Summer Infant – Best Baby Monitor
Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor with 2.5″ Screen | Best Baby Monitor
- 100% digital technology for a secure and private connection up to a 350′ range
- Small, lightweight size with a 2.5” color LCD screen with B&W night vision, LED sound lights and one touch video on/off for night time convenience
- Remotely pan, scan and zoom camera
- 10 hour rechargeable battery, auto time-out feature
- Belt clip and flip stand included
Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor with 2.5″ Screen
For parents looking for the best in handheld color video monitors, Summer Infant’s ‘Best View’ Handheld Color Video Monitor is the one. It’s not only 100% digital, providing a clear and secure transmission, but it looks and works great and has a 2.5″ color display screen with remote pan, scan and zoom camera options to get the best view of baby.
Super easy to set up in a matter of moments. Hurraahhh!!! GREAT picture in light and dark room. No interference.
This monitor is great for us to use on our 5 month old because he never cries when waking up, so it has been super difficult with a regular audio monitor to really see whether he’s really and truly awake or just snuffling, grunting, moving around. I’m convinced that before I had this monitor I went in to check on him and inadvertently woke him up as a result, whereas now I can see whether his eyes are open, and sometimes he falls asleep again after a few awake moments. Once again, this is something I can now monitor accurately.
Digital technology provides a secure and private connection up to a 350′ range. The small, lightweight receiver has a 2.5” color LCD screen with black and white night vision and LED sound light to see and hear baby’s every sound. One touch video on/off for night time convenience and belt clip & flip stand. 2.4GHz.
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Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor with 2.5" Screen
390 of 395 people found the following review helpful:
By
Snap, Crackle and Pop (United States) – See all my reviews
Video monitors might seem gimmicky, or for obsessive parents, but they are much more useful than you might think (see more thoughts in the last section of this review). And the Summer Infant BestView is one of the top choices (the other one as of now being the more expensive Safety 1st High-Def Digital Video Monitor). Summer Infant has done a lot of things right – they got the basics of audio and video working, and added useful features like pan and zoom. And they haven’t added too many useless features (like music or nightlights). There are a few things, as mentioned in other reviews and below, that leave you wondering what they were thinking. But all of the monitors we’ve owned – three video monitors and two audio monitors – have had a few strange twists like that. And oddly our first video monitor, the seemingly stone age analog Summer Infant Video Monitor with a video tube, still has the best audio and video quality of all of them (when there’s no static). But it’s far from portable. With any monitor, the video and audio quality are by far the most important features, and on the the Summer Infant Best View Monitor those work well. The pan and zoom also work well, and are useful features: GOOD VIDEO: The video quality is good when using night vision, considering the limitations of night vision; and very good in normal light, with good color. There is little or no time delay, and relatively few skips in the movement. The good normal-light video quality, together with the pan and zoom feature, would make this a very good playtime monitor for a toddler’s room. (But I’m betting most people instead buy this as a baby monitor, and mostly use night vision / black & white.) By the way, all night vision monitors will be black and white – they only switch to color when a room is well lit. That surprises some people. BIG SCREEN: The 2.5″ screen on the is bigger than most if not all of the competition. That, together with the batteries, makes the monitor a little bigger than some (2-5/8″ wide x 1-3/4″ deep by 4-3/4″ tall plus a 1-1/2″ antenna, for 6-1/4″ total), but it’s not really a problem as it only needs to be portable, not pocketable. GOOD AUDIO: The audio quality is good, and doesn’t seem to be subject to a time delay (like some monitors). You can hear a baby breathing if you want to. There is a wide range of audio settings from loud to quiet to off, so it works in a noisy kitchen or when the shower is running, on one hand, or in the bedroom at night, on the other hand. It’s a little unfortunate that the audio doesn’t sound a little more natural and accurate, so you could get every nuance. But at least the audio doesn’t seem like an afterthought, like it does on some monitors. NO STATIC: There is no static or interference on the audio or video, at least for us. While that may seem amazing if you’re new to digital monitors, it’s an old technology – phones have had this for years. USEFUL PAN: The camera has a motorized mount, and you can turn it through a wide range of motion to see the area you want to see. There’s a joystick on the monitor used to control it, and it works fairly well. It’s not silent when it moves, but not very loud. USABLE ZOOM: There are just two zoom levels (not continuous, as with the pan). It works well enough, and is a nice feature. PRIVATE: The digital technology used for transmitting not only avoids static, but is also private. DECENT RANGE: We don’t need much range, so have never had any issues. But it’s a real shame the product info talks about 350′ range, that’s going to mislead people, as an insert in the box makes it clear that’s not realistic. It says you should expect that “Optimal distance for normal in home use is 15-60 feet.” One tip, you normally want to point the antenna so it’s perpendicular to where the monitor is. So if you’re using the monitor on the same floor, point the antenna vertically; if you’re using the monitor on a floor above or below, point the antenna horizontally. OTHER FEATURES: There’s a button on the top you can use to turn the video on and off, either to conserve batteries or just to not have the distraction. The power adapters work on US or international voltages, which can come in handy. BATTERIES: I was a disappointed to find this uses NiMH batteries, rather than the smaller, more powerful (and more expensive) LiOn type. On balance, though, it’s probably fine for most people. It probably helps keep the cost down,… 135 of 139 people found the following review helpful:
 Pretty good but some bad engineering choices, March 28, 2009 By
This has good video and audio quality, which makes it better than the other video monitors out there. That’s something. So why take away from that with a few things that make no sense at all: What is with the flashing red lights on the camera? Sure they aren’t that bright, but they are visible AND they go off briefly about every 5 seconds. That’s all my baby can look at. Maybe it won’t be a problem long term. But I know these lights for night illumination can be invisible, other monitors are. Even Summer Infant makes some where the baby doesn’t have to see the night vision lights. And they sure don’t need to go on and off. And, because the night vision lights on the camera go out, it makes the video on the baby m0nitor pulsate in brightness every 5 seconds or so too. It’s still usable, just really annoying when you have the video on in a room that’s low or no light. Flash …. flash …. flash … And last of all, for goodness sakes when will they figure out that you don’t put a huge bright green LED on the front of a baby monitor camera, just to let you know the power is connected? If I want a nightlight (or a spotlight, sheesh), I’ll get one! They need to let a few real moms use the products before they release them, and listen to what they say. 139 of 149 people found the following review helpful:
 Has a major flaw please read if you want to use at night, March 1, 2009 By
Shaun (San Diego, CA USA) – See all my reviews
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This review is from: Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Best Baby Monitor with 2.5″ Screen (Baby Product)
So first I will say I have tried many cameras and this one is great. It has a great picture and great sound. The pan and zoom feature is great. I have no interference from my wireless internet or cordless phones. However it has three flaws and one is major. The first is the lights that let you know the baby is crying only work when the volume is turned up. Also the louder the volume on the monitor is turned up the more lights that light up even if the baby is crying at the same level. The issue is you can’t simply have the volume tuned down or low and watch the monitor to see if the baby is crying. This is useful if you are on the phone or the monitor is sitting on your desk or even if your spouse is sleeping and you have the monitor and don’t want the sound to wake them. The lights should light up no matter that volume you have the monitor on. (I am told this has been fixed with the newer models that Amazon now has) The second issue is adjusting the volume. You have to go into the menu to do this because there are no volume controls on the unit. So as an example at night if the video on the monitor is shut off and the baby starts crying you can’t just turn the volume up or down you need to wake the video on the monitor then hit menu then adjust the volume. The third issue which is major and is why it needs to go back is in nightvision. Every 5 seconds or so the picture flashes bight light on the monitor. I went in and looked at the camera and it turns out that the LED lights that are used for nightvision on the camera actual are flashing off and on about every five seconds which is what is causing this. It’s very distracting and the only camera I have ever seen do this including regular video cameras in nightvision mode and other 900mhz and 2.4 baby monitors. I assumed it was defective and called Summers and they knew exactly what I was talking about right away. The people that answered the phone said it was normal. I told her that I can’t believe this is normal and it must be a defect in the way it was manufactured, she told me she understands what I am saying but that’s what she has been told and maybe it has something to do with that fact that its 2.4, which makes no sense has I have other ones that are 2.4 and don’t do this. It’s really too bad and I’m still hoping this is a defect in the way they are making them and something they will fix. In the mean time this is going back and I’ll wait till they address it. Please post a comment if you have noticed any of the same problems. I hope this was helpful. Another best Baby monitor that I tried here on Amazon that was great is this one Lorex LW2002W Lorex LW2002W Digital Portable Color LCD Wireless Surveillance System (White) |
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Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Color Video Monitor | Best Baby Monitor
- 3.5″ color video display
- Digital technology, pan, scan and zoom
- 2-way talk back feature
- Docking station for easy charging, battery indicator on screen tells you how much battery life the parent’s unit has left
- Up to 400′ range
Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Color Video Monitor
The Summer Infant Baby Touch is small in size and sleek in design, it is the first-ever touch screen video monitor. With a generous 3.5″ touch screen LCD panel, parents can interact and keep an eye on baby using the same smart phone technology available today. A simple touch of the screen gives parents the ability to adjust the brightness, pan/scan and zoom.
The super quiet camera can be remotely activated so parents can reposition their viewing angle to see baby at all times – even in the dark. The camera also comes complete with a back-up battery pack for uninterrupted service in the event of a power outage.
Lastly, the Baby Touch includes a two-way talk-back feature so mom and baby can be in touch at all times. Revolutionary and feature-rich, the Baby Touch represents the next generation of baby video monitoring.
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Summer Infant Baby Touch Digital Color Video Monitor
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Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 1.8″ Screen – Silver | Best Baby Monitor
- Portable, handheld 1.8″ color video monitor allows you to see and hear baby from anywhere in your house, black-and-white vision
- 900 MHz technology for superior clarity and range, two channel selection and up to 350 ft range
- Rechargeable batteries in parent unit last up to 10 hours, or just use the included A/C adapters
- LED Sound lights allow you to view baby’s level of activity even when monitor screen is turned off
- Belt clip and kickstand for extra convenience
Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 1.8″ Screen – Silver
Ahh, baby has finally fallen asleep. Time to do the dishes/eat dinner/go to sleep…but wait! Is that the baby waking up? Is she coughing? Is she breathing?
Every new parent (and one or two veteran ones, too) knows this scenario. It’s lovely when your baby sleeps, but it sure would be nice to keep an eye on her, too. But there aren’t too many parents around who have the luxury of sitting quietly in baby’s bedroom, watching her sleep. This is why baby monitors were invented. And traditional audio monitors are a terrific boon to modern parents. But the Day and Night Handheld Color Video Monitor—now here is technology at its finest!
Turn On, Tune In, and Stay Out of Baby’s Room
With this slick little monitor, not only can you hear your little angel’s every breath and snuffle and rustle, but you can see her every move, too! From anywhere in the house, no less! Sound lights visually show baby’s level of activity, while nighttime LED lights on the camera make the baby fully visible day and night. Simply push one button on the parent unit to take a peek, then push the same button when you’re reassured enough to rely on the sound lights for a while.
With a 350-foot range, you can carry the monitor receiver everywhere you go, even into the yard. And, most importantly, you won’t be tempted to poke your head in through that creaky bedroom door you keep meaning to fix just for a quick look at your little tot—which inevitably results in her waking and needing to go through the whole bedtime rigmarole again.
Techy Details
The 1.8-inch screen is plenty big enough to see what you need to see: your little darling’s slumbering form in full color (during daylight hours) or black-and-white (the automatic nighttime view). The parent unit includes 900 MHz technology for superior clarity of sound. If static occurs, switch channels on the two-channel selection to minimize interference.
Two power options—rechargeable battery or A/C—provide parents with the freedom to roam or stay put. The rechargeable battery lasts up to 10 hours, making it a good choice for travel.
The parent unit also includes an audio/video output jack and is headphone-ready (headphones not included). Brightness control and volume control features allow parents to tone it down or turn it up when necessary. Screen automatically “times out” to save batteries. “Power on” indicator lets parents know, well, when the unit’s on!
Baby’s unit includes A/C-powered camera, nighttime LED lights for viewing baby in a darkened room, self-filtering directional microphone, two-channel selection to minimize interference, and “power on” indicator.
And You Put It…?
Baby’s unit provides tabletop or wall-mounted options. A belt clip and stand on the parent unit allows complete portability, while an anchor and security clips (6 included) enables parent to mount the receiver on the wall.
Keep a close eye on your baby, even when you’re not in the same room, with the Quiet Sounds handheld video monitor from Summer Infant. This convenient and portable device allows parents to both see and hear their child while moving around the house. Ideal for nap-time, bed-time or play-time, the Quiet Sounds provides clear viewing with a full color picture, as well as night-vision capabilities.
 Keep an eye on your baby from up to 350 feet away. View larger. |
Quick and Easy Operation
The two-channel Quiet Sounds installs in just minutes without any tools, so you can enjoy the benefits of wireless video and audio monitoring right away. Compact and lightweight, the monitor can then be attached to the included belt clip or simply placed on any flat surface (a stand is included); you can also use the included mounting hardware and mount it to a wall.
Once installed, the 900 MHz camera transmits clear pictures and sounds to the video monitor with ranges up to 350 feet (clear line of sight) and 100 feet (obstructed). And it’s a snap to add up to two more cameras (sold separately) if you wish to simultaneously monitor more rooms, an option that’s especially convenient as your family grows.
Crystal Clear Reception
This handheld monitor utilizes the latest FM band technology to provide crystal clear reception. In addition, it has an easy to read, 1.8-inch, high resolution, full color LCD display and LED sound lights. Most importantly, this monitoring solution avoids interference caused by other 2.4GHz devices commonly found in the home–like 2.4 GHz cordless phones and wireless 802.11 computer networks–so you won’t have to worry about excessive static.
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Keep Track of Baby at Night
One of the most helpful and unique features of the Quiet Sounds monitor is its night vision capabilities, which allow parents to check up on their sleeping baby without disturbing his or her rest. Nine built-in infrared LEDs permit the camera to view clear black and white images within a distance of up to six feet in total darkness.
Another night-time option is to turn off the video button and choose the audio-only option. A super sensitive microphone built into the camera alerts sleeping parents that their baby is making noises, crying or moving around in his or her crib.
Longlasting and Reliable
This sleek plastic monitor comes with rechargeable batteries that lasts up to 10 hours. It also boasts a power-saver feature that times out after three minutes when running on the battery. For added convenience, external audio/video outputs provide connections to existing video recorder or home television, and you can even purchase headphone jacks for private monitoring.
What’s in the Box
Video camera with transmitter, handheld monitor with receiver, two AC power adapters, rechargeable battery pack for monitor, wall mount bracket and hardware for camera, belt clip and stand for monitor, and user’s manual.
Initially, I thought a video monitor would not be necessary – until the actual day came when it was time to move my daughter to her crib in her own room! The first best baby monitor I tried was the Baby’s Quite Sounds minature Blk & Wht TV monitor (also by summer Infant products) that we kept bed side on the night stand – reception was adequate, but the large screen casted so much light when you were trying to sleep, that you had to keep the video off and only turn it on when the baby made a noise. Having the handheld monitor is soooooo much better! I can take it anywhere in the house and the reception is great (unless I am using it while on the cordless phone which is also 900 mHz)! We also have a wireless system is our home and we can use the monitor simultaneously without interference to either. Additionally important to note is that I have been able to use this best baby monitor in combination with the BeBe Sounds Anglecare Sensory Monitor (for SIDS prevention) without any difficulty or interference between them. The Angelcare Sensory Monitor is also wonderful if you are considering a SIDS monitor as well! The only draw back is that at night the video monitor sometimes wakes me up due to static (however, this is due to where we place the monitor, and can usually be adjusted for better reception if the problem occurs). Additionally, this best baby monitor comes in two models with the only difference being the screen size (my model, #02100 has a 2″x2″ color TFT screen or 2.8″ diagonally, and the other model sold here (#02090) has a smaller 1.8″ color TFT screen – you can check with the company online for store availibility & further information if you are interested in the larger 2.8″ screen). According to the company site, you can also purchase an additional camera (for .99, model # 02100-01) to view another child or room on the other channel if needed. The additional camera is listed under features for model number 02100 only; however, the customer service rep. had said that the screen size was the only difference between the two handheld models, so it would probably work or both. If the additional camera is important to you, I would double check with the company first before purchasing model 02090. Hope this was informative and helpful to anyone seriously considering purchasing this brand of monitor! We are expectant parents and purchased this baby monitor for our nursery from a local store after carefully reviewing the return policy. We purchased the one with the silver faceplate which seems to be the newer improved model on the market. When we got it home, we ripped it out of the box and decided to test it rigorously, and we made our two dogs our test subjects. Also, we live in an older house, so we expected issues with electrical interference. Here are our findings: 1. We were able to see our entire kitchen both in light and in the dark although the picture was somewhat grainy in the dark. We could see our dog’s eyes and teeth from a distance of about 15 feet away from the camera in both conditions. 2. We took the receiver all over the house, used it in our home office, next to our refrigerator, by our cordless phone while in use, and the reception was great with occasional static pops. 3. We were able to take the receiver outside about 20 feet around the perimiter of the house with no interference. 4. We conducted similar tests placing the camera unit in other areas of our house and had no problems. 5. Sound quality is astounding, my husband could hear me talking on the phone in another room and could hear my breathing sounds between my verbal responses on the phone. We have had this camera for about two months now and are confident it will be of great value when our baby gets here. We had one dog that kept pottying in front of our fridge and we busted him with this camera. So overall, for the money, it is a great value and can serve many different purposes. I would highly recommend it to anyone with babies, pets, elderly or disabled persons to care for. We are very happy with this purchase. EDIT, July 2008: This product is STILL working great for us two years later! We lost the AC adapter to the handset while we were on vacation and we ordered a replacement from the manufacturer-they did not charge shipping and we got it within a week of ordering. I am pleased with the support given for this product as well as the product’s performance. Again, I highly recommend! Beware that this product contains only 2 channels. As a result, this video enabled baby monitor broadcasts your baby’s image and sounds to anyone who purchases this unit. I purchased this for my newborn recently. During setup, I had not yet plugged in the camera (it was still in the box with the cord wrapped up), yet when I turned on the handset, I could see someone elses crib. Found the channel button, of which there is an A or B, changed to the second channel, and sure enough, there is another room, this time a toddlers bed (the kind with the rails). Now both the channel A crib and channel B bed were empty, but it was early afternoon. To confirm that what I was seeing was correct, I turned the unit on again at 11:00 PM. Now I could see one of my neighbors infants and another’s toddler in thier beds. Do you want to be broadcasting what your baby looks like and the sounds from your nursery 24/7 to anyone who can purchase this device and drive around looking for open broadcasts? Cordless phone manufacturers figured out 12 or 15 years ago that each unit needed the ability to pick a fairly unique channel. This device, more sensitve to my mind due to the added video, broadcasts sound and video of your baby free from any security whastsoever. Returned product immeditely. For those curious, I live in a far NW suburb of Chicago and the homes in my neighborhood are not too close with the typical quarter acre lots and I was able to see 2 different cameras.Read more on
Summer Infant Day and Night Handheld Color Video Monitor with 1.8" Screen - Silver
best video monitor I’ve used, January 3, 2006
Excellent Multi-purpose Monitor, August 13, 2006
Beware – No Security, June 3, 2008
