Their recommendations below include everything from traditional video monitors to “smart” devices that can track how your baby is sleeping to a simple and truly affordable audio monitor, should that be all you require.īest overall | Best less expensive | Best overall non-Wi-Fi | Best non-Wi-Fi with noise-reduction technology and sound indicator | Best audio | Best for sleep tracking | Best non-baby monitor

To help you navigate the vast universe of baby monitors, we spoke to LaBracio, King, and eight other experts - including parenting bloggers, sleep consultants, and parents - about their favorites. A smart monitor that can analyze sleep patterns might make some parents feel more confident, but it could cause others undue stress. The gadgets can be invaluable for peace of mind and sleep-training purposes, according to Elizabeth King, the founder of the sleep-consulting company Sleep Baby, who encourages parents to “take what a monitor tells you and use your gut and your parenting knowledge to react to your baby.” But with so many options out there, from audio-only monitors to Wi-Fi-enabled ones to others that track biometrics, choosing one that’s right for your family can be a bit daunting.Īccording to Jennifer LaBracio, the gear editor at the baby-registry website Babylist, the right baby monitor will depend on “the space you live in and your personality and parenting style.” For example, a family that lives in a big house might need something different from one that lives in a smaller apartment. A baby monitor is one of those new-parent essentials that often tops a registry.

Toddler sleep monitor