While most baby monitors are marketed specifically for babies we have found that these types of devices are clunky, inconvenient, and don’t usually hold up as well to long term use.
However, there are two great home security cameras on the market right now that can also double as a baby monitors: the Nest Security Camera and the Amazon Cloud Cam. Both of these cameras are great alternatives to a traditional baby monitor. They are easy to set-up and convenient to monitor right from your smartphone.
Plus, they offer additional flexibility as an all-around home security camera. This allows you to use the camera after the baby stages, making the up-front cost well worth the investment.
Best Video Quality
Nest Security Camera
The Nest Security Camera is a versatile device that functions well as an all-around home security camera. The camera can be set-up anywhere (on a flat surface or mounted to a wall), it only needs to be connected to a power source and have a Wi-Fi connection to work.
Once set-up you can live stream the continuous video footage right on your smart phone. If the camera senses motion or sound you will receive a notification, which is very helpful during middle of the night wake-ups. The 2-way audio feature allows you to both listen and respond to your baby through the device. The Nest Cam’s high-quality lens provides crisp 1080p video and 8x digital zoom to let you see every detail in full HD. It works in the daylight and also has great night vision capabilities.
With a free plan you get access to a 3-hour snapshot history of all activity detected on the camera. But we recommend upgrading and purchasing a Nest Aware subscription. When you subscribe to a plan you get 24/7 continuous recording and cloud storage that provides access to 5, 10, or 30 days of video footage for a $5, $10, or $30/mo subscription fee.
Specs
- Field of view: 130 degrees
- Powered by AC adaptor
- 1080p HD video; high-quality glass lens, image sensor, and 8x digital zoom
- Motion and sound detection
- 2-way audio
- 24/7 continuous recording and cloud storage with Nest Aware subscription
Why We Love It
- High quality, 130 degree wide angle lens lets you see everything, day or night
- Discreet design; able to turn off recording lights to record without attracting attention
To Consider
- Will have to purchase a Nest Aware subscription to view video history
Budget Friendly Cam
Amazon Cloud Cam
The Amazon Cloud Cam is a more budget friendly home security camera that can also be used as a baby monitor. This camera helps you catch activities as they happen in 1080p full HD.
When the Cloud Cam sees activity you will receive notifications and can then use the Cloud Cam App to check the live view right on your smart device. Added features include: 2-way audio, to hear and communicate with your baby and night vision, which lets you detect what’s happening around the clock. By going with an Amazon device you also get compatibility with Alexa.
With a free plan you can watch, download, and share the last 24 hours of motion alert video clips. But after upgrading to a Cloud Cam paid subscription you can review clips triggered by motion for 7, 14, or 30 days for a $6.99, $9.99, or $19.99/mo subscription fee. With a paid subscription you also get intelligent alerts and advanced features like person detection and zones. We suggest upgrading to get the additional storage and intelligent features, but if you’re unsure Amazon offers a 30-day trial period to test it out.
Specs
- Field of view: 120 degrees
- Powered by AC adaptor
- 1080p HD video;
- Motion and sound detection
- 2-way audio
- 24/7 continuous recording and cloud storage with a Cloud Cam subscription
Why We Love It
- Works with Alexa
- Free version provides longer period of recordings (24 hours) compared to Nest
- Cloud storage plans are more economical compared to Nest
To Consider
- Will have to purchase a Cloud Cam subscription to view video history
- The field of view is slightly narrower than the Nest
- Saves motion-detected video clips and not entire footage
Overview
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Last update on 2023-03-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API