I was recently looking for a new baby monitor system and realized I haven’t shared a review of the two we have been using! I read every list of the top rated baby monitors back when I was pregnant with our first child. Then we needed a monitor that had two or more cameras so I started looking again.
My criteria for a baby monitor is pretty simple:
- I wanted a baby monitor with a camera (not just audio)
- It shows temperature of the room/nursery
- There is an app for my phone to access without a specific parent unit
- Can handle 2+ cameras
Want to know which baby monitor is my absolute favorite? Read the Nanit review here!
The baby monitors we use at home
We have had a few different kinds of baby monitors over the past 5 years. These two can handle 2 (or more) cameras and have worked well for us so far! I honestly like both of them, but if you need a parent unit then VTech will be your choice over the Nest. That said, I think the support is better for the Nest than VTech if you need customer assistance.
VTech baby monitor review
We use the RM5764 model of the VTech baby monitor with 2 cameras. You can see the newer version (RM7764) here.
Pros of the VTech baby monitor:
- It has an app that can be accessed anywhere on your cell phone
- VTech’s cameras are fairly kid-proof: Ours have been dropped a few times and haven’t cracked
- It has a parent unit, so when grandparents or babysitters come over they don’t need to download the app and pair it with their own phone
- Temperature noted on the screen (and you can set temperatures that are “too low” or “too high” for your app to notify you in case the room hits those temperatures)
- The picture is pretty good. Not perfect, but pretty good. It transmits 1080p high-def video.
- Camera can pan via app or parent unit left, right, up, down
- Includes wall mount piece but also can just be put on top of a table or other furniture
- No monthly subscription fees on the app
Key features:
- Night vision
- Two-way talk
- Motion-detection (last 30 events are stored)
- Temperature note and notification of too hot/too cold temperatures
Cons of the VTech baby monitor:
- The battery life on the parent monitor is not good. We keep ours always plugged in because it dies so fast.
- Range leaves a lot to be desired. We have a pretty good wifi setup, but if I take the parent unit outdoors even 10 feet from the house, it stops working.
- Two-way talk and motion detection only work sometimes, which can be frustrating
Nest Camera baby monitor review
We use the indoor Nest wired camera system to keep an eye on other rooms in the house.
Pros of the Nest wireless camera:
- You can set up alerts for specific times, like only when you’re away from home or only when you are at home
- The picture is pretty good, at 1080p HDR
- Look back 3 hours. You can upgrade to Nest Aware (subscription fee) for additional monitoring/recording (go back up to 30 days or 60 days, depending on the plan). Subscriptions start at $6 per month. The fee is for the whole household, so you could have 2 or more cameras and the subscription fee would be just $6/month.
- The newer models are made with 45% recycled plastic
- Two-factor authentication for extra security
Key features:
- Night vision
- Two-way talk
- Two-factor authentication for extra security
Cons of the Nest wireless camera:
- It’s not specifically a baby monitor, so there is no parent unit and you have to have the app downloaded on your phone. This can be a con when there are grandparents or babysitters over and they need to keep an eye on a sleeping baby.
- Only come in one color. A lot of other monitors have options for color, but the Nest does not.
- Subscription fee required for looking back more than 3 hours of activity. Fee is based on household, not per camera.
Which one is better?
I honestly like both of these camera systems, but if you need a parent unit then VTech will be your choice over the Nest. I think the support is better for the Nest than VTech if you need customer assistance. And we have never really had issues with our Nest cameras, where we have had some technical problems with VTech over the years (two-way chat doesn’t work, parent unit loses battery quickly and needs to stay plugged in). If you’re concerned with budget, then choose the VTech. But if you want a whole-house system, Nest is a better choice!
Looking for other baby-related product reviews? You might like:
An Honest Review of the Newton Baby Crib Mattress
Pikler Triangle Review: What is it, and is it worth buying?
[…] overnight (screen-on) usage. Expect much lower usable battery, especially on mid-range units like VTech VM819—most users end up plugging in parent units […]