New parents, here’s a tip: You might not need a baby monitor, since a healthy, hungry baby can shriek in tones piercing enough to bend metal. Nevertheless, baby monitors can provide high-quality audio and crystal-clear videostreams from the camera directly to a separate device like a smartphone or tablet. This means you can move freely around the house while keeping a close eye on the baby as they sleep or play contentedly in their crib.

We’ve tested baby monitors ranging from Wi-Fi-powered to radio-based and even audio-only, and consider the design, features, and picture and audio quality to figure out which ones are worth buying. These are the best baby monitors that can keep a watchful eye on your bundle of joy.

Be sure to check out our other baby gear guides, including the Best Strollers, Best Breast Pumps, Best Baby Gear, and Best Baby Carriers.

Updated September 2024: We’ve added the Harbor Baby Monitor as a new pick, and notes on the Vava Baby Monitor to Honorable Mentions. We’ve also removed the Hubble Nursery Pal Premium and Pal Dual Vision as picks due to availability issues.

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Adrienne So contributed to this guide.