The Best Long-Range Baby Monitor

Having a baby is a big responsibility. As parents, we make sure that our children are always doing well. Sometimes we can’t even help ourselves from becoming too overprotective.

Back when my son was born, all I wanted to do was to watch him even if he was sleeping most of the time. But the reality of it is that we have other obligations. So how do we juggle all these duties at the same time?

Do I Really Need It?

Unnecessary purchase is something we should all avoid. It is crucial to identify if it is a necessary item, before buying it. Here are the reasons why you should contemplate purchasing a baby monitor with a long range.

• Your baby sleeps in its own room.
• You want to be able to check on your child without disturbing its sleep.
• You want to work on household chores or relax, while keeping a close eye or ear on your baby.

Whether you’re working or a homemaker, you will most likely find a need for a baby monitor to watch your sleeping baby, even if you’re just across the hallway. Having a baby monitor with a long range will make it easier for you to do different tasks and even roam around the house, because it will pick up the signal easier without getting interfered by walls and other disturbances.

Another beauty of it is that you can keep on using it to keep tabs on your children even when they grow up. Since most baby monitors last years before they’ll stop working, you can turn them into a home monitor for all sorts of purposes.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing Long-Range Baby Monitors

Don’t just buy the best-selling long-range baby monitor in the market. You need to understand what we’re buying conforms to our needs. In choosing a baby monitor, you will find that the considerations are mostly reliant on each other.

Below we’ll go through some of the most important things to consider when choosing a new long-range baby monitor that suits your needs.

Audio and Video Quality

There are baby monitors that are only equipped with sound. It is just like listening to a radio or frequency transmitter from one point to another. The actual use is like a walkie talkie, but there is no need to push a button from your baby’s device. For example, if your baby is crying, you will hear it from your parent device.

QUICK TIP: Better Audio Feed
The baby monitors that only transmit audio will usually provide a better feed compared to some products that offer both audio AND video transmission.

Your option in this regard will heavily rely on what you want to monitor. You have the choice of a monitor with both audio and video. With this, you can see and hear everything from your baby’s end. It is just like watching Netflix from your digital device, except the main actor is your baby.

If you prefer having video, make sure that the device provides high-quality video resolution even if it is nighttime. For nighttime monitoring, you will need a baby monitor with a night vision feature.

REMINDER: Reviews on Interference
There are long-range baby monitors that can be ineffective despite other users’ high praise of that product, simply because of signal interference. Take note of these possible interferences in your house, e.g. if your WiFi network is usually unstable, and make sure it won’t affect your baby monitor as well.

If you wish to focus on the video quality of baby monitors, we have a separate buying guide for video baby monitors.

Analog, Digital, or DECT?

The main difference between the three options is the frequency used, and how the information is relayed in these wireless options.

Analog baby monitors are cheaper, but it is also more likely to get hindered by the signal from radios and other electronic devices, that are interfering. Depending on your distance, if you are not that far apart from your baby, you can opt for an analog baby monitor.

Digital options are expensive compared to analog. The signal is encrypted before it is sent to the device on your end. Though it has less interference, it is still possible to encounter issues when in use.

DECT or Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology is another option that is relatively new in baby monitors. The signal is encrypted for security, and the interference is less likely to occur compared to analog or digital options. DECT baby monitors are commonly equipped with high-sensitive microphones with noise filters for more precise transmission. Take note that this option is the most advanced and expensive amongst the three, but for long-range baby monitors it is usually the best option.

What can Cause Interference Problems?

• Radio, mobile phones, and other electronic gadgets
• Wireless routers
• Microwaves
• Antennas

You may not always be able to fix this issue, because in some areas there’s more interference than other areas. The only way to fix this, is to make sure you get a baby monitor that uses a frequency with less traffic. If in doubt, you could contact a professional to have it tested out.

Wireless Connection Options

If you have WiFi, you might want to consider having a WiFi controlled baby monitor that supports wireless connection for free-range options. The range of this device relies on how good your network connection is, and you can extend your WiFi network as much as you want to.

If the monitor has a camera, you can even use it to see your baby when you are far from home. Just remember, if there are a lot of devices connected to the network, it can take some time to transmit.

Baby’s Safety: Is the Frequency Harmful?

The lower the frequency is, the less harmful it is for humans. These are commonly the sounds that cannot be heard by the human ear.

There is no definitive proof that baby monitors are harmful to babies, but to remain on the safe side (parents in a nutshell, am I right?), don’t place the monitor right next to your baby. Make sure that it is a reasonable distance apart from your child. It should be close and far enough to detect the sounds or movements of your baby. 1-2 feet away is recommended.

If the baby device is corded, do make sure that it is out of your child’s reach to avoid accidents.

How Secure Is the Baby Monitor?

Digital and DECT are encrypted, unlike analog. With analog, strangers can hear your activities from inside the house if they get to intercept it. Check the baby monitor you plan to purchase if it has a single line feature or other security features, that won’t be easily accessed by anyone.

QUICK TIP: Choosing FHSS (Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum)
There are baby monitors that have built-in FHSS. This is a good option, aside from DECT. This is a transmission that decreases interference and avoids interception by rapid frequency switching.  

How Far Apart Do You Plan to Use It?

Having your parent device plugged is an excellent option if you are not moving around while you are doing your tasks. Or you can choose to take advantage of going wireless that provides more distance and flexibility when in use. The best part of this option is the freedom to move from one place to another and be merely notified when your baby needs you.

Your activities will determine the range that you require. It varies a lot for different devices, but you will find that signal-transmitted baby monitors are cheaper compared to the wireless connection options.

To be specific, an excellent long-range baby monitor should have a coverage of 600 to 1,000 feet with a few cases of interference while providing high clarity. It will require a farther range if you live in a bigger home.

With today’s technology, there are baby monitors that can be connected to your phone through their application. Choosing a WiFi baby monitor makes it even possible for families who live apart to watch your baby if you provide them access for the device.

QUICK TIP: Open Field Range
Open field range simply refers to the distance that it covers if it is on the open field. You will find baby monitors that tell you how far it can encompass using this as a basis. Before you make the purchase, take into account that the range can be significantly reduced because of walls and other obstacles that can block the way.

Alarms and Lights

Most baby monitors come with an alert notification if the baby is awake and crying or when you are getting out of range from the baby device.

Blinking lights can be found in some devices. You should consider if it will be bothersome when you use it.

Keeping It Charged

Choose baby monitors that have battery indicators with long battery life. You wouldn’t want to plug it in while you’re on the move and doing various activities. You will need to keep track of its energy so that it wouldn’t hinder you from pursuing more active tasks.

More Features

In today’s technology, there are more features provided in some baby monitors. Here is a list of additional features that you can enjoy:

• Adjust from a distance (Zoom, Pan, or Tilt)
• Night Vision
• Multi-room Monitor
• Heart Rate and Oxygen Level Tracker
• Sound Activated System
• Temperature Sensors
• Lullaby Mode
• Two-way Communication
• Mobile Application Access (we have our list of best app controlled monitors here)
• Take images or record videos

Warranty

This is important to consider when you are planning to have more children soon. Looking for baby monitors that come with a warranty will help you save money. And it can still serve as a home monitor in the long run.

Buying Guide – Here’s Our Favorites

In our Buying Guide, we chose the best for long-range baby monitors in terms of wireless connection, video, and audio. Read on, and take your pick.

Specifications:

• Color: White
• Item Dimension: 7 x 7 x 7 inches
• Power Source: Electric Cord

When it comes to the best long-range choice, nothing beats a wireless connection. The iBaby Monitor M6S supports both 2.4 GHz and 5GHz frequencies. There are two-way audio speakers with echo cancellation that lets you listen and talk to your baby.

Installation is quite easy. You need to download the iBaby Care application to your smartphone, create an account, and connect the monitor to your smartphone using a USB cable. Once the baby monitor is installed, you can immediately use the app to access the monitor.

The video is in 1080p full HD with 360° pan and 110° tilt that lets you watch your baby up to the smallest detail. It has a night vision of near-invisible infrared LEDs to allow you to view your baby throughout the night.

The device also keeps track of the room environment, precisely the temperature, humidity, and air quality.

Through the iBaby Care application, it is easy to take control of the monitor even if you are far from it. You can easily take photos and record videos with it. It also has a library of lullabies and bed stories that lets you play music for your baby. If you have iTunes, you can connect this to your app. Or you can choose to record your own music, save it, and play it for him.

You can invite family and friends to access the monitor to see your baby. Their access is entirely adjustable, and you can quickly check their activity as well. It comes with a Sleep Mode that will temporarily restrict their access when necessary.

Specifications:

• Color: White
• Item Dimension: 19.3 x 13.4 x 6.5 inches
• Display: 3.5 inches LCD
• Power Source: Rechargeable Batteries
• Maximum Range: 700 feet

With its quick setup, there is no hassle in plugging and watching your child. The Infant Optics DXR-8 is the best option for a long-range private line of a baby monitor. The video and audio are transmitted through a 2.4 GHz channel with built-in FHSS technology. As mentioned before, FHSS reduces interference and prevents interception.

The monitor comes with interchangeable lenses: Zoom and Normal. The variety of video range lets you view your child with great clarity, even when the camera is far from him. If you prefer a broader view, the wide-angle lens is sold separately in Amazon.

It has its own parent device that lets you watch your child in real-time without the worry of getting hacked through the internet. The parent device is portable, and it easily fits your pocket if you’re on the move. The battery life lasts 8 hours for live video feed while audio-only lasts up to 12 hours.

Additional features include night vision, talk-back function, and room temperature sensor. The monitor automatically adapts to night vision with adjustable brightness. In using the talk-back feature, you just need to hold the ‘Talk’ button while you are speaking. With the room temperature sensor, even if you purchased an additional camera for a different room, it will keep track of both places through the parent device.

Take note that if you choose to purchase an additional camera unit for a different room, you will not be able to view both places at the same time in a single parent device. You have to switch back and forth to look at each room.

Specifications:

• Color: White/Silver
• Item Dimension: 7.4 x 2.4 x 8.2 inches
• Power Source: Rechargeable Batteries
• Maximum Range: 1,000 feet

For the best long-range audio baby monitor, we chose the Vtech DM221. It is a parent and baby device that is only meant for audio monitoring. The parent unit can last up to 18 hours of usage if it has a full charge of 12 hours. That is a long time to remain plugged, but you also have the option of switching to two AAA batteries if necessary.

The monitor has DECT 6.0 digital technology that provides audio clarity while eliminating background noise. There is a five-level sound indicator on the parent unit to let the parent monitor the noise level while the unit is muted.

It has two-way communication that lets you speak to your baby when he wants to hear your voice.

As you move around the house, you can smoothly go hands-free while monitoring using the belt clip in the parent device. When sounds come from your baby’s room, the parent unit will alert you with a vibrating sound alarm or a silent vibration. You can set up the notification to signal when the connection between two devices is lost.

The loop in the baby monitoring device also serves as a night light to provide comfort for babies. It automatically turns off when there is no sound detected for fifteen minutes.

Peace of Mind

In purchasing a baby monitor, what we are really buying is the peace of mind that comes with it. As a parent, it is challenging to do other tasks when our priority is our children. This should not hinder us from doing other activities. Using a long-range baby monitor makes attending to other duties easier. It is a solution for us parents who have a lot of tasks to do while looking after their baby.

It is fine to rely on technology every now and then, it is the main reason why it is invented in the first place. But we should remember that our presence is always preferable. Our babies will not remain babies for a long time. It would be best for us to enjoy those moments together to our heart’s content while it still lasts.