A Wi-Fi baby monitor is the modern-day surveillance and monitoring device that helps parents and guardians monitor their babies remotely. They receive alerts for every activity, including if there is a person in the room or if the baby is crying.
Let’s understand what a Wi-Fi baby monitor is and how it works. We will explain the important factors you need to look at while buying a Wi-Fi baby monitor. We will also discuss the best placement options and how it differs from a non-Wi-Fi monitor.
How Does a Wi-Fi Baby Monitor Work?
A baby monitor helps in keeping an eye on the baby by capturing every moment through the camera. It records continuously and stores events in the storage. Users can see the live feed through the monitor or smartphone from any location and also access the stored footage.
The monitor also records audio along with video. In fact, it has a two-way audio system, so the user can also talk through the smartphone/monitor and comfort the baby. The notable feature of the monitor is movement and crying detection. It can detect persons and pets in the room and send real-time alerts to the connected devices. Even if the baby starts crying, a notification is immediately sent to the user.
What to Look for in the Best Wi-Fi Baby Monitor?
Motion and Cry Detection
For baby monitors, motion and cry detection is mandatory. You can look for this feature and ensure the monitor detects the motion of persons instantly and alerts the user. Secondly, it can distinguish crying and send accurate alerts so that parents can respond immediately.
Pan, Tilt, and Zoom
With pan and tilt, the monitor covers a wider area. You can move the camera and change its field of view. It allows you to look at every corner of the baby room. The zoom feature helps you zoom into objects and the baby and capture more details.
Wi-Fi Reliability
Go with reliable Wi-Fi baby monitors. It’s better if the monitor has dual-band Wi-Fi to ensure fast speed and reliable connectivity. It always keeps the parents updated with every activity without any delay.
Mobile App Experience
The mobile app makes live monitoring, accessing stored videos, and interacting with the baby through voice much easier. Users can remotely access the baby monitor and control it.
Two-Way Audio
The two-way audio facilitates communication between the baby and the parents/guardians. They can talk to the baby through the built-in speaker in the monitor and listen to the baby’s voice via the microphone. They can talk to the baby remotely through the mobile app.
Video Quality & Night Vision
The baby monitor should have exceptional video quality. Go with video resolutions 2K or higher. It ensures optimal clarity and rich details. Secondly, there should be night vision to see the baby clearly when the light is off. Infrared night vision is preferred as it does not disturb the baby.
Best Wi-Fi Baby Monitors
Reolink E1 Zoom
Reolink E1 Zoom is a 4K (8MP) Wi-Fi security camera perfect for baby monitoring. With its high resolution and 3X optical zoom, it records videos with incredible clarity and intricate details. Even at night, it records clear videos with infrared night vision. It allows parents to clearly see the baby and person in the room. It also has the privacy mode, which can be enabled when no surveillance is needed.
The camera automatically detects persons, pets, and baby crying. It sends real-time alerts to the connected devices. When an object is detected, it automatically tracks the motion with pan and tilt motion and records every moment. The dual-band Wi-Fi 6 ensures reliable and fast connectivity.
Reolink E1 Pro
Reolink E1 Pro is a compact smart Wi-Fi indoor security camera. It records videos in 5MP resolution with an F1.6 aperture to offer sharper and brighter images, even in low light conditions. With pan and tilt movements, it offers 360⁰ coverage. It also detects persons and pets and automatically tracks their motion.
It automatically detects baby crying and sends real-time alerts. You don’t need to check the camera repeatedly. Due to flexible placement options, you can place it on the wall, ceiling, or even on a table. It also offers flexible recording options, such as microSD card, NVR, Home Hub, and FTP/NAS.
Reolink E1
Reolink E1 is a budget-friendly security camera suitable for baby monitoring. It offers 4MP video resolution for clear and detailed videos. It instantly detects crying and alerts parents for quick action. Its two-way audio facilitates communication with the baby remotely.
It smartly detects persons and pets and sends accurate alerts. It covers 360⁰ with pan and tilt motion. It is also equipped with the auto-tracking feature. You can use the privacy mode of the camera when you want to turn off live view, alerts, and video/audio recording.
Where Should You Place a Baby Monitor?
- Place the baby monitor at a suitable location away from the baby and pets.
- You can mount it on a ceiling or wall or even place it on a table or elevated surface. Keep it 5-7 feet off the ground.
- Select a location from where you can cover every corner of the room, especially the important points
- To monitor the crib, place the camera 3-6 feet away to capture the whole area
- Do not point the camera directly at windows, lights, or mirrors. It causes glare and affects the video quality
Wi-Fi Baby Monitors Vs No Wi-Fi Baby Monitor
Wi-Fi baby monitors are connected to the internet through Wi-Fi. Which is why users can access the live feed, remotely control the camera, and talk to the baby from any location. They capture videos in high resolution and offer exceptional clarity and detail. Not only that, but they also smartly detect persons and pets in the room. They are equipped with crying detection, which sends instant alerts to the connected devices.
No Wi-Fi baby monitors use a local radio frequency signal to send video and audio directly from the camera to the parent screen. They do not require the internet, which is why there is no privacy or security risk. It offers lag-free performance and can be set up anywhere without much hassle. However, it does not have any special features like AI detection, remote access, or real-time alerts.
FAQs
Is it better to have a Wi-Fi baby monitor?
If you want remote access, real-time alerts, two-way audio, and other smart features, you should go with a Wi-Fi baby monitor. It not only records every moment but also keeps users updated about every activity.
Is it safe to connect baby monitor to Wi-Fi?
Yes, it’s safe to connect a baby monitor to Wi-Fi. But there is still a risk of hacking and privacy issues. For better security, you can opt for a secure Wi-Fi network that has a strong password, encryption, 2FA, and other security features.
Can a baby monitor be hacked if it’s not on Wi-Fi?
A no Wi-Fi baby monitor cannot be hacked remotely, but it can be hacked if the person is near your house. It works without internet connectivity, but it transmits the video and audio through a local radio frequency signal, which is open to local interception.
Final Words
A Wi-Fi baby monitor gives parents and guardians peace of mind. They can remotely see the live feed of the baby’s room and talk to the baby or caretaker. Not only that, but they receive real-time alerts of any movement of a person or pet around the baby. If the baby is crying, an instant notification is sent to the connected devices. It helps in effective monitoring of the baby, whether you are in the house or anywhere else.
