Top Ten Site Guide to Baby Monitors
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Independent Baby Monitor Reviews
THERE ARE THREE MAIN TYPES OF BABY MONITOR.


AUDIO BABY MONITORS
Audio baby monitors have been around for quite some time now.
Audio baby monitors consist of a microphone in the baby's room, and a receiver which the parent keeps with them.
Audio monitors allow you to hear what is going on in the baby's room - some models have night lights and room-thermometers built in.

If you do plump for an audio baby monitor, make sure it has a decent range, a choice of channels - and a privacy feature.
If it doesn't have enough range - it may not work in certain parts of your home - or if you are in the garden etc.
A choice of channels is important - especially if you live in a built-up area, where other devices could interfere with your signal - switching channels helps avoid this problem.
You also need a selection of channels in case people living nearby also have baby monitors. If you use the same channel as your neighbours, you could be listening to the wrong baby!
A privacy feature ensures that your neighbours etc cannot (accidentally or intentionally) tune in and hear what is happening in your house!

Basic audio baby monitors are the least expensive monitors on the market.
Prices start from under £20.00 - but the cheaper models are very limited in range, privacy and sound quality.
Some of the latest models use blue-tooth technology and/or telephone lines - and can cost over £200.00. We feel that most of these models are over-priced.
See our baby monitor reviews below for our "best audio baby monitor" suggestions.

VIDEO BABY MONITORS
Most parents feel better if they can see as well as hear what is happening where their baby is sleeping.
Until recently, video monitors were extremely expensive - and they didn't work very well in bad light.
Today, however, video monitors are very affordable - and they can provide clear pictures in almost total darkness.
Most video baby monitors have audio-monitoring too - plus all of the best features of the best audio monitors.
Much of our advice about choosing an audio monitor also applies to choosing a video monitor - ie decent range, choice of channels, and secure privacy feature.
The size of the screen is also quite important - bigger is better. But most of the good quality models can be used with your own TV or computer screen.
A remote control night light is a good idea - you can use it get a clearer picture of your baby in a dark room.
Many video monitors have "night vision" usually infra-red - but the picture is often not very clear - so a remote control night light helps!
There are dozens of video baby monitors on the market.  Expect to pay at least £80 for a decent model. See our reviews below for suggestions.
Note: Most video baby monitors use the same signal frequencies as wireless computer networks.
If you have a wireless network in your home, or if your neighbours have one - it could interfere with your baby monitor - and you may need "computer skills" to solve the problem.

BREATHING, HEARTBEAT & MOVEMENT BABY MONITORS
Breathing, heartbeat, and movement monitors are designed to set off an alarm if your baby stops moving.
Their sensors can detect the slightest movement - heartbeat, breathing etc - and if they detect nothing - they signal for help.
These types or monitors are used in infant care units and hospitals.
Some child care experts recommend them to all parents of newborn babies - but many doctors are opposed to their use in domestic homes.
The problem with many doctors is - they seem to think that everybody without a medical degree is an idiot!
Our view is that, properly used, these monitors can be genuine lifesavers - and you don't need a medical degree to use them.
It should be understood, however, that these monitors are "helpers" and no parent should ever trust any monitor completely.
Some of these monitors have audio monitoring included - but none of them has video-monitoring.
However, the prices of Breathing & Movement Monitors are surprisingly low, so parents who buy this kind of monitor often buy a video monitor too - and we think that's a good idea.
We have reviewed the best Breathing & Movement monitors below.
This information was last updated on the 10th September 2008.
The E-thos 5.6" Family Video Baby Monitor is a totally wireless system
that allows you to see as well as hear your baby. It features a
2.4GHz Wireless System - no wiring needed - use anywhere. Signal
System Shield ensures privacy and security of transmission.
Uses up to 4 cameras - view each at the touch of a button or auto scan.
Full colour 5.6" screen - and night vision feature.
It has a range of 150 metres, low battery indicator, volume and
brightness controls. You can also monitor via your PC or on your TV.
E-thos 5.6" Family Video Baby Monitor
The best price we have seen for this monitor is £54.99 from
Tomy Walkabout Premier Advance
The Tomy Walkabout Premier Advance Audio Baby Monitor is a well
made, intelligently designed monitor from a company with an excellent
track record in this sector of the market. It has a range of up to 300
metres, 4 channels, a privacy assured feature, a night light, and a room
temperature gauge with a readout on the remote unit. Other advanced
features (and a very reasonable recommended retail price of £64.99)
make this our number one "sensible choice" audio baby monitor.
The Graco i-Monitor is very straightforward and simple to use - but that
doesn't mean it is "basic". The digital technology inside the i-Monitor is
state of the art and very reliable. It has a huge range of up 600 metres -
and an "out of range" alarm. It offers a 40 digital channels, a digitally
encoded privacy feature and a low-battery indicator.
Graco i-Monitor
The best price we have seen for this monitor is £42.99 from
Tomy Walkabout Platinum Digital
The best price we have seen is £79.95 from
The Tomy Walkabout Digital Platinum Audio Baby Monitor is the next
step up from the "Premier Advance".In addition to having all the features
of the Advance - this Platinum model offers 120 digital channels and a
fully protected digital privacy feature. It also has a remotely controlled
night light and a vibrate-mode on the parent unit. Technically this is
superior to the Advance - but it is also quite a bit more expensive - with a
recommended retail price of £109.00. Your money = your choice!
BT Digital 150 Audio Baby Monitor
The state of the art Digital 150 from BT is an excellent, reliable audio
baby monitor with some nice features - including hi-definition sound,
120 channels, up to 300m range, MP3 - lets you play your baby's music
at bedtime to help them sleep, digital privacy feature, out of range and
low battery alarms, remote-control night light, vibrate function,
temperature gauge with digital readout, sound-sensitive light, and more!
The best price we have seen is £67.99 from
The best price we have seen is £149.99 from
My Little Eye Flower Video Baby Monitor
The My Little Eye Video Baby Monitor is ideal if you don't like technology!
This unit is so easy to set up - your baby could probably do it for you!
Simply plug the monitor in and select the correct channel (one of four) on
the receiver monitor and away you go. No tuning, no wiring, no hassle!
Enjoy a bright daytime image and a clear infra-red night time image.
The cleverly designed base can be used to stand the camera/flower on a
flat surface - or can be clipped onto the side of the baby's cot. The hand
held receiver has a 2.5" LCD screen and can be used with up to four
cameras. And it can be connected to a TV or Computer Screen.
The best price we have seen is £114.99 from
The Babysense ll is a Heartbeat,  Movement & Respiratory Monitor.
It is also the only baby monitor that is certified as a medical device.
It is used as a medical device in nursing homes and Hospitals all over
the world. This device constantly senses and responds to a baby's
breathing and movement.  If everything is OK, the monitor displays a
green light. But if baby stops breathing for more than 20 seconds or if
the breathing rate drops below 10 breaths a minute, a loud alarm is
sounded. Highly recommended by carers and medical professionals.
Nircom Babysense II Monitoring System
The best price we have seen is £72.99 from
Angelcare Movement & Sound Monitor
Respisense Buzz Breathing Effort Monitor
Respisense Buzz™ Breathing Effort and Movement Baby Monitor is the
latest thing in Baby Monitors. It is designed to detect irregularities in baby
breathing effort, and to alert parents if there are any problems. It clips
onto the waistband of your baby's nappy and monitors breathing effort.
It triggers an alarm if your baby stops or appears to stop breathing.
It has a "TummyTickle™ feature that attempts to stir your baby into
breathing - if he/she should stop. This feature uses gentle tactile
stimulation that mimics the efforts of nurses in neonatal wards.
It can be used anywhere and is totally self-contained - no wires. We have
heard and read several extremely positive reviews of this monitor from
parents who insist that the Respisense Buzz saved their baby's life.

The Top Ten Site is still researching this monitor - but from what we
have gleaned so far - we sincerely believe that the Respisense Buzz
MUST be a worthwhile investment.
The best price we have seen is £74.99 from
The Angelcare is a Baby Movement & Sound Monitor. It uses a Sensor
Pad that detects even the slightest movements of your baby, and if no
movement is detected for 20 seconds - it sounds an alarm.

With two frequencies and 8 channels, it is a first class monitor.
The parent unit is has a full colour digital LCD screen that shows all the
functions, plus a digital readout of the temperature in the baby’s room.
It has a night light, adjustable volume, and a range of up to 250 metres.
The best price we have seen for this monitor is £79.99 from
Please be advised - no monitor can protect your baby from Cot Death (SIDS) risk factors, and no monitor can revive your baby if he or she stops breathing.
In addition to monitoring your baby - you need to know how to reduce cot-death risk factors - and what to do if the worst should happen.
In our view, all parents should have knowledge of emergency CPR techniques.
Medical assistance could take some time to arrive. CPR could save your baby's life.
We hope with all our hearts that you will never need it - but please take time to visit our  Infant CPR Guide
A few simple techniques - which any parent can learn - could give your baby a fighting chance.
Audio Baby Monitors
Video Baby Monitors
Breathing & Movement Baby Monitors
Tommee Tippee Suresound Ultimate
Tommee Tippee SureSound Ultimate Baby Monitor offers added peace
of mind by monitoring sound, room temperature and movement at the
same time.  An alarm sounds after 20 seconds if the sensor pad detects
no movement from the baby. And the audio monitoring function is an
extra pair of ears, listening to your baby at all times.
ACS (Automatics Channel Selector) and PLL (Phase Lock Loop) make
this monitor easy to set up, an provide complete security/privacy The
parent unit also displays the temperature in the baby's room.
The best price we have seen is £104.99 from
Make no mistake - the best possible monitor for your baby is - you!
But it's impossible to stand guard over your baby every second of every day and every night.
A good quality baby monitor can assist you in watching over your baby - like extra eyes and ears.
A baby monitor can allow you to get on with other things - without losing contact with your baby.
We sincerely believe that a baby monitor is a must have for all parents of young babies.
Baby monitors - even the very best ones - are not expensive, and although they should never be thought of as
a substitute for vigilant parenting - they can make your life a whole lot less stressful.