Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor review: a smart baby monitor that helps you decode your baby's cries

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How we tested the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor

• Two months of use for daytime naps and during the night

• Tested with a 22-month-old toddler

• Used in a three-storey home

• Tested using both the parent unit and the Maxi-Cosi Connected Home app

I tested the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor out over the course of two months, using it everyday for both daytime naps and nighttime sleep.

Because I live in a three-storey house where my bedroom is a floor above my daughter’s nursery, having a reliable baby monitor is key so that I can hear her if she becomes unsettled at night. My daughter sometimes struggles to settle herself, so will need us for cuddles in those instances.

During testing, I scored the Maxi-Cosi See Pro on the following criteria: set-up, safety and security, ease of use, app functionality, video quality, audio quality, signal and value for money.

Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor: what’s in the box?

• Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor baby unit

• Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor parent unit

• Two chargers

• Wedge mount

• Wall mount

• Two screws

• Pin

• Instruction manual

How easy is the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor to set up?

The speed at which you set up the Maxi-Cosi See Pro will depend on whether you’re using it with the parent unit, Connected Home app or both. 

It was an almost instant set-up with the parent unit, which is on a closed network with the baby unit so isn’t dependent on WiFi for a connection. Set-up can be done without the instructions - just follow the prompts on the parent unit screens to guide you through.

Connecting the monitor to the Maxi-Cosi Connected Home app took around 15 minutes in total once I had downloaded it. While this was longer than I expected, set-up was still very simple as the app offers step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow. 

Once both the parent unit and the app were connected, I placed the monitor on the wedge mount on a shelf above my toddler’s cot, which allows for an extra 30-degree tilt. You can also attach the monitor to the wall with the included wall mount and screws if you wish.

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Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor: how does it look?

Out of the box, the Maxi-Cosi See Pro is an attractive bit of kit with a white body and wood-effect base. The parent and baby unit are average in size compared to most baby monitors on the market (the parent unit has a sizeable five-inch screen), but would still fit into an overnight bag or suitcase if you plan to take it on holiday with you.

Is the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor safe and secure?

The Maxi-Cosi See Pro parent unit is connected to the baby unit via a closed FHSS-secure connection, which keeps it safe from any potential hacking. You use your own secure WiFi network to connect the baby monitor to the Maxi-Cosi Connected Home app. Streaming data is protected with AES 128-bit encrypted technology and is compatible with both 2.4 and 5Ghz Wi-Fi connection.

You aren’t automatically logged out when the app is not in use, which is something to bear in mind, but you can sign out at any time yourself for extra peace of mind. 

I like that the app prompts you to conduct a notification test to ensure you receive alarm notifications to your phone if you have them set up, but the prompt does appear each time you log in unless you specify for them not to.

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How easy is the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor to use?

Very easy. One of my favourite aspects of this baby monitor is just how intuitive it is to use, both with the parent unit and the app.

The parent unit design is fairly minimalist with buttons on the right hand side that allow you to zoom up to four times, pan 360 degrees and tilt 40 degrees (with an extra 30 degrees added if you attach the wedge mount to the monitor base), access the main menu, and use the two-way audio feature. Flicking through each feature is extremely easy.

There are nine different features within the main menu, including volume, brightness, five lullabies and two white noise sounds, a nightlight, cry alerts, and general settings. You’ll also be able to set your notifications for motion detection and tracking, sound and cry alerts. There is also the ability to take pictures, record and playback recorded videos, however you’ll need to buy and insert a micro SD card to use these features as it’s not included with the monitor. 

The LCD display screen also shares your baby’s room temperature and humidity, which will save you from buying a separate baby room thermometer, the time and date, signal and battery life. Battery life is up to 10 hours when in use, but I’ve found it lasts a lot longer if the parent unit is on standby (a maximum of six days according to Maxi-Cosi).

There is a built-in stand on the parent unit, which I found particularly handy for propping it up on my bedside table for overnight use, but you can close this if you need to as well. The unit fully charges in two to three hours. 

How easy is it to use with the app? 

I have found the app to be just as enjoyable to use as the parent unit, but the benefit of the app is that it allows you to check in on our baby from much further afield. I recently had a night away from home, so it was reassuring to be able to check in on my toddler whenever I needed to.

It offers the same features as the parent unit, including the ability to put the device in sleep mode if you want to. The main benefit of the app over the parent unit is the CryAssist technology powered by Zoundream, which decodes your baby’s cries so you can understand whether they are Sleepy, Fussy, Hungry, Gassy or Agitated. 

While ‘cry translations’ haven’t appeared for me every time my toddler has cried, having this type of technology on tap can be especially helpful to new parents who are just getting to know their baby and their cries. You can use CryAssist for free for six months after which you need to buy a subscription.

The app provides tips and advice on how to soothe your baby and allows you to add more than one user, so my husband is also able to log on when he needs to. There is a full app walk-through that shows you all the things the app can do. You can add more compatible Maxi-Cosi Connected Home devices too should you need to, including the Maxi-Cosi Clean 3-in-1 Air Purifier and the Maxi-Cosi Soothe Light & Sound Nightlight, and set personalised routines, which can be automated across more than one Maxi-Cosi smart device.

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What’s the video quality like on the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor?

When it comes to video quality, the Maxi-Cosi See Pro excels, particularly in daytime mode on both the parent unit and the app - it’s one of the best I’ve seen, especially when compared to other smart baby monitors such as the BT Smart Baby Monitor. The app boasts a higher ultra-HD 2K resolution, but you can select between HD and ultra-HD quality depending on preference.

I much preferred the night vision quality in the app over the parent unit. The parent unit resolution is slightly grainy, but this didn’t impede on my ability to monitor my child during the night.

In the app, visibility in the dark is up to 10 metres and I found smaller details to be much clearer than on the parent unit, including facial features. The only thing that lets the app down is the slight video lag when you use your fingers to zoom, pan and tilt. 

What’s the audio quality like on the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor?

Audio quality on the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor is generally very good. You can set your own volume levels, but I’ve found the audio to be very reliable, especially at night. However, I’ve found that there is an audio lag of about one second between the parent unit and the app when comparing the two - the app is the slower of the two. That means two seconds between the baby unit and the app. 

I like the two-way audio feature which allows you to soothe your baby from another room, which you can do through both the parent unit and the app. 

Initially on first use, the audio turned itself off when the parent unit went to sleep, which took me by surprise, but this was quickly rectified by changing the notification settings. It would be better if the cry detection notification was automatically turned on for first use. You need to turn the movement and sound notifications on yourself too if you want to receive those. 

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Is the signal reliable?

The See Pro boasts a 200-metre range via the parent unit, with an antenna that you can open or close. Signal has been reliable for me, even from the top floor of my three-storey home, and I’ve never once felt unsure of the reach. 

Is the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor good value for money?

At £170, the Maxi-Cosi See Pro is one of the more pricey smart baby monitors on the market but, if you have the budget, I think it’s worth the buy, especially for the app compatibility and CryAssist technology. 

The audio quality is on par with cheaper audio-only monitors like the BT Digital Audio Baby Monitor 450 Lightshow, which I also have at home, so will only really be useful to you if you want video and app capabilities too.

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About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a one-year-old, she is fully invested in finding the best and most affordable products for families.

With over seven years' experience as a full-time editor, five of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier. 

In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of product review videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.