The Best Smart Baby Monitors of 2026, as Tested by Moms

What we like: The Dream Duo 2 includes the Owlet Smart HD Monitor and the Owlet Dream Sock. The Owlet is the only FDA-approved child health monitor on this list. The Dream Sock is the first and only medical over-the-counter pulse oximetry solution for infants. The package came with four different sized socks intended for healthy infants weighing 6 to 30 pounds. The socks contain a photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, similar to the one hospitals use to test your heart rate. The sock has velcro straps so you can easily adjust it around your child’s foot.

One thing I liked about this camera was that the cord was the longest of all the monitors and its magnetic base made it the most adjustable, so you get the best camera angle possible. This has been very helpful as the area where I have my son’s pack ‘n play requires a tricky angle to get the full view. This baby monitor is powered via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and connects to the Owlet app (available on iOS and Android). The app is free and there is no paid subscription.

The readings show you the baby’s pulse, oxygen levels if they detect movement, noise in the room, ambient temperature and predict their next nap based on their wake windows and when the baby wakes up. Once baby gets up, you receive a full sleep session report that tells you how long baby slept, their average heart rate and oxygen level. One of the things that surprised me was how the sock was able to track when and for how long my son was awake and when he was sleeping lightly or deeply.

Who is it best for: This tool can be helpful to parents of newborns and babies because the data can be presented to their pediatrician if their baby is experiencing sleep regression or having difficulty determining their wake windows and establishing a sleep schedule. If your goal is to better understand your child’s sleep habits, the Owlet Dream Duo 2 might be a good choice for your family. Note: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends against the use of direct-to-consumer heart rate and pulse oximetry monitoring devices to prevent sudden infant death syndrome or other sleep-related deaths. The AAP cautions that there is not enough evidence to support that these types of devices can prevent these deaths and give parents a false sense of security. Owlet states on its website that Dream Sock is intended to track your child’s well-being by monitoring sleep patterns, sleep quality and duration. As long as you use the Dream Sock correctly, you can reap the benefits.

I found setting up the sock to be easier than setting up the camera, but using the sock on my son took some trial and error. This is because he doesn’t like to keep it on, so it’s something to keep in mind if your child doesn’t like wearing shoes or socks.

Who should avoid it: If you are someone who is too anxious with additional data, this baby monitor may not be the right solution for you. As previously stated, the Owlet sock is only intended to be used as a way to track your baby’s sleep habits and not as a medical device. You will need to keep the sock on the charging base when not in use to keep it charged. If you don’t put it back on the base, the battery will drain and it won’t work properly. Sometimes I had to troubleshoot getting the sock and camera to work from the app if I lost connection. The base itself lights up in different colors and each has a different meaning:

Green light: A flashing green light means it is capturing heart rate and oxygen measurements. Once established and everything appears to be within range, the flashing becomes more regular.

Red light: If the base starts flashing red, it means the oxygen levels or heart rate levels are out of range.

Blue light: This means that the base is not able to detect the sock via Bluetooth and it will also play the “Hush Little Baby” lullaby to let you know.

Yellow light: This indicates that the sock is unable to find a reading on your baby’s foot.

If the Dream Sock seems a bit much, the camera is also sold separately and offers a clear picture of your child as well as two-way audio, temperature control, and crying notifications.