Best buys · The new dad

The best baby monitor worth buying

Our pick is the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The baby monitor

Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro

A dedicated screen that does not depend on Wi-Fi, an app or a subscription, so it works when the internet does not and nobody else can look in.

Buy it for
Anyone who wants a monitor that just works, every night.
Skip it if
You want to check in from work. You need a Wi-Fi camera for that.

What actually matters when buying a baby monitor

  1. Wi-Fi or not. A dedicated-screen monitor works without the internet and cannot be looked into from outside; a Wi-Fi one lets you check from anywhere.
  2. Subscriptions. Some Wi-Fi monitors put the useful features behind a monthly fee.
  3. Night vision clear enough to see breathing, not just a shape.
  4. Battery life on the parent unit, which is carried around the house all evening.

Either side of the pick

The step up

A Wi-Fi baby camera

Check in from anywhere, at the cost of an app, an account and sometimes a subscription.

Check the price at Amazon ↗