Baby monitors: How to buy
Baby monitors allow you to listen to your child while they sleep. They provide peace of mind, rather than actual safety, but they help you know if your child is sleeping soundly. So, how do you choose the one for you?
Which type is right for me?
Pick the best
Mains-powered monitors
Mains-powered monitors are the cheapest option. These can be plugged into a socket in any room, but cannot be used with batteries. They are the simplest type of monitor.
Pros The least expensive option, ideal for parents who won’t be moving around the house much while the monitor is on, or if they are only likely to be using the monitor at night
Cons Less versatile because you can’t use batteries, so can’t be used away from a socket
Portable, dual-powered monitors
These run on either the mains or batteries, so the parent unit can be carried around with you when on battery power – some come with a belt clip so you don’t need to hold it. The more expensive models in this category have rechargeable batteries.
Pros Useful for parents who will be busying themselves about the house or garden while the baby is asleep, rechargeable models save you worrying about batteries running out
Cons More expensive than mains-powered models, especially if you regularly run a non-rechargeable model on batteries
What to look for:
When it comes to buying a monitor there are several aspects to consider:
Range
This is particularly relevant if you have a big house or spend a lot of time in the garden. Just measure or estimate how far the maximum distance will be between you and your baby.
Features
Some features such as belt clips and sound sensitive lights are standard and useful, while others, such as sensor mats or crib soothers, aren’t vital and may give you extra sleepless nights. Also be aware of channel options – in general, the more channels, the better.
Signals
Analogue signals aren’t as clear as digital, but both types can be picked up by other people’s monitors, radios or cordless telephones. DECT (digital enhanced cordless telecommunications) models should not have this problem, as scanning equipment is needed to listen to such signals. Visit ‘Features explained’ for more.
For more information see the Which? book Baby and Toddler Essentials.