If you are the hunt for a baby monitor that can be easily moved around the room or house, a battery-operated monitor gives you the freedom and flexibility of total control of your machine. Without being constrained to wall outlets, your monitor can be placed in hard-to-reach areas or taken with you on family vacations. The battery-operated monitor is built with the idea that sometimes, you need to be creative in catering to your baby’s needs.
These monitors come with a number of pros: They are easy to set up, portable, and don’t have any messy wires or cables to struggle with. This means that if you’ve set up your child’s room a certain way then find out the spot you planned to put the monitor doesn’t offer the clearest sound, it is easy to move the device to a better spot.
Not all battery-powered baby monitors are made the same. Especially for first-time parents, the process of buying a baby monitor can be overwhelming and uncertain because of the sheer number of items available online with different features. Motion detection, wide-angle lenses, baby breathing monitors… the list is endless to make sure that your child remains safe in the baby room. That’s why with both price and quality in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the Top 5 battery-powered baby monitors that are available on Amazon in 2017.
1. VTech DM221 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor
As a company dedicated to extraordinary consumer electronics, VTech’s baby monitors are some of the best that you can get.
Click on the image to check the monitor out on Amazon.
The VTech DM221 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor Offers a Number of Features, Including:
- Vibrating feature that lets you “feel” your baby’s cries
- DECT 6.0 technology reduces interference from other radio waves
- 5-level visual sound indicator
- Built-in nightlight on baby unit
- 150-foot indoor range (1000 feet outdoor range)
- Battery life of 18 hours
- Two-way transmission
One of the best things about this device is the fact that it comes with rechargeable batteries, which helps reduce the amount of waste created. If you were to lose these batteries for some reason, it can also be powered by two AAA batteries.
What Reviewers Are Saying
This baby monitor has an average of 4 stars on Amazon and has been reviewed over 4,000 times. 50% gave the monitor 5 stars, citing clear sound and high sensitivity as the reasons for their high rating. The VTech monitor will remain quiet until it picks up on your baby’s cries, so ambient noise will not be a bother to parents.
The largest complaint that reviewers had was the battery life of this product, many stating that the time between charges became smaller and smaller over the months. Some stated that they had to replace the units after a few months or were constantly recharging the devices.
However, we believe that the excellent customer service and overwhelmingly high reviews overshadow this factor. Additionally, at a relatively low price point, this unit can be easily replaced if there are serious malfunctions.
To learn more about the VTech DM221 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor, click here.
2. VTech DM111 Safe & Sound Digital Audio Baby Monitor
Similar to the DM221 but without the two-way transmission or rechargeable batteries, this device is an amazing option for families looking for a simple monitor at a low price.
Click on the image to check the monitor out on Amazon.
Features Include
- 5-level visual sound indicator
- 150-foot indoor range (1000 feet outdoor range)
- Battery life up to 20 hours
- DECT 6.0 technology
The largest hindrance of this model is the fact that it does not use rechargeable batteries, so you will need to be prepared and always have lots of AAA batteries in your home. You also can only hear your baby, rather than communicating with him or her.
What Reviewers Are Saying
Most reviewers on Amazon are generally happy with their “no-frills” baby monitor, one man even commenting, “We can hear the same baby, same crying, $80 less [than more expensive units].” With an average of 4.1 stars out of 1,680 on Amazon, it’s hard to challenge this simple but powerful device.
Negative reviews complained of static noises and short device lifetime, but by being diligent in turning off the monitor when it is not in use, you can probably prolong the battery life. Reviewers also commented that the static noise issues were like caused by low battery life. Additional power cords help the battery life issue and at $20 this unit can be easily replaced if need-be.
To learn more about the VTech DM111, click here.
3. Willcare DBM-8 Portable Audio Digital Baby Monitor
The Willcare baby monitor is a great monitor at a low price point. With a number of features and over 200 reviews on Amazon, this monitor is a great option for someone looking at the lower end of the price range but still wanting some amazing features.
Click on the image to check the monitor out on Amazon.
The Willcare Benefits Include:
- Two-way communication
- Background noise reduction
- 160-foot indoor range (1000-feet outdoor range)
- Remote-controlled nightlight
- Micro-USB recharging for convenience
- 3-year protection for an additional $3
What Reviewers Are Saying
With 4.3 out of 5 stars and 255 reviews, it seems that this high-quality product is just starting to get noticed by Amazon buyers. 79% of reviewers rated it at 5 stars, overwhelmingly more than any other monitor reviewed. Most were wholly surprised at the sound quality offered by the Willcare, saying that the background noise reduction worked like a charm and the sound sensitivity was unparalleled.
Parents also loved the fact that the night light on the baby’s unit could be controlled remotely! The negative reviews that we found seem to stem from faulty devices. The common denominator among these complaints was that the unit didn’t work almost immediately after opening it, which we chalk up to a bad device that can be returned.
As an additional protection though, we recommend buying the extra 3-year protection for just $3 to make sure that your monitor is operating smoothly for a long time.
To learn more about the Willcare DBM-8, click here.
4. Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera HB24, Night Vision Temperature Monitoring & 2 Way Talkback System
If you are looking for a battery-powered baby monitor that has everything but the kitchen sink, the Hello Baby Wireless Video system is the choice for you!
Click on the image to check the monitor out on Amazon.
Features of This Device Include:
- Two-way communication
- Temperature monitoring
- Video with night vision
- VOX voice-activated sound control
- Digital zoom
- 8 lullabies
- 8-level alarm
- 960-foot range
- Ability to connect one parent unit to four different cameras
- Optional 2- or 3-year warranty
What Reviewers Are Saying
Most reviewers are absolutely in love with their Hello Baby camera. With 1,295 reviews, 50% of customers rated it at 5 stars, giving it an average of 3.8 across the board. The happiest customers were blown away by the quality of the camera and the distance of range (one woman commented that it worked like a charm in her 2,800 square foot home and even extended over to her neighbor’s house!).
Negative reviews focused on the short battery life that is inevitable with video-based monitors, but several reviewers who initially gave low scores updated their reviews after being in contact with customer service. Overall, this is a great camera that’s in the middle-of-the-road price range.
To learn more about the Hello Baby, visit the Amazon listing here.
5. Levana Jena Digital Baby Video Monitor with 8 Hour Rechargeable Battery and Talk to Baby Intercom
Since 2001, Levana has been pioneering the use of digital technology in baby monitors. The company is well regarded for their high-quality monitors and the Jena is no different.
Click on the image to check the monitor out on Amazon.
The Features on the Jena Include:
- 8-hour battery life
- 500-foot range using ClearVu technology
- Energy saving mode with 12 hours of battery life
- Video camera with 15-foot automatic night vision
- Two-way communication
- Temperature monitoring
- Nightlight
- 5 lullabies
- Parent unit can be used with up to 4 cameras
What Reviewers Are Saying
The Jena is rated at 4.1 stars out of 5 and has over 1,300 reviews. More than half of the reviewers rated it at 5 stars, citing the simplicity of the device, the picture quality, and the long battery life as the best parts. Some reviewers felt that the monitor was glitchy, but the majority of reviewers were happy with their purchase.
To learn more about the Jena monitor and read reviews, click here.
Conclusion
A battery-powered baby monitor is great for families that are on the go and any one of these 5 units should be great options for your family.
