If you are wondering if baby monitors record, this post will give you all the information you need regarding baby monitor that record, store, and playback the stored videos including Owlet.
Here are baby monitors that record:
Contents (Show)
Comparison table of Top Baby Monitors with Playback and Recording
| Brand Name | Storage Options | Rating on Amazon | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1. Nooie Baby Monitor | SD Card & Cloud | 4.2/5 stars in 12,500+ reviews | Check here |
| #2. DBPOWER Digital | Local & SD Card | 4.0/5 stars in 800+ reviews | Check here |
| #3. HelloBaby HB25 | SD Card | 4.2/5 stars in 500+ reviews | Check here |
| #4. VTech VM351-2 | SD Casrd & Cloud | 3.8/5 stars in 300+ reviews | Check here |
| #5. iBaby M7 | SD Card & Cloud | 4.1/5 stars in 60+ reviews | Check here |
| #6. Tofucam by Pyle | SD Card | 2.8/5 stars in 51+ reviews | Check here |
| #7. YI 1080p Home Camera | Cloud | 4.3/5 stars in 29,400+ reviews | Check here |
| #8. Miku Baby Monitor | Cloud | 3.8/5 stars in 1,500+ reviews | Check here |
| #9. Motorola Halo+ | Cloud | 4.0/5 stars in 700+ reviews | Check here |
| #10. Nanit Smart Pro | Cloud | 4.4/5 stars in 200+ reviews | Check here |
| #11. MobiCam Baby Monitor | Cloud | 3.9/5 stars in 400+ reviews | Check here |
For Wifi baby monitors, an inexpensive option is Nooie Baby Monitor which records to a local micro-SD or to the cloud. You’ll have to pay some amount to access the historical recording. If you have a higher budget, you can get Miku Pro Baby Monitor which does not have subscription fees.
If you want a reliable non-wifi recording baby monitor, VTech VM351 and DBPower are great options. They record to a local SD and can use a card reader to retrieve the recording for playback or to download.
Recording baby monitors requires space to store the recorded videos and we’ll look into the two main storage options – local storage with an SD card or in the cloud. Before reviewing baby cameras that record, let’s start with the most common questions:
Do baby monitors record?
Not all baby monitors record video but a few brands have a recording and playback feature classified into two categories. There are those that store the camera feed in the cloud and others that record and store the feed in a local SD card. There are also baby monitors that record when movement is detected. Having used more than four baby monitor brands, I highly recommend baby monitors that record video. You and your baby will appreciate those clips that mark new milestones of your infant.
This article will inform you of the best recording baby monitors with playback, essentially all the great baby monitors that can record video or audio for you to view at a later time.
Baby Monitors have evolved significantly from just audio or a video streaming device. The best baby monitors are now able to record video and store it either in the cloud or locally on a micro SD card. The stored video can later be retrieved enabling parents to view the activity of their babies even when they’ve been away.
SD (short for Secure Digital) cards are memory storage devices commonly used in cameras. Their memory space range from 32 megabytes to 128 terabytes.
In addition, recent baby monitors enable parents to take screenshots of the images on the screen and this is a significant feature considering that the older models did not have this feature. The most common recording baby cams support up to 32GB micro SD cards. Below are some images of SD cards for baby monitors that you can get on Amazon.
In 1997, Cynthia L. Altenhofen submitted a patent application for a baby monitor that allowed parents to record a soothing voice for the baby which they could play later.
The baby monitor had a message storage mechanism and it was very easy to play. The soothing voice could be played by activating a play switch.
3 Classes of Baby Monitors With Recording
In our 2022 review of the best recording baby monitors with playback, we compared over 20 baby monitors with recording and playback capabilities. In our analysis, we arrived at three types of baby monitors with a playback:
- Baby monitors with playback that store recorded video or audio on SD card or on TF card
- Baby monitors with playback that store recorded video or audio in the cloud
- Baby monitors with playback that have sound or movement-activated recording
Video monitors that store the video on SD cards are known to be more secure as the data is stored locally. Video monitors that store data on the cloud are less secure as the data is stored in the cloud and could be accessed maliciously by hackers.
The video baby monitors that have sound or movement-activated recording safe storage space as they only record when the baby makes crying noise or when the baby makes any movement(s).
Here are some SD cards:
Baby Monitors With Record Function Using Micro SD or TF Card – Reviews
1. Nooie Baby Monitor
Nooie is a relative newbie brand in baby monitor products, compared to others like established brands such as Motorola and VTech. This innovation tech firm was established in 2018 in Spring, Las Vegas, US, with manufacturing operations in China. It is among the most inexpensive video monitors with the best recording and playback capabilities. It provides continuous or motion-detected recording options, and you can store your data in a microSD card (4-128G) or in the cloud via a cloud subscription service which you can access using their Nooie app. You just need to download this user-friendly app into your iOS or Android smartphone.
For event recording, you can pay about $3 per month to get 30-day history and $1 per month for a 7-day history. If you want access to your continuous recording, you pay $3 to get access to 3 days of recording and about $20 for the 30-day history of continuous recording.
Below are the cloud subscription fees for continuous recording;
Below are the fees for event-triggered recording;
I love the various security protocols used to secure and protect your data and the camera with 360-degree motion tracking that rotates 355-degrees horizontally and 94-degrees vertically. This covers your entire child’s room. It is compatible with Alexa and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. You can playback recorded videos using your phone after downloading them. At under $50, this baby monitor offers great value for money considering the features.
Storage options: Class 6 & above, 4-128G MicroSD card, Cloud
Buy on Amazon here
2. DBPower Digital Baby Monitor
DBPower digital video baby monitor is our second best baby monitor with the recording feature after Nooie. Unlike Nooie, DBPower does not rely on wifi and its range is limited to 1000 ft. It has a manual button on the parent unit which you can push to start recording. It supports up to 32GB TF card storage and will give you sound-triggered automatic video recording. You’ll need to purchase the TF card separately. You may want to selectively record as recording continuously may require you to buy a card every other week.
DBPower Digital Baby Monitor allows you to connect up to four cameras that can record and store it.
You need to manually start recording and can control it using the parent monitor. The DBPower Monitor with playback and recording capabilities has zoom, tilt, and pan capabilities. The cords are however short and you may need to move your crib to make sure the cord gets to the plug.
Buy on Amazon here
3. HelloBaby HB25 Baby Monitor
HelloBaby is a reputable brand in the baby monitors industry that most parents have grown to love and their HB25 says it all. One of the best non-Wi-Fi baby video monitors, the H25 utilizes 2.4HGz Secure Wireless tech to deliver your baby’s feed without the fear of being hacked.
To record your baby’s childhood memories, you need to separately purchase a microSD card slot that supports up to 32GB of storage memory. The parent unit features a 2.5-inch screen that you can use to playback the fun moments you recorded or just transfer them to your laptop. Unfortunately, being a non-Wi-Fi baby monitor means that you can’t connect your smartphone.
In addition, I like the monitor’s intuitive and interactive features such as room temperature monitoring and alerts, auto night vision, 4 lullabies, feeding timer alarms, and more. I do love the motion detection feature plus the audio-only mode that detects your child’s sound with the screen off. If you need the most ideal gift for first-time parents that is under $60, this is it.
Storage capacity: Up to 32GB with microSD card
Buy on Amazon here
4. VTech VM351-2 Baby Monitor
The VM351-2 baby monitor features in our list today as it comes with a 4GB internal memory and also allows you to insert a microSD card on the parent unit to provide storage for your recorded videos and snapshots. To access the recorded videos and audios, you need to remove the micro-SD card from the parent unit and insert it into another device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or card reader and copy the snapshots and videos.
When you use cloud recording, all these media is stored securely in the cloud so you can playback at your own time and convenience. This system allows you to view the recordings locally on the 5-inch parent unit or remotely on your smartphone via the free MyVTech Baby app on your iOS or Android. You can also view it on your tablet. No monthly subscription for cloud storage on the app!
1 used from $77.69
I love the notifications that are sent to you in real-time when motion is detected in your baby’s room and the ability to zoom the camera up to 10x. The camera angle and volume are adjustable as well for full coverage and sound control.
We have a full review of VTech here (VTech VM351/VM981)
5. iBaby M7 Baby Monitor
iBaby M7 is a recording wifi baby monitor that you can rely on to save all the historical videos for playback later. Unlike non-wifi options such as DBPower and Hellobaby above, iBaby M7 enables you to view the video stream from anywhere using a smartphone app. iBaby also allows you to record yourself singing or talking to your baby and send it over the app anytime – even when you are at work or miles away.
I love the 360-degree pan and 110-degree tilt features and that it works on both 2.4GHz & 5GHz bands for easy installation, video streaming, and viewing. This sound machine baby monitor has powerful augmented speakers that fill up your entire baby’s nursery with beautiful and clear sounds and can play thousands of lullabies & bedtime stories. Alternatively, you can record your own.
Buy on Amazon here
6. Tofucam Baby Monitor by Pyle
Tofucam enables you to capture all activity with 24 Hour Recording – Play Back and Save Video Recorded to the SD Card Right from the App – 1 Year Warranty and Lifetime Customer Support Through Pyle!
I love this monitor for the easy setup process and many clients say that the bandwidth consumption is very low compared to others they have used before. For remote access, you just need to download an app on your smartphone. This baby monitor comes with a microSD card slot for local storage among other intuitive features.
Baby Monitors That Record and Store Data in the Cloud (WIFI)
1. YI 1080p Home Camera
YI 1080p Home camera took the second position in the category of baby monitors with recording and playback features. YI camera is very pocket-friendly and can support up to 4 cameras in one monitoring system. It has 1080p HD video resolutions and it comes with a mobile app that charges $10 per month to access the cloud data.
This monitor features AI-powered human detected alerts or motion detected alerts that can be set by sensitivity levels from high to low. You have a choice for local storage, micro SD-cards up to 64GB are supported, or the Cloud for up to 30 days. The micro-SD card is not included.
Buy on Amazon here
2. Miku Pro Baby Monitor
Miku baby monitor emerged as our top baby monitor with playback that stores data on the cloud. Unlike other wifi baby monitors that charge up to $100 to store data on the cloud, Miku baby monitor does not charge a fee to store the recordings on the Miku cloud.
In addition to the zero storage fee, the Miku baby monitor uses the most advanced encryption standard, AES 256-bit encryption. MotherhoodHQ ranked Miku as the third best baby monitor in 2022 mainly because of its advanced security features.
You can read our full review of Miku baby monitor (link to our review on the original Miku). You can check its current price on Amazon here.
In April 2021, Miku released an upgrade to the original Miku baby monitor with the new Miku Pro. Miku Pro is a smart baby monitor that monitors breathing (respirations per minute) and baby sleep sessions using contactless technology. Miku Pro records videos and all video events (motion, sound, and noise events) which are stored in the cloud. You can access these recordings at no additional cost to you. You can download those videos to your smartphone, computer, or external drive.
It is important to note that Miku Pro is among the most expensive smart baby monitors out there, only challenged by Nanit Pro.
You can read our full review of Miku Pro and its comparison with Miku Original vs Nanit vs Owlet vs Cubo.
3.Motorola Halo+ Video Baby Monitor
The Halo+ baby monitor from Motorola features in most of our reviews for excellence and reliability. Unlike the Nooie above, this one features a 4.3-inch parent unit that you can use to view a live feed or a recording of your baby’s room or remotely on your smartphone via the Hubble Connected app (for iOS & Android). Unfortunately, there is no internal storage option with this baby monitor, but you can store them on the cloud using the Hubble App and view the playback later. The period depends on the chosen Hubble Service Plan.
The infrared night vision mode is also very useful, and I love other handy features like the Hubble Baby Smart Sleep Assistant that provides tips for your baby’s health, 2-way talk, and more. Oh, did I mention the nightlight feature with 7 distinct colors and a light show projector that lure your little one to sleep?
Buy on Amazon here
4. Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor & Wall Mount
Since 2016, Nanit has dedicated its resources to making high-tech baby monitors and sleep trackers and their Pro Smart is one of the best out there. And while the system does record by default, you must subscribe to Nanit Insight for you to playback recordings which are very expensive. Unlike most baby monitors in this review, however, Nanit does not include a parent unit but has a downloadable Nanit app for both iOS and Android users. You can choose to save the recorded media on your phone’s internal storage or the cloud.
Nanit secures your data using 256-bit encryption while protecting your account via two-factor authentication. What I loved most about the Nanit Pro Smart baby monitor are the sensor-free Breathing Band and Breathing Wear that detect and monitor your baby’s breathing and motion and send alerts when she needs your attention.
Buy on Amazon here
5. MobiCam Baby Monitor & Indoor Camera
This MobiCam baby monitor from MOBI is a fantastic product that comes with an optional microSD card for storing your camera feed recordings and snapshots. It offers you 3 modes for recording your videos including continuous, manual, or motion. You can then playback your kid’s fun moments via your smartphone using the MOBI Smart App. This incredible baby monitor can store recordings of up to 20 days with no required subscription.
I love the FHD camera that covers 110-degrees of your baby’s room, and which can connect up to 15 more cameras, and the night vision lens that uses IR Cut tech for a clear view. Recordings can be recorded on your smartphone, optional cloud, or a microSD card. It is compatible with a standard Micro SD card up to 32 GB.
Storage options: smartphone, microSD, or Cloud
Buy on Amazon here
Other Recording Baby Monitors
1. LeFun 720p Wireless WiFi
Lefun 720p emerged as our top baby monitor with playback in 2019. Lefun 720 Wireless Wifi camera comes with a 720P High-Resolution lens which gives you HD image & HD Video, fast forward, and playback via local micro SD card, Pan 350° and Tilt 100° rotation. With a micro-SD card, you’ll have to buy another one every other 6 months which means you spend less than what you’d spend on other wifi baby monitors. Some smart video baby monitors such as Nest store the data on the cloud and charge a high subscription fee of up to $100 per year.
Lefun took the lead because of its high-quality pictures and surprisingly low price compared to its peers such as Arlo.
2. Owlet Cam Recording: Does Owlet camera record
Owlet camera records your baby videos and images and stores them in the cloud at no cost to you. The SD card that stores the video feed and images is at the back of the owlet Cam and records 24 hours of footage. You can view the 24-hour footage using a Micro SD inside of the monitor. Please note that to access the Owlet Cam recording, you need to get an adapter that you can use to plug the card into your computer to view the stored footage. At this time, you cannot view the footage via their app.
However, Owlet does not continuously record your baby’s video feed for playback. Owlet Smart Sock 3 released in July 2020 doesn’t charge a fee to record the vital signs.
- Video and Audio Storage: Cloud storage
- Cost of cloud subscription per month: Currently free, the $8 subscription fees were scrapped
- Max cameras it can support: 1
- Video quality: 1080p HD
You can check the price of Owlet Smart Sock 2 on Amazon here or Owlet’s Smart Sock 3 here.
3. Arlo Baby Monitor
Arlo baby monitor emerged as the third-best baby monitor with playback that stores the recordings in the cloud. Arlo baby monitor was initially released in 2016 and discontinued. Another model with a different color, grey, was released in 2017 and it is currently a top-selling baby monitor ranked number 26 on Amazon in the baby monitor category (as of July 2019).
Below is a snapshot from Amazon’s page indicating the current rank of this wifi baby monitor.
Arlo was on the MotherhoodHQ list of best baby monitors in 2019 and it emerged 5th, behind Miku baby monitor and Owlet Smart Sock 2. Miku beat Arlo and Owlet Care because of its advanced technology features specifically the Sension Fusion technology and 0 storage fees.
Below are some of the features of the Arlo baby monitor.
- Video and Audio Storage: Cloud storage
- Cost of cloud subscription/month: $10 – $30
- Max cameras it can support: N/A
- Video quality: 1080p HD
You can read our full review of Arlo baby monitor (link to Arlo baby monitor review post on this BMC site). You can check its price on Amazon here
4. Wireless IP Security Cam
Wireless IP Security Cam is another recording baby cam that can record continuously or when motion is detected. The camera can record a maximum of 128G Micro SD cards which you have to purchase separately.
Here are other features of this inexpensive recording baby monitor:
- HD – 1080p.
- 18PCS IR Led Lights for nearly 65ft IR distance
- Home Friendly Design.
While SD in this Wireless IP camera can be purchased separately, this IP camera costs less than $40. You can check its current price on Amazon using the link below.
5. MonBaby Smart Button
- Video and Audio Storage: Cloud storage
- Cost of cloud subscription per month: $0
- Max cameras it can support: N/A
You can check the price of Monbaby on Amazon here
Where to buy
You can purchase baby monitors with recording and playback features on the baby products store near you or on Amazon using this link. These products are also available for sale on other online stores such as Target, Walmart, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions on Recording Baby Monitors
| List of Top Baby Monitors | Editors' Choice |
|---|---|
| The Top Non Wifi Camera Baby Monitor | Infant Optics DXR 8 Pro |
| Best Dual-Camera Split Screen baby Monitor | Babysense HD S2 |
| Best Baby With the Longest Range | Panasonic Long-Range Video Baby Monitor |
| Best Monitor Powered by Batteries | VTech VM819 Video Baby Monitor (19 hours on a single charge) |
| The Best Voice-activated(VOX) Baby Monitor | Anmeate Baby Monitor |
| The Best Breathing Baby Monitor | Owlet Smart Sock 3 |
| Best Large-Screen Video Baby Monitor | VTech VM919HD Video Monitor |
| The Best Audio/Sound-only Baby Monitor | Philips AVENT SCD720/86 |
| The Best 5 GHz Wifi Baby Monitor | iBaby M8 Video Baby Monitor |
| The Best Baby Car Camera/Monitor | Yada Portable Baby Monitor |
- About the Author
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Hi there! I am Ashley Davis, a mom of three kids and the editor here at Motherhoodhq.com. I have been a parent since 2011 and have been doing full-time consulting as a baby sleep expert since 2019. When I am not researching or testing the next baby gear hitting the market, you’ll find me teaching my toddlers a trick or two – especially over the last few months with the lockdown. I hope you’ll find my guides and reviews helpful as you make your next purchase decision. If you have any questions, you can reach me at ashley.d@motherhoodhq.com.
