Parents with newborns can often go paranoid thinking about the whereabouts and safety of their baby. So, here’s our list of the best audio baby monitors to help you choose the right one. A baby doesn’t mean that you will have to compromise on your personal life. You can enjoy doing things you like without the constant need to monitor them. An audio baby monitor helps you stay alert if your baby needs you. It helps you catch up on some much-needed shut-eye if you’re juggling between work and home commitments along with a baby. These baby monitors are available with various features like volume control, vibration, or silent mode options that are convenient to use. Some can make a note of your baby’s vitals. With various audio baby monitors available, choosing the right one can be challenging. So, explore our list to pick a monitor that can make life easier for you.
Benefits Of Audio Baby Monitors
Tracking baby’s rest and sleep
The audio monitor helps parents to know if their baby is restless, cooing to itself, or asleep. Babies should ideally sleep 12 to 14 hours a day and the monitor helps parents to keep track of their sleep pattern without actually entering the room and agitating them.
Sleep for parents
Once parents know that they can hear their baby cry on the monitor, it helps them sleep better with the assurance that they can attend to their baby whenever required. A rested parent will always do a better job of looking after their baby.
Safety
A baby monitor ensures that you can immediately hear when your baby bumps its head or takes a tumble. You can promptly attend to your baby when they are in any kind of distress. Some even monitor the vitals of your baby like heartbeat and breathing, and can alert you if your baby hasn’t moved for a long time.
Convenient
First of all, an audio monitor is extremely easy and convenient to set up. Secondly, even though you might not be visible to your baby, you can hear them at all times, so you don’t have to keep running to their room to check on them. Thirdly, you can hear your baby so you don’t need to keep checking a video screen.
7 Best Audio Baby Monitors
1. Best For Crystal Clear Sound: VTech DM221 Audio Baby Monitor
This product ensures a clear and long range of audio transmission of about 1000 feet with no disturbing background sounds. The baby unit has a comforting night light which you have the option of switching on or off and also switches off automatically when there’s no sound for 15 minutes. You can set the monitor to hear all sounds from your baby’s room or even sounds that exceed a certain decibel. It also features a sound indicator with 5 levels through LED lights, and you can have a 2-way conversation with your baby at any time through the intercom. The parent unit can be run either on AC power or a rechargeable Ni-MH battery so that you can monitor your baby at all times. For more information about the product, click this video. Pros
DECT 6.0 technology Lightweight Comes with a belt clip 16 hours of battery life Crystal clear sound
Cons
The child unit does not work on battery.
2. Best Alexa-Enabled: Hatch Baby Sound Machine And Audio Monitor
Designed by experts, this versatile machine combines the functions of a sound machine, baby monitor, clock, and night light. The sound machine plays a variety of lullabies and white noise to lull your baby to sleep, while the night light has a range of colors to choose from while soothing your baby. The LED clock and alarm help them to understand time and the concept of following a routine. The audio monitor helps you to keep a check on your baby and you can have a conversation as well. This is one of the best ways to keep a check on your precious baby while also soothing and comforting them with the other features. Check this video to learn more about the product. Pros
Safe and secure for privacy Alexa-enabled Toddler lock Backup battery Can be controlled from anywhere Customizable sound, color, and brightness
Cons
Some may find the transmission of sound in the 2-way radio rather slow.
3. Best Night-Friendly Mode: Philips Avent Dect Audio Baby Monitor
Featuring DECT technology, this baby monitor has a wide range of up to 1000 feet and creates an ideal 2 way communication with your baby without any disturbance or sound interference. It also features a night light to comfort your baby and can play 5 different soothing lullabies to put them to sleep. You can even monitor the temperature in your baby’s room from your own room through an alert in case the temperature changes. Its innovative nighttime-friendly mode dims the lights and sounds to ensure that the baby is not disturbed. It also features a unique eco mode that saves battery life by reducing the radio transmissions. You can definitely be at peace with this handy baby monitor. Take a look at this video to get more information on the product. Pros
18-hour operating time Efficient docking station for charging No interference from other devices Secure and private connection
Cons
The parent unit has a flickering blue light that may be disturbing for some.
4. Best Secure Connection: HelloBaby Two-Way Audio Baby Monitor
This product promises you peace of mind with its DECT 6.0 technology that ensures clear and uninterrupted transmission in a range of 1000 feet so that you can constantly monitor your baby. It features 5 graphic LED light bars that allow you to monitor the sound level in your baby’s room even when it’s muted, and you can talk to your baby from your own room to soothe it. It has an added feature where you can regulate the temperature in your baby’s room from your own room. These lightweight portable units can be carried anywhere you go and have a battery life of up to 18 hours. It also features a comforting nightlight and can play soothing lullabies, making it super convenient. Pros
Secure private connection Crystal clear transmission Battery powered Eliminates background sound
Cons
Battery is not included with the product.
5. Best Vibration Mode: Time Flys Digital Audio Baby Monitor
Looking after your baby is made simpler with this pleasant owl-shaped audio baby monitor that comes equipped with 36 channels and ensures that you have undisturbed, clear transmission to monitor your baby. The parent unit features an LCD screen that displays the temperature in your baby’s room through a temperature sensor which you can control, and has a choice of 8 lullabies to lull your baby to sleep. You can have a 2-way conversation with your baby and use the night light to calm your baby. It has the option of using the vibration mode and acoustics interchangeably to warn parents if their baby needs attention. The parent unit is also equipped with Ni-HM batteries so that you never lose touch with your baby. Pros
Portable belt clip Features an alarm for low battery Sounds an alarm when out of range 2 sets of rechargeable AAA batteries included
Cons
Some may find the night light too bright.
6. Best Radiation-Free: Babysense Original Baby Movement Monitor
Incredibly sensitive, this baby monitor has 2 sensor pads which cover the entire crib, can be placed below the mattress, and will warn you immediately if your baby does not move within a stipulated time. Even the slightest movements can be picked up by this device which is completely safe as it never comes into direct contact with your baby. Very simple to install, it has no dangerous wires hanging around it, nor does it emit any radiation. It operates on regular AA household batteries which last for up to 6 months. There is no interference from other household devices so the transmission is always clear and uninterrupted. You can go about your work knowing that your baby is always safe! Pros
Non-WiFi Hack-proof monitor Lower risk of false alarms HSA/FSA-approved
Cons
Suitable for babies only till the age of 1 year
7. Best Lightweight: Motorola Comfort 10 Digital Audio Baby Monitor
Fitted with DECT 6.0 technology and a range of 990 feet, you can be assured of crystal clear sound transmission with minimal interference and background sounds. It will immediately give out an alert if you are out of range so that you never lose connection with your baby. Equipped with an extremely sensitive microphone, even the softest sounds of your baby will be caught and the LED lights on the parent unit will indicate the level of sound. The parent unit features a rechargeable battery so you can carry it around the house and you will receive an alert when the battery starts running low. It ensures that your baby is monitored at all points of time. Pros
Lightweight Sleek design No interference from other electronic devices 1 AAA battery included
Cons
Doesn’t allow you to speak to your baby through the parent unit
Now that you have been through our review of the 7 best audio baby monitors, it’s important that you are aware of the features to consider before buying one so that your precious baby is always safe and protected.
What To Consider When Buying An Audio Baby Monitor
Analog or digital monitors
Analog monitors do not ensure privacy and anyone can listen in as the transmission is not encrypted. Digital monitors, on the other hand, ensure privacy. Digital monitors tend to be more expensive and sometimes the signal of your WiFi router may cause interference if they happen to be on the same frequency. These ensure that the signal is private, but they cost a bit more, and you might experience some interference from your wireless router if both are on the same frequency. You will also have to weigh the pros and cons of each regarding their special features, battery life, and range.
Sound quality
Some audio monitors have a silent function while others have the feature of continuous sound emitting, and it’s a personal choice. Either way, the sound quality should be crystal clear and crisp with no white noise or static interference to distort the sound of your baby. The microphone also needs to be sensitive enough to pick up every sound of your baby.
Alert styles
Some audio monitors come with an added alert system to get your attention. Some may have LED lights that blink or have a vibration mode in case the volume of the parent unit is set at low. Some also come with alerts that warn you when your battery is running low or if you are moving out of range.
Safety
When it comes to your baby, safety is always a prime concern. There should be no cords or wires running on the cot, nor should it have to be placed where your baby can reach it.
Other features
Some parents may want to go for a feature-rich model so that they can check on their baby’s vitals. Some monitors can keep a check on your baby’s heartbeat or breathing, or signal if your baby hasn’t moved for a certain span of time. This would be more relevant if your baby is a preemie or unwell and requires more intense monitoring.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Vibha Navarathna is an established writer and researcher passionate about electronic gadgets and children’s items to make your life easier. Here, she brings you a curated list of the best audio baby monitors with great connectivity, good battery backup, clear transmissions, and additional features. Furthermore, Vibha has described each product’s pros and cons and included a handy buyer’s guide to help you choose the right product.
