I got this and never looked back. Its a camera with its monitor. It’s amazing. Video is crystal clear, sound is great. Even shows temperature. Has night vision. You can remotely rotate or zoom In with the camera. Don’t need internet or anything. The only thing some people might not like is that you can’t get it on your phone, need the monitor. But I prefer it this way because I get to keep an eye on the baby at all times and play on my phone !
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The monitor I have has a color bar on the side that gets more red the louder the baby gets. Maybe a monitor w this type of option would work for you. Visually seeing you’re baby on the screen combined with the color bar may help you determine if baby is upset/ hungry or just getting comfy.
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_OsqQBbDM322HA
Edit: I’m not hearing impaired I just thought this feature could be helpful to you.
Like some other people have mentioned, I wasn't a fan of wifi enabled monitor. So I ended up with this one: https://www.amazon.com/Infant-Optics-DXR-8-Monitor-Interchangeable/dp/B00ECHYTBI/
I like it so far, the range is good enough for us to go the neighbors house and still pick up the video and the monitor has a battery so we can take it around the house with us.
We got this because my husband is paranoid about wifi-enabled cameras: Infant Optics DXR-8 PRO Baby Monitor 720P 5" HD Display with A.N.R. (Active Noise Reduction), White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FF4GV5C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_0DPY14JATJXG2RY69E0G?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This has definitely been the go-to monitor for awhile (I also have it), but Anker has released one that is $30 less (see the coupon on product page), bigger screen, better picture. I only mention it because Anker/Eufy has a great reputation for making quality electronics. I would try this one first because the better screen/picture, and it's cheaper. If it didn't work well, Amazon will let you return it easily.
We have this Infant Optics one. We got it for our baby shower for our first. We’ve been using it daily for a year and a half and I like it. You can add another camera and view it on the same monitor (which is what we will do for our second born).
The positives: picture is really clear and you can zoom. It apparently comes with some kind of zoom lens but I never used it. The volume is great and adjustable. It tells you the temp in the room. The camera rotates all over so it’s easy to make sure you have a good view on your LO. Also, I’ve dropped the monitor screen like a million times and it’s still totally fine - no cracks, still working 100%. Oh and it has a mount so you can hang it from the wall or have it standing on a table top.
The negatives: The battery goes wonky after a while. It will show up as being dead on the screen but it’s not. It’s an easy fix tho. You just charge it 100% and then pull the battery out for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Or just replace the battery - I got a replacement on Amazon for like $8. Also, the microwave interferes with the signal if the monitor screen is too close (like in the same room). This doesn’t actually bother me, cuz it’s only when the microwave is running so like a minute or two. Just figured I’d mention it. One thing that did drive me crazy was the charging light. There’s a light about an inch long on the right side. It changes color based on charging status. It is bright as hell when you’re sleeping with the monitor like one foot from your face. I put a piece of black electric tape over it and problem solved. Lol
We have the Infant Optics DXR-8. Our son is 3 and it’s still going strong, and we just got a second camera for our newborn and it connects with the existing set. We have had to buy a new battery for the monitor once so far and probably need another one soon, but they are reasonably priced.
Meets all of the requirements you listed.
The video quality isn’t the greatest I’ve seen, but it works for us.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FF4GV5C
I registered for this monitor because I wanted a no wi-fi system for security. Most people don’t do multi-factor authentication for their apps and that is just a security risk I didn’t like even if I were to set up MFA. There was a period of time that wi-fi monitors were hacked and people were saying creepy things to kids via the baby monitor. I’m probably being over paranoid but this is the one hill I decided to make my stand lol
We decided to get the one our friend had since we had seen it in action anytime we were over there and it seemed great. It’s definitely pricier but the friend mentioned the company had great customer service and when once had an issue got it replaced no problem. Now onto baby #2 so they’ve been using it for 2-3 years now. It’s also not wifi enabled which was my preference for privacy purposes. Infant Optics Baby Monitor
We have the Infant Optics monitor, which was highly recommended by so many people I've lost count at this point. But you can buy up to four extra cameras to pair to it, and you can pan and zoom in with the cameras too. We LOVE it!
So, I looked for a long time for a WiFI baby cam that didn't require an internet connection. I needed it for two reasons: first, I didn't trust it and didn't want an IoT camera looking into my kid's room; second, the cabin we vacation at doesn't have good internet and when we wanted to have a usable baby cam there (even if I had to bring a WiFi router). I researched, contacted multiple manufacturers, couldn't find anyone that fit the bill. (If you find one, please share! lol)
We finally broke down and went with the Infant Optics monitor, even though there's no remote support. (I can't recommend this enough, we love it, but I understand it doesn't fit your needs.) If we hadn't decided on this, I was going to have to build my own solution with a regular pan/tilt security camera and probably an old tablet as the "monitor".
We registered for this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI?tag=blvisitor-20
Why we bought it: Good reviews on Amazon. I liked the different lenses and that you can add on another camera. I liked that you can have the monitor "off," but still see if there is sound (the lights will light up).
Why we didn't want a webcam: 1. the security issues (people hacking and talking/seeing baby), 2. we don't have the need to see baby when we aren't home (baby will be at daycare. If we were going the nanny route, I might have changed my tune), 3. i don't want to have to use my iphone as a baby monitor. I'd rather have something that can be "on" all the time rather than toggling to an app/website.
Can't help you with how hard was it to secure - haven't used it yet!
Edited to add: also liked that it came with a temperature sensor. We will probably buy the wide angle lens once baby gets older/mobile.
FTM here... I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ECHYTBI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I originally bought a different one (a WiFi/phone app one), but it was pretty laggy on my phone (which is a pretty good phone & we have pretty good WiFi). DH & I decided to just return it & try another one (the one above). We haven't 'officially' tried it out yet (I'll be 34 weeks tomorrow), but we've played around with it & tried it out a bit for ourselves. In short, the picture is pretty good, the sound is very good, and the parent unit/monitor is very responsive. It's VERY highly rated on Amazon. I know it's early to tell, but I think we're going to be very happy with it. It is a little pricey (around $167 on Amazon), but I still think it's worth the money.
If you're not sure, I just Googled things like 'best baby monitor 2017' or 'best video baby monitor' (depending on the kind you want), and some websites provide very helpful reviews of different monitors (pros & cons, etc).
Hi there! I'm not one of you any more. In fact, my little boy is 18 months old now. I came back to baby bumps and I wanted to make a post about an awesome baby monitor on sale on Amazon today. I seriously LOVE this monitor. I've tried a couple out, but this one kicked the pants off any of them. It's the Infant Optics DXR-8. Infant Optics It's one of the highest rated/most sold monitors on Amazon for a reason.
Hello Baby Wireless Video Baby Monitor with Digital Camera HB24, Night Vision Temperature Monitoring & 2 Way Talkback System, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZUD4R8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_KETRBbHB27TZR
We have this one and we love it!
We got the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro which checks all your boxes except watch via phone.
We actually like having the dedicated monitor instead of on the phone. No worrying about the app chewing up your phone battery or otherwise not being able to use your phone for other stuff. No worrying about what company the video is streaming through or has claws in your data/privacy. No worrying about what happens if your internet connection goes out or your modem/router resets. No updates or app bloatware crap to deal with. Just a simple device that does a simple job well with no setup right out of the box. Also works really well as a baton to clearly hand-off who is "on duty".
The noise cancelling on the DXR-8 works incredibly well. It completely filters out the white noise machine we use.
I’m so sorry this is happening. It’s terrifying. Obviously unplug the cameras and put them in box in the garage or basement or somewhere where you won’t see them.
As everyone else suggested, would change your WiFi name AND password ASAP - and you may want to do the same for any accounts that use the same password, or really any accounts you may have accessed through your WiFi. There are some additional security settings you can implement for your router that you can Google.
This is exactly why we got the Infant Optics DXR Pro baby monitor (link), which can’t connect to the internet. It uses a closed loop “frequency hopping” system that can’t be hacked. I did a lot of research before buying, basically each camera can only connect to one monitor and the system rapidly changes frequencies (think turning your radio dial really fast) so that the monitor and camera can connect to each other, but it’s virtually impossible to hack (someone would have to be in the vicinity and have knowledge of the frequency hopping pattern which isn’t goofy to happen).
Going back to your original cameras, I’m not sure if any footage is recorded, but it may be worth it to check the account to see if you can save it for future reference if needed. Sorry again OP, at least you caught it and can do something now.
We use this HelloBaby monitor. It's discounted right now, plus there's a $30 coupon so it's around $100.
I also picked up a cheap audio monitor for travel but when he's in an unfamiliar sleep space, I sometimes prefer to have video.
Video Baby Monitor with Digital... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FSLSL1K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
it's not motion activated, but it's pretty loud, so whenever he would open his door, I usually heard the door.
You could also try a baby gate for his bedroom, in combination with the monitor you already have, that way he could still holler at you if needed, but can't escape into other rooms. Being stuck in his room might just be boring enough for him to crawl back into bed!
Vtech makes a model that allows you to view from an included dedicated monitor and also an iPhone app. I didn’t like the idea of being forced to always use my phone to view the cam, but also didn’t like the idea of never being able to use my phone. I considered the nanit and other but ultimately the flexibility of a monitor/iPhone app and the cost won it for me.
VTech Upgraded Smart WiFi Baby... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WCV632L?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Honestly, we avoided the WiFi monitors entirely. No matter how good you think your security is, that means an Internet connected camera is pointed at your kid's bed 24/7, and that camera/account COULD be breached or hacked. No thanks. It also means your monitor is kinda useless out and about or in other homes.
We went with the Anker wireless (but not WiFi) monitor like this: https://www.amazon.com/eufy-SpaceView-Pioneering-Generation-Wide-Angle/dp/B07GBP3GH9/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2FBOV3UT1BQTQ&keywords=anker+baby+monitor&qid=1660746509&sprefix=anker+baby+monitor%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-3
If you get a little USB battery pack, like one from Anker lol, you can power the camera off that and literally take it and set it up ANYWHERE. We don't, but I've heard of people mounting it on their strollers and using it to see in while shading baby from the sun. We take it to our in laws' all the time and we can use it inside, outside, wherever our baby is. Plus, it is effectively unhackable by an outsider, so the camera is secure.
The good news is there are plenty of baby monitors available with motion detector & audio alerts, usually combined with a local camera, 2-way audio, and the ability to partner with a smartphone app over Wifi. So you could unobtrusively watch your father from across town, ask him questions or chat through the monitor, receive a smartphone alert when he climbs out of bed or calls out, etc. You can also observe his interactions with the nurses and hospice staff, if that interests you. An entry-level Amazon example here - I've not vetted that one and don't vouch for it, it's just an example of what I mean.
The bad news is these aren't inexpensive little devices, the models that "just work" right out of the box run $150-300. The cheaper video baby monitors tend to be less versatile, usually by removing the wifi & smartphone ability, and pairing the video/audio to a dedicated monitor device with an "across the house" range. There's also non-video pin-on baby monitors that will send an alert on movement, but they're really sensitive and meant as a roll-over alert, not a getting-out-of-bed alert.
For under $40 you can get a wifi home secuity camera (unvetted Amazon example here)with motion detection and 2-way audio, but the included app may not be as refined or as versatile or as stable as the ones packaged with the $150+ baby monitors. And it may take some fiddling to get connected to your home Wifi & talking to your iPhones - the $200 baby monitor will have a 1-800 support number to walk you through getting everything working. But if you're clever with tech, that might be the best "economy" option. You might also ask around on your local baby/mommy FaceBook groups, see if anyone has one of the full-featured ones they'd sell (or short-term loan) to you.
We've got an Anker wireless one. All the bells and whistles of most standard WiFi cameras, but they have to be directly paired to the monitor, and they aren't on WiFi or BT.
https://www.amazon.com/eufy-SpaceView-Pioneering-Generation-Wide-Angle/dp/B07GBP3GH9
FWIW, this probably wasn't "hacked" so much as they didn't set up much beyond the default security and someone exploited that...but yeah, I remember this being a BIG issue with the Comcast Xfinity Home Security cameras they sold as baby monitors. Tons of people just left the default security settings so TONS of people had basically wide open cameras right into their kids' bedrooms.
Why people would skimp on that security, I don't know. But either way, we preferred not having a WiFi connected camera anyway.
What's also great is that the camera is USB powered...so you can take it anywhere. You don't need WiFi for it to work. You can take it on vacation, you can move it around your home, you can even power it off a small USB battery pack and set it up anywhere, the flexibility is really great.
You can find a bunch on Amazon or Best Buy. Quality varies by brand/model. VTech has one too if that's your brand of choice.
I use an IP cam and a local only cam / monitor. I've been happy with the eufy Video Baby Monitor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBP3GH9.
The owlet sock went off a bunch the first two nights we used it. Stopped using it after that and reading up on it. It is not accurate enough to be useful in any way.
This is the one I got :) specifically because it doesn’t not connect to wifi and has great reviews!
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor with Interchangeable Optical Lens https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ECHYTBI/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_FGKQZCNHH651D2WP0NZS
We went with this one after reading some reviews on the daddit subreddit. It works great in light and dark conditions, definitely happy with our purchase.
We got this one and like it so far! No issues
VTech VM819 Video Baby Monitor with 19Hour Battery Life 1000ft Long Range Auto Night Vision 2.8” Screen 2Way Audio Talk Temperature Sensor Power Saving Mode and Lullabies, White https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08V8RWP3W/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_9WW76Q3SGTBZR9M58SFC