Baby monitors offer parents peace of mind when their little one is out of sight, hopefully sleeping peacefully. There are a number of terrific models on the market—and overall, after vigorous testing, we believe the Eufy SpaceView Pro is simply the best baby monitor, as well as the best non-Wi-Fi baby monitor. We also recommend a model with just audio for a truly low-tech experience—the VTech DM221.
The best non-Wi-Fi baby monitors offer many of the same features as the competition but with fewer … [+] security risks.
Illustration: Forbes / Photos: Retailers
“Non-Wi-Fi baby monitors work by employing a closed circuit system without internet connections,” says Reena B. Patel, a parenting expert, psychologist and behavioral analyst. “Non-Wi-Fi baby monitors offer many advantages over their Wi-Fi-enabled counterparts. Chief among these benefits is security: Non-Wi-Fi monitors don’t rely on internet connections, so hacking risks are greatly diminished, protecting both you, your baby and family privacy.”
Here, we’ve rounded up more of the best non-Wi-Fi baby monitors, according to parents, experts, online reviews and our own experience. You might also peruse our tested review of baby monitors, which includes Wi-Fi-enabled models.
Best Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor Overall: Eufy SpaceView Pro
Best High-Tech Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor: Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro
Best Value Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor: Anmeate Video Baby Monitor
Best Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor For Twins: Babysense Split-Screen Baby Monitor
Best Portable Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor: HelloBaby Upgrade Baby Monitor
Best Audio Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor: VTech Audio Baby Monitor
This monitor has everything you expect from a modern baby monitor: There’s a big screen (5 inches), night vision and quality audio. But it also has a few extra perks: A convenient stand-up base makes it easier to set up the monitor in a nontraditional space. Plus, the camera angles are very adjustable (with 330 degrees of pan and a tilt of 110 degrees up and down). This makes it easier to find ideal viewing angles, especially when your little one becomes more active in their crib. The Eufy connects to a “private channel,” so it doesn’t rely on Wi-Fi. This means added security and you can take it up to 1,000 feet away from your child’s bedroom with impeccable quality.
This was the best monitor in our tested story because of the above qualities. Plus, it has incredible battery life: 30 hours on standby and 12 hours of active viewing on just one full charge. It’s easy to set up, and a majority of users note no connectivity issues of any kind.
Infant Optics has crammed this monitor full of fun features that make it the best choice for more tech-savvy caregivers who are willing to spend a bit more. Its noise-reduction technology—similar to what’s found in many headphones these days—actively filters out background noise like fans or sound machines, allowing caregivers to hear their little one without turning up the volume. Multiple lens types (some sold separately) allow caregivers to customize how they view their child’s space from up to a six times zoom to a wide angle. This system also allows for up to four cameras to connect to one parent unit, making for a more advanced CCTV setup than most other competitors. Parents seem to really love it, too—it boasts a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Amazon with over 6,000 reviews.
What our writers say: Alicia Betz, coauthor of this article, is a big fan of this monitor. She has used it with all three of her kids at various ages and stages, and finds it user-friendly. “I really like the sound quality,” she says. “Many other monitors with noise-reduction technology that I’ve tried don’t get loud enough to wake me up when my baby is crying.”
Amazon
Anmeate Video Baby Monitor
Despite being a quarter of the price of some of our other picks, Anmeate’s non-Wi-Fi baby monitor has some surprising higher-end perks: It offers solid video and audio quality, even at night, with an easily portable viewing screen that’s slim and small enough to fit in your pocket. This does make for a smaller screen (2.4 inches), but many reviewers noted this isn’t a big issue. Especially for travel, the portability is worth the cost of having to squint a little bit more to see your little one.
The Anmeate also has quality night vision and active temperature monitoring with eight infrared LEDs, providing caregivers more peace of mind at a great price. It offers two-way audio, multiple mounting options, plays a few lullabies and shows a 360-degree pan of the area.
What the reviews say: Amazon reviewers have given this monitor an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 and that’s with more than 22,500 reviews.
AMAZON
Babysense Split-Screen Baby Monitor
This Babysense monitor comes with two cameras, making it easy for caregivers of twins to set up both at the same time in an all-in-one package. The display screen measures 5 inches and comes pre-programmed for split-screen monitoring, making set up that much easier. A highly adjustable night light with three intensity settings allows for more customizability in varying lighting conditions, especially when used in two different rooms. The camera itself can rotate 360 degrees and tilt up to 90 degrees. There is also two-way audio and some built-in soothing options, such as white noise. This adjustability gives the system longevity, allowing caregivers to keep tabs on even the most active toddlers.
What the reviews say: Reviewers tend to rave about this baby monitor, especially twin parents. It has racked up a 4.4 out of 5 and nearly 3,000 reviews on Amazon. Some have complained about a limited battery life.
Amazon
HelloBaby Upgrade Baby Monitor
The HelloBaby Upgrade monitor is about half the weight of our top pick, making it a product to consider for traveling with little ones without worrying about losing many of the features that make for a great system. The large, 5-inch LCD display is just as crisp as its heavier contenders, plus the HelloBaby includes temperature monitoring, night vision and the VOX function (this keeps the screen off during silence), only turning it back on when noise is detected. This newer upgraded model even has an impressive battery life, lasting up to 30 hours in VOX mode and 16 hours with the screen on.
The single camera system costs less than $100, bringing it closer to our budget non-Wi-Fi baby monitor pick, with the option to buy a pack of two cameras and connect up to four at the same time, making it a great choice if you have multiple children, too.
AMAZON
VTech Audio Baby Monitor
Don’t need a big LCD screen to keep tabs on your little one? VTech’s ultra-simple, walkie-talkie-style audio baby monitor is a great, cheap option that I’ve used for years.
Similar to the two-way radio systems that have been around for decades, simplicity is the name of the game with this non-Wi-Fi baby monitor. The VTech has five volume levels with the option to mute, as well as a visual system of five LED lights at the top to tell you if your little one is making noise (even when the monitor is on silent mode). Plug both the receiver and parent unit into power and the unit automatically pairs with itself. VTech also includes a VOX setting, which means you can set a noise threshold for how loud or quiet you want the monitor to be.
The only true downside to this system I’ve found is how long the battery takes to recharge. It can last 16 hours on a single charge, but it takes another 11 to 12 hours to fully recharge; thus, it’s best to keep this one next to an outlet.
What our editors say: Forbes Vetted deputy editor Rose Gordon Sala used this low-tech pick for her third child and referred to it as “reliable” and “just what we needed.” It has more than 24,600 5-star reviews on Amazon, too.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted team has deep experience in testing and reviewing baby and kids gear, and includes a number of parents with years of experience in the category.
Coauthor of this story, Jenni Gritters, has extensive experience writing about baby monitors, particularly their hackability and the benefits and risks of infant vitals monitors. She’s the mom to two kids and has tested more than ten baby monitors.
Alicia Betz, the other coauthor of this story is the mom to three kids and has tested numerous baby monitors over six years. She wrote about her experience researching and testing the best baby monitors for twins.
We tapped into the expertise of psychologists, tech experts and other parents. We spoke with Reena B. Patel, a parenting expert, psychologist and behavioral analyst, as well as Eric Magidson, a professor of computer information systems at Central Oregon Community College.
Our team reviews and updates articles for accuracy and relevancy regularly. This article was most recently updated in September 2024, when we added more recent models and confirmed availability and pricing.
How We Chose The Best Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitors
To choose the best non-Wi-Fi baby monitors, we conducted research, interviewed experts and relied on our own experience as parents and product reviewers.
This articles authors and editor are experienced parents who’ve extensively tested baby monitors of all types. Our relied on our firsthand expertise.
We read online reviews, consulted with parents in our own communities and researched the top monitors on the market.
We incorporated insights and guidance from our experts Patel and Magidson.
Once we had a list of contenders, we narrowed down the list based on specs and features, such as clear video and audio feeds, security systems, ease of use, transmission distance and adaptability as children grow older.
To ensure there are options for various needs and lifestyles, we picked monitors at different price points and with different capabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is There A Baby Monitor That Works Without Wi-Fi?
Yes. Non-Wi-Fi baby monitors use a closed-circuit system that doesn’t require an internet connection. Instead of using your Wi-Fi router, these monitors send radio waves directly between the child and parent unit of the monitor system, just like a walkie-talkie. Typically, the parent unit is the only device authorized to use that specific signal, which keeps these types of monitors more secure.
Why Would You Want A Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitor?
Non-Wi-Fi monitors have a security benefit: They don’t rely on an internet connection, which means the risks of a hack are lowered significantly. Non-Wi-Fi monitors also emit less electromagnetic field (EMF) which could be a benefit for parents concerned about potential exposures, according to Patel. And, often, non-Wi-Fi monitors have longer battery lives with more extended monitoring. So, they’re better for keeping track of your kid while relaxing on the back porch, for example. They’re also often easier to set up right out of the box.
Can Non-Wi-Fi Baby Monitors Be Hacked?
“Non-Wi-Fi baby monitors offer considerable reduction in risk from hacking compared to Wi-Fi-enabled ones,” says Patel. However, you’ll still want to put security measures in place. Most hacking occurs when someone gets access to your username and password, or gains access to your Wi-Fi network.
Non-Wi-Fi monitors avoid the worries of Wi-Fi network hacking, but you should take care to use a strong password. Magidson recommends choosing something other than a “cheesy” username and password; instead, use a password manager to generate and keep track of a more complicated password. Patel also notes that you should update this password often.
“Keep your monitor’s firmware current as well,” Patel says. “Manufacturers frequently issue firmware updates to address security vulnerabilities.” In other words, stay current on the updates when they’re offered.
Why Not Use A Baby Monitor?
For many parents, baby monitors can cause anxiety instead of diffusing it. “On one hand, monitors can offer parents peace of mind by giving them the ability to monitor their little ones during sleep or nap times,” Patel says. She notes that especially for parents who are concerned about their children’s health, this can reduce worries.
But, research has also found that monitors—especially infant vitals monitors for breathing and heart rates—can cause added anxiety for parents by hindering caregiver sleep and causing hypervigilance. If you find yourself in this boat, slowly wean yourself off of checking the monitor. Eventually, you might even want to use a non-video option.
“It’s crucial to remember that occasional noises or movements during sleep are normal and part of baby development,” says Patel. “Parents (should attempt) to strike a balance and avoid becoming overly dependent on the monitor… which will create an atmosphere free of anxiety for everyone involved in raising children.”
What Else Should I Look For In A Baby Monitor?
“Most important, look for reliable audio and video quality ensuring clear sight and hearing of the baby,” says Patel. “A high-resolution screen and real-time transmission and audio transmission will give the best monitoring capabilities. In addition, opt for one with enough range to stay in communication even as you move about your home without losing connection.”
She also mentions that night vision is helpful, as it can enable you to see your infant in low-light settings (cue an image of your child with creepy, demon-like eyes). And it’s a bonus if your monitor has temperature-monitoring as well, to keep your child’s room at the right temperature and ensure comfort. Some monitors also have two-way communication, which comes in handy if you want to speak to your child without going into their room.
