Best baby monitors 2018

With so many things to buy when preparing for the arrival of your new-born, you understandably want to spend your pennies wisely.

It’s hard to know whether to go basic on a baby monitor or to fork out for all the extra features that are now on the market. Hopefully our independent review will help you to decipher what’s important to you, what’s not, and how much you should budget for this useful piece of kit.

Some features to think about:

• Video or audio? In the early days you might not need to use the video features, but further down the line you may find it useful, and you don’t want to be buying another monitor in a year or so. Video allows you to keep an eye on older babies and toddlers who are starting to stand up and move around. Having said that, some parents are happy with their audio option and find that it prevents them from stressing about every little movement the little one makes. Ignorance is sometimes bliss, after all…

• Built in temperature control. There are strict guidelines about what temperature a room should be to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and the temperature function on a monitor can help you to make the necessary adjustments to your baby’s clothing or the thermostat. If a monitor that you really like doesn’t come with a temperature control feature though, using a separate device such as the Gro Egg is an easy way to get around this.

• Movement sensor. This is a feature on higher end models, and is a pad that is placed under a mattress to alert you when a movement has not been sensed for an extended period of time.

• Two-way communication. This is a nice feature to speak to your other half through, or to talk to your baby or toddler with, but in my experience it is not used too often and shouldn’t be a deal breaker.

• Lullabies and songs. Having built in songs is a nifty feature for the early days, but you can always play them from your iPod, tablet or a good old fashioned CD player if a monitor you really like doesn’t have them.

• High quality night vision. If you’re buying a video monitor, it goes without saying that this is important since the room will usually be dark when baby is sleeping.

Panasonic: Smart Home Baby Monitoring Camera Kit

We love Panasonic for the simple fact it’s done one thing right: created a monitor that can be fully controlled through your smartphone or tablet. It also has a range of high-tech features including motion, sound and temperature detection, a two-way talk option, night vision, and five lullabies to choose from, all supervised through your phone.

Another feature is the ability to take pictures or record your little one - this may be useful if you wish to keep an eye on a caregiver whilst you’re not around.

£159.99 | Panasonic | Buy it now

​Angelcare Digital Wireless Movement - AC517

Featuring a justifiably higher price tag, this is a baby monitor with a difference. With an LCD touchscreen, movement sensor pad, temperature monitor and the ability to record data over periods of time to spot patterns in baby’s movement and sleep, this is the ultimate gadget for the techy parent. Unlike most of the other monitors we reviewed, the Angelcare sports a wireless movement detector designed to be placed under baby's mattress (in a Moses basket or cot) where it monitors subtle movements while baby sleeps. The monitor will alert you if no movement is detected after 20 seconds. You can also view data reports on things like temperature and movement from the day allowing you to adjust conditions in the nursery in order to improve baby's (and your!) sleep.

We found this monitor to have a really clear colour image (most others were black and white), and liked the fact that you can buy additional cameras if you want to monitor more than one child. It’s worth noting that the movement sensor is not suitable for use in travel cots as they sit too close to the ground and any movement in the floorboards will be picked up as movement by the baby or toddler.

With regards to the movement detector and data reviewing features, it’s worth asking yourself whether these will give you added peace of mind (and extra sleep) or if they will just cause more anxiety. In my experience, due to sleep deprivation and especially during sleep regressions or illness, over-analysing why baby slept well one night and then was a nocturnal monster the next can drive you slightly mad. If you’re convinced that the sensor pad will help you to relax in the evenings and through the night though, ensure that you have a strong WiFi signal in your nursery in order to use it.

£269.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

BT Video Baby monitor 6000

This monitor comes with a five inch video monitor screen which is large and clear – exactly what you want. The nightvision on this model is excellent and it also has a nifty temperature control function that beeps when the nursery is too hot or too cold.

You can choose one of five lullabies to play, which is a useful feature in the early days to soothe a newborn. Unfortunately, there is no option to play white noise, which many parents find to be an effective sleep aid. The two-way communication feature is good for asking your partner to get dinner started or to bring up some milk and it’s also great for telling your toddler to “go back to sleep” or to comfort him or her that you’re on your way to the room.

One of the unique features of this monitor is that, along with a zoom function, the camera also pans across the room. This is especially useful if your older baby or toddler changes position or crawls to the other side of the cot. You don’t have to go and adjust the camera in the nursery, you simply alter the angle from the parent unit. The 250-metre range is reliable and big enough for most houses, this monitor does not rely on WiFi, and it has a great battery life that will easily get you through an evening on the sofa.

£129.99 | Argos | Buy it now

BT Digital Audio Baby Monitor 400

The general consensus on this monitor is that it’s basic, but effective, and is excellent value for money. It doesn’t have the two-way communication feature, but it does have great range which can be used across three or four storeys or whilst you’re outside in the garden. We found the sound to be excellent and very clear.

Whilst an audio-only monitor might be adequate in the early days, you may find that you want the video function when baby becomes a toddler and can stand up in the cot. If not though, and audio is good enough for you, this is a great, inexpensive option.

£26.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

GHB Baby Monitor Video Baby Monitor

The display on this monitor is much smaller than many of the video monitors we looked at, but the excellent night vision and very reasonable price point makes up for this shortcoming.

Featuring two-way communication, temperature monitoring and baby lullabies this is a good choice with a range of features at a much lower price point than other branded competitors.

£50.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

VTech BM1000

For another great value audio-only monitor, consider the BM1000 from VTech. For under £30, you get a clear audio monitor with a 300-metre range, and this model comes with a belt clip allowing you to walk around the house or out into the garden and still hear the audio. The five-level sound indicator feature allows you to determine whether baby is whimpering or distressed, and the VTech ensure consumers that the signal is secure and encrypted.

There is no two-way talk function nor a temperature monitor on this model, and it doesn’t come with a wall mount, so you’ll need a surface in the nursery to place it on. We found the signal to be consistent and reliable and the monitor was easy to use. The battery life is fine (about seven hours at a time) which is certainly adequate for a nap, and most probably enough for you to get through an evening downstairs before you roll into bed. Another smart, solid choice at a very sensible price.

£19.99 | Argos | Buy it now

HelloBaby HB24 Wireless Video Baby Monitor

This device ticks many boxes; the sound and picture are very clear, the monitor is small and portable and its connection is reliable. No WiFi connection is needed, and if you need to monitor two rooms or children, you can choose to purchase and add an additional camera.

There is also the lullaby setting - but unfortunately no white noise - and a talk to the camera option. The only negative we could find is that the battery life doesn’t seem to be as long as some of the others. This is a great choice and is currently selling for half the usual retail price.

£69.99 | Amazon | Buy it now

Summer Infant Babble Band Wearable Audio Baby Monitor

This monitor makes it onto the list due to one of its nifty little features - it’s wearable. The comfortable and adjustable wristband means that the caregiver can walk around and still be alerted to any sound or movement the baby makes without having to take the parent unit from room to room or out into the garden.

One thing to be aware of is, if you want to use a monitor throughout the night, then the battery life likely won’t be good enough. Unlike other monitors which you can put on charge and continue to use next to your bed, you’ll have to take this off in order to charge it which makes it ineffective at night time. If baby is in the same room as you, however, this shouldn’t be an issue, and once he or she is old enough to go to their own room, you likely won’t need it through the night anyway.

£36 | Amazon | Buy it now

Philips AVENT DECT Baby Monitor SCD580/01

Another monitor with all the extra bells and whistles - and a price point that reflects this! There is two-way communication, the option to play lullabies, a temperature sensor and a great night light.

The remote activated starry night light show is ideal to calm a restless new-born and to send the signal that it’s time for sleep. With an exceptional charge time of up to 18 hours, all in all this is an excellent choice.

£154.99 | Argos | Buy it now

Verdict:

For all the bells and whistles you can't beat the Smart Home Baby Monitor from Panasonic. It's well made, easy to use and offers the most comprehensive and tech savvy options. If you're looking for something a bit more basic