There are dozens of brands and types of baby monitors on the market, deciding on the best baby monitor for your requirement, can be confusing. However, you need to define the features required for your solution which may can be based on price, coverage area, distance, remote access, video recording etc., when buying a baby monitor so that you get value for money. The following lists some of the features that are normally considered in baby monitor reviews.
Audio Monitoring
Sound clarity of a baby monitor is very important because it is the essential aspect of its usage – the device is supposed to alert parents mostly by sound. Low-quality units usually have issues of interference, thus leading to poor clarity.
Interference occurs when other electronic devices such as phones, televisions or the Wi-Fi network try to use the same frequency as the baby monitor. Ideally, you want to choose a digital baby monitor with low interference. Note that almost all baby monitors have interference issues at varying degrees.
Video Monitoring
The most important aspect of a video baby monitor is high quality image. If it doesn’t provide a quality image, it is truly no better than average audio-only monitors. You will also need a night vision or infrared feature that automatically engages to give you full vision when baby’s room is dark.
Other features like remote pan, tilt and zoom capabilities will provide better camera coverage of your room and help you keep your baby in sight.
Indicators
A good quality baby monitor should have good indicator features for sound, night time indicators, battery status, out of range indicators, and more. Also, how does or how much does the unit vibrate when the baby makes noises? If the parent unit is misplaced, is there a pager to locate it? And finally, does the unit have a temperature display?
In addition to the indicator lights, how flexible and portable is the unit? Good quality units come with some form of clipping mechanism to allow for portability for both the parent unit and the camera. The camera should ideally have a wall mounting mechanism.
Two-way Talk
The two-way talk has become an essential feature on modern day baby monitors. It allows you to talk or sing to your baby remotely as if you were in the same room. Many problems that arise during the day or at night can be resolved with a little tender love and care that your voice alone can provide.
Data Encryption
The data encryption feature is very important. It simply means that no one can eavesdrop on your interactions such as when the signals are broadcast openly without encryption. It also means that if you’re using another device that uses the same frequency as the baby monitor, you don’t have to worry about your pertinent data being intruded upon.
Battery Life
The best baby video monitors have rechargeable batteries that can last about 8 to 10 hours, and many can be extended quite a bit by using VOX and Audio only/Standby mode.
Range
On average, 500ft is a good range for most baby monitors but there are a few brands that exceed that range. Newer types of baby monitors like Withings and Wi-Fi baby allow remote monitoring using home Wi-Fi and 3G/4G network. Then range and location won’t be an issue as long as the Internet connection is available.
Ease of Use
You want to get a baby monitor that is easy to use out of the box. A user friendly interface will make your life a lot easier. Granted, you might need to read the manual before setting it up but instructions should be easy for users to understand.
Warranty
Look for the warranty offered with the baby monitor. Some units come with a one-year limited warranty whereas others offer a 90-day warranty. Warranties typically come with stringent conditions, so be sure to read them to ensure that you don’t do anything that may void your warranty, just in case you need to return or replace them.