How to choose a baby monitor: the questions to ask
How to choose a baby monitor comes down to five simple questions, asked in order: WiFi or direct link, one camera or two, which screen, which battery, what image at night. This guide goes through them for a baby monitor with a camera, without pushing a model on you. At the end you will know which type of device fits your situation, and which page of the site to open to compare references.
The five questions, in order
Do you want to watch from your phone?
If so, you need a WiFi model with an app. If the screen supplied with the camera is enough, a direct link with no network is simpler to set up. The guide on WiFi or no WiFi baby monitors details this first choice.
One camera or two?
Two cameras help for twins who do not fit in the same field of view, or for two bedrooms. In the Boifun range every family exists with two cameras: the page on Boifun split screen baby monitors gathers them.
Which screen and which image?
The screen size is on the spec sheet: 4 inches, 5 inches or 5.5 inches in the Boifun range. The definition is listed as 720p for the models without WiFi, and 2K or 4 MP for the WiFi models. Those are listed values: a real image also depends on the lighting in the room.
What battery life for the monitor?
Look at what the seller gives: a capacity in mAh, a duration in hours, or both. A duration “in VOX mode” does not hold for a screen that stays on. When the capacity is not disclosed, as on some Boifun models, the comparison stays incomplete.
What does the camera see at night?
Night vision is most often infrared. In our data, only the VB616 page gives the wavelength (940 nm, listed as invisible to the child) and the distance (a clear image up to 10 meters). For the others, check the seller’s page before buying.
A baby monitor with a camera, or audio only?
A video baby monitor adds comfort: you see without going into the bedroom. It also adds things to look after, such as a screen to charge, an angle to set, and possibly a network. If only sound matters to you, a simpler audio model may be enough. This site only covers Boifun’s video models.
Which family fits your case?
| Your need | Family to look at |
|---|---|
| A ready-to-use device, with no app | Non WiFi baby monitors |
| Watching from a phone, a more detailed image | 2K WiFi baby monitors |
| Two children, two cribs, two rooms | Two cameras |
| Hesitating between two close WiFi models | Baby 6T and Baby 4TM comparison |
Other criteria to keep in mind
Range depends on the home more than on the model: our page on baby monitor range explains how to read it. Radiation and data security are two separate topics, covered in baby monitor radiation and baby monitor hacking. How long to use one comes later, with when to stop using a baby monitor.
Do not forget
A baby monitor, even a video one, does not replace an adult’s supervision. The features listed by sellers are aids, not guarantees.
How we present the models
The pages of this site repeat the sellers’ information on Amazon, with dates. No device is handled and no score is given: the approach is detailed in our method.
If the brand is new to you, read what can be said about it on our Boifun reviews page first, then compare models.
Frequently asked questions
What baby monitor should I get for a first baby?
The simplest to use: a model with a direct link, without WiFi or an app, suits you well when you want a device that is ready to go. If you want to watch from a phone, a WiFi model fits better. The choice depends on your home and your habits more than on the child’s age.
Is a video baby monitor essential?
No. An audio baby monitor is enough for many families. The camera adds comfort: seeing the child without opening the door. It never removes the need for an adult to be present.
Is night vision listed on every Boifun model?
In our data, only the VB616 page gives the detail: 940 nm infrared, listed as invisible, with a clear image up to 10 meters. For the other models that detail is not disclosed in the catalog.
