Same goes if the unit has tracking capabilities for temperature and/or humidity. If there are alerts for motion or sound, the accuracy of them is assessed. In terms of performance, our Labs does analysts assess the audio quality for both the mic pick up and speaker playback. Our ease of use assessment includes looking at how easy the devices are to set up and pair with an app (if applicable), how easy it is to navigate the physical device and/or app, the ease of changing settings, how intuitive the alerts are if applicable and how easy it is to review the content on the device/app. When it comes to looking at baby monitors, our experts team up to evaluate each machine for video and audio performance, ease of operation, overall functionality and how helpful bonus features are, like tracking capabilities and multi-unit connectivity. To help you leave all the guesswork behind, our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Little Lab routinely test the most popular baby products on the market, from strollers to high chairs, while our Media & Tech Lab analysts spend their days vetting the latest in technology, from laptops to smart home devices. But rest assured there's a baby monitor out there to fit every family's needs and budget.
But figuring out the best one to buy can be overwhelming, due to the number of monitors on the market and the variety of functions offered, from basic audio-only models to high-tech monitors that offer all the bells and whistles, including video cameras, two-way talking, temperature tracking and WiFi connectivity. Although you may feel compelled to tiptoe into your newborn’s room to check on them every five minutes, with a reliable baby monitor, you no longer need to brave squeaky doors or worry about letting in too much light, and instead can focus on whatever you need to check off your to-do list.Ī good baby monitor can tell you more than just whether or not your child is awake and crying in their crib.
In our most recent update to this article, we added three new top-tested baby monitors to the list and ensured that all of our previously tested and vetted picks from the Good Housekeeping Institute Little Lab, last made in 2020, are still in stock and reflect current pricing.Īs any new parent knows, those precious few minutes during your baby’s nap time are your best chance to grab a much-needed break.