REASONS TO BUY
Easy wearable
Multiple functions
Decent reliability
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Flimsy plug connection to camera
Must pay for a subscription to access all of the advertised features
Nanit Pro Complete Set Monitoring System Review
A smart monitor that does it all for a premium price but requires good Wifi, a personal device, and a possible subscription
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: The Best Movement Monitors
The Skinny
The Nanit Pro is a do-it-all best baby monitor that offers sound, video, and movement monitoring in one unit. With the addition of the breathing band, the camera can assess if your little one is moving in a way that indicates breathing is happening. We like the wearable band's simplicity and the unit's setup that comes with everything you need for proper placement. This monitor pairs with a smart device via an app. It is a WiFi connection for monitoring from any location with the internet. We think the app is easy to use. This monitor performed well in most metrics and impressed in our best video monitor review. This monitor has a more involved setup process with tools and mounting requirements. The app and the account you need also increase the difficulty of use, but overall we still think tech-savvy folks will enjoy what it offers and forget the complex setup once they're monitoring their little one. See it ranked against other top products in our article on the best movement monitors.
Editor's Note: We updated this Nanit review on February 6, 2022, as it is a new addition to our movement monitor review.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Nanit Pro Complete Set Monitoring System | |||||
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| Awards |  | |  |  | |
| Price | $380 List $299.99 at Amazon | $138 List $129.99 at Amazon | $80 List | $200 List $199.99 at Amazon | $100 List $69.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | WiFi monitor that offers all kinds of monitoring for an expensive price and possible long-term subscription expense | Highly portable, clip-style wearable with vibration stimulates baby without upsetting loud alarm | With just a sensor and a smartphone required, this simple option has a shorter battery life but works relatively well | This simple wearable is easy to use and connects via WiFi, but it does have some false alarms and only pairs with one smart device | Portable wearable with vibration rousing and in-nursery alarm that is easy to use and often on sale |
| Rating Categories | Nanit Pro Complete... | Snuza Hero SE | Monbaby Smart Butto... | Sense-U Baby v3 | Levana Oma Sense |
| Expected Reliability (25%) | |||||
| Set-up (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (20%) | |||||
| Monitoring Cababilities (20%) | |||||
| Alerts (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Nanit Pro Complete... | Snuza Hero SE | Monbaby Smart Butto... | Sense-U Baby v3 | Levana Oma Sense |
| Sensor Type | Wearable | Wearable | Wearable | Wearable | Wearable |
| Parent Unit | Smartphone | No | Smartphone | Smartphone | No |
| Monitoring Type | Movement, Sound, Video, Activity | Movement | Movement, Position, Activity | Movement, Position, Activity | Movement |
| EMF (at baby) | n/a | No increase above ambient | 2.5 | 2.5 | .2 (lower than ambient) |
| Recommended Age | Breathing Monitor: 0-24 mo Swaddle: 6mo and under Breathing Band is size dependant and comes in 2 sizes - S (0 to 3mo) or L (3 - 24mo) |
Not Listed | Not Listed | roll-over alarm is for babies up to 6 months | 0-6mo |
| Adjustable Sensitivity | No | No | No | No | No |
| Wireless Mobility | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Baby Alert | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 1 year Limited | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year | 1 Year |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Nanit is operated by "scientists, parents, and designers." It is a relatively young company and somewhat unique. They are trying to provide something beyond basic monitoring and provide what they call "breathing wear" that uses algorithms to monitor movement that indicates a baby is breathing.
Performance Comparison
The breathing band for the Nanit seemed to work well in our testing, and we did not experience false alarms.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Expected Reliability
Our expected reliability test results are based on our experience and extensive research on user experiences. The breathing wrap for the Nanit is easy to use, stayed on during our testing, and seemed to work well.
We did not experience any false alarms during testing and even had trouble tricking the device into thinking our fake baby had stopped breathing. It would even recognize our doll as a baby; the technology and algorithm are so good. While any monitor of this kind could have false alarms or fail to alarm when motion that indicates breathing stops, this monitor seems better than much of the competition we tested.
Three of the movement monitors include cameras, two of which need to be mounted on the wall to use the breathing monitor functionality.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Set Up
The setup for this monitor is more convoluted than the competition. On the upside, it includes everything you'll need for a successful installation outside of a possible ladder and stud finder, but it has a lot going on and will require some planning.
Setup includes mounting the camera above the crib, routing wires for safety, downloading an app, setting up an account, and connecting it with your WiFi and camera. While not a difficult process, it is more than much of the competition we tested.
The Nanit app user interface is easy to use and fairly intuitive if you regularly use other apps.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Ease of Use
The Nanit is not the most straightforward option in the review to use, with several monitors earning higher marks in this metric. Its issues are related mainly to this monitor's complex and varied nature, including all the bells and functionality parents might be looking for. You need a subscription to access all of the features the company advertises for the monitor's life.
This monitor is not the most portable in the group, and if you choose to unmount it for travel, you'll need a stand or a high vantage point to use it elsewhere. It is arguably easier to move and travel with than mattress sensor pads that require hard surfaces and certain mattress types, but it isn't as straightforward as a wearable that doesn't need an app, smartphone, or internet.
The app for the Nanit monitors all kinds of things, including growth and night activities.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Monitoring Cababilities
This monitor monitors almost everything, but when your baby needs a change. If you want a one-and-done solution, the Nanit is the one we'd choose for everything you can monitor or get an alert for.
The Nanit offers some of the best expected reliability in our testing and research.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Nanit has sound, video, motion, temperature, and humidity sensors and monitors heart rate, growth and activity too! Having so much information can cause anxiety for some, and we aren't convinced anyone needs all these details. We understand that new parents tend to be anxious already, and some might find comfort in the details Nanit offers, but others might find it makes the experience worse.
The Nanit alarm for no breathing motion detected changes the screen to red and includes a dismiss button to turn it off.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Alerts
The Nanit has alerts for almost everything and anything. It was a struggle in testing to get an alarm for a non-breathing baby, but we did get alerts for nearly anything and everything on the planet.
Most of the alerts for this monitor are a ping and popup similar to a missed text or email notification you might receive. This means it might be something you end up ignoring, missing, or sleeping through. While it scored well in this category because it alerts to everything from motion in the room and movement of the baby to temperature and humidity, we can't say with certainty that it will rouse a sleep-deprived parent deep in slumber.
We recommend you set the app and your phone settings to the highest possible volume to give you the greatest chance of hearing alarms or alerts. Be aware that this monitor doesn't alarm in the nursery, so it is up to the caregiver to hear the alarm and respond as necessary. We appreciate that this design only causes trauma for caregivers should a false alarm occur. Still, it does mean there is nothing in-nursery to encourage your little one to move/breathe.
Electro Magnetic Field (EMF)
The Nanit did not have an EMF reading higher than the ambient EMF in the test room. This low level of EMF proves that it is possible to create a quality and functional monitor that doesn't expose little ones to unnecessary EMF.
The Nanit movement monitor requires the use of the patterned wrap for the camera algorithm to monitor movement that indicates breathing.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Nanit Pro?
If you want a one-and-done solution and price is not a problem, then the Nanit is a potential solution that provides all the fancy features you want without buying multiple products. While it offers good video, sound, and potentially reliable movement monitoring, it has a very elaborate setup. It requires the internet, a smart device, an app, and an account to operate, which could be more than some parents want to tackle. So whether or not it is the monitor for you will depend on your monitoring goals, tech-savvy skills, and budget.
What Other Movement Monitor Should You Consider?
If you like technology but want a simpler movement monitor with an app, the Sense-U Baby v3 is a good choice. This monitor has an app you download on your smartphone and uses WiFi to connect to a button your baby wears to monitor movement that indicates breathing is happening. It can also sense when your little one rolls over to help further you monitor for risk factors related to SIDs. It doesn't include video or sound, but it does have an external base you can use for alarms in your house.
Manufacturer Video
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Juliet Spurrier, MD and Wendy Schmitz
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