In terms of providing the video and audio feed, some connect to your home Wi-Fi, and others run off their own built-in signal.

One feature that really stood out to us was the ability to map out custom "danger zones" in your home – you then get a special alert if your child moves into these areas.The sound on the DM1411 has a faint hum, which we think has to do with its sensitivity to the noises it can pick up and transmit. And the app has an important but shockingly rare feature: an always-on audio feed, which allows you to hear the audio from your baby’s room even if you leave the app. Walls and floors reduce it, so the true range will depend on your home and the strength of your internet. Once your device is powered on and wirelessly paired with babyCam, you’re all set to view the live video feed on your sat nav’s display. While many of the systems we tested had very specific power cords, these units are rechargeable by way of USB-C cables.

Other people may want a monitor only for occasional use, such as when they’re trying to do some yard work while the baby is napping. It then gently vibrates after 15 seconds to rouse your baby if they haven’t taken any breaths in that time, and a sharp audible alarm sounds after a further 5 seconds if breathing is weak or has not resumed.The Nanit is a well-designed, reliable unit delivering a crisp image, even in pitch dark, and really sophisticated features via the easy-to-use app. These use similar technology to fitness trackers or heart rate monitors to take an even closer look at what your baby is doing while they sleep. The Nanit Pro consists of a futuristic-looking camera head that attaches easily to three different styles of mounts: a wall mount, a floor stand, or the portable Flex Stand. A perennial favourite with our community, no baby monitor is mentioned more than the BT 6000 when we ask for recommendations. Common questions about baby monitors, answered by childcare expert Millie Poppins Do you always need a baby monitor?

You can play white noise or nature sounds (birds, waves, wind) and remotely control a night-light on the camera in timed increments. This includes a live stream you can access from anywhere, the ability to pan and zoom, two-way audio, plus you can program lullabies or white noise to play for your baby. Most have a reasonable battery life but larger screens or those with more features use more power, and if you want to keep the screen on with the brightness up at night, you'll usually need to plug it in.

If you’re debating between a local-video monitor and a Wi-Fi monitor, the VTech RM7766HD could be for you, because it’s both. She is particularly passionate about sleep (for babies and parents) and loves testing out gadgets, technology and innovation in the parenting world. So, you can drive with turn-by-turn GPS route guidance and still check on baby without turning around.