How do you choose a baby monitor? By answering four questions in this order: audio or video, actual range in your home, transmission technology, and cable placement. Everything else is about convenience. A well-chosen baby monitor fades into the background; a poorly chosen one crackles, runs out of battery, or triggers alerts that wake everyone up.
This guide reviews the criteria that genuinely change everyday use and separates safety considerations from marketing claims. It does not recommend any brand.
Audio, video, or connected: what do you really need?
The three categories meet different needs, and the most expensive is not the most useful.
The audio baby monitor
It transmits sound, nothing else. This is the simplest, longest-lasting, and least expensive format. For a home where the bedroom is only a few metres away, it is sufficient in the vast majority of cases. Many parents who buy a camera end up no longer watching it after a few weeks.
The video baby monitor
It adds video, transmitted to a dedicated screen. Its real value becomes apparent in two situations: when you want to check a position without opening the door, and when sound alone is not enough to tell whether the child is awake. In return, the screen consumes power, battery life drops, and the device becomes bulkier.
The connected baby monitor
It connects through your Internet router and displays on a phone. Appealing on paper, it depends entirely on network quality and a remote service. Two practical consequences: if your router goes down, monitoring is interrupted, and the images pass through a server. If you choose this option, read the data-retention policy before buying.
Why does the advertised range never match the actual range?
Because the figures shown on the packaging are measured in open space, meaning without walls. An advertised range of 300 metres can drop to 20 or 30 metres in an older apartment with load-bearing walls, and even less if a concrete floor separates the two rooms.
The rule of thumb: divide the advertised range by ten for a standard home, and check that the manufacturer also specifies an “indoor” range. A device that gives only one figure already tells you a lot. This critical reading of specifications applies to all baby-care equipment, and we have covered it in detail in our guide to reading a baby product specification sheet.
Always test the range during the first few days, while the withdrawal period is still open. Place the baby unit where it will actually be used, then walk around the home, including the garden or basement.
DECT, Wi-Fi, analog: how the technology makes a difference
Three transmission modes coexist, and they do not offer the same quality or privacy.
- Analog: older generation, susceptible to interference. The signal is not encrypted and can be picked up by a nearby device. Best avoided today.
- Digital DECT: the dominant standard on dedicated audio and video models. Direct connection between the two units, without going through the Internet, with pairing specific to your device pair.
- Wi-Fi: goes through the router and often a remote service. Superior image quality, but dependence on the network and a larger exposure area.
For simple home use, DECT remains the most robust compromise. It works when the Internet goes down, which is no small detail.
Should you be concerned about the waves from a baby monitor?
There is no official French recommendation setting a minimum distance between a baby monitor and a crib. However, in August 2016, Anses published an assessment of children's exposure to radio frequencies, calling for “moderate and supervised use of wireless technologies.”
Two conclusions from this assessment directly concern parents. First, children may be more exposed than adults because of their size and anatomical characteristics. Second, the agency recommends that radio devices intended for children—and it explicitly mentions baby monitors—be subject to the same regulatory requirements as mobile phones.
What this means in practice, without being alarmist: move the baby unit away from the crib instead of placing it against the bars. Also choose a model with sound-activated mode, often called eco mode or VOX. This mode only transmits when a sound is detected.
The best-documented risk is not the waves, but the cord
A baby monitor needs to be plugged in. Its power cable becomes an accessible cord as soon as the child sits up, stands, or reaches through the bars. The DGCCRF updated its guidance on childcare products on April 28, 2026. It reminds readers that these products must protect against “risks of injury, particularly from lesions, cuts, burns, pinching, strangulation, or suffocation.”
The rule is simple: no cable within arm’s reach of the crib, keep the unit secured or placed out of reach, and run any extension cord along the baseboard rather than across the room. This precaution aligns with safe sleep recommendations for infants, which call for a crib free of any objects. It is also part of the broader process of making the home safe room by room.
Battery life, alerts, and features: useful or just gadgets?
What is genuinely useful
First, the parent unit’s battery life: aim for a full night without recharging, meaning at least eight hours in real-world use, not standby. Next, the lost-connection alert, which notifies you if contact is broken. Finally, precise volume control, because volume steps that are too large fluctuate between inaudible and deafening.
What is worth considering
The room temperature sensor is useful during the first few weeks, then rarely checked. The built-in night-light and lullabies duplicate features you already have. Breathing monitoring with a sensor mat is a medical device and falls outside the scope of this article: it should not be improvised and should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
This balance between useful and decorative functions applies to all baby equipment. We cover it in detail in our comparison of essential baby products and gadgets.
Where should you place the baby monitor in the room?
At a safe distance from the crib, as high up as possible, and aimed at the child without pointing down over them. Avoid placing it on top of the crib, on the mattress edge, or on the edge of an unstable shelf. The room’s overall layout matters just as much as the device itself: we have outlined a comprehensive approach to setting up the baby’s room, including the sleeping area and floor play space.
Also consider the child’s routine. A baby monitor is especially valuable during daytime sleep periods, when the household remains active. Our article on organizing naps explains how these periods develop over the months.
At what age does a baby monitor stop being useful?
There is no legally defined age. In practice, the device becomes less useful when the child can call out, get up, and come to find you, which most often happens between the ages of two and three. Some parents keep it longer out of habit, while others stop using it after a few months.
This is something to consider before buying: a device used for two years rarely justifies a high expense. The reasoning is the same as for growing-with-your-child products, where the actual duration of use determines the value.
How to choose a baby monitor: the checklist
- CE marking present, instructions in French, manufacturer’s contact details clearly legible.
- Range stated indoors, not only in open space.
- DECT digital transmission, or Wi-Fi used with a clear data policy.
- Parent unit battery life stated for use, not standby.
- Sound-activated mode available and able to be disabled.
- Audible and visual alert in the event of a lost connection.
- Cable length suitable for an installation out of the crib’s reach.
- Possibility of purchasing a power supply or battery separately.
Do you have a question about our products or a point covered in this guide? Our frequently asked questions page answers the most common queries.
Key takeaways
A baby monitor is a convenience tool, not a safety device. It does not replace safe sleep practices, direct supervision, or common sense when arranging the room. Choose a simple model, test its range at home, keep cables away from the crib, and you will have covered the essentials.
Sources
- Anses, “Exposure to radiofrequencies and children’s health,” expert assessment published on August 7, 2016.
- DGCCRF, practical guide “Childcare articles: the keys to choosing safe products,” updated April 28, 2026.
