Best Baby Monitors for Infants: What We’d Actually Buy
Choosing the best baby monitors for infants is harder than it should be. Some monitors are basically simple walkie-talkie-style video screens. Others connect to your phone, track sleep, send alerts, record clips, and come with subscriptions. Then there are wearable monitors that track things like pulse rate, oxygen, or sleep patterns.
For us, the best baby monitor was not just the one with the most features. It was the one that fit how we actually use the nursery at night: quick checks, reliable video, decent audio, and enough peace of mind without making sleep feel more stressful.
This guide compares the main types of infant baby monitors — Wi-Fi monitors like Nanit, non-Wi-Fi monitors like Infant Optics and eufy, and wearable-style options like Owlet — so you can decide what makes sense for your home.
Before getting too deep into features, one important note: a baby monitor does not replace safe sleep practices. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends placing babies on their backs on a firm, flat sleep surface and says home cardiorespiratory monitors should not be used as a way to reduce SIDS risk. You can read the AAP’s safe sleep guidance here: AAP safe sleep recommendations.
Best Baby Monitors for Infants: Quick Picks
Here is the simple version.
Best overall smart monitor: Nanit
Best if you want phone access, sleep tracking, alerts, and a polished app-based setup.
Best simple non-Wi-Fi monitor: Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro
Best if you want a dedicated parent screen, no app, no Wi-Fi, and no recurring subscription.
Best non-Wi-Fi alternative: eufy baby monitors
Best if you want a simple video monitor setup without needing your phone.
Best wearable-style option to research: Owlet Dream Sock
Best if health-style tracking is a priority, but it should not be treated as a replacement for safe sleep or medical advice.
Best budget approach: A simple video monitor plus good nursery basics
For many families, a basic video monitor, safe crib setup, white noise, and a predictable bedtime routine matter more than advanced tracking.
Related: we also wrote about white noise machines vs free alternatives and our practical baby registry for first-time parents.
What Matters Most in an Infant Baby Monitor?
The best baby monitor for your family depends less on the brand and more on how you plan to use it.
For a newborn or young infant, we would focus on:
Reliable night vision
Clear audio
Easy app or parent-unit access
Secure connection
A stable mount or safe placement
No loose cords near the crib
Reasonable alerts that do not wake you up unnecessarily
Whether there is a monthly or yearly subscription
Whether you want phone access away from home
Whether you prefer no Wi-Fi at all
One thing we would not over-prioritize is having every possible metric. Sleep data can be interesting, but more data is not always more calming. Sometimes a simple, reliable video feed is enough.
Wi-Fi vs Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitors
This is probably the biggest decision.
A Wi-Fi baby monitor connects through your home internet and usually lets you view the camera from your phone. This is helpful if you want to check the nursery while you are downstairs, outside, at work, or away from home. Smart monitors may also offer sleep tracking, cry alerts, movement alerts, breathing-related features, milestone clips, and saved video history.
The tradeoff is that Wi-Fi monitors usually require more setup. You may need an app, an account, firmware updates, strong passwords, and possibly a paid subscription for full features.
A non-Wi-Fi baby monitor usually comes with a camera and a separate parent screen. These are often simpler. You plug them in, pair them, and use the monitor inside your home. There is no app and usually no subscription.
The tradeoff is that you typically cannot check the camera from your phone when you are away from home.
For security, the FTC recommends using strong passwords, updating software, turning on security features, and being careful about how you share camera access. That applies to baby monitors, security cameras, and other internet-connected cameras. More here: FTC home security camera safety tips.
Nanit Review: Best Smart Baby Monitor for Infants
For our setup, the Nanit has been the right fit.
The biggest benefit is phone access. We like being able to check the nursery without carrying around a separate monitor. The video quality is strong, the app is easy to use, and the sleep tracking can be helpful if you like seeing patterns over time.
Nanit also fits well if you already use smart home devices and do not mind managing another app. It feels more like a modern connected device than an old-school baby monitor.
The downside is cost. Nanit is not cheap, and the subscription is the biggest thing to understand before buying. Some features may depend on the membership plan you choose, so we would check Nanit’s current membership details before deciding: Nanit memberships.
Nanit may be a good fit if you want:
Phone access
Strong video quality
Sleep insights
Saved clips or memories
Smart alerts
A polished app experience
Nanit may not be the best fit if you want:
No subscription
No Wi-Fi
A simple parent screen only
A lower upfront cost
Something grandparents or babysitters can use without an app
For families comparing the best baby monitors for infants, Nanit is probably the strongest option if smart features are actually important to you.
Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro: Best Simple Non-Wi-Fi Monitor
If you want something that just works without Wi-Fi, Infant Optics is one of the easiest recommendations.
The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is a non-Wi-Fi video monitor with a dedicated parent unit. According to Infant Optics, the DXR-8 Pro does not require apps or Wi-Fi and uses a private in-home connection: Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro.
That makes it appealing for families who do not want another app, another login, or another subscription. It is also nice if you want babysitters or grandparents to use the monitor without needing your phone.
The downside is that you give up remote phone access. You cannot check the nursery from outside the house the same way you can with a Wi-Fi monitor.
Infant Optics may be a good fit if you want:
No Wi-Fi
No app
No monthly fee
A dedicated parent screen
A simpler setup
Less concern about internet-connected camera access
It may not be the best fit if you want:
Phone access
Saved video clips
Sleep tracking
Smart alerts
Access when you are away from home
eufy Baby Monitors: Another Strong Non-Wi-Fi Option
eufy is another brand worth considering if you want a non-Wi-Fi baby monitor. Their non-Wi-Fi baby monitor page emphasizes local video monitoring without internet access: eufy non-Wi-Fi baby monitors.
The appeal is similar to Infant Optics: simple video, dedicated monitoring, and no need to use your phone.
For some families, that simplicity is the whole point. When you are half-asleep and just want to see whether the baby is awake, rolling around, or settling back down, a basic parent screen can be easier than opening an app.
eufy may be a good fit if you want:
A simple video monitor
No Wi-Fi requirement
No subscription
A dedicated screen
A travel-friendly option
It may not be the best fit if you want advanced sleep analytics, remote viewing outside the house, or a full smart nursery setup.
Owlet Dream Sock: Worth Researching, But Know What It Is
Owlet is different from a regular video baby monitor. The Owlet Dream Sock is a wearable-style monitor that tracks health-related information such as pulse rate and oxygen readings. Owlet describes the Dream Sock as FDA-cleared: Owlet Dream Sock.
That sounds reassuring, but we would still be careful about how we think about it. Wearable baby monitors should not replace safe sleep practices, and they are not a reason to loosen crib safety rules.
This is also where it is worth talking to your pediatrician if you have specific concerns. For a healthy infant, a wearable monitor may provide reassurance for some parents and more anxiety for others. False alarms, extra data, and constant checking can make sleep feel harder instead of easier.
Owlet may be worth researching if:
You specifically want wearable-style tracking
You are comfortable interpreting extra data
You understand what the device does and does not do
You have talked to your pediatrician about any medical concerns
We would not buy it thinking it replaces normal baby monitoring, safe sleep, or medical guidance.
Our Pick: What We’d Choose Again
For our house, we like having phone access and a strong app, so Nanit has been the best fit. It is easy to check quickly, the video is clear, and the smart features are useful enough for us.
That said, we completely understand why some parents would choose Infant Optics or eufy instead. If you do not care about sleep tracking or checking the camera from outside the house, a non-Wi-Fi monitor may be the better value.
The biggest deciding question is this:
Do you want smart features and phone access, or do you want simplicity with no subscription?
For smart features, we would look at Nanit.
For simplicity, we would look at Infant Optics or eufy.
For wearable-style health tracking, we would research Owlet carefully and talk to a pediatrician if there are specific concerns.
Baby Monitor Safety Tips
No matter which baby monitor you choose, setup matters.
Keep cords away from the crib.
Mount the camera securely.
Do not place the monitor inside the crib.
Use a strong, unique password for Wi-Fi monitors.
Enable two-factor authentication if available.
Keep the app and device firmware updated.
Limit who has access to the camera feed.
Follow safe sleep guidance even if your monitor has alerts.
A monitor can help you see and hear your baby, but it is still just one piece of the nursery setup. For more on making the room safer overall, see our baby proofing guide.
Final Thoughts on the Best Baby Monitors for Infants
The best baby monitors for infants are not the same for every family.
If you want phone access, sleep tracking, and a smart app, Nanit is hard to beat. If you want something simple with no Wi-Fi and no subscription, Infant Optics or eufy may be the better choice. If you are interested in wearable health-style tracking, Owlet is worth researching, but it should not replace safe sleep habits or advice from your pediatrician.
For most parents, the best choice is the monitor that makes nighttime easier without making you obsess over every sound, movement, or data point.
FAQ: Best Baby Monitors for Infants
Do infants really need a baby monitor?
Not always, but a baby monitor can be helpful if your baby sleeps in a separate room, you have multiple floors, or you want to hear and see them without going into the nursery.
Is a Wi-Fi or non-Wi-Fi baby monitor better?
A Wi-Fi monitor is better if you want phone access and smart features. A non-Wi-Fi monitor is better if you want a simple setup with a dedicated parent screen and no app.
Are wearable baby monitors necessary?
For most healthy infants, wearable monitors are not necessary. Some parents like the extra information, but they should not replace safe sleep practices or medical guidance.
What is the best baby monitor for travel?
A simple non-Wi-Fi monitor is often easiest for travel because it does not depend on hotel Wi-Fi or app setup. Some families still prefer a Wi-Fi monitor if they already know how to connect it easily.
What should I look for in the best baby monitors for infants?
Look for clear video, reliable audio, night vision, safe mounting, secure access, easy setup, and whether the monitor requires Wi-Fi or a subscription.
