Verdict in 10 seconds
Enhanced range Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology (DECT) digital audio baby monitor
More expensive than some other audio-only devices, but it’s the full package with strong signal, clear audio and some nice extras too
Pros
Cons
What are the key features?
Temperature sensor
Lullaby function
Two-way talkback
Nightlight
Low-battery indicator
Audio, vibration and visual alarm
Digital Green Technology – the monitor transmits using a low emission frequency to reduce electromagnetic wave exposure
VOX (voice-activated technology)
Adjustable volume
Automatic channel search
Out-of-range indicator
Can be used with two extra transmitters (sold separately)
Belt clip
Charging base for parent unit
Back-lit LCD touchscreen
What are the specs?
What’s in the box?
How easy is the Babymoov Premium Care to set up?
The Babymoov Premium Care is super easy to set up and it took our parent testers, Rachel and Bobby, less than five minutes to do this – although they did need to charge the parent unit for three hours before they could start using it.
It's good job the monitor is so simple to use because the accompanying instruction leaflet is pretty basic overall, with unclear text and simplistic illustrations. While it does include a short troubleshooting guide and the usual safety precautions, you’ll probably find it easier to just set the monitor up without consulting the instructions.
A more comprehensive user guide can, however, be found online if you get stuck and Babymoov also provide FAQs, a telephone helpline and email support on their website.
How good is the audio?
Our testers were impressed with the monitor’s audio clarity and volume, and didn’t experience any interference during the testing period.
The Babymoov Premium Care monitor has five easily-adjustable volume levels and an effective talkback function that allows you to settle your child – or try to, at least – without having to get out of bed.
As well as an accurate visual indicator to show you when your baby is stirring (the monitor lights up when they make even the tiniest bit of noise), the vibrating function is also handy when only one parent needs to be woken up.
Both of these features may also be helpful if you're hard of hearing.
How about the signal?
Rachel and Bobby couldn’t fault the monitor’s excellent signal range.
Although the sound quality started to diminish after about 20 metres (the Babymoov Premium Care boasts a whopping 1400-metre range), it still worked at the bottom of their garden and inside their neighbour’s house two doors down.
This puts the Babymoov Premium Care at the top of the list when it comes to signal range, even when compared to popular baby monitors we tested such as the Philips Avent Digital Video Baby Monitor, which lost signal as soon as our tester took it outside, and the BT Video Baby Monitor 3000 which our testers found had limited signal throughout the house.
There’s also a helpful indicator which beeps and flashes when the monitor is out of range for over 30 seconds.
How long does the battery last?
We timed how long the battery took to run out of charge and found that the BabyMoov Premium Care lasted an impressive 16 hours. When it does eventually need charging, a low-battery alert will beep and flash red.
The parent unit has its own recharge docking station (steady green will indicate a full charge), and you can charge the baby unit via a USB power adaptor or by using three AAA batteries (the latter of which must be bought separately).
If you plan to keep the parent unit in the same place or won't be moving around the house, the parent unit can remain in the charging station without the battery being damaged.
To save battery life, Babymoov recommend that parents turn off the vibration alert when they're not using it. The VOX function will also help here as the parent unit is sent to sleep until the baby makes a sound, at which point the system immediately starts up again.
How does it look?
This compact monitor comes in a smart matte black and white colour combination (black for the parent unit and white for the baby) with a hard plastic outer and brushed aluminium touches.
With an LCD touchscreen and a large digital display, the Babymoov looks more like an innovative smart device than a traditional baby monitor.
Its neutral, unobtrusive design also meant that it fitted well in Rachel and Bobby's nursery without their eight-month-old baby even noticing it.
What’s the Babymoov Premium Care like to use day-to-day?
Our testers found the Babymoov Premium Care very easy to use on a daily basis with its responsive touchscreen controls, simple functionality and limited amount of buttons – a very good thing for parents wanting a device that they won't feel overwhelmed by.
The only counter-intuitive niggle that less tech-savvy users may find tricky is that you need to press the 'off' switch in order to view the menu options – a little bizarre, to say the least.
Overall, Rachel and Bobby loved the size of this monitor – they didn’t need to use the supplied belt clip as it fitted snugly into their trouser pockets and it also fitted compactly into a suitcase when they went travelling. We think it's a great option if you need a good baby monitor to take with you on holiday, especially as it's really lightweight and can be charged with a USB cable.
The Babymoov Premium Care is also a solid choice if you have children sleeping in more than one room as you can easily hook up up to two additional baby units – although this will set you back an extra £50 each.