've found some great options! Here are the top five models we've tested, followed by reviews of about a dozen different options.
The Top 5 Best Baby Monitors of 2026
| ★★★★★★★★★★ (10/10) | Our favorite WiFi baby monitor with HD video, temperature and humidity tracking, sleep analysis, and breathing monitoring. Includes a mobile app for streaming, two-way talk, nightlight, and motion/sound alerts. Multiple mounting options including wall, stand, and portable base. | CHECK PRICES | READ FULL REVIEW | |
| ★★★★★★★★★★ (10/10) | Our second-favorite (runner-up) AI-powered baby monitor with 2.5K QHD resolution, face-covering and rollover alerts, and real-time cry detection. Includes temperature and humidity monitoring, two-way audio, and automatic photo capture. Works with WiFi and offers split-screen support for multiple cameras. | CHECK PRICES | READ FULL REVIEW | |
| ★★★★★★★★★★ (10/10) | Our favorite non-WiFi baby monitor with a 5-inch HD display, interchangeable lens system, and active noise reduction. Features remote pan/tilt/zoom, nursery temperature monitoring, and expandable multi-camera support. Secure FHSS transmission ensures privacy and zero WiFi hacking risks. | CHECK PRICES | READ FULL REVIEW | |
| ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9.5/10) | WiFi baby monitor with breathing and movement tracking, no wearables required. Features HD video, temperature and humidity sensors, two-way talk, and sleep tracking. Secure local processing ensures data privacy with no cloud subscription required. | CHECK PRICES | READ FULL REVIEW | |
| ★★★★★★★★★☆ (9.5/10) | Affordable non-WiFi baby monitor with 1000-foot range, two-way talk, and remote zoom. Long-lasting battery up to 19 hours with screen on, 29 hours in audio-only mode. Secure FHSS transmission ensures no internet connection is needed. | CHECK PRICES | READ FULL REVIEW |
For new parents, a good baby monitor will give you peace of mind that your little one is safe and sound during naps and overnight. It will also give you a bit more flexibility, allowing you to go to different floors of the house, out on the deck, or in the backyard without worrying that you won't hear a wake-up or cry for help from the nursery. Some will stream to your mobile device, while others have a parent unit; and some models can do both!
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a high-quality baby monitor can give parents much-needed peace of mind while they move freely about the home. In some cases, smart baby monitors that include breathing or movement monitoring can also help "alert caregivers to signs of respiratory distress" that might be associated with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and help parents follow safe sleep practices.
In-Depth Reviews of the Best Baby Monitors
1. Nanit PRO Baby Monitor.
The Nanit Pro is the best baby monitor of the year, building upon Nanit's immensely popular Nanit Plus to provide some extra features including full high definition (HD) resolution at 1920 x 1080, a soft nightlight positioned atop the camera, higher quality night vision, and new buttons and status indicators. Outside of that, both the Nanit Plus and Pro will use the same smartphone app, Nanit Insights smart features, and have compatibility with the same suite of Nanit's famous breathing wear. We got our hands on the new Nanit Pro last year for hands-on testing (thanks for the samples, Nanit!), and you can read our full Nanit Pro review here. Suffice it to say, we loved the new Nanit Pro and it performed amazingly well in our testing! We think it is definitely the best baby monitor with wifi and smartphone integration, for several reasons. First, we love the versatility available for mounting the Nanit: you can choose between a wall mount, floor stand (no drilling holes in your wall!), or a multi-stand that can be positioned on any nearby furniture or shelf. Second, when you purchase the Nanit, it includes everything you need to get up and running: the essential hardware (mounting screws, a little bubble level, cord covers), excellent instructions, and a free one-year subscription to Nanit Insights (for tracking sleep patterns and growth, and storing videos). Third, the features are truly amazing: to summarize a few awesome ones, it includes nursery temperature and humidity monitoring, remote zoom, two-way talk, nature and white noise sounds, movement and sound alerts, and it can be paired with up to 5 cameras!
In our testing, not only did we install and try out the Nanit Pro camera, but we also tested their awesome line of breathing wear. The Nanit Pro includes a small breathing band (like a Velcro swaddler) that you can wrap around your baby's tummy to monitor the rise and fall of their breathing. You can also get sleep blankets, swaddles, and pajamas that use the same array of shapes to make breathing monitoring possible. We love this feature, and think it's a must-have for any (even slightly) anxious parent! If the camera doesn't detect breathing, it issues a red alert which will sound an alarm on your phone and on the camera itself (just in case your phone battery has died, or has somehow disconnected from streaming). It worked perfectly, and we love the peace of mind offered by Nanit's new technology. Speaking of new tech, they also have Smart Sheets that can monitor your baby's growth over time. The new applications of machine vision offered by Nanit are truly excellent, and we applaud their innovation! Overall, everything was easy to set up and worked perfectly in our tests. Streaming was fast over wifi and cellular networks, the app was stable and reliable, and the image quality was excellent in both daylight and darkness. We only found a few very minor cons: the growth monitoring accuracy could be improved, and the Nanit Insights subscription becomes pay-to-play after the free year has lapsed. Not huge deals but worth mentioning! Who else loves the Nanit Pro? Our friends at Babygearlab, Babylist, WhatToExpect, and The Bump. Interested? you can get the Nanit Pro Baby Monitor here!
2. CuboAi Smart Baby Monitor 3.
We got our hands on the newest version of this baby monitor (3rd generation!) early this year and were very impressed with its features, versatility, connectivity, style, and video quality. Relative to the outgoing CuboAi Plus baby monitor (click to see our review), the newer 3rd generation has higher resolution video (2.5K QHD, or 2560 x 1440) and three days (72 hours) of continuous playback for easy review. It also has true AI-based cry detection, cough detection, covered face detection (e.g., covered by a blanket), danger zone alerts, two-way audio intercom, automatic and manual photo capture, nursery temperature and humidity monitoring (with alerts), and rollover alerts, and compatibility with multiple cameras. It comes in two versions: one with a tall floor stand, and the other with a wall mount stand. Both also include a small mobile stand that can be placed on a nearby surface. Optional accessories include a sleep sensor pad for monitoring breathing and a smart temp body temperature sensor. We tested the sleep sensor pad, but not the smart temp sensor.
In our testing, the packaging, device, and accessories were all very high quality. The new and improved CuboAi app is easy to install on Android (Android 12+) and iPhone (iOS 14+). It takes about 2 minutes to activate an account and begin streaming through a mobile device. Once you start streaming, features abound: nearly everything is customizable through the app, including temperature alert range, humidity alert range, cry alert sensitivity, clear night vision, night-light activation, the status light on/off, roll-over alerts, danger zone definitions, and more. When we tested the device, we used WiFi, 5G, and 4G LTE connections. In all cases, video quality was excellent and latency was minimal. The app interface is very intuitive, and it includes the ability to drag a cursor to go back in time for three days to see what happened at any time of the night. The temperature and humidity sensors were accurate, the two-way intercom had high-quality sound, and all the alerts worked reliably without false alarms. The sleep sensor pad (sold separately) worked well in our testing. It goes under the crib mattress and detects the rise and fall of your baby's chest during breathing with surprisingly high accuracy and sensitivity to anomalies. The only small drawback we found during testing is the somewhat wobbly floor stand; they do provide straps to attach to nearby furniture (crib, changing table, etc), which is helpful. Overall, we think the CuboAi 3 baby monitor is a fantastic option with great features, reliability, and a sleek and adorable design that is unparalleled in the market. Price? About $199-299 depending upon which stand you choose, putting it in a competitive position relative to the other top-rated wifi baby monitors on this list. Interested? You can check out the new CuboAi Gen 3 Baby Monitor here.
3. Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO.
The Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO is the best non-WiFi baby monitor of the year, and one of the most popular models of all time. It has been sitting pretty at the top of this list for the past two years, and for great reasons! Along with a great feature list at a reasonable price, it also has the best reliability we've seen in a baby monitor. To be fair, the original DXR-8 was getting a bit dated, with its relatively small 3.5" screen and a lack of advanced features. We are happy to report that Infant Optics leveled up and released the DXR-8 PRO with a huge 5" high-definition (720p) display, active noise reduction, higher zoom levels, multi-camera support, and customizable alert brightness and volume. We got our hands on it for testing and, don't tell the old DXR-8, we think we have a new favorite! In our testing, the DXR-8 PRO's screen brightness and color quality were fantastic, as were the day and night vision video quality. The large 5" monitor is complemented by a higher capacity battery, coming in at 2800mAh versus the original 1200mAh, which helped us achieve a battery life of around 6 hours with the screen on the highest brightness setting. Infant Optics does sell a portable power bank for the DXR-8 PRO that can extend battery life up to 24 hours; of course, if you have a nearby wall outlet, you can just plug it in and not worry about it. Speaking of the battery, it's replaceable! The audio is very high quality, and the two-way talk intercom lets you talk or sing to your baby without getting out of bed. The awesome new active noise reduction lets you filter out continuous background noise, such as a fan or humidifier. In our tests, this worked impressively well with a box fan, humidifier, and a Hatch Baby Rest sound machine. For more details, see our full Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO review here!
The signal reception and range were impressive, allowing us to venture into the yard or basement without connectivity issues or alerts. For relatively basic features, the DXR-8 PRO has a remotely adjustable pan/tilt/zoom camera, a two-way audio intercom system, a nursery temperature monitor, standby mode with audio only (screen off), and encrypted wireless communication. An additional zoom lens is included just in case your mounting situation is relatively far from the crib, and a wide-angle lens is available for purchase separately. The DXR-8 PRO video baby monitor is expandable to up to 4 cameras to place in various locations in your home, and you just press a button on the receiver to toggle between the various camera locations (you can also have it automatically cycle through them). The menu is very user-friendly and it's easy to take advantage of all the advanced functions. The DXR-8 PRO is typically about $199. We think this baby monitor will very likely last you for many years, so that seems like a very reasonable price. Overall, you can't go wrong with the DXR-8 PRO, and we think it is the best all-in-one baby monitor on the market! Who else thinks the DXR-8 is among the best? Our friends at Babylist, Babygearlab, The Wirecutter, and WhatToExpect. Impressed? You can check out the DXR-8 PRO here.
4. Miku Smart Baby Monitor.
Looking for the versatility of a wifi baby monitor with the peace of mind of a baby breathing monitor? This might be the perfect option! The Miku packs some serious features, quality, reliability, and speed. Out of the box, the Miku includes everything you need to easily place the camera on a dresser or other furniture, or mount it to the wall. For the wall mount (which is required if you want to use the baby breathing monitor capability), it includes an easy-to-use wall attachment, screws and anchors, and a screwdriver and measuring tape. It also includes six cable guides that help hide the wire and keep it out of your baby's reach. The power cord is nice and long so you can basically mount it anywhere in the room, and there is a handy little bubble level included on the wall attachment to help you get a proper mounting angle. Once we got it mounted to the wall using the very intuitive instructions, we were off to the races! Simply download and install the free Miku app on your Apple device or from the Google Play store, and plug in and turn on the Miku camera. Start up the Miku app and you'll be guided through a few easy steps to get the camera connected to your wifi and start streaming on your mobile device. We tested the streaming on our home wifi and out of the house on a 4G connection, and both worked really well. The 4G connection made for a slightly lower quality and higher latency video stream, but definitely on par with the other wifi monitors on our list. The video was crisp and clear (up to 1080p HD), and the night vision worked very well.
The Miku uses machine vision to interpret the rise and fall of your baby's belly, which will alert you if it no longer detects expected movement (note that it is NOT a replacement for any breathing or pulse monitor your doctor may recommend). It also monitors the temperature and humidity levels of the nursery, has a high-quality two-way talk, sleep tracking (with some saved videos and activity logs you can review), and sounds and lullabies. You can stream the secure encrypted (256-bit) video on more than one device simultaneously. You can also set up more than one Miku camera on your app, but you cannot view more than one camera at a time (which is normal for most baby monitors). In our testing, we didn't experience any issues with lag, poor video quality, connectivity, or anything else. If your internet does go down but your home wifi network is still working, you will still be able to stream video locally on your wifi network. To be honest, everything worked really well! The speaker was really high quality for the two-way talk and lullabies, the nursery temperature monitor was one of the best overall - both accurate and responsive, the breathing and movement detectors worked really well (as did the sleep tracking), and the app interface was intuitive and easy to use. One great feature relative to the Nanit is that all of the sleep tracking capabilities are subscription-free, which means you won't have to pay for features once a trial period ends. We love that! The only drawbacks with the Miku are no remote zoom or pan/tilt function, and the price is really steep. Compared to other wifi baby monitors with similar feature lists, like the Nanit, it is about $100 more, but that might be worth it if you want the peace of mind of an integrated breathing monitor that doesn't require any special swaddlers or clothing. Our friends at WhatToExpect also think the Miku is one of the best of the year! Impressed? You can check out the Miku Smart Baby Monitor camera here.
5. VTech VM819 Baby Monitor.
Looking for a solid baby monitor without spending a fortune? The VTech VM819 is one of the best budget-friendly options we’ve tested, usually priced around $60 while still offering an impressive feature set. You get excellent battery life, up to a 1000-foot range, clear daytime and night vision video, two-way talk, a nursery temperature sensor, built-in lullabies and ambient sounds, remote zoom, sleep mode, and helpful sound and screen alerts. That’s a lot of functionality for a monitor at this price point.
In our hands-on testing, several things stood out. First, the setup and interface are refreshingly simple: the buttons are intuitive and the menu is easy to navigate, which matters when you're fumbling with it at 2 a.m. Second, both the parent unit and camera are compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry and position in the nursery. Third, the video quality was surprisingly good both day and night. While the 2.8" screen is small, the brightness, contrast, and clarity made it easy to see what was going on in the crib. Reception was also reliable, using a 2.4GHz FHSS connection that helps reduce interference and improves security. Battery life was especially impressive. The parent unit lasted up to 19 hours with the screen on (about 17.5 hours in our testing), and nearly 29 hours with the screen off. That's among the longest battery performance we’ve seen from a dedicated baby monitor!
Of course, at this price you do give up a couple of features. The most obvious is the small screen. That said, most parents keep the monitor in audio mode most of the time and only glance at the video occasionally, and for that purpose, we think the display works just fine. The second limitation is that the camera does not support remote pan or tilt. You’ll want to position it carefully so all corners of the crib stay in view. If remote movement is important to you, VTech offers a similar model with that feature for only about $10 more, you can see the VTech VM923 here. Overall, we think those trade-offs are reasonable given the price. With dependable performance, outstanding battery life, and a straightforward design, the VM819 remains one of the best options for parents who want a reliable video monitor without overspending. The VTech VM819 is usually available for about $60, and you can check out the VM819 baby monitor here.
6. Motorola PIP1710 CONNECT WiFi Baby Monitor.
Looking for a premium baby monitor that blends traditional reliability with modern smart features? The Motorola PIP1710 Connect is one of the most advanced hybrid monitors we’ve tested, combining a dedicated 5" touchscreen parent unit with Wi-Fi smartphone viewing through the Motorola Nursery app. This means you can monitor your baby securely at home using the direct FHSS connection, or check in remotely from anywhere on your phone. We love this flexibility! You also get a motorized pan/tilt/zoom camera, clear HD video day and night, two-way talk, temperature monitoring, lullabies and soothing sounds, and customizable alerts.
In our testing, several features really stood out. First, the hybrid design is a major advantage. Unlike Wi-Fi-only monitors, the PIP1710 gives you a reliable in-home connection that doesn’t depend on internet stability, while still allowing remote viewing when needed. Second, the 5" touchscreen parent unit feels more modern than most traditional monitors, with a bright display and intuitive navigation that makes nighttime checks quick and easy. Video quality was strong both during the day and in night vision mode, and the motorized camera makes it easy to quietly reposition the view without entering the nursery. The standout feature, though, is Motorola’s BeyondCry technology. This AI-based system doesn’t just detect crying, it attempts to interpret patterns and provide insights about why your baby may be upset, such as hunger, discomfort, or fatigue. While no monitor can replace parental intuition, this feature can be helpful for new parents who want additional feedback or reassurance. Alerts are sent to both the parent unit and the app, and you can adjust notification sensitivity depending on your preferences. In our testing, this feature worked really well. Turns out our test baby was typically either hungry or sleepy, and the Motorola was correct nearly every time! Of course, this is a premium monitor, so it costs more than basic models, and battery life on the parent unit is more typical than exceptional. But if you want a monitor that combines the security of a dedicated screen with the flexibility of smartphone access, plus newer smart features like BeyondCry insights, we think the PIP1710 Connect is an awesome option. Usually available in the mid-to-upper price range, about $230, you can check out the Motorola PIP1710 here.
7. Owlet Dream Duo Smart Sock + Baby Monitor.
The Owlet Dream Duo (Gen 3) is a premium baby monitor that goes beyond video and actually tracks your baby’s sleep and vitals! One of the most advanced smart monitoring systems we’ve tested, the Dream Duo pairs Owlet’s wearable Dream Sock with a 2K HD nursery camera to provide a full picture of your baby’s wellbeing. Instead of relying only on sound or motion alerts, the Dream Duo adds real-time measures of pulse rate, oxygen level, and sleep trend tracking through the Owlet Dream app. You also get crisp HD video with night vision, two-way audio, room temperature and humidity tracking, and smartphone alerts, all designed to give parents more information and reassurance throughout the night.
In our hands-on testing, several features really stood out. First, the Dream Sock is surprisingly lightweight and soft, and once properly adjusted, it stayed securely in place during naps and overnight sleep. The setup process is straightforward: pair the base station, connect the camera to Wi-Fi, and the app walks you through fitting the sock correctly. When everything is positioned well, readings update continuously, and the app provides an easy-to-read dashboard showing live pulse rate, oxygen level, and sleep state. We especially liked how the base station provides visual and audio alerts locally, so you’re not relying only on your phone notifications. This adds a layer of reassurance that many Wi-Fi-only monitors don’t provide. Video quality from the Dream Sight camera was strong in both daytime and night vision, with a wide viewing angle that covers most cribs without needing constant repositioning.
The biggest difference compared to traditional monitors is the level of insight the Owlet system provides. Instead of just telling you that your baby is moving or crying, it helps you understand sleep patterns and gives immediate alerts if pulse or oxygen levels move outside preset zones. For many parents, especially first-time parents or those bringing home a NICU graduate, this extra data can be incredibly reassuring. The app also tracks sleep trends over time, which can help identify patterns or changes in routine. Of course, this is a premium system, so it costs more than most monitors, typically around the $300 range, and it relies on proper sock fit and Wi-Fi connectivity to work best. But if you want a monitor that combines HD video with real FDA-cleared physiological monitoring and sleep insights, the Dream Duo is one of the most comprehensive options available today. You can check out the Owlet Dream Duo here.
Don't think you need something so fancy? Check out our reviews of audio-only baby monitors!
Want more information about what features you should be looking for in a baby monitor? Check out our ultimate baby monitor buying guide!
Additional Options
While we do not strongly recommend any of these options, some of them can be great budget picks for parents looking for specific features like movement monitoring, compatibility with an existing system, or a relatively good price.
The following baby monitor options are in no particular order, but if you click on them, it will take you to our full review:
Motorola Halo+ review
Annke review
Lollipop review
VAVA review
HelloBaby review
Babysense review
Panasonic review
Discontinued Models:
Cocoon Cam (WiFi with breathing monitor). The Cocoon Cam baby monitor was discontinued, along with its streaming services and support, as of early last year.
Arlo Baby (WiFi). The original Arlo baby monitor was discontinued a few years ago, though Arlo does appear to be transitioning to a new product. The sales team at Arlo says "there are no updates as we speak" and "we don't have any update on whether there will be a new kind." If another Arlo baby monitor gets released, we'll get our hands on it and review it. For now, you can still get the Arlo Baby monitor in various formats (like with special stands) at Amazon.
Philips AVENT DECT. The Philips AVENT SED630 was on our list for a few years but was discontinued a couple of years ago. Philips DECT only sells audio baby monitors at this point.
Eufy Spaceview. The Eufy Spaceview was on our list for several years, but was discontinued and replaced by relatively inferior products.
