BT
Audio Baby Monitor 450 Lightshow
Test score
We use cookies to allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our advertising. By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here.
When you click on a retailer link on our site, we may earn affiliate commission to help fund our not-for-profit mission.Find out more.
In this article
Don't risk buying a baby monitor that cuts out or is lacking in basic security to keep strangers from hacking into audio and images of your baby.
Our best baby monitor picks include traditional audio-only monitors and video monitors, as well as smart wi-fi baby monitors that connect to your smartphone.
They all have excellent signal strength, a battery you can rely on and crystal-clear images and sound. Plus they're secure from hackers.
This innovative audio baby monitor doesn't cost much to buy but you get a whole host of features for your money. This includes a room temperature monitor, lullabies and a colourful night light. If you don't have a lot to spend but don't want to compromise on quality, get it on your shortlist.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
This big-brand baby monitor is a great choice if you're after an audio-only model but don't want to spend more than £50. It's reliable and has clear sound quality, so you shouldn't strain to hear your baby.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
Although it doesn't have many features, this simple audio baby monitor is great to use and offers a lot for the price. If you are on a tight budget, it is one of the best cheap monitors you can buy.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
This feature-packed video monitor is surprisingly easy to use. It has impressive range, excellent battery life and good enough picture and sound quality to make it a Best Buy. It also has automatic infra-red for night-time viewing, as well as remote-controlled lullabies.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
You might not know the brand behind this video baby monitor, but you'll love the quality. It comes with a camera that you place in the baby room and then you watch the excellent picture on a handheld parent unit with a large 5-inch HD display.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
We don’t see many video baby monitors that cost £50 or under and are worth considering - but this model certainly qualifies. For a low price you'll get a good quality monitor to watch your baby while they sleep.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
This smart video baby monitor from a well known brand is one of the best we have ever tested. It is packed with features and comes with a parent unit to use alongside the companion mobile app.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
You’ll love the sharp picture quality with this smart baby monitor, whether you use the parent unit or the companion app on your smartphone or tablet. It’s easy to use and passed our security and privacy tests.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
Alongside being able to control this smart baby monitor with an app, you can also do so with your voice. If you have a compatible Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant device at home, you can check the room temperature, activate motion detection and play a short lullaby with voice commands.
Sign up to revealFull Access first month £2.99, then £9.99 per month, cancel at any time
Pricing, recommendations and test scores correct at May 2022.
Not found the product for you? Check out our baby monitor reviews to see the full range of baby monitors we’ve tested.
The best baby monitors won't let you down when you need them the most. They'll have clear sound and pictures, a good range and signal strength, and the battery will last as long as you need it.
Most baby monitors promise all this, but our tests have found lots that don't deliver.
For example, one baby monitor we’ve tested has a battery that will barely last three and a half hours, while another can keep going for more than 18.5 hours before needing to be recharged.
Take a look at our round-up of the best baby monitors to discover the models we recommend.
An audio baby monitor comprises two parts, one that stays in the nursery (baby or nursery unit) and one you keep on you, either somewhere propped up in the room you're in or clipped to your belt as you get on with other stuff while your baby sleeps.
A video baby monitor also has two parts, but the baby unit includes a camera that sends pictures back to the parent unit, so you can see your baby as well as hear them. Some are quite basic, but on more expensive models you can get cameras that pan around the room, or even zoom in.
The parent unit on a video baby monitor varies: some have a massive screen so you can get a large picture, while others are much smaller, which limits what you can see.
Which one you choose will depend on how much you want to spend and your personal preference. Some parents like to be able to see their little one breathing, while others are fine with just being able to hear if they're needed.
Although some wi-fi baby monitors have parent units, you usually monitor your baby using your smartphone or tablet via a compatible app.
While a parent unit on traditional baby monitors will only work in the house and maybe as far as the garden, a smart wi-fi monitor isn't constrained by signal range and can work wherever you are as long as you have decent wi-fi signal.
This means if you're missing your little one you can check in when you’re at work or away from home.
But you’ll want to get one with strong security features and encryption to ensure your feed can’t be - we've discovered models that are at risk of being hacked.
Check our smart wi-fi baby monitor reviews to see which wi-fi video baby monitors are the most secure.
Our tests have shown huge differences in terms of signal range and battery life.
The worst baby monitor on test will only allow you get as far as 15 metres away before losing signal, and the battery won't even last for an evening, which essentially means it's more of a hindrance than a help when it comes to helping you look after your child.
Test out the sound clarity on a baby monitor throughout your home as soon as you buy it. Most have a variety of channels to use – useful if you live in a built-up area which will be more susceptible to interference or static.
Analogue-signal baby monitors are the most open to accidental broadcast, as this can easily be picked up on normal radios and other people's monitors. This is less likely with digital monitors, although it does still happen.
A digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) baby monitor has a microprocessor designed to ensure that the only nursery sounds you can hear are those from your own nursery, not anyone else's.
Our tests check for interference from other devices, as well as assessing the clarity and volume of the sound.
The range of a baby monitor indicates how far you can travel with the parent unit and still receive an accurate signal.
Many manufacturers make bold claims when stating range – some say you'll still get a signal up to 600 metres away.
Looking more closely at these claims shows, generally, that this is the distance the signal can travel if both units are outside in an open space. This isn't much use if you mainly use your monitor indoors, or when your baby is asleep inside and you're in the garden.
We've found that on a good baby monitor you'll be able to move the parent unit more than 80 metres away from the baby (or nursery) unit without losing the signal. On a poor monitor, you won't get much further than 20 metres.
With wi-fi baby monitors, the signal is as strong as your internet connection - both to your smartphone/tablet, and the baby unit in the nursery. Do bear that in mind when considering a smart wi-fi monitor.
The type of property can make a difference, too. Older houses have thicker walls that can sometimes cause problems with the signal, whereas modern houses have thinner walls so the signal can travel more easily.
We test baby monitors in both types of property to find out which perform best.
You can spend less than £20 for a basic audio monitor, or more than £300 for a top-of-the-range model with multiple cameras. An expensive, feature-packed baby monitor doesn't mean it will be the perfect piece of baby safety equipment for you, so we test its key features, such as battery life and signal strength.
With Best Buy baby monitors from as little as £35, there's a baby monitor you can rely on no matter what your budget is.
Some households find they can function perfectly well without a baby monitor, as any cries can be heard through an open door or thin walls. But even so, there are still reasons why you might need one:
To be safe, the baby monitor should be placed at least a metre (or 3ft) away from a cot, crib or play area.
Whatever type of monitor you choose, you'll need to consider how and where you place the baby unit near your child so you can hear and see them while they sleep, but so there are no safety concerns.
Current guidance states that you should avoid attaching a monitor to a baby's cot, as there could be a risk of it falling into the crib or the baby getting caught in any cables.
Additionally, if any parts, such as screws, become loose they could pose a choking hazard to the baby.
For older children that can stand or kneel, there is a risk that the monitor could be used as a foothold for them to climb out of the cot, alongside a strangulation risk with any cables.
Always keep any wires, cords or cables well out of the way of babies and toddlers. As your baby gets bigger and older, keep checking regularly that he or she still can't reach them.
Ideally, the baby monitor should be placed at least one metre (or 3ft) away from a cot, crib or play area.
Consider placing it on nearby furniture or shelves so that if the monitor has video capability, it gives a good enough view of your baby's sleeping position.
You could also consider wall mounting the monitor if it has the required fittings, but be careful of any dangling cables.
Positioning an audio monitor is much easier as it just needs to be close enough to capture the sound of your baby crying.
Some baby monitors come with motion sensors. These are marketed as a tool to protect against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death.
The motion-sensor pads or mat detects your baby's movements, even the slightest ones. If your baby stops moving for more than 20 seconds, an alarm sounds and red lights flash.
Some parents find them really reassuring, however they can cause more worry when false alarms happen, and you may find they create more anxiety.
Infant safety charity The Lullaby Trust says there's no evidence that this kind of monitoring can prevent SIDS.
Choose a baby monitor and the optional extras that will suit you and your baby best.
Find the perfect baby monitor for you and your baby with our best baby monitors.
When buying a baby monitor, make sure you're handing your money over to a reputable seller. Check the retailer's returns policy and pay attention to customer feedback and reviews. For more details on shopping online safely and arranging refunds for faulty products, see our advice on shopping online.
Argos, Amazon, John Lewis and Boots are some of the most searched-for baby monitor retailers at the time of writing. We’ve included links to these retailers handpicked because of their stock availability, best value price or warranty options.