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Best Night Vision Baby Monitors

Updated January 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens
Infant Optics
DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens
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Bottom Line

Thousands of positive reviews and a best-selling rank equal peace of mind when it comes to keeping an eye on baby – even after dark.

Pros

Viewing angles are customizable (including wide angle and zoom) with interchangeable lenses. Images are clear and in real time. Battery lasts up to 8 hours, or 12 hours in power-saving mode. If volume is turned down, baby’s crying will activate LED lights as an alert.

Cons

Some users feel the price point is too high. Other electronics may interfere and cause the signal to drop.

Best Bang for the Buck
Fitnate 3.5-Inch Wireless Digital Camera Night Vision Baby Monitor
Fitnate
3.5-Inch Wireless Digital Camera Night Vision Baby Monitor
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Bottom Line

Compact, yet provides high-definition images along with infrared night vision, this lower-cost monitor also provides soothing music to encourage baby into restful sleep.

Pros

2-way communication allows baby to hear its caregiver clearly up to nearly 1,000 feet away. A total of 4 cameras (extras not included) can be used at one time to keep an eye on multiple rooms. Interchangeable lenses create additional camera views. Good battery life.

Cons

Only one zoom setting. Batteries will still drain if unit is plugged in instead, so should take out batteries if not using.

Babysense Video Baby Monitor with Infrared Night Vision
Babysense
Video Baby Monitor with Infrared Night Vision
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Bottom Line

This superb portable baby monitor offers room temperature tracking, LED indicators, and many other terrific features.

Pros

Comes with a 2.4-inch color LCD display that delivers crisp, clear images. Provides high and low room temperature alerts. Automatically detects dim light, enabling you to track your child in both bright and dark settings. Easy to place the monitor on a tabletop or mount it to a wall.

Cons

Sometimes emits white noise. Less durable than many comparable monitors.

VTech VM321 Video Baby Monitor with Night Vision
VTech
VM321 Video Baby Monitor with Night Vision
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Bottom Line

Watch over baby with a monitor that can see the room, whether in broad daylight or late at night.

Pros

Temperature sensor lets caregiver know if room is too hot or cold. Camera zooms. Different screen-viewing options available: single screen, split screen, and patrol mode. No ambient noise, such as humming or buzzing, on the parent end when baby is quiet.

Cons

Some users would like to see a clip built in so the parent unit can be attached to clothing. No lullabies like some other brands.

Babebay Video Baby Monitor with Camera Night Vision
Babebay
Video Baby Monitor with Camera Night Vision
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Bottom Line

This power-saving monitor saves your battery life: if baby is sleeping soundly, the camera also goes to sleep – but wakes immediately if any movement is detected.

Pros

Easy to set up and connect both units. Camera monitors in real time with no delay. Can mount on tabletop or wall. Parents' unit is compact and lightweight. Good range; users report being able to take their unit outside and still see baby’s activities.

Cons

Feels less sturdy than some other models. Night vision is in black and white. Included instructions are not very thorough.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

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Buying guide for best night vision baby monitors

A night vision baby monitor provides the ultimate peace of mind for busy parents who want to keep an eye on their child without constant trips to and from the nursery. You just set up the camera in your baby’s room and carry the handheld monitor around with you. It’ll show you exactly what your baby is doing at all times and it will alert you if your child starts crying.

There are dozens of night vision baby monitors on the market today, and this can make it difficult to know which ones are worth the investment, especially if you’ve never owned a baby monitor before. Here’s a short guide to walk you through all of the important considerations, so you can choose the monitor that’s perfect for you and your baby, and the room you plan to set it up in.

Content Image
A few baby monitors have a built-in night light and music speaker so they can play lullabies to your baby.

Night vision baby monitor considerations

The three most important considerations when choosing a night vision baby monitor are the type (analog vs. digital), range, and image quality.

Analog vs. digital baby monitors

Analog baby monitors were common in the past, but they’ve lost a lot of ground to digital baby monitors. This is because, to protect one’s privacy, digital baby monitors encode their transmissions so that the data cannot be intercepted by a radio frequency scanner. Analog baby monitors, on the other hand, do not offer this kind of security. For those who want to keep their child’s activities private, a digital baby monitor is the way to go.

Range

All baby monitors have a range that they can work within. If you get out of the range, the monitor will not be able to communicate with the receiver in your child’s room and you will no longer be able to see or hear your baby. Range will vary depending on the monitor you choose, the construction of the home, and other factors. Choose one that will enable you to move about your home freely and preferably one that has an out-of-range indicator to let you know when you’ve exceeded the monitor’s range.

Image quality

Your baby monitor should provide a crisp, clear image whether it’s day or night — and while night vision baby monitors are designed to give you a clear view at night, quality varies from model to model. Video quality is often listed as 720p, 1080p or something similar. The higher the number, the better quality the image will be.

Night vision baby monitor features

While not as essential as the factors listed above, here are some other features you may want to think about when choosing a night vision baby monitor.

Screen size

The larger the screen size, the easier it will be able to see your baby on the monitor. Screen sizes are often measured in diagonals, with a larger measurement indicating a larger screen. But you should keep in mind that larger screens also mean larger monitors that may be more cumbersome for you to carry around with you.

Battery life

Some night vision baby monitors use rechargeable batteries while others use replaceable batteries. Battery life may vary from one model to the next, so it’s a wise idea to check out customer reviews to get a sense of how often the monitor you’re interested in requires recharging (based on real-life use, not manufacturer claims). The best baby monitors will have a low battery indicator to let you know when the unit needs recharging or new batteries.

Motion and sound sensors

In an effort to conserve battery power, some night vision baby monitors employ motion or sound sensors. These units will go into sleep mode after a period of inactivity, but they will wake up when your child moves or makes noise so that you’re immediately alerted to the situation.

Expandability

Some video baby monitors give you the option to expand your system by linking additional cameras to the monitor. You’ll be able to see your baby’s nursery from different angles so you’re always aware of what’s going on. Usually, monitors only have a single camera to start with and additional cameras must be purchased separately.

Two-way speaker

Some high-end baby monitors have a built-in speaker in the camera. By pressing a button on the monitor, you’re able to speak to your baby through the camera even when you’re not in the room with them.

Pan, tilt, and zoom

Some night vision baby monitors give you the option to zoom in or pan and tilt the camera to see different areas of the room. You can control this with buttons on the monitor. High-end cameras may enable you to set up custom viewing angles.

Night vision baby monitors prices

Night vision baby monitors start at around $55 and can go as high as $200. A basic monitor costs less than $75. These models usually have shorter battery lives and the cameras are pretty basic without the option to pan or tilt. Some do not even give you an option to zoom in.

Mid-range night vision baby monitors cost anywhere between $75 and $100. The cameras are of a better quality and most offer pan and tilt capabilities. Battery life is a bit better, especially among those units that have motion or sound sensors.

High-end night vision baby monitors start at around $100 and have all the bells and whistles, including custom viewing angles, two-way talk and a crisp, high-definition picture.

Tips

  • Keep all power cords out of reach of your child so they don’t accidentally pull the camera down or become tangled in the cord.

  • Don’t place the camera or the monitor anywhere they could get wet.

  • If you’re using a baby monitor that provides a live video feed to the internet, it’s crucial that you use strong passwords ensure your privacy.

  • No baby monitor is an adequate replacement for a parent’s eyes and ears. You should still periodically check on your baby even if you are using a baby monitor.

Content Image
The majority of baby monitors use the 2.4GHz frequency, but so do many other wireless devices, which can cause interference.

FAQ

Q. What if I want to keep an eye on my baby when I’m not home?
A.
 Some baby monitors will live stream the camera feed to an online account. You can log in and view your baby from your smartphone, tablet or computer at any time, no matter where you are. Consider investing in one of these if you want to keep an eye on your child when you’re away from home.

Q. Is it hard to set up a night vision baby monitor?
A.
 No, most baby monitors don’t have a complicated installation procedure. You just charge up the monitor, plug in the camera and pair the devices. Your baby monitor should include an installation guide that walks you through the process. Otherwise, you can contact the manufacturer for help.

Q. Do I need WiFi in order to use a night vision baby monitor?
A.
 Most likely. If your baby monitor is using a wireless signal, it likely needs to be connected to WiFi in order to work properly. If you have any questions about this, you should contact the manufacturer.