Because the Lovevery Play Kits are exactly that—a box that comes to your house every 2-3 months full of age-appropriate toys for your little one. We had the same question, so we tested the kits twice over the span of a few years. In this Lovevery review, we go over our experience with an infant box (“The Looker”) and a toddler box (“The Analyst”). We’ll also help you understand what your options are for purchasing boxes (if you decide this is for you), while we give you a bit of info about what makes Lovevery awesome and, well… not awesome.

Read the whole review for the full experience (dad jokes included), or skip to what you need:

• What’s in the box?
  • The Lovevery Analyst Kit (for toddlers)
  • The Lovevery Looker Kit (for babies)
• Subscription and pricing
• The awesome and the wish-it-were-different
• FAQs

Please note: Fathercraft is reader supported, meaning if you click a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Read more about our disclosures and how we approach these reviews in our policies.

What’s in the box? The magic behind Lovevery Play Kits

Let’s start with some basics. This is a subscription box for babies and toddlers, starting with newborns and going up all the way up through 60 months (aka 4 years old… we’re not being annoying, we’re just following their lead. They break it down by month because they offer multiple boxes within each year).

Lovevery prides itself in making toys that “make parents feel confident.” Those toys are based on developmental research, designed to not just keep your little one’s attention but also help them learn. It’s a bold promise. Let’s see if they deliver on it.

The specs of the toys you’ll get certainly make you think so:

• Every piece of wood in the box is sustainably sourced from FSC-compliant sources.
• All fabrics are soft and natural organic cotton, no added ingredients.
• All products in the kits meet or exceed global safety standards for their age.
• All kits are shippped carbon-neutral, so you can feel good about the planet while your little one plays.

Meanwhile, the company’s research advisors make you feel confident they might just know what they’re doing.

Choosing the right one is nice and simple. Enter your little one’s birthday directly on the site, and you’ll get presented with a personalized plan for the boxes you receive based on their age.

Taking a look at the toddler play kits

Our most recent Lovevery review featured one of the toddler boxes, so we’ll start there. You can watch our overview of “The Analyst” box below:

The Analyst is a play kit designed for toddlers aged 46-48 months (an older three-year-old). Kits for three-year-olds arrive every three months at $120 per kit, containing more in-depth, STEM-focused activities. This one contained:

• A Montessori sensory box
• Color theory puzzle
• Sewing kit
• Pattern match parts and boat set
• Visual recipe cards and measuring cups
• Storybook introducing fractions

If this all sounds a bit too intense, it’s worth noting the guidebook heavily emphasizes these toys are meant to simply introduce concepts to kids. And, kids are welcome to play with the toys however they want (if you watched the video, you saw a shot of Calvin playing with the box itself).

Overall, the toys were engaging and I felt like my kid was learning something (I learned something too, with the recipe cards: patience). We’ll get into the details of what we loved and didn’t love a bit later. For now, here are the the other toddler boxes you can get:

• The Babbler Play Kit, for months 13 through 15
• The Adventurer Play Kit, for months 16 through 18
• The Realist Play Kit, for months 19 through 21
• The Companion Play Kit, for months 22 through 24
• The Helper Play Kit, for months 25 through 27
• The Enthusiast Play Kit, for months 28 through 30
• The Investigator Play Kit, for months 31 through 33
• The Free Spirit Play Kit, for months 34 through 36
• The Observer Play Kit, for months 37 through 39
• The Storyteller Play Kit, for months 40 through 42
• The Problem Solver Play Kit, for months 43 through 45
• The Analyst Play Kit, for months 46 through 48 (the one we tried here!)
• The Connector Play Kit, for months 49 through 51
• The Examiner Play Kit, for months 52 through 54
• The Persister Play Kit, for months 55-57
• The Planner Play Kit, for months 58 through 60

That’s a long list. If your eyes glazed over, here’s the main point: Lovevery has something developmentally appropriate for your toddler from the time they turn 1 until they turn 5 years old.

But what about the infants? Glad you asked.

A closer look at the baby play kits

We also reviewed “The Looker,” a Lovevery baby kit. You can watch the “unboxing” below, but a fair warning first: We tested this kit when I had a child young enough to play with it, which situated us in the heart of the pandemic. And, well… you can tell. A quick overview of the baby box is written below as well if you’re trying to avoid being reminded of that time in your life.

This kit contained toys designed to catch a very tiny human’s even tinier attention span, like:

• A reversible, wooden mobile with black and white on one side and colors on the other
• Black and white card sets (8 cards total) with a card holder
• A silicone rattle with a removable ball
• A book of lullaby lyrics
• Scratch mittens with black and white patterns
• A booklet with information about how to introduce the items to your baby

At the time of reviewing, the box also contained a coffee mug for the parents, which was a nice touch.

The Looker Kit is one of six possible kits in this “Baby Play Kits” group:

• The Looker Play Kit, for 0 to 12 weeks.
• The Charmer Play Kit, for months 3 and 4.
• The Senser Play Kit, for months 5 and 6.
• The Inspector Play Kit, for months 7 and 8.
• The Explorer Play Kit, for months 9 and 10.
• The Thinker Play Kit, for months 11 and 12.

And just like that, your baby is a year old. Happy birthday!

As you can probably tell by these names, every kit has a specific theme that’s designed to match your baby’s developmental skills at that age. For instance, everything in the Looker is black and white (the contrast is good for tiny ones). By the time they get to the Thinker, they’re ready to start developing some imagination and fine motor skills.

What you need to know about Lovevery’s subscription pricing

In these boxes, you keep what you get. No loaning or shipping toys back when the next box comes. You also get a 100% money back guarantee, which is helpful if your baby or toddler just doesn’t want to touch the toys.

That’s helpful, because buckle up: This subscription adventure can get a little expensive.

Depending on the age of your child, your Lovevery kits can cost anything between $80 and $120 per kit. You can save a little bit of money by paying ahead for three or four kits at a time (for example, if you pay for four toddler kits up front, your total is $432, saving you $48).

The silver lining here is that through the process, Lovevery is completely transparent. Once you enter your little one’s age, you get to a page that outlines exactly what boxes you will receive and when, with a price for each. You can cancel at any time, so even if you’re about to get six boxes over the course of a year, you can decide you’re done after three of them. 

Still, it’s a little confusing. And it’s definitely expensive. Is that investment worth it? Well, why don’t you just ask to skip ahead to the next section, where we dig into our official review of the Lovevery toy kits.

Our Lovevery review verdict: the awesome and the wish-it-were-different

The awesome

• It’s a natural draw. Maybe the most important question: Did my kid like the box? Calvin was drawn to it as a baby, and he enjoyed it again at three. This boosted my confidence that the boxes are developmentally appropriate and engaging. Win-win for all parties involved.
• It’s got the quality. No cheap plastic or worries that anything will fall apart. Every part of the toys you get feels sturdy and ready for those little hands. (And teeth. And feet. Don’t ask.)
• It’s a learning experience. Every box you get has a theme, but it doesn’t end there. The toys inside are built for your kid to learn and develop, not just clutter up their room or the living room.
• It’s repeat enjoyment. Each of the toddler boxes includes different paths of getting to the same end goal. Plus, your little rascal can figure out how the toys make sense together, not just on their own. Pretty neat.
• It has a road map. Yes, literally a map that walks you through how to use every single toy in the box. Given the number of toys per play kit, that helps quite a bit in guiding parents through the learning experience.
• It takes the thinking out of toys. No worries about whether that thing you’re buying is actually age-appropriate. No research needed to see if it’s good for them. You go in knowing that the box you receive is well-suited for that little prince or princess.
• It has a guarantee. You can get your money back if you or your little one don’t like it. Just make sure you don’t lose any of the little pieces before you return it.

The wish it were different

• It’s a little overwhelming. When you first open a kit, there’s a lot to take in. I was trying to take my time, but Calvin just wanted to dive in. That was not only confusing, but it also resulted in a bit of a mess of fluffy balls. Long story.
• It’s still a bunch of new toys. If you’re already worried about the clutter, this adds a steady stream of new toys coming into your home. Yes, they’re beneficial, probably more so than that gift from the third cousin. But they still need their space, when many babies just don’t need a ton of toys.
• It’s expensive. If you can afford it, the benefits are great. But you’re already spend bunches on diapers, baby food, and more. This adds a cool $40 per month to that potentially tight household budget.
• You don’t unbox in order. Maybe that’s a little nit-picky. But as you might have noticed in the above videos, our unboxing resulted in a bit of confusion because the roadmap didn’t match the toys we were getting out at first. That can get confusing.
• Long-term enjoyment. After the initial unboxing, I had to intentionally take the Analyst kit out and prompt my three-year-old to play with it. And with a new box every few months, you’re not necessarily expecting years of committed play.

The verdict

Gotta be honest: It’s mostly a good one. For us, the positives definitely outweigh the negatives, and you can’t help but feel good when you see your little one playing or developing right in front of your eyes. They grow up so fast.

Beyond the sentimental value, these play kits actually serve a very important function. They give you age-appropriate, simple, learning-based toys that are not easy to find. And they do so without requiring lots of research or worry that you’re choosing the right thing. 

By the end of each kit, you’ll be surprised how well the toys educate not just your baby, but you as well. You have to weigh the cost, but it gets a thumbs up from us.

Where to buy Lovevery

Lovevery only sells its products directly on its website, but that’s probably the best place to buy them anyway as when you buy there you’ll enjoy the best pricing, free shipping on orders over $75, and everything you buy is backed by the company’s guarantee.

Just the FAQs about Lovevery Play Kits

So we’ve seen some questions about these play kits online. Let’s answer them. Just the FAQs, baby.

Is Lovevery a Montessori product?

Short answer? Yes. Lovevery advertises itself clearly as a maker of Montessori-based toys. The development team includes at least one explicit Montessori expert, along with a psychologist, occupational therapist, and more. The toys you’ll get in the box match up directly with the Montessori principles of active participation, developmental focus, and limited choices.

• Curious about other Montessori products? Check out our Stokke high chair review.

Are Montessori toys better than ‘regular’ options?

That’s just, like, your opinion, man. Better is in the eye of the beholder, but there are some definite advantages to Montessori toys that are worth highlighting:

• They make your child an active participant, requiring their exploration and their own decisions. Active learning tends to work well in the developmental process.
• They offer limited choices. That might sound counterintuitive, but the Montessori philosophy suggests that it’s a good thing. Too many choices means getting overwhelmed, and results in being unable to focus. Calvin’s surprisingly long attention span with one of these boxes is a perfect example of that philosophy in action.

Where are Lovevery toys made?

Look hard enough, and you may find the Made in China label. The company will tell you that the products are designed in Idaho and California, but the manufacturing still happens overseas. That said, Lovevery does say that the manufacturing facility focuses n sustainably-harvested wood toys, sharing the company’s core values. All products are inspected by Lovevery in the U.S. before they find their way into mailboxes.

Can you buy Lovevery toys separately?

Yes and no. You cannot buy the toys available in a play kit separately, because they’re designed to make sense together and for a specific age group. It’s one of those “whole greater than the sum of its parts” things.

That said, Lovevery sells other products on its website that aren’t a part of the play kits. You can find a block set, a play gym, and a few other items like a tunnel (hint, kids looooove tunnels as soon as they can crawl through at about 8 months) and a “pull pup” that follow the same general concept as the boxes. Not a big selection, but worth a browse.

They also offer four different course packs:

• The potty learning course pack
• The new sibling course pack
• The food before 1 course pack
• The tummy time course pack

(Psst… we also know someone else who offers parenting courses! It’s totally not us… okay, it’s us).

Wrapping up & what’s next

Thanks for checking out our review!

And, if you made it this far, chances are you’ll like some of our other stuff. Learn more about Fathercraft here, or check out our recommendations for essential gear for babies here.

In this Thule jogging stroller review, we’ll cover the following:

• Unboxing
• Stand-out Features
• What I Love
• What I Wish Were Different
• Thule Urban Glide 2 vs. BOB Revolution
• FAQs

Before we jump in, if you’d like to see this review in video form, it’s your lucky day. Here’s our YouTube version of this Thule jogging stroller review:

Unboxing the Thule and getting it ready for your first jog

Like other jogging strollers, the Thule Urban Glide 2 comes in a large box housing the folded stroller in a plastic cacoon. Once out of the box, the fun part of desecuring the stroller begins. There are multiple plastic zip-ties to ensure the stroller stays safely folded and the harness stays secure during shipment. After freeing the Thule, find the folding mechanism under the footrest to unfold the stroller. While the front wheel is already attached, you must add the rear wheels by simply inserting them into their designated spots on each side. Flip up the handlebar, and you’ll be ready for your first jog with your child!

Overall, unboxing is pleasantly simple and allows for use within minutes. Thule’s manual does an excellent job guiding you through safely assembling the stroller, whether you’re a first-time parent or it’s not your first rodeo. 

Most-talked about features of the Thule Urban Glide 2

The Thule Urban Glide 2 has multiple raving reviews, and I think most are due to the extensive list of features the jogging stroller offers. From parent and child comfort to top-of-the-line safety, this stroller has it covered. 

One-Handed Recline

The one-handed reclining mechanism is a popular feature of the jogging stroller because it allows parents to recline the seat quickly and easily, whether for better comfort if the child falls asleep during the run or just better positioning as the child grows. 

Large Storage Basket

A spacious under-cargo storage basket is a must-have feature for any stroller owner. The Thule offers plenty of storage space for keeping blankets, toys, a dad bag, or any other essentials needed on your stroll. It also features a cargo cover with a zip top, which keeps everything secure while rolling over all terrains. The basket even has a rear zipper pocket for additional under-stroller storage. 

Multi-Position Canopy with Peekaboo Window

The multi-position canopy is perfect for ensuring your child’s comfort. It is complete with a side ventilation window and a top peekaboo window, or stroller sunroof as I like to call it, for checking on your little one. The peekaboo flap features a magnetic closure to securely keep the window open until you’re ready to close it. Therefore, no more fighting with keeping the stroller sunroof open because of the wind trying to blow the flap closed. 

Lightweight Design

Lightweight and easy maneuvering is one of the numerous reasons many parents choose Thule Urban Glide 2 as the go-to jogging stroller. It weighs approximately 25 pounds and offers a swivel front wheel for normal walking speeds, and the wheel can be locked into place for better stabilization with increased jogging speeds. The rear 16-inch wheels include a convenient foot pedal brake for securely parking the stroller. 

Comfort Handlebar with Braking

The handlebar offers soft foam padding and multiple height adjustments for ultimate comfort during your jog. The twist brake located on the handlebar help navigate tight turns and maintain a safe speed on hills. Engaging the hand brake allows runners to easily slow down the stroller’s rear wheels to maintain a safe speed throughout the duration of their jog. 

Ease of Storage

The Thule Urban Glide 2 will glide into a compact fold to make storage a breeze. We all know how challenging it can be to fold down some strollers, so thankfully, it provides a one-hand folding mechanism. The fold point is hidden under the footrest and can easily be folded by simply lifting up on the folding mechanism. 

Top-Rated Safety

In addition to the convenience features, the Thule Urban Glide is built for safety. The stroller has a padded 5-point harness system for the child to sit comfortably and securely during your morning or afternoon run. The number of harness points is important because the more harness points there are, the more secure the buckle. 

Other Must-Mention Features

This sleek stroller is made for comfort and style. One of the other comfort highlights is seat ventilation to help keep your child cool during your strolls around the park. Essentially, seat ventilation is a fancy way of saying it is a seat with holes. 

Another important feature parents check when purchasing a stroller is the weight rating. The Thule Urban Glide 2 has a comparable child weight rating to other strollers, up to 49 pounds. However, the overall stroller weight capacity is 75 pounds. Therefore, you can feel confident using the stroller for a quick grocery run for holding your nearly 50-pound kid and 25 pounds of groceries. 

Our Thule Urban Glide 2 review

The Awesome

I really love the Thule Urban Glide 2 because it goes through rigorous testing before being made available for purchase, giving me and other worrisome parents peace of mind that the stroller can handle the toughest conditions and is made with only the safest materials. One highlight is the springy suspension of this jogging stroller, providing a smooth ride over all terrain types for both child and parent. This is very beneficial for bumps in the sidewalk or tackling more off-road trails.

I love all the under-cargo storage with a zipping top, ensuring all your items stay secure, even on uneven paths. The lightweight design and ease of folding are every parent’s dream. We also love how easy it is to adjust the handlebar height so that pretty much anyone of all heights can comfortably push the stroller. Finally, the one-handed, compact fold allows for easy storage in your trunk, closet, or garage. It also makes transporting to and from your favorite jogging spots or taking it with you on vacation simple. 

The not-so awesome

Overall, the Thule is a solid stroller, especially for serious runners. However, I have a few bones to pick about the seat that could make the jogging stroller even better.

When the seat is in its fully upright, locked position, it is still fairly reclined, making it kind of awkward. Also, the seat of the Thule is pretty narrow, probably for better aerodynamics. Still, it can make it uncomfortable for your kids, especially if they’re like ours and have a caboose to carry around. Utilizing the side mesh pockets beside the seat for carrying bottles, etc. further constricts the seat’s width. 

The verdict

All in all, I think the Thule Urban Glide 2 is a super stroller. It is perfect for avid runners and would make an ideal stroller for anyone looking to get back outdoors with their baby. So while it has a hefty price tag, it is worth it for active parents looking to explore local paths and trails with their babies. One option to make this fantastic jogging stroller more affordable would be to attempt to buy a gently used stroller or have friends and family chip in together to purchase the top-of-the-line stroller. 

Pricing and where to buy

As we’ve noted, this stroller doesn’t come cheap. Prices typically range from $549 to $699, and can vary by color, so if you’re not picky, poke around! At time of publishing, the grey color is the cheapest on Amazon, coming in at $549.

The Thule Urban Glide 2 is available directly from the Thule website, from Pottery Barn Kids, and from Amazon (with Prime free shipping)

Thule Urban Glide 2 vs. BOB Revolution

Comparing jogging strollers, I recommend the Thule over similar options, such as the BOB Revolution stroller. The main reason is that the Thule is lighter and constructed for maximum efficiency when pushing. The Thule comes in at 25 pounds, and the BOB Revolution is about three pounds heavier at 28.5 pounds. The Thule Urban Glide 2 is also super responsive at navigating turns with the easy-to-use twist handlebar brake. 

While the BOB says it can handle your child from birth to 75 pounds, the Thule has a child weight rating of 49 pounds and an overall weight capacity of 75 pounds. Therefore, Thule is mainly saying by around 50 pounds, your child should be up and running with you instead of relaxing in the stroller. Although the BOB is technically classified as a jogging stroller, I consider it more of a hybrid stroller. However, if you’re looking for more of a hybrid stroller to use daily and as a jogging stroller, the BOB Revolution Flex is probably the right stroller for you. 

Thule Urban Glide 2 FAQs

Is the Thule Urban Glide 2 worth it?

For serious runners or if you plan to run a lot with your kid, it is hands-down worth the price for new parents to splurge for the Thule Urban Glide 2. 

Is Thule Urban Glide good for everyday use?

While it can be used every day, the Thule Urban Glide 2 is better specified for runners. 

Is the Thule Urban Glide 2 easy to collapse and transport?

As we discussed in our review, this stroller is extremely easy to collapse and store. The one-handed fold allows for fast folding, and the compact, lightweight design makes it simple to load and unload from your vehicle. 

What is the difference between Thule strollers? 

Ranging from around $650-$850, Thule all-terrain strollers have different features to accommodate various needs. 

The Thule Urban Glide 2 is available in multiple color combinations and has a sleek, lightweight design for easily strolling around town or your favorite walking paths. 

The Thule Urban Glide 2 Double Stroller offers the same features as the single Thule Urban Glide 2 while allowing you to bring two kids along on your run. 

The Thule Glide 2 is a high-performance jogging stroller designed for runners to take on any terrain. The main difference between the Glide and Urban Glide is the wheel size, with the Glide having slightly larger rear wheels. It features 18″ rear wheels and a 16″ fixed front wheel. 

What accessories are available for the Thule Urban Glide 2?

Stroller accessories are less about adding visual appeal and more about increasing the functionality of the stroller. Multiple accessories are available for the Thule Urban Glide 2, allowing you to add customized features to your jogging stroller to your heart’s desire. A few must-have additions include: 

• Infant car seat adapter: You can use the stroller from birth with the infant car seat adapter. It allows you to conveniently and securely lock the car seat to the stroller without needing to move your sleeping baby. 
• Stroller organizer and tray for your kid: The zippered pocket and built-in cup holder keep your child’s beverages and other small items within reach. The simple and easy installation makes this accessory a lifesaver. 
• Bumper bar: The bumper bar provides additional security by providing your child with a bar to hold onto while in the stroller. The bar swivels out of the way for loading and unloading your kid easily. 
• Mesh cover: Helps to protect your kid from the sun’s harmful rays, wind, and bugs. It easily attaches to the stroller, providing a protective screen for your tiny passenger. The mesh design allows for breathability without intense exposure to harsh outdoor elements. 
• Rain cover: For avid runners, a rain cover for a jogging stroller is essential. It is custom-fitted for the stroller to provide maximum weather protection for your kid. 
• Bassinet adapter: Similar to the car seat adapter, it allows you to use the stroller from birth. The adapter transforms your stroller into a pram in no time with a ventilated mattress and bassinet apron. It is ideal for babies 0-6 months. 

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To start off our Uppababy Minu stroller review, here’s a breakdown of the features of the Uppababy Minu, piece by piece:

• Durable and compact: Crafted from aircraft aluminum, and weighing in at only 15lbs, the Uppababy Minu is durable, lightweight, and folds up into a compact package at only 11.5″x20.5″x23″ and is designed to fit in the overhead bin of most commercial airliners (probably not Spirit, but if you are flying with kids, why put yourself through that kind of hell?). 
• Wheels: The 5.8″ composite wheels have rubber tires and  shock absorbing spokes for a smooth and comfortable ride.   The front wheels swivel on casters and provide adequate turning with a short radius.
• Frame: When opened, the distinctive triangle frame is incredibly durable, with aluminum arms and ABS plastic joints, that resist corrosion and wear. It looks like it was designed by someone who was really into mountainbiking.
• Locking mechanism: The frame folds up with one hand, though the locking mechanism is a little more involved than other strollers.  Simply slide the mechanism to the right with your thumb and squeeze the front mechanism and the whole shebang folds up like a Transformer to stow away in your car, overhead bin, or closet when not in use. One-hand operation is also great when your other arm is full of squirming toddler, groceries, your diaper bag, or you just don’t want to get your other hand caught in the frame as it folds up.
• The seat: The seat is washable fabric (which is good, because toddlers seem to exude jelly somehow), and strong enough to carry a 50lb kid.  At 13.5″ wide, the interior of the seat is roomy, compared to other lightweight strollers, so if your kid is on the larger side, they should be able to ride just fine with a little more headroom than other strollers (such as the Colugo).  With an easy-to-use adjustment strap at the back of the seat, you can lay your passenger back for naps or just to chill.  The seat does not lie back fully, however.
• Safety: The Uppababy Minu features a locking 5-point harness with adjustable straps to keep your toddler from toddling off as you are wheeling them around.  It also keeps them snug in their seat when maneuvering down the sidewalk, weaving through pedestrians.  The brake is simple enough to use.  Pedals by the back wheels are marked red for stop and green for go.   Push down on the red pedal with your foot to lock both back wheels into position, or push down on the green pedal to release the brake.  The opposite pedal will move up or down accordingly, so it is easy to see if the brake is engaged or not. 
• Canopy: The canopy features a peekaboo mesh window which you can use to check on your baby and the flap is closed with the help of magnets. The canopy extends over your little one’s head and also features a sunshade extension that extends out even further.  The fabric is rated at 50+ UPF for protection against the sun’s UV radiation (but it’s still no excuse to not put sunscreen on your kid–or yourself!).
• Handlebar:  A selling point of the Uppababy Minu seems to be the leather grips on the handlebar, which give you a sure grip whether it is sunny or rainy outside.  A departure from the ratty foam grips of less expensive brands, these are probably nicer than what you have on the steering wheel of your car. 
• Baggage compartments: We’ve all got baggage.  The Minu features a compartment underneath the seat for carrying some of it around–up to 20lbs!  Perfect for a diaper bag, toys, or our personal favorite: a box of a dozen donuts (maybe not 20lbs of donuts, but we can dream), this fabric shelf takes off some of the load with plenty of space, (compared to the Colugo). The drawback to the open-end design is you might not see items if they roll out of the front or the back of this shelf.  If this happens with your kid’s favorite toy, you know there will be hell to pay when you get back to the car.  A handy pouch on the back of the seat also holds your keys, phone, wet wipes, or any other miscellaneous stuff parents have to carry around.
• Handy-dandy shoulder strap: When you fold the Minu up, you can carry it around with the help of an attached shoulder strap.

Available trims

The Uppababy Minu is available in four trims, each one named after one of the kids of the developers at the company.  Uppababy will also let you pick up to four free swatches to see which you like best.

• Devin: Light gray fabric with silver frame. Chestnut leather handgrips. (see it on Amazon)
• Jake: Black fabric with carbon finish aluminum frame.  Black leather handgrips. (see it on Amazon)
• Jordan: Charcoal fabric with silver frame.  Black leather handgrips. (see it on Amazon)
• Ryan: Teal fabric with silver frame.  Saddle leather handgrips. (see it on Amazon)

Accessories

You can upgrade your Uppababy Minu lightweight stroller with a variety of accessories.  A conversion kit allows you to clip in your Uppababy MESA (or Maxi-Cosi, Nuna, or Cybex) infant car seat to the stroller for children under three months.  Bumper bars, snack trays, changing backpacks, storage basket covers, organizers, and the coveted upholder are also available.  For extreme weather conditions, you can add on rain shields, and the CozyGanoosh for winter weather.

Drawbacks

We’ve already touched on some of the drawbacks of the Uppababy Minu lightweight stroller, but here they are again with a more critical eye.

The problem with the brake:  If you are on the tall side, or simply have really big feet, you might find yourself walking along and accidentally stepping on the brake, sending the whole stroller screeching to a halt.  Compared to other strollers, however (like the Colugo), the distance of the angle from the wheels to where your feet probably are is a lot further back, so with practice, you should be able to master how to walk in no time at all.  There have been complaints about the brake mechanism malfunctioning as well, which means you might have to flip the mechanism up manually to disengage the brake.

Lieback seat: The seat doesn’t lie all the way back.  There.  I said it.  This probably isn’t the worst thing in the world, however, since it also keeps your kid’s head clear of your feet when you are pushing them down the sidewalk.

Mesh window: The peekaboo window is nice to check in on your kid (did you remember to latch the five-point harness?), but considering it is mesh, if it is raining outside, you are going to want to keep that flap down.

Lack of cupholder: Cupholders are important for parents.  They hold milk bottles, they can hold your coffee that you need in order to function, and you can use them for things like your keys or anything else you need within arms reach.  There is a decided lack of cupholders that come standard with the Minu.  You can purchase them as an accessory from Uppababy. 

Price point: When compared to other lightweight strollers, the Uppababy Minu is at the upper end of the spectrum.  Considering the add-ons and accessories you might want to purchase to make the unit more compatible with your lifestyle, the price only goes higher.  Accessories can really start to add on the price, and at some point you might ask yourself if it’s really worth another $45 for a snack tray or $90 for a gear bag.  At least the fabric will match!

Storage space that’s not a basket. For some reason (maybe to allow you go get bigger things into it) the storage basket under the Minu isn’t actually a basket. It’s more like a slide in storage bay. But you know the old saying … if it can slide in, it can slide … ok maybe we made up that saying but you get the point.

Uppababy vs Colugo

We did a video deep dive into the Colugo Compact v Uppababy Minu. Here it is, with the preface my hair was not cooperating that day, hence the super cool backward-hat-dad look.

We’ve covered the comparison between the Uppababy Minu and the Colugo lightweight strollers before, but it is worth mentioning again.  The Colugo (our review of the Colugo Compact here) is a little bit more comprehensive when it comes to features (including a cupholder), and though the two are comparable in size, somehow the Minu features a little bit more headspace and a little bit wider seating for bigger kids. 

Both fold up to a compact enough size to make them manageable. The locking mechanism for the Colugo is simpler, without the whole Rubic’s Cube effect of slide over and squeeze and push that the Minu uses.  The Colugo just requires that you squeeze the handle and the unit collapses into its portable shape. The storage basket on the underside of the Colugo is closed at the front end, meaning your possessions won’t go flying out the front if you stop suddenly. 

The five-point harness on the Colugo also features a magnetic locking mechanism rather than  the traditional buckle.  It can be a learning curve to figure out how to hold the pieces together and fit them into place, but otherwise it works well.

Both strollers have a sturdy, triangular frame for strength and support as well as canopies to protect your kiddo from the elements. The canopy and seat on the Colugo are probably more durable for machine washing over repeated loads.  The seat and canopy are available in a wider variety of colors, but the basket is available only in black and the frame in silver. The basket only carries up to 10lbs of gear, which is a little more limiting for what you can haul around.  It does, however, still feature enough volume for a box of donuts. These things are important!

The Colugo does lay back all the way, giving your kiddo a full 180 degree reclining position for naps, chilling out, or whatever else a full reclining position lets them do.

Where to buy

The Uppababy Minu is available on Amazon in a variety of trims and includes the options to buy the stroller as a package, like the “from birth kit“.

Uppababy strollers are also available at retailers like BuyBuyBaby and Nordstrom. Worth noting you can’t buy Uppababy strollers directly on Uppababy’s website like you can with other direct to consumer brands like Colugo and Mockingbird.

FAQ

Is Uppababy Minu good for newborn?

The Uppababy Minu is not recommended for children under 3 months of age, however, you can buy accessories that allow for a portable bassinet (the From Birth Kit) which lets your newborn travel while lying flat, or Car Seat expansion kits that connect with various infant car seats.

Is the Uppababy Minu worth it?

Your mileage may vary.  The stroller is engineered with comfort, convenience, and compact carry in mind.  There are other competitors (such as the Colugo) which are just as durable, capable, and stylish as the Uppababy Minu.  It all boils down to a matter of personal preference.  For the price point, this stroller is on the spendy side (around $400 new), but it might fit your aesthetic, and if you can afford it, then why not?    

Can you fly with the Uppababy Minu?

Yes.  But always check with your airline to see if it still qualifies for carry-on status, since those rules seem to change at the drop of a hat.

Does the Uppababy Minu fully recline?

It does not.  But it lays back quite a ways.

Does it face backward or forward?

The Uppababy Minu is a forward facing single-occupancy lightweight stroller.  If you would like to know more about double strollers with rear facing positions, check out this link to the Mockingbird stroller which we have also reviewed.

The Verdict

The Uppababy Minu lightweight stroller isn’t going to be for everyone, but it is a damn fine stroller that holds up well year after year, and is durable enough to use with more kids as you have them.  The stroller is designed to go wherever you want to go, is folded up and stowed for easy transport on planes, lightrail, subways, and even your car.  What it lacks in accessories it makes up for in engineering and ease of use.  It’s a no BS piece of equipment to have in your kid arsenal that looks great, isn’t clunky, and gets the job done.  A little on the expensive side, but hey, your kids are worth it.

What’s next?

Hey, we’re Fathercraft, a company focused on helping expecting and new parents with product reviews, online courses, free checklists, and more. If you enjoyed this review, you’ll probably enjoy more from us! Learn what we’re all about here, get some free checklists for expecting parents here, or check out more of our stroller reviews here.

We’ve heard from Fathercraft readers they’ve experienced issues with this monitor including connectivity problems, a decreased allowable livestream length, and more.

Instead, check out our list of best baby monitors of 2021, here.

Our Arlo Baby review was a surprise to us for a couple of reasons:

1. we’ve always thought of Netgear (Arlo’s parent company) as a company that makes routers – turns out they have a whole line of home security cameras and decided to add a baby monitor to the Arlo brand too
2. the Arlo Baby seemed like an unexpectedly good baby monitor at first, and deep flaws didn’t reveal themselves until months into our testing (and notes from a Fathercraft reader, thanks!)
3. we were initially confused by seeing things like “Arlo baby discontinued” around the internet. Turns out, it hasn’t been discontinued, but Arlo originally planned to make a 7″ dedicated touchscreen display for the Arlo Baby, but then decided not to release that, favoring, as many other monitors do these days, a free app for your phone or tablet that acts as the ‘parent unit’.

Let’s dive in, starting with a video, where John walks through unboxing the Arlo Baby, its features, and provides pros, cons, and a final verdict. [NOTE: this video doesn’t reflect some of the issues we found later … latency and software issues.] If you prefer reading to watching, just scroll past the video.

Editor’s notes:

1. we’re a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Learn more.
2. This review was originally published in August 2018. At that time, we thought the Arlo had some flaws but was overall worth considering. Based on new information (see below), we’ve updated the review as of November 2018 and are issuing a new recommendation—do not buy until critical issues are fixed. This remains true in 2021!

An in-depth review of the Arlo Baby monitor

In this review, we’ll discuss the various components of the Arlo Baby, setting it up and using it, detail pricing and options, and provide our thoughts – the awesome, the wish it were different, and a final verdict.

For our testing of the Arlo Baby, we enlisted the help of John’s son Calvin (8-9 months old at the time) and Oliver (6 years old at the time) to judge how the Arlo Baby performed as a true baby monitor and also as a monitor for older children who are still in that phase where it could be helpful to keep an eye on them. So, here we go.

But what’s with the bunny ears? All about the Arlo Baby

The Arlo Baby bills itself as an “all-in-one” baby monitor and “a super nanny”. By these statements, they must mean stuffed to the gills (or more accurately ears) with features.

The Arlo Baby is a wifi baby monitor (utilizes your home wifi network to connect you to your child, not some other signal) that utilizes your smartphone or tablet plus a free app available for Apple/Android as the parent unit (the way you see and hear your child). As we’ve discussed in our other baby monitor reviews, wifi monitors have the advantage of unlimited range, so long as you’re connected to the same wifi network, a different wifi network, or have a cellular connection with your device. It’s also important to note they’re only as reliable as your wifi network and connection are.

Let’s discuss each of the Arlo’s components.

The child unit

The Arlo Baby’s child unit houses the camera, plus a fair number of other things – the speaker to play sound/allow you to talk to your child, the nightlight, a battery so you can take it on the go, and a wall mounting kit (and, of course, the bunny ears).

Camera performance

The Arlo Baby’s camera features the best image quality we’ve tried in a baby monitor. When you set the image quality to 1080p, you’ll be able to see your child in crystal clear HD. (Arlo also allows you to set a lower resolution to save bandwidth.)

1080p resolution is complemented by modern smartphone and tablet screens and looked great for closer monitoring (ie crib) and whole-room monitoring (ie for toddlers).

Another interesting aspect of Arlo’s camera is the ability to change the field of view with the app – you can change it from 90 degrees to 130 degrees to change how much of a room the Arlo captures. This is in part necessary because while it’s possible to manually do so, the Arlo does not allow you to pan or tilt the camera in a motorized way via the app. It’s also helpful if you’re wanting to monitor a whole room and you stick the Arlo in the corner.

Here’s how the 90-degree field of view compares to the 130-degree:

Night vision

As we’ve said before, you’re often going to be looking at your baby in the dark. So, a baby monitor’s night vision performance is just as important as its daytime image quality.

Arlo’s night vision is also excellent. Here’s Calvin in a nearly dark room:

Arlo notes that the night vision works for up to 15 feet, so that could become an issue if you’re monitoring a whole, large, room.

Audio quality

The Arlo’s microphone is *really* sensitive. I could hear Calvin’s (8 months old) gentle snoring through the monitor. This was pretty cool,  but as we’ll discuss in the review section below, also got annoying – I could hear my dog barking 3 rooms away through the monitor. And any little sound picked up by the monitor turned into a notification on my iPhone, which got old really fast (you can turn these off or schedule them).

Sound quality, 2-way communication (and white noise!)

The Arlo Baby features “2-way communication”, giving parents the ability to communicate with a child through the app and the child unit’s built-in speaker. Sound quality on this feature was pretty good. The other aspect of sound has to do with one of the “bonus features” – the Arlo Baby has the ability to play music, and (more importantly to us) white noise through its speaker. We appreciated this since, as we’ve said before, finding a consistent way to play white noise for your child all night long, if you’re into that (and we are, 4 kids later), is actually a pain in the neck – in our experience it’s meant finding an old phone or tablet, a place to plug it in, and having that be a dedicated white noise machine.

So, having white noise built in was helpful, and the sound quality through the speaker was just fine and seemed good enough for Calvin.

A note about background audio

We’ve started including a note about background audio in all of our baby monitor reviews that cover monitors that use your smartphone or tablet as the parent unit. Why? Well, it’s important and not obvious if you haven’t used one of these things. Since you use your phone for other things, it’s not a ‘dedicated’ parent unit for your monitor. So, when you go to check Twitter, you still need to be able to hear your baby. When you turn off your phone’s screen to do other things or at night, you still need to be able to hear. This is background audio.

With Arlo Baby, background audio worked well, I had no issues, once I found the button. To turn on background audio you have to press a button, which is unintuitively placed and took me a minute to find (it’s the image of the speaker in the upper-left). To control the volume of background audio, you use your phone’s volume controls.

Battery power

Unlike any other monitor we’ve tested, Arlo Baby features an option to use the camera without it being plugged in, thanks to a built-in rechargeable battery. While this was a cool concept, in practice we found the battery lasted only about 2 hours, so it wasn’t practical to use to take the camera with you overnight, and we couldn’t think of too many good use cases for when we’d want to use the battery-powered option. I did use it once when I was upstairs getting ready for work for a few minutes while Oliver and Calvin were playing downstairs.

Everything else – nightlight & air monitoring

The Arlo Baby also features a nightlight, which, thanks to it being LED-powered, can be displayed with nearly any color on the visible spectrum. As the other member of the Fathercraft team Paul likes to talk about, this means you can eliminate blue light, which can be harmful to your child’s, and your own, sleep quality. You can also play a light show with the nightlight, but we have a hard time imagining a use case for this.

The Arlo Baby’s air monitoring features monitor temperature and also something called volatile organic compounds or VOCs. Other monitor’s like the iBaby family do the same. In practice, we found two things to be true of Arlo’s air quality monitoring – 1) when you get alerts about air quality, it doesn’t tell you *what* it’s sensing, just that it’s sensing something. This caused me some apprehension – was Arlo detecting some harmful gas leak in Calvin’s room, or just a dirty diaper? 2) the air quality monitor seems to either be quite aggressive, or both Paul and I have poor air quality in our homes (he experienced the same thing when reviewing iBaby monitors.

And, of course, the bunny ears

No review of the Arlo Baby would be complete without mention of the bunny ears. We’ll make it a short one. We asked ourselves, “why?” and didn’t come up with much. Sure, they make the Arlo Baby cuter. But, we wondered who this was for. Parents? Kids? It’s likely your kid has plenty of cute stuff in her room, and we wonder about the wisdom in calling more kid-attention to something you don’t really want your kid messing with.

The parent unit (the Arlo Baby app)

Using the Arlo Baby’s app was kind of terrifying. The combination of an abundance of features and a whole lot of alerts produced an overwhelming experience.

The home screen of the app, like every other app-powered parent unit we’ve tried, features a live feed of your baby and allows you to access the other features.  Here’s what it looks like:

Another quirk that got pretty annoying was the fact that Arlo Baby defaults sound to on each time you open the app, and if you turn it off, navigate to another screen within the app, and navigate back to the live feed, you’ll find the sound back on again.

Setting up the Arlo Baby

Setup was pretty easy – plug it in, briefly connect to the Arlo’s wifi through your phone’s settings (an act that will be familiar to anyone who’s used an internet-connected device). Then, just enter some simple info about your baby and you’re off to the races. It did seem to take a while for the connection to become stable, though this could have been my wifi. By the day after setting it up, the connection seemed rock-solid.

The awesome, the wish it were different, and a verdict

The awesome

Video feed. The Arlo Baby has by far the best image quality and video feed we’ve seen in a baby monitor, which is great for keeping an eye on your baby and identifying the little things like whether a pacifier is in or has been lost.

Sound quality (good, also can be annoying, see below.) Arlo Baby’s microphone on its child unit is incredibly sensitive. The fact you can hear your child gently snoring is comforting (and cute) in the sense that it makes you confident you’ll hear your child when he needs you.

Built-in white noise and night light. There’s a lot of stuff you need in your child’s nursery or room, so being able to combine things is great. The Arlo’s night light and white noise features both proved useful, even if the number of options for each was a bit overkill.

2-way communication. With Calvin, I didn’t find myself using the 2-way communication feature on the Arlo Baby — as he was 8-9 months old during testing, it would have been a one-sided conversation. But as we’ve had good luck being able to calm our older kid and get him to go back to sleep through a monitor, to me, having this feature extends the useful lifespan of the Arlo.

The wish it were different

Latency [updated]. We started to notice latency issues with the Arlo well after our initial review was done—a good chunk of the time, sound and video feed from the app was a good 4-5 seconds behind the real world. At best, this is annoying with an older child, but to us it’s a dealbreaker for babies.

Numerous software issues [reported by reader, Arlo Support Community—updated November 2018]. A Fathercraft reader alerted us to numerous software issues she’d experienced with the Arlo – pixelation, app crashes, and lack of sound. While we didn’t personally experience these issues, we did some investigation with Arlo’s Community Support Forums and found dozens of similar complaints. Our reader also noted Arlo Support was quite unhelpful.

The app experience. The Arlo Baby app is a case study in feature overload and the user experience that produces. Navigating around it was stressful and it took quite a while for me to get used to where everything was vs other monitors with more intuitive apps we’ve tested.

Notifications and sound sensitivity. Notifications on the Arlo drove me nuts. I didn’t need to be notified by the Arlo that my dog was barking in a different room, but it happened.

Sound defaults to being on, even within app sessions. As we discussed above, the fact that the Arlo Baby’s sound defaults to on was obnoxious.

A verdict

Overall, there’s a lot to like about the Arlo, especially if you’re willing to put in some time and frustration to learn how to use the system. It’s image quality, sound quality, and some of the additional features proved really valuable. We appreciated the versatility of mounting and placement options, which allow for everything from a birds-eye view of a baby in a crib to a room-wide view of your toddler’s bedroom.

The app experience, on the other hand, left a lot to be desired. We would note that after you get used to it, it becomes more manageable, and some of what we experienced seems like it could be fixed by Netgear in future software updates.

And, critically, latency issues we began to experience a few months into our testing, plus the note from our reader and research on the Arlo Support Community lead us to our final recommendation—we DO NOT recommend the Arlo Baby as of November 2018.

If crystal-clear picture is at the absolute top of your priority list when buying a monitor, you might decide to ignore our recommendation. And, if software issues can be fixed, we think the Arlo is with the leaders of the pack from a longevity (infant to toddler/young child) perspective. If you’re looking for a camera specialized in being a baby monitor or with features like sleep analysis, we’d recommend checking out the Nanit.

For monitors we do recommend, here are all of our baby monitor reviews.

Pricing and where to buy

The Arlo Baby retails for $199, including the monitor, a pair of bunny ears and feet, a wall mount kit, and 7 days of cloud storage. If you want to store the videos from your monitor for a longer period of time, you can purchase a paid plan after the fact from Arlo.

Arlo Baby is available at big box stores like Best Buy, Fry’s, and Walmart, and also from Amazon, where it’s got 2-day free Prime shipping.

Additional accessories include (Amazon links) a table/floor stand (MSRP is $39.95, and which we have to admit we like because the Arlo appears to hold on with its feet, and more practically, can be positioned in a ton of different ways) and ears/feet combos to turn your Arlo into a puppy, or a kitten, – both of which have an MSRP of $19.95.

Here’s the deal: most baby monitors suck. We’ve tried A LOT of them. Picture quality, range, ease of use, sound quality—you’re always going to compromise on something.

The Nanit calls itself “the ‘Tesla’ of baby monitors”. Pretentious? Sure. Intriguing? Definitely. Accurate?

Let’s find out.

An in-depth review of the Nanit Pro Smart Baby Monitor

Like all of our reviews, we went all out. We’ve spent over six months with the Nanit Original, spent two years with the Nanit Plus, and have been testing the Nanit Pro since it came out earlier this year.

We kept detailed notes, built a floor stand of our own out of an old floor lamp and an iPad holder (seriously – we weren’t able to get ahold of the floor stand during the original testing), and more.

We’ll start with a quick video, and then cover (click/tap on a section to skip ahead to it)

• What is the Nanit?
• What’s the difference between Nanit Pro and Nanit Plus?
• How the Nanit works, broken down into its various parts
• What about Breathing Wear?
• Nanit pricing and options
• The awesome, the wish it were different, and a verdict
• The Nanit vs Nest Cam
• Nanit vs Arlo Baby
• Nanit vs iBaby
• FAQs: Alexa, HSA eligibility, and more

So, here we go. 

To start, here’s a video review of the Nanit Pro, along with a deeply weird (and fake) press briefing:

Editor’s note: wondering WTF about the press conference? Short story: we recently got accused (via YouTube comment) of having our channel be “heavily sponsored” by Nanit. Not actually true, we’ve never received sponsorship from Nanit. We may be compensated, via affiliate links, if you click a link and make a purchase. This is at no cost to you and supports our reviews. More on our policies here.

What, exactly, is a Nanit?

“Smart” technologies are infiltrating every corner of the home, from smart thermostats to smart refrigerators. When it comes to technologies for parents, smart tech is just as prevalent. (For another impressive example, check out our review of the Snoo smart bassinet.)

The Nanit Sleep System (perhaps baby surveillance system would be more appropriate) is a smart baby monitor billed by the company as, “part baby monitor, part baby translator, part sleep guru” and “the most advanced baby monitor ever.” (Not exactly lacking for superlatives, are they?) By “smart” the company means that the Nanit not only monitors your child as she sleeps but analyzes her sleep patterns using machine learning to make a determination about the quality of sleep she got. Oh yeah, and after that Nanit offers insights into how to improve your baby’s overall nighttime sleep experience.

All right … skepticism level continues to rise … but given that sleep quality is a huge determining factor in the health and development of your child (not to mention maintaining the sanity of parents) any tool that can potentially improve life in this area is worth an in-depth look.

What’s the difference between Nanit Pro and Nanit Plus?

In March 2021, Nanit launched the Nanit Pro, the 3rd iteration of the Nanit baby monitor (The Nanit Plus, version 2 of Nanit, launched in October 2018). Nanit no longer sells the Nanit Original or Nanit Plus.

So, what upgrades for Nanit Pro vs Nanit Plus? The biggest differences:

The big one? Resolution. The Nanit Pro brings full 1080p resolution to the Nanit. (Nanit Plus is 960p.) This is a big improvement, and also Nanit playing a bit of catch-up with some of its high-res competitors like Miku Pro (our Miku review here).

Related: night vision improvements. Nanit Pro also makes a big leap in night vision image quality, offering a noticeably crisper image.

Add-on accessories and software improvements. Nanit Pro also features an updated app experience, and some added features like baby measurement (you need Nanit’s crib sheets—’Smart Sheets‘, of course—for this to work, but hey, you need crib sheets anyway), and a surprisingly adorable ‘smart memories’ feature that creates a virtual scrapbook of your babies growth and moments.

Nanit has made a lot of improvements since launch. Here are Nanit Plus upgrades over Nanit Original:

Two-way audio communication. In our review of the Nanit Original, we noted that two-way audio communication (meaning, in addition to you being able to hear your baby, you can also talk to your baby), was lacking. Nanit billed this as a security feature at the time — a hacker couldn’t hack your monitor and yell obscenities at your baby. Now, they’re confident enough in their security to have released two-way communication.

Better sound quality. In our side-by-side testing, we noticed a marked difference in sound quality between Plus and Original (Plus being the winner).

Better picture quality (slightly). Picture quality was better in the Nanit Plus than the Nanit Original, but only slightly. And they seemed nearly identical with night vision turned on in a darkened room. This isn’t a knock on the Plus – picture quality is great in the Nanit Original.

Nature sounds. Nanit Plus allows you to play nature sounds as white noise for your child. Note this feature hasn’t yet been set live, but will be made available soon as a software update.

App Upgrades. Nanit’s smartphone app has continued to get better, and the Nanit Plus benefits from these (as does the Nanit Original, for most of them).

Unboxing Nanit Pro, and how does it work?

The Nanit Pro is comprised of several parts – a monitor/camera (the child unit), several options for stands, a wall mount, and the Nanit App for your smartphone or tablet. This last part is an important distinction – unlike most monitors, the Nanit does not come with a dedicated ‘parent unit’ – a screen with a speaker that allows you to watch and hear your child – Nanit is BYOD (bring your own device) for the parent unit, via an iOS or Android app.

Here’s what’s in the box:

Let’s dive into each of these components …

The child unit (monitor/camera)

If you’ve been following the self-driving car movement, you’ve likely heard of computer vision as the process by which computers can “see” through cameras and interpret visual inputs. Nanit applies this technology to “see” your baby and interpret things your baby does (tiny movements while sleeping, larger movements when awake or crying). The monitor’s camera records high definition video, which is then run through an algorithm that learns your child’s sleep patterns over time and uses this pattern recognition to send you alerts (your baby is awake, for example) and make recommendations for improving her sleep quality.

This all starts to feel very ‘next level AI futuristic’, but there some distinctions that bring you back to present – for example, Nanit’s sleep analysis works only if the camera is mounted directly above your baby’s crib, looking directly down in birds-eye view. So you’ll forgo the sleep analysis feature if you use the multi-stand that allows the Nanit camera to sit on a dresser.

There are some real advantages to forcing this directly overhead view – primarily that Nanit’s wide-angle lens captures the entire crib, meaning that your child is always in view. If you’ve used a traditional monitor on top of a dresser near the crib, for example, you’ll know this can create blind spots or near blind spots in the crib that can get frustrating as your child begins to roll around when sleeping.

Camera performance

Picture quality is one of the highlights of Nanit Pro. It boasts a true HD-quality 1080p real-time feed, made to look even better if you have a newer smartphone or tablet with a great-looking screen. Nanit also features infrared light for night vision, which was excellent in my testing.

Mounting Nanit’s camera

Ther are three ways to mount the Nanit camera (note that when you order Nanit the wall mount kit and multi-stand are included by default, you’ll need to add the floor stand separately for $80 if you want it, and you’ll need to do so during your initial order – the floor stand isn’t currently sold separately):

1. Wall Mount. This is the default. You screw the Nanit into the wall above your child’s crib in a location that places the camera in the center of the crib. It’s critical that the camera is in the middle of the crib on a long side as the Nanit app isn’t flexible with orientation. So if you mount the camera on the end of the crib as opposed to the side, your orientation will be screwed up. (Within the app settings you can tell the Nanit exactly what area of the crib it should focus on, so even if you are forced to place the stand at the foot of the bassinet/crib the monitor should be able to capture what it needs (see app settings section for more info).  The wall mount also comes with a cable cover to prevent your child from reaching through crib bars and yanking the cable. Once your wall mount is set up, the camera snaps in and out easily in case you want to bring it (along with the Multi-Stand) with you on a trip.
2. Floor Stand mount. For those not wanting to drill into their walls, an optional floor stand is available for Nanit. Though for some reason, it isn’t available separately, so if you think you might want it, add it to your order from the beginning. The Floor Stand positions the Nanit in the overhead orientation, allowing you to mimic where the Nanit would be if installed via wall mount.
3. Multi-Stand mount. Nanit bills the Multi-Stand as a stand you can use to bring the Nanit on the go – to grandparents’ houses, on trips, etc. It’s a small 6-inch stand that positions the camera to face outward toward a crib, pack ‘n play, bassinette, etc. Again, it’s important to be aware Nanit Insights, the sleep quality tracking and recommendations element of the Nanit Sleep System isn’t available when the camera is mounted on the Multi-Stand. I appreciated that the Multi-Stand comes with an 8’ cord, as it seems plugs are always further away than you want them to be.

The parent unit (the Nanit App + your smartphone or tablet)

The Nanit App is available as a free download for iOS and Android, and acts as the control center for the Nanit monitor. I’ll break down the individual sections of the app below, but an important overall note is that the app *does* allow for background audio, meaning that even while the app is closed on your phone, you’ll still be able to hear your child. I also experimented using an old iPad as a “dedicated” parent unit with the Nanit by disabling auto-screen lock. This worked quite well, though did require it be plugged in if using for long periods with the screen on, as that required lots of battery life. Inside the app you’ll find:

The monitor’s live feed. Here’ you’ll see what you’d expect from a baby monitor – the HD live feed of what’s going on in the crib, the ability to see full screen, snap a picture of your baby, turn on the Nanit’s light (this is angled upward to help you see when visiting your child, but not shine a light directly in his eyes), and the ability to turn on and off audio. There are also a few bells and whistles – Nanit monitors temperature and humidity in the room. And finally, in the upper-right-hand corner a comforting “live” indicator and connection status bars, much like the cellular reception bars on your phone, indicates the monitor is working. Here’s what it looks like on an iPhone 8+

Activity. Within this section of the app, you’ll be able to scroll through a history of what your child’s been up to while in his crib, and can jump back in time to previous days (up to 30 days back with the standard Nanit Insights package, up to a year back with the “Unlimited Insights” package. Within the Activity Stream, you can view a sped-up version of your child’s previous nights, showing you when he woke up, stirred, was attended to by you or your partner, etc. More on Nanit Insights below.

Dashboard. The dashboard is a collection of your child’s sleep stats, including an overall score, when she went to sleep, the total time spent in the crib, total time asleep, how many times you or your partner visited your child, and “sleep efficiency”, a metric calculated by how much time your child spent asleep divided by the total time she spent in her crib.

Settings. Within settings, you can add users (adding your partner, another caregiver, etc.), add additional cameras, etc., and do some configuration – for example showing the Nanit the area of its view that constitutes your child’s sleeping area.

Nanit Insights

Nanit Insights is a software subscription service that takes all of the data collected by the Nanit camera and sensors and turns it into insights – stats, analysis, and personalized sleep recommendations for your child.

Insights allows you to see time-lapse videos of your baby’s night, keep a video history of these time lapses, and get sleep tips from Nanit’s experts. I found the time-lapse videos fun and interesting, but there’s only one speed at which you could play back the timelapse and it’s a bit slow for my taste.

Beginning in March 2019, Nanit started offering 1 year of Nanit Insights for free with every purchase of Nanit Pro.

What about Breathing Wear?

Breathing Wear is a new addition to the Nanit family of products as of Summer 2019. Breathing Wear is a band (or a band incorporated into a sleep sack or pajamas) that allows Nanit Pro to monitor your chid’s breathing using the camera to “watch” the movement of a special pattern of shapes printed on the Breathing Wear band. This differs from some monitors (like Owlet) that monitor breathing by attaching actual tech to your child’s foot, and from monitors like Miku, which monitor breathing without the use of wearables. Breathing Wear includes no tech in the band that attaches to your child, just fabric, which is certainly a benefit.

In our testing, we’ve found Breathing Wear to be a strong option for monitoring breathing, if a bit of a hassle in the sense that you need to manually lock on to the pattern each time you put your baby using the Nanit app. Breathing monitoring does require the additional purchase of something from the Breathing Wear line of products, but you’re going to want a sleep sack anyway, the Breathing Wear Swaddle is a good one. When your baby is rolling over, you can transition to the Sleeping Bag or Nanit Pajamas.

Nanit Pro Price & Options

The Nanit is pretty darn expensive, though we think it’s a lot more reasonable now that Nanit Insights is included for 1 year.  That said, it’s clear with Nanit you’re also paying for quality – a truly excellent camera and monitor (see below), well thought out design, an intuitive app, and really impressive insights.

Nanit recently simplified their pricing. Here’s a breakdown:

Individual component prices:

Camera + wall mount + 1 year of Insights: $299

Floor stand: $80 <– currently, you can only purchase the floor stand at the time you purchase the camera, bringing the price for both to $379

Multi-stand: $49

Nanit Insights: Included for 1 year, starting at $5/month or $50/year for 7 days of history, up to $30/month for unlimited history after that. (Since most of the insights apply to babies less than one year, your need for this product will go down after a year).

Breathing Wear: $19.99 and up (the cheapest option is a band, which can be placed around your baby’s middle, but must be put underneath her arms, meaning it won’t work on top of another swaddle—you’ll have to wait til your baby is done with a swaddle or at least has her arms out of her sleep sack. There are a shockingly large number of discounted bundles to choose from, so you can choose your preferred type of Breathing Wear and save if you buy in sets.)

Total:

$299 – $449, depending on options. The cheapest end of the spectrum is to buy just the Nanit camera with wall mount and Insights (comes with the wall mount for no additional cost) without the Multi-Stand, Floor Stand, or add any or all of these components individually.

Amazon is another good option – you can purchase bundles of the camera and wall mount or the camera and floor stand. The multi stand is also sold as a standalone item. (Nanit Insights, if you want it, will need to be purchased separately directly from Nanit after the fact – you can do this anytime through the Nanit App.)

Bundles & Discounts

It’s definitely worth checking Nanit’s website as the company has been offering discounts when you bundle with a cool new ‘bundle builder’ that allows you to build your dream Nanit system and save 10% when you do.

Nanit also offers a 45-day “worry free” guarantee, meaning you can return it, no questions asked, within 45 days for a full refund, less the cost of shipping it back to Nanit.

The awesome, the “wish it were different” and a verdict

The awesome

Picture and sound quality is simply outstanding. The Nanit’s HD camera, paired with a retina-display-quality smartphone makes for truly excellent live video feed quality. Even when zooming in, very little picture pixelation occurs. This was one of the things that consistently surprised me about Nanit – the experience of being relatively far away from Calvin and seeing a crisp, clear picture was so unexpected versus other baby monitors I’ve used it was an ongoing positive surprise. Likewise, sound quality, produced by the Nanit’s highly-calibrated microphone and my phone’s speaker (I used my iPhone 12 for testing) produced extremely clear sound.

Unlimited range. When we made our complaints about baby monitors to kick off this review, lack of range was a big one, and often something you end up sacrificing. With Nanit, so long as you have a reliable wifi network where your baby is located and you and your smartphone or tablet are either connected to either that wifi network, a different wifi network, or cell service, you’ll be connected to your baby. Practically, I found this to come in handy when I was:

1. Separated from Calvin by several floors (he’s currently sleeping in our room on the top floor, our traditional monitor wouldn’t reach to the basement.
2. Outside doing yard work. Our wifi doesn’t reach all the way to the edge of the yard, but with cell service, I remained connected.
3. At work and wanting to check in. A magic moment happened for me with the Nanit when I was at work and Calvin’s grandpa was watching him. I got a text that Calvin was moving around a lot, and wondering if he should be gotten up. I was able to check Nanit, see that he was just doing his normal stirring, and tell his grandpa to let him be for a bit. Calvin slept for another precious hour.

Portability. If you travel with your baby or have family you visit frequently, you’ll know the pain of trying to bring your monitor with you – unplugging both the parent and child units, packing them (and their individual cords) up, setting them up at your new location, etc. Nanit has two advantages here – first, since your smartphone is the parent unit, that’s coming with you anyway and isn’t an extra item (and cord) to pack up. Second, since the camera easily snaps into and out of the wall or floor stand mount, and the Multi-Stand is designed for travel, it’s as simple as grabbing the camera, the Multi-Stand, and walking out the door. When you’re back, just snap the camera into your permanent setup at home and everything’s good to go and perfectly set up. This is quite different than a monitor that doesn’t snap into and out of a permanent wall or floor stand – with those monitors, you end up trying to remember exactly where you had it set up, and needing to reposition to find that perfect angle again. Heads up that connecting to hotel wifi networks that don’t require a password or have some non home-wifi type setup may be challenging or impossible. We recommend the Cloud Baby Monitor app for those instances—any two phones or tablets, one is parent unit, one is child unit.

App bells and whistles. Overall, the app has an intuitive and easy to use interface. And its bells and whistles can come in handy. For example, you can have Nanit’s app alert you if the temperature drops below a certain pre-set threshold. Over the winter when we were out with Calvin for the evening, I got an alert that the temperature had dropped due to our Nest Thermostat’s Eco Mode. I was able to use the Nest App to adjust the temperature so it was a comfortable sleeping temp by the time we got home, which was good because it was emergency bedtime for Calvin upon arrival.

Safety and security. I really appreciated the fact Nanit has put so much effort into safety and security across a number of different areas. Cables are well managed and kept away from your child, which is particularly useful for older children apt to reach through crib bars. Nanit features 256-bit encryption and, according to the company, “IP addresses that can’t be hacked” to keep your baby’s images and data safe. If like us, you have some level of concern about signals from devices and wifi, this is comforting. It’s also something other forward-thinking connected-devices for kids companies are thinking about – we appreciated a similar feature in the Snoo robotic bassinet from Happiest Baby.

The bird’s eye view. Because of the way Nanit is mounted (with the wall mount or floor stand) the camera looks down on your baby from directly above. This took some getting used to vs. a typical monitor that looks at your baby from an angle, but as Calvin got older and started rolling around, I came to deeply appreciate the fact it was impossible for him to roll out of view behind crib bars or into a corner – he was always captured perfectly by the Nanit’s wide-angle lens.

The “wish it were different”

The floor stand is expensive when sold separately. If you haven’t bought a Nanit yet, this is something to be aware of. If you purchase the floor stand after the fact, it’ll set you back $125. For us, this was annoying because we wanted Calvin in our room for the first 6 months or so (as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for safe sleep) and didn’t want to drill a hole in our bedroom wall knowing we’d be moving Calvin, and the Nanit, into his room after that.

No two-way communication [Nanit Original Only—this feature has been added in Plus and Pro]. (You can’t speak to your baby through the Nanit’s child-unit speaker to attempt to calm her.) Nanit bills this as a safety feature (you may have read about other wifi baby monitors being hacked and some very twisted hackers with, apparently, very little to do scaring babies by screaming at them through their monitors), but you cannot talk to your baby through the Nanit. This was a disadvantage for us as with our older son and a different monitor, we were able to successfully soothe him by talking to him through the monitor and avoid having to go into his room to comfort him. While I understood why Nanit didn’t include this feature, since I’m not personally all that concerned about being hacked, I’d have preferred this feature to be available.

You can’t rotate the camera’s orientation. The Nanit’s camera captures a rectangular field of vision and is designed to only fit your child’s crib in that field of vision … if you install the camera on the long side of the crib as opposed to the end of the crib. If you don’t, you’ll still be able to see your child, but you’ll also see large swaths of the floor and a much smaller image of your child. Here’s what the view looks like if set up rotated 90 degrees from how Nanit is designed:

The Verdict

$300+ is a lot of money to spend on a baby monitor, and there are certainly functional, if frustrating, video monitors available for a lot less than the Nanit. So, if cost is your most important decision criteria, you might look at other monitors (though do check the Nanit website first for discounts offered when you purchase bundles.)

If you’re looking at a monitor as a long-term investment that’s going to serve you for years to come (and perhaps can be used for multiple kids), Nanit is by far the best monitor we’ve tried. After spending over three months using Nanit, I can confidently say it hits high marks in all the right places. From its superb picture quality to its unlimited range to its sleep insights, Nanit actively seeks to help your child get a better night’s sleep (and just maybe you too!) – and that is worth quite a bit. You can check out our full list of best baby monitors here (hint: Nanit is the overall winner).

There you have it, our complete Nanit review. Hopefully, that was helpful. If you’re looking for more thoughts on the Nanit, this page on the company’s site updates with the most recent reviews from buyers.

Before we leave, we’ll tackle:

How does the Nanit stack up vs other baby monitors?

Nanit vs Miku

Here’s our full review of the Miku Pro baby monitor, but if you’re looking for just the highlights in the Miku Pro vs Nanit Pro battle, here they are:

• Image quality: it’s darn close. Edge: Nanit
• Breathing monitoring: Miku—no wearables
• Overall user experience—Nanit. Their app is just better (though Miku is catching up). Sleep Insights is amazing.
• Floor stand: we’ve got to give this to Nanit Pro. It’s taller, it’s sturdier, and it’s easier to move around.
• Overall winner: damn it’s close.

Nanit vs Nest Cam

There’s really no comparison between Nanit and Nest (we’re talking the Nest Cam Indoor here) because the Nest Cam isn’t a baby monitor, and isn’t particularly useful when used as one, primarily because you can’t hear the sound from the Nest Cam unless the Nest App is open. Since hearing sounds your baby is making is one of the primary functions of a baby monitor, this is pretty much a non-starter for using Nest Cam as a baby monitor. (The Nest Cam *will* give an alert when it senses movement even while the app is closed, as a typical alert on your smartphone.)

As we’ve discussed, the Nanit does play sounds made by your baby even if the Nanit App isn’t open on the smartphone or tablet you’re using as your Parent Unit. If you’re interested, we further discuss using the Nest Cam as a baby monitor here.

Nanit vs Arlo Baby

The Nanit and the Arlo baby are a relatively close match for picture and sound quality (Arlo has the edge), but Arlo has severe user experience drawbacks and we don’t recommend it because of those. To dig more into the Arlo Baby, you can see our review here. The Arlo Baby edges out the Nanit when it comes to image quality and sound quality. It’s also cheaper, retailing for $199. And the Arlo packs a few features the Nanit Original does not—the ability to play white noise for your child, for example (Nanit Plus adds the ability to play white noise).

However, the Nanit is the clear winner from a user experience perspective – its app is an absolute dream compared to the mess that is Arlo’s app. And, the Nanit’s sleep insights and recommendations are in a class of their own – these aren’t even something the Arlo tries to tackle. Since reviewing the Arlo, we’ve also noticed severe latency issues, up to 4-5 seconds and heard about software issues from readers. 4-5 seconds of latency (lag time between real-world and when you see/hear through the monitor) might not sound like a lot, but in our experience, when you’re wondering or worried about a newborn, it can feel like an eternity.

The Arlo is available on Amazon.

Nanit vs iBaby

We reviewed various iBaby monitors in depth here. What we’ll say here is that Nanit is in a league of its own. In testing, iBaby monitors proved solid, if unintuitive, and have some cool features around air quality monitoring (though our testing brought into question just how accurate this might be). Another feature offered by iBaby and not by Nanit is two-way communication – the ability to speak to your baby through the monitor. (Again, Nanit promotes the lack of this feature as a feature – they maintain that two-way communication creates a security risk.)

Price is another consideration. Depending on setup and options, Nanit can be considerably more expensive that iBaby monitors, which start at around $135 for the iBaby M6S on Amazon and range up to a about $250 for the flagship M7. Nanit, while you can get it for as cheap as $279 for a camera + wall mount, can certainly cost more with additional accessories and features.

Overall, Nanit’s picture quality, birds-eye mounting setup, intuitive user experience, and Nanit Insights make it the superior, if more expensive choice.

FAQs

Here are some things we get asked a lot about Nanit:

Does Nanit Plus integrate with Google Home or Amazon Alexa? As of Fall 2019, yes! Nanit added Echo Show integration, which allows you to stream video from a Nanit to your Echo Show. Google Home is not yet supported.

Is Nanit Plus HSA eligible? Yep. (At least some configurations.) If you purchase Breathing Wear products OR the Nanit Complete Monitoring System, you’ll be able to pay for them with your HSA or FSA accounts.

Editor’s Notes:

1. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
2. We purchased a Nanit Original for our original review but have received several free monitors from the manufacturer for testing. We never guarantee positive reviews or bias in exchange for a free product, but thought you should be aware.
3. This Nanit review was originally published in January 2018 but was updated and republished in November 2019 based on new information after spending more time with the Nanit and adding the Nanit Plus to our review, plus information on new Breathing Wear products, Echo Show integration, and HSA eligibility. It was updated again in February, 2021 with information on the Nanit Pro, and again in July 2021 with further Nanit Pro information.

Hey everyone! A lot has changed in the world of baby monitors– even since we first reviewed the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro back in 2019. We can’t believe we are saying this, but Infant Optics might have hit a homerun with their new Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro. Alright, well, maybe not a homerun but it wasn’t a swing-and-a-miss like the Infant Optics DXR-8. This is a long post explaining why you shouldn’t buy the DXR-8, but if you are curious about the DXR-8 Pro, and why you might consider that one, then head down to the bottom where we take a deep dive. See ya there!

Jump to Section

• A Cautionary Tale About the Infant Optics DXR-8
• DXR-8 Purchase and Setup
• The awesome (In this case just good)
• Wish it Were Different
• The verdict: the Infant Optics DXR-8 is obsolete
• Alternatives
• The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro

A Cautionary Tale About the Infant Optics DXR-8

In the Fathercraft “Battle for Best Baby Monitor Royale“, the Infant Optics DXR-8 Baby Monitor loses in the first round, and falls squarely into the category of “cautionary advice”. Despite its overwhelming popularity on Amazon, our own experience with the DXR-8 has us wondering “Just how can such a clunky old school device hold its position as the top-selling baby monitor at Amazon?”

Our guess is that prior to the introduction of the new breed of “smart” baby monitor technology, most baby monitors fell far short of parental expectations (a polite way of saying they all sucked), so DXR-8 buyers are comparing their “new” monitor to older “audio or video only” non-wifi monitors with very limited functions.

If you’d like to check out our video review of the Infant Optics DXR-8, here it is in all its glory:

Today the much-touted FHSS wireless technology of the DXR-8 and its 360p images is a far cry from the 1080p resolution and the “Tesla of Baby Monitors” such as the state-of-the-art Nanit. 

These new products of Silicon Valley not only give you the peace of mind a good baby monitor should, they even give suggestions and advice for improving your baby’s sleep. We’d imagine it’s just a matter of time before word gets out and the old DXR-8 is toppled from its top-selling throne at Amazon. 

There is also the fact that the DXR-8 is only available exclusively at Amazon. The San Francisco firm Infant Optics does not sell their product directly. A quick trip to the Infant Optics company website directs you right back to Amazon to purchase. Check out the 4,250 critical reviews before being wowed by the top seller status of the DXR-8. Many of the 73% positive reviews come from new buyers but over time the reliability flaws of the DXR-8 become all too apparent and all too common. There are many complaints about signal interference from wifi routers, inconsistent signals, faulty power connections, and premature battery failure. 

When you compare the DXR-8 with the new cutting-edge smart baby monitors available today, it’s obvious that the Infant Optics offering is resting on its laurels. It may have been leading-edge technology 4 years ago but the DXR-8 has since fallen far behind high performance 2019 challengers such as the Cocoon Cam, and the Nanit. And we should know. Our DXR-8 from 4 years ago is identical to the one we just purchased for further testing in December 2018. So much for a top seller staying on the leading edge of baby monitor technology.

Unlike the industry leaders, the DXR-8 has not been improved over time, and a shallow boast about its status as “the first baby monitor with interchangeable lens technology” is poor compensation for a lack of reliability. Reliability is the prime consideration for baby monitors. Doubts about monitor reliability defeat the whole purpose of the device which is designed to give parental peace of mind. You’ll make enough back-and-forth trips to care for the baby, the last thing you need is a compulsion to check on the intermittent performance of the baby monitor. 

At the risk of pointing at the top-selling Emperor of Amazon Baby Monitor Land and declaring loudly that “He has no clothes!” the Dads at Fathercraft are going to tell it like it is after testing not one, but two DXR-8 units. We purchased the second unit to ensure fairness by ruling out the chance that we’d gotten stuck with a rare malfunctioning oddball lemon that somehow squeaked past the Infant Optics quality control team. We’ll follow our usual review format, and we’ll even mention a few positive points about the DXR-8, though it would be a stretch to put those points in the “Awesome” category we usually include in each of our baby gear reviews. Perhaps “Good” would be more applicable when it comes to our wayward pair of DXR-8s.

DXR-8 Purchase and Setup

Why would anyone consider purchasing the DXR-8? One of the selling points of the DXR-8 is that it is a traditional monitor as opposed to the more technologically evolved wifi monitors available now. For parents and sitters with unreliable wifi, we can see how a traditional monitor might be preferred since it will keep on working even when the wifi is down. 

Another common concern with wifi baby monitors is that they’re vulnerable to hacking. And, this is true. Though we’d liken this fear to that of a shark attack where the shark has its jaws chained shut:

1. Incredibly rare
2. Really scary
3. No physical harm done

You see, there’s no financial incentive for a hacker to hack your baby monitor. And, a hacker would have to be BOTH really good at hacking AND the sort of creep that likes to yell at babies through a monitor. We’d warrant this is a rare combo.

This “old school” approach is certainly understandable but hardly justifies the $165.95 price tag, especially when parents on a budget can get advanced features such as breathing monitoring with a wifi based smartphone-app-powered monitor like the Cocoon Cam for just $149. More for less will always score major points with us here at Fathercraft. Less for more puts you on our cautionary advice list, and in our view, the DXR-8 is simply not a good baby monitor at any price. It just doesn’t fulfill the basic purpose of a baby monitor in terms of reliable performance, and even when it is functioning properly, mediocre visual results are about the best it can deliver. 

Old School Tech

The old school still rules when it comes to the setup of the DXR-8 as well. Close proximity to the crib is strictly forbidden, which is made alarmingly clear by the User’s Manual with all of its warnings about choking hazards and strangulation risks. The DXR-8 must be placed at least 3 feet away from the crib to prevent cord entanglement hazards, and the manual clearly identifies the optical lens and lens hood parts as choking hazards. A color-coded wire tab must be mated to the appropriate slots in the parent unit before the lithium-ion battery pack can be fitted into the battery compartment (a sharp pen is recommended to do this), and the unit can’t be used until the battery is fully charged. 

The Infant Optics website is pretty sparse when it comes to additional support information, offering only PDF downloads of the quick start and full versions of the User’s Manual, and not much else. Of course, the DXR-8, as a “traditional” non-wifi baby monitor is considered “plug and play” since there is no app configuration to consider. This might be considered as a plus until it’s time to add additional cameras for additional kids.

The awesome (In this case just good)

Parent Device Battery

The rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the parental unit is rated for 10 hours in standby mode and 6.5 hours with the screen continuously on. That’s pretty good as long as you happen to get a unit with good power connections. 

Additional Cameras

Additional cameras can be added, up to 4 total, for $99.75 each. Lens choices include a wide angle lens for $11.98 and the optical zoom lens included with the starter kit is also sold separately as a replacement component for $19.99. Cameras need to be “paired” or “registered” with the monitor unit via the menu bar and a six-step process. The last step ominously states, “If unsuccessful, delete the camera channel and attempt to pair again.” After all that, there is no split screen viewing mode available, so each channel must be searched for and viewed one camera at a time from the parental monitor. 

We do like the idea of a dedicated parent unit which isn’t reliant on working wifi. We also like the Pan and Tilt functions which can be operated remotely from the parental monitor. This is especially convenient when the toddlers go mobile and you need to track their activity across the entire room. We’ll also give some credit for the instant video feed access, but really that’s just a second or two advantage over the smartphone-based monitor delay. This small advantage is not nearly enough to be a deal breaker when it comes to favoring smartphone-based wifi capable baby monitors. 

And that’s about it for the good characteristics of the DXR-8. Now it’s time to dive into the performance issues experienced with not one, but two of our DXR-8 baby monitors. 

Wish it Were Different

Sudden “Out of Signal Coverage”

One of the most widespread flaws experienced in one of our two units is that the DXR-8  suddenly stopped working. This is an inherent range problem with the non-wifi DXR-8, and a Google search revealed that the same thing has occurred to other people quite frequently. Even when the parent unit is right next to the child unit we still got an “Out of signal coverage” alert. That’s well within the 700′ unobstructed parameter advertised by Infant Optics.

Infant Optics makes a selling point out of the 700′ unobstructed range but think about that. How often do you have an unobstructed area, free from walls and floors? We would expect, more realistically, that a decent monitor should be able to perform inside at about 85 feet with up to four walls between parent and baby, but suddenly we weren’t even getting that limited coverage once the mysterious “out of signal coverage” issue surfaced. A search for range extenders for the DXR-8 was fruitless. We did find numerous DXR-8 consumers with similar issues though, including interference from routers and microwaves and the notoriously annoying beeping alarm which sounds for low batteries or lost signal. One reviewer at Amazon titled her 1-star review “Living Nightmare”. 

Wifi based baby monitoring has unlimited range and obstructions aren’t even a consideration. Using John’s house (3 stories including the basement) as an example, even when it is working as advertised, the DXR-8 left you severely restricted. If he wanted to keep an eye on Calvin in his room, that meant the garage, back yard, and different sides of the house were all off limits. A good baby monitor permits a certain level of parental freedom to keep up with the domestic demands in the rest of the house after all, so a monitor which can’t handle the inevitable “obstructions” between parent and child fails at the most fundamental level. 

Can’t see well with old-school resolution 

While today’s modern monitors are pushing into the 1080p territory, the DXR-8 can only deliver 360p resolution. We needed daylight or a light on in the kid’s room to view the general layout, but even then the low resolution makes it impossible to distinguish facial expressions. When testing with John’s 4-year-old Oliver, whose bed was across the room from the camera, and it was difficult to tell if he was actually in the bed. Naturally, night vision with such primitive resolution was pretty poor, yet another fundamental failure of the DXR-8. Since it is much healthier for kids to sleep in the dark, it’s only reasonable to expect that a good baby monitor should function well in the dark. Without night vision capability you’re paying big bucks for what amounts to an audio-only monitor, just one more example of how the DXR-8 provides less for more. 

The verdict: the Infant Optics DXR-8 is obsolete

With so many excellent smartphone-based baby monitors available today the DXR-8 is long past its prime. The best baby monitors use wifi and smartphone apps to their advantage. With the DXR-8 the presence of a wifi router can actually be a handicap, and what modern household is willing to forego wifi? Old school technology such as FHSS wireless transmission is much too prone to signal interference from common sources such as microwave ovens and smart IoT devices, and interchangeable lenses don’t enhance the low-resolution 360p video.

The DXR-8 fails across the board of criteria we use at Fathercraft to evaluate baby monitors, with shortcomings including poor range, poor picture quality, poor night vision, and severe usability issues. 

Performance of the DXR-8 is marginal at best, and just plain non-functional when the out of signal range issue surfaces out of nowhere. It’s obvious to us at Fathercraft that the DXR-8 is long past its prime, still coasting on an out-of-date reputation, supported by a serious lack of awareness about just how good the new best baby monitors perform. 

Alternatives

In the same price range as the DXR-8, the Cocoon Cam Plus is a much better investment for parents on a budget. At just $149 it’s the least expensive of next generation baby monitors and it features the innovative breathing monitoring app. Good image quality and an overhead “bird’s eye” view combine to provide much-needed peace of mind for anxious new parents. 

The Cocoon Cam provides so much more than the DXR-8 in terms of versatility. Your smartphone or tablet becomes the parent unit with a very respectable 720p image quality. That’s twice the fuzzy 360p resolution of the DXR-8. Night vision quality is also far above the DXR-8, which you can see for yourself at our Cocoon Cam review page. 

Another great baby monitor is the Eufy Spaceview. This is one of the top baby monitors that we recommend, because it has high quality video, it has voice-activated alerts, slim parent device, and the set-up is oh so easy. Check out our full review on the Eufy Spaceview Review Page.

The Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro: What’s New, What We Like, and What Took Them So Long??

What’s New

To start off, the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro sports a new 720p, 5 inch parent unit which is an upgrade from the 360p quality the DXR-8 has. Guys, that’s like double the quality. However, keep in mind that most of the other baby monitors out there today are rocking 1080p parent units, so this was a long-overdue update for Infant Optics. Volume and brightness controls have also been added to this larger unit, which make life easier for the parent.

The range of the camera has been extended by nearly 50% to a maximum range of 1000 ft. as opposed to the original model that had about 700 feet. Unluckily for us, we don’t live inside of a football stadium, so we really can’t even tell the difference in utility with this new update. Most of the video disruption that you will run into has to do with other electronic devices anyway, not necessarily the range (unless you are 1000ft away), but you can read more about that here.

The biggest update to the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro is the active noise reduction feature. Most baby monitors use an omni directional microphone, which basically picks up sound from every direction. This includes any background noise like: fans, A/C, spooky ghosts, etc.. What the Pro does is block out that background noise and instead only lights up when it hears sounds from your baby. This is actually pretty awesome (wow are we really saying that?) and it makes life easier for those who always hear that annoying hum from their parent unit.

What We Like

Most of the new stuff is amazing. The screen quality is day and night, the noise reduction is a game changer, and the set-up is way easier. However, a lot of these things are already being done by the baby monitor brands. The screen quality is just now catching up with several other wifi monitors and even non-wifi monitors like the Eufy Spaceview. Even still, it makes a huge difference from the normal DXR-8 so we like it.

The noise reduction might be our favorite part about it. It is relatively new technology in the baby monitor market, and it solves a real pain point for parents. Back in our day, when we were tired of the low hum we just turned the volume down on the monitor and looked for the LED volume indicator instead. So the noise reduction is sweet but does it justify the cost difference between the DXR-8 Pro ($199) and the Eufy Spaceview ($169) in itself? We’ll let you be the judge on that.

Finally, the set-up is easy and painless. No complaints with a new set-up user experience from us. Nobody likes troubleshooting or tinkering with annoying click-through settings, so we are glad that they made it user-friendly.

Has Infant Optics Redeemed Themselves?

Short answer, yeah. Is this the new best baby monitor on the market? Short answer, no! This is a great upgrade to the Infant Optics DXR-8, but it still doesn’t outshine some of the better monitors like the Eufy Spaceview and most of the wifi/connected monitors.

Most of the changes that the Infant Optics DXR-8 Pro brings in are just things that are catching Infant Optics up with market standard. So we see the market standard as above the bare minimum, meaning we will recommend this to you. BUT check out our other reviews and really do your research on the baby monitor that is right for you. If noise reduction from the parent unit is your number one priority, then by all means the DXR-8 Pro is the baby monitor for you.

What’s next?

For the full roundup on the latest baby monitor tech check out all of our baby monitor reviews and our picks for the Best Baby Monitors of 2020 here. 

In this Sleepea review, we’ll explain how Sleepea works, offer some observations based on spending 30 days with it, and provide the awesome, the wish it were different, and a verdict.

Editor’s note: Fathercraft is reader-supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. Learn more.

What’s a Sleepea? How does it work?

The Sleepea is a sleep sack, manufactured by Happiest Baby, a company known to many as being founded by Dr. Harvey Karp, whose “Happiest Baby on the Block” video demonstrates the 5S’s of sleep for newborns. They also created the Snoo, a robotic bassinette, which we review here. The point is, this is a company that knows sleep.

The Sleepea is essentially a part of the Snoo system (the Snoo Sack) that is now being sold as a standalone item. Sleepea is just like the Snoo Sack, except there are no clips that attach it to the Snoo, it’s got clips to release an arm (for older babies), and different colors.

We talked about our experience with the Snoo Sack in our Snoo review, and it was very positive. That review was done by Paul with his daughter Ruby, who was less than a month old at the time. This review was conducted by John, with his son Calvin, who was 3-4 months old during this review.

To use the Sleepea, you lie your baby down on top of the Sleepea, use Sleepea’s “smart inner band” to gently but firmly pin your baby’s arms against his body, and then zip up the Sleepea over your child’s feet, legs, body, torso, and right up to his neck. Sleepea comfortably rests under the baby’s chin.

If you’ve used a sleep sack of some kind before, Sleepea will feel pretty familiar, with a couple of notable differences:

1. The Smart Band is inside the sack, vs a lot of sleep sacks, which keep your child’s arms against her body with ‘wings’ that are outside the sack.
2. Sleepea includes mesh panels at the knees and shoulders to provide ventilation. This is pretty different from a number of other sleep sacks, which focus on the fact they’re made of a warmer material to keep your baby warm. As we’ll discuss later, Happiest Baby notes that these mesh panels are designed to prevent overheating, which is a common SIDS trigger.

Sleepea also includes a number of other features, some of which are found in various combinations elsewhere: it’s billed as incredibly easy to use, produces a consistently perfect swaddle, is made from organic cotton, zips from bottom in addition to top to facilitate easy middle-of-the-night diaper changing, and includes extra room in the hips – allowing a baby’s hips to relax while sleeping is important to development.

John & Calvin’s Sleepea Review

Having tried numerous sleep sacks, I was excited to try out the Sleepea, purely based on reputation – after Paul’s review of the Snoo and Snoo Sack, I’d gained serious respect for Happiest Baby products. The first thing I noticed about Sleepea were some obvious differences from other sleep sacks – the mechanism for pinning a baby’s arms being inside the sack, the much lighter-weight materials and mesh panes vs other sleep sacks billed as being “cozy” or “fleece material for warmth.” These differences were slightly disconcerting at first but backed up by really sound logic, research, and expertise.

Sleepea’s lightweight materials and mesh panels were the most worrying – I thought Calvin might be too cold, especially since I’d previously been using the Halo SleepSack, which is made of a fleece material. After Paul described the ear test Happiest Baby had previously taught him (feel a baby’s ear – if it’s cold, they’re cold, if it’s warm, they’re hot, if it feels normal, they’re just fine), I was much more comfortable and realized Calvin wasn’t cold at a normal room temperature (70 degrees for us.)

The ease of getting Calvin into the Sleepea depended a lot on him, and what position I was putting him in. If I wasn’t strapping his arms down (he didn’t like that as he approached 4 months) it was literally the 5-second swaddle it’s advertised as. On a perfect night, when he was basically already asleep, using the smart band to strap his arms down and then zipping up also 5 seconds. If he was awake, and I was fighting the arm battle, it took a good deal longer than 5 seconds, and was tricky to do, as I had to use one hand to hold both of his arms down and try to manipulate the smart band with one hand.

Once Calvin was secure, the smart band did keep his arms in, and having the band on the inside of snack seemed to provide a double layer of protection that prevented him from getting arms out vs other sleep sacks where wings, and arms, are on the outside.

The Awesome

The perfect ‘snugness’ – Sleepea’s smart band and zippered enclosure felt “snug” not too loose, not too tight. This was definitely an improvement over some other sacks I’ve tried and wondered whether I had the tightness correct.

Stays secure, doesn’t get too close to neck and head – Sleepea’s snug zippered closure that comes right up to the neck and lack of “wings” outside the snack meant it couldn’t “sneak” up and cover Calvin’s neck or face. This was definitely in contrast to other sacks I’ve tried that can sneak up, or feel like the neck is getting bunched up and too tight.

Dual position – arms pinned or free – Calvin, as he approached 4 months, didn’t seem to like to have his arms strapped down, so it was nice to have the smart band that can strap arms down, or if your baby is ready to have arms freed, you just be put the band around body. Calvin is a wiggler, so this is nice. Even when he wiggles his arms free, he isn’t pulling it up over his face, and I didn’t have to worry about it covering his face and increasing SIDS risk.

The double zipper – was really nice for diaper changes – makes it much easier to change Calvin while he was sleeping, without going through the hassle of completely extracting him from the sack (though this feature certainly isn’t unique to Sleepea.

The Wish it Were Different

Getting your baby into Sleepea – for a swaddle billed as a “5-second swaddle”, getting Calvin in left a little to be desired. It was easy enough to lay him down on top of it and get his legs in. Strapping his arms in was more difficult – trying to use one hand to pin arms down, get the smart band on with one hand was challenging at times. Trying to do it in the dark when I couldn’t see if I was doing was nearly impossible. With “winged” sleep sacks, the wings are a lot longer and wider, so you’re tucking it around and underneath, making the experience closer to the experience of a swaddling blanket, and easier to do. (I’ll note again that Calvin was able to pull the “wings” of winged sleep sacks I tried up over his face, so the extra effort of getting him in was worth it for safety’s sake.)

Quiet velcro was a dubious claim –  Happiest Baby advertises the velcro on Sleepea as “quiet velcro”. After a month of use and a very unscientific test of Sleepea’s velcro against another sleep sack, it was maybe quieter than normal velcro, but definitely not quiet. So, we’d call quiet velcro a rather dubious claim.

Snaps to release arms weren’t obvious – this is maybe more a note to those of you who, like me, don’t tend to read instructions. I didn’t realize there were snaps near the shoulders of Sleepea to let Calvin’s arms free when I was ready to stop pinning his arms. I left Calvin’s arms inside the sack, and one ended up coming out the neck hole by morning. After realizing the snaps existed, things made a good deal more sense.

A Verdict

Based on our experiences with Happiest Baby over the years, through Dr. Karp’s 5s’s, then Paul’s experience with the Snoo, we really trust this company here at Fathercraft. Sleepea made me feel like we were using an incredibly well thought-out and manufactured product, designed with my child’s safety at the very top of the product’s priority list. Some of the claims made by Happiest Baby, as noted in the “wish it were different” section, seemed a bit exaggerated, and there were moments of frustration trying to get Calvin into the Sleepea, but overall this is an excellent product, and we highly recommend it. (And we’re not alone in thinking the Sleepea is awesome, it’s got an average rating of 4.1 stars based on over 600 verified reviews on the Happiest Baby site.

Based on our review, our experiences with other sleep sacks we’ve tested, we’ve added the Sleepea to our baby essentials list, which details all the must-have baby gear for your baby, plus a few surprises.

Pricing & Sizing

Sleepea is available on Happiest Baby’s site for $27.95, though it sometimes goes on sale for less.

The Sleepea has 3 available sizes: small (5-12lbs), medium (12-18lbs), and large (18-26lbs).

And, as of February 2020, it’s available in a variety of colors (pink, grey, blue, and green) and two patterns: a stars theme and what we assume, as the illustrations are a bit abstract, is a space theme with asteroids and ringed planets.

Editor’s note: this review was originally published in March, 2018, but was updated in February 2020 with new information including updated pricing, and star rating for verified reviews.

Here’s a quick video of me walking through setting up and using the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced, and sharing some thoughts on the experience:

Ok, let’s dive in further. Since Calvin’s adopted and formula-fed, the two months I spent reviewing the Formula Pro Advanced added up to a lot of bottle making and heavy use of the machine. After all of that use, I’ve distilled down my thoughts into this Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced review and included the awesome, the wish it were different, some tips on setup and use, and a verdict. For this review, we’ll cover (click a link to jump ahead to that section):

• What is the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced?
• Initial setup
• Using the Formula Pro Advanced
• Maintenance
• Our review of the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced – the awesome, wish it were different, and a verdict.

What is the Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced?

In short, the Baby Brezza Formula Pro makes bottles of formula. But that’s a simplification. The best way we’ve found to really capture what it does is a cross between a Keurig machine and a high-end coffee maker. You don’t use pods, but rather dump powdered formula (you can use nearly any brand you like) into the top of the Formula Pro Advanced, add water to the Brezza’s water tank, and push a button. When you do this, the Formula Pro Advanced will mix the formula with the warm water in the tank (it heats water to approximately 98 degrees and holds it at that temperature until you’re ready to make a bottle) to create a perfectly mixed and heated bottle, all in less than 20 seconds.

The Formula Pro Advanced holds 700 grams of formula and 50 ounces of water – enough for 9 six-ounce bottles before you need to replace the water, and about 25 six-ounce bottles before you need to add more formula. The water tank in the Formula Pro Advanced holds water at a constant temperature at all times, meaning it’s ready to go at the push of the button and you won’t need to wait for the water to heat up, which is how the unit is able to achieve such a fast time to finished bottle.

Initial Setup

The original Formula Pro was a beast of a machine. It had a relatively large footprint and came with 13 removable parts in addition to the main unit. The Formula Pro Advanced is slightly smaller, and really cuts down on the removable parts that need cleaning. In the original Formula Pro, there were 7 removable parts in the formula container, in the Advanced version, this has been reduced to just 3. All of these parts come disassembled (Baby Brezza recommends you sterilize all parts before initial use), which can seem a bit intimidating at first, but in practice, we found it was relatively straightforward and quick to assemble – it took about 30 minutes including the initial washing and drying of parts to sterilize them. The instruction booklet was clear and included pictures as a visual guide.

Another big upgrade with the Formula Pro Advanced is that whereas with the original, you had to manually set the number that corresponds to your formula of choices, with the Advanced, you can set this on the digital display and change it anytime. You still have to figure out the right number for your brand, which involves going to a page on the company’s site that’s a bit hard to find (here’s a direct link to it), and then set the display to the number that corresponds to the formula you’re using.

In the end, especially after using the Formula Pro Advanced a few times and discovering just how fast and easy it was compared to other methods of making a bottle, the initial setup was well worth the half-hour time investment.

How to use the Formula Pro Advanced

Since the Formula Pro Advanced stores formula and water and holds the water at the temperature you want, using it is incredibly simple. Assuming you have enough water and formula (there are clearly marked lines on each holding tank that indicate the need to refill), you’ll just put a bottle under the spout, select the size bottle you want to make (options are anything from 2 to 10 ounces, in one ounce increments (another upgrade from the original, which only did 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 oz), hit the start button, and you’re off to the races. The Formula Pro Advanced is designed to work with nearly any baby bottle and handled the big Dr. Brown’s bottle we used quite easily. It even has an adjustable bottle holder that moves up and down depending on bottle height to prevent splashing.

Pushing start on the Formula Pro causes it to start turning all those wheels you put together in the initial setup process and, by some mysterious means, mix the formula and the warm water together, and then funnel the completed formula into the bottle via the spout. Since you’ve set your size, the Formula Pro Advanced will automatically stop once it has produced the correct amount of formula. The length of this process depends on the size of bottle you’re making, but all are pretty darn fast – 14 seconds for 2oz, 30 seconds for 10oz.

You can actually make a bottle with water that isn’t fully heated, which was useful when a couple of times I realized the water tank was empty, and when I had a hungry baby in the middle of the night it was better to have a bottle of cooler water than wait for the water to heat up.

Design

The Formula Pro Advanced moves the water tank from the side, where it was located on the original, to the back, where it’s out of the way and creates a slimmer profile and sleeker look and feel. To allow for easy access to the tank for refills and cleaning, the Advanced has a small set of wheels on the bottom that allow for easy rotating.

Cleaning and Maintenance

The Formula Pro Advanced cleaning and maintenance does require a bit of work here and there, which falls into three categories – adding more formula and water as needed, cleaning you should do after several uses, and monthly sterilization.

Adding more formula and water

Every 20-50 or so bottles you make, depending on the current size of bottle you’re using, you’ll need to add more formula. This process was incredibly simple – just remove the lid and dump in a bag or scoop formula out of a container.

Slightly more frequently – every 6-25 bottles depending on size – you’ll need to add more water. The water tank is detachable so you can add water directly by placing it under the tap or your filtered water source, but Baby Brezza makes a huge deal about not getting any water underneath the tank, so I worried about using this process. Instead, I ended up using a big water bottle to pour water into the tank while it was attached to the unit.

More frequent maintenance

According to Baby Brezza, you’ll want to clean the funnel piece after every fourth use to remove any formula buildup. This piece is easily removable, so this is quick, and the Advanced has an indicator on the digital display to remind you when it’s time to do this.

(Note that the Formula Pro Advanced forces you to “clean” the funnel, but in practice, you can simply pull it out and put it back in again.)

One place I did notice gunky formula buildup more frequently than Baby Brezza suggested was on the bottom of the formula canister where the water mixes with the formula. I ended up cleaning this after every 5 or so uses. The times I forgot and waited longer than that resulted in some very crusty buildup that required some scraping to remove. I used a fork for this and found it weirdly satisfying to do.

Once per month sterilization

Once per month Baby Brezza recommends you fully disassemble the unit and sterilize the water tank, formula tank, and individual funnel and mixing components of the unit. This process took about 20 minutes to disassemble, wash, and reassemble, not including drying time (make sure all of the pieces are completely dry before you reassemble to prevent wet pieces from collecting formula powder.

Baby Brezza recommends cleaning the formula canister and mixing pieces and the funnel by hand using warm water and gentle soap, but the water tank is dishwasher-safe.

My Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced review

Overall, the Formula Pro is super easy to use. The convenience of just pressing a button and having a ready-to-go bottle was incredibly awesome, especially when compared to alternative methods of making formula bottles. Again, since Calvin is adopted and breastfeeding isn’t an option, we made a lot of bottles at our house. Having used the “hold it under the faucet” and bottle warmer methods with my older son, I know just how painful these can be, especially in the middle of the night. There’s not much worse than waiting and waiting for a bottle to be warm when you’ve got a hungry, crying kid. Beyond the time, the prospect of measuring formula and trying not to spill in the middle of the night and having to turn on bright lights to do so is worth noting too.

The awesome

• Speed. 30 seconds or less from start to finish is darn fast, especially when compared to alternatives.
• Convenience. Again, compared to alternative methods, the Formula Pro is easy and never makes a mess or wastes water.
• Design & aesthetics. The Formula Pro Advanced is a good looking machine and one we didn’t mind having on our kitchen counter. But, more importantly, I felt the design was well thought out to make it easy to use, keep it clean, decrease the likelihood of spills, and work well with bottles we already had.

The ‘wish it were different’

• Water tank size. At 50oz, the water tank needed refilling after just 9 six-ounce or 6 eight-ounce bottles. This added some time to that ’30 seconds or less’ number and resulted in a few times when I forgot to fill it up and had to do so in the middle of the night. Obviously, the company was thinking about the size of the unit here, and a bigger tank would have meant more counter space.
• Not a lot of detail on inner-workings. I realize this won’t apply to everybody, but I felt like the ‘how it works’ behind the Formula Pro was a bit lacking. I wanted to understand more about how the thing actually created the bottles, where the mixing happened, etc., but this was lacking from the documentation that came with it, and perhaps caused the issue where I didn’t realize I needed to clean the underside of the formula compartment more frequently.

A verdict

I’d struggle to say the Formula Pro Advanced is a ‘must have’ – you can certainly make bottles of formula without it.  But, especially if you’re a formula family and are going to be making a lot of bottles over a long time period, it’s just awesome and about as close as I’ve found to a must-have baby product. And, at around $199, it’s reasonably priced for what it does and if you’re going to be using it for a long time, or perhaps across multiple kids, you can amortize that cost over a ton of bottles made.

The Formula Pro Advanced also ended up saving me an incredible amount of time, which as any parent knows is something that is in short supply and worth a whole lot. For these reasons (and all of the middle-of-the-night heartache the thing saved me, I strongly recommend it. Based on our review, we’ve added the Formula Pro Advanced to our highly-selective baby must-haves list, which details items we think are at the top of the heap, and can make life with your newborn a whole lot easier.

Formula Pro Advanced FAQs

Cleaning the Formula Pro Advanced

To Clean the Formula Pro Advanced, you remove the funnel every 4 cleanings and gently wash it by hand with warm, soapy water. Less frequently, clean the formula canister and 3 mixing parts by hand, and monthly, clean the water tank, which is dishwasher-safe.

Formula Pro Advanced Powder Settings

The Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced uses powder settings to ensure formulas that have different-sized powder grains to mix properly with heated water. Formula Pro Advanced works with around 20 major formula brands in the U.S., you can find a full list here.

Baby Brezza Formula Pro vs Advanced

With the Formula Pro Advanced, Baby Brezza made a number of upgrades vs the original Formula Pro: the number of pieces that needs cleaning is reduced, the unit is smaller, there’s now a digital display to choose settings and make bottles, and you can now make bottles in one ounce size increments instead of only even-numbered sizes vs the original.

How long does it take for the Baby Brezza to heat up?

The Baby Brezza Formula Pro Advanced actually stores water heated in order to allow you to heat bottles more quickly. So, the total time to make a bottle is less than 30 seconds (it varies based on bottle size). If your Formula Pro Advanced tank is empty and you need to add cold water, you’ll need to allow a few more minutes to allow water to heat up.

Do you need to boil water for Baby Brezza?

Baby Brezza does recommend you use filtered water for the Formula Pro Advanced—in addition to possible health reasons for this, filtered water can prevent buildup in the parts of your Formula Pro. Boiling isn’t likely to help with either of these if you’re living in a place that has safe drinking water as it’s not going to remove the elements that make up ‘hard’ water or other things your city may have added like fluoride.

Where to buy

The Formula Pro is available at Buy Buy Baby, Babies ‘r Us, big box stores like Target & Walmart, and for all you Prime members out there, available through Amazon with free, fast shipping.

The Formula Pro Advanced also comes in Silver and (because what doesn’t these days) Rose Gold

Editor’s Notes:

1. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You can learn more about our policies regarding affiliate links here.
2. This review was originally published in 2018 as a review of the Formula Pro Original, but was extensively updated to focus on the Advanced and republished in January 2020.

There’s a lot of hype out there about baby carriers. The pull of going “hands-free” while still hanging out with your baby is hard to ignore. In this review, we’ll take a look at the Ergobaby 360, one of the most popular carriers on the market. Does it really deserve all the hype? Will you and your baby be off to run errands, take care of chores around the house, and accomplish all of your daily tasks as easily as if you were on your own?

To find out, we spent 2 months with the Ergobaby 360. Let’s dig in.

Please note Fathercraft is reader-supported, meaning, at no cost to you, we may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. Learn more. Also, we are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

What is an Ergobaby 360? How does it work?

The Ergobaby 360 is a baby carrier that is designed to let your baby sit in one of four different positions. These positions are supposed to make life easier for parents since they can put the baby where it’s most convenient for them. You can carry your baby:

• Facing in toward your chest
• Facing in toward your back
• On your hip
• Facing out away from your chest

To use the Ergobaby 360, you secure the waist strap around your waist, put your baby in position, and then lift up the shoulder straps. Depending on which position you want to wear your baby in, this can be an increasingly complicated gymnastics routine that may require a little bit of help. Once your baby is in, you can wear them without having to keep your hands on them all the time, which means that you’ve got your hands free for holding the dog’s leash, cooking, taking out the trash, or a wide range of other important activities.

Note: it’s recommended that you never wear your baby while performing an activity that you wouldn’t do while carrying your baby, since that keeps both you and the baby safer. A great example? Mowing the lawn. At first, we thought that might be a great use of the Ergobaby, but then thought more about the protective ear and eye gear it would require, along with some sort of body armor in case any projectiles headed toward your baby.

The Ergobaby 360 comes with several features that set it apart from other carriers on the market. It has adjustable padded shoulder straps that are intended to increase comfort for both baby and adult, 4 separate positions that are designed for comfort and ergonomic positioning, and a lumbar support waistband that’s designed to help support your back.

This review was conducted by John and his son Calvin, who was 7 months old during the review.

John and Calvin’s Ergobaby 360 review

If you prefer your reviews in video form, check out this video. If you prefer to read your reviews, keep scrolling.

As usual with all of our baby carrier reviews and our baby gear reviews, we provide some overall thoughts, what’s awesome, what we wish were different, and a verdict.

Overall

I’d heard a lot of great things about baby carriers. Being able to enjoy hands-free time with my son? The promise of getting to knock out some stuff around the house and in the yard when Calvin didn’t want to play, but also didn’t want to be put down? Awesome! So, we got an Ergobaby 360 to test with Calvin, who was 7-8 months old during the two months we did the testing.

As you’ll see, I found a lot of the advantages to using a carrier like the Ergobaby 360, but during my review, I found some serious challenges with the act of getting Calvin into the Ergobaby … and getting him out. While I definitely improved with use, we suspect this is a challenge that might be shared by many dads who tend to be less flexible than moms and have broader shoulders. Paul, the other half of Fathercraft, has never successfully put one of his children into an Ergobaby, though granted he only made only a few attempts. Our wives Beth and Jamee, on the other hand, both seem quite adept at getting babies in and taking them out.

The first challenge: getting your baby into the Ergobaby 360

Getting Calvin into the carrier was a challenge. The Ergobaby 360 is hard to get on, even after a lot of practice (at least for dads). The location back buckle that ensures the shoulder straps don’t slide off your shoulders is just hard to reach, especially for dads, who tend to have broader shoulders and be less flexible. I also found that the Ergobaby 360 wasn’t very stable during the time when you’re putting your baby in – you just have the shoulder straps on. It doesn’t take much for the straps to fall off of your shoulders since the buckle isn’t yet buckled, which means that you have to be careful so that your baby doesn’t fall. And, during one attempt to put Calvin in, his leg wound up above the shoulder strap and it made him pretty unhappy! Ergobaby does have a nice set of instructional videos on their website.

The second challenge: getting your baby out of the Ergobaby

Taking Calvin out was basically the opposite of putting him in: seriously awkward at first, but not bad once you get it down. It’s a complicated gymnastics process that all the videos make look incredibly easy, but that turns out to be a lot harder when you’re the one trying to do it!

The third challenge: trapped body heat

It took some trial and error, but I did manage to get Calvin settled firmly in the carrier, and get him out of it with relative ease. Once I did, he seemed pretty comfortable in it. It didn’t take long, however, for both of us to start getting hot. That thick carrier fabric traps a lot of body heat! You can also definitely feel that your baby is in there and that you’re carrying him around. In the St. Louis summer, this made going for long walks or doing too much stuff outside became impractical, fast. It’s worth noting that Ergobaby does make a “cool air mesh” version of their carrier that does look like it’d be at least somewhat cooler.

That’s not to say that carriers aren’t a very useful thing for new dads. We definitely enjoyed being able to get out and around with a minimal amount of effort, and Calvin really seemed to like being snuggled close to dad.

The awesome

Calvin seems super comfortable. He’s fallen asleep in the Ergobaby several times now, and he likes hanging out with me when he’s in it. Even if I’m not doing it right (as mentioned below, Calvin’s face perenially seems too low in the carrier), it still seems to work for him, so it’s pretty dummy-proof in that manner.

The Ergobaby 360 creates healthy hip positioning. If you’ve visited a pediatrician with your child, you’ve likely seen him or her check your child’s hips by moving her legs around. This is to check for healthy hip joint development, which can be a real problem in babies. Because of the way your child is held in the Ergobaby 360, or any Ergobaby carrier for that matter, the carrier is considered ‘hip healthy’, and has a seal of approval from the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

It opens up a world of possibilities. The things I tried to do while wearing Calvin in the Ergobaby were relatively easy. That’s the awesome thing about the Ergobaby (or really any baby carrier): it opens up a world of possibilities for what you can do with your baby. Cleaning the kitchen, doing the dishes or the laundry, gardening, are all completely possible. You do have to be mindful of squatting down and make sure that baby is pretty still, not wiggling around too much, depending on what you’re doing. I even thought about mowing the yard with Calvin in the Ergobaby carrier, but decided that I’d want him to have protective gear on if I was going to be mowing.

The wish It were different

Breathability: Summer in St. Louis is hot and humid. The Ergobaby doesn’t leave a lot of room for airflow. It’s not a major advertised feature of this model (again, the Ergobaby Cool Air Mesh might be better), but there definitely wasn’t much airflow or breathability in the Ergobaby.

Putting it on for the first time requires seeing someone do it: Ergobaby provides several instructional videos on their site on how to set up the 360 and put your baby in the carrier, which is good because it seems to require seeing someone do it to figure out some of the tricks. Before watching the videos, I tried to put Calvin in after reading the instruction manual that came with the 360, but found myself pretty lost. The written instructions gloss over several of the steps from the process, which makes it hard to figure out what to do.

Still not quite sure I’m doing it right: Buttons, sort of like shirt buttons, make it possible to adjust the width of the seat, but there’s no explanation of when you should do this. It’s hard to figure out when you ideally should make those adjustments. Also, I’m pretty sure Calvin’s face is supposed to be up above the barrier, but I still haven’t completely figured out how to get it there.

Lack of explanation of key terms: “Having your baby in a frog-legged position” is a new concept. It’s a useful one if you want to be able to put your baby in a carrier, but some more explanation of this before I got started would have been great.

Our verdict

Once you get your baby into the Ergobaby 360, it’s great. Unless it’s hot and humid. And until you need to take him out. Obviously, getting your kid into and out of a carrier isn’t the only measure of how well it works, but it’s an important one. And again, both of the women in our lives struggled with the in/out stuff much less than we did, so that’s worth noting.

There’s a lot we did love about the Ergobaby 360 too – the concept of getting stuff done while spending some close time with your kid was real, and we appreciated the feelings of safety we got from the 360 – both that Calvin was secure when he was in it, and that his hips were safe. The 360 was also John’s wife’s favorite carrier out of the carriers we’ve tested, due to feelings of safety and comfort it gave her.

The in/out challenge is for dads is real here, and we found carriers like the Colugo (our review here) to be easier to get kids in and out of.

Looking for more? Here’s our full list of the best baby carriers of 2022.

Pricing, notes, & where to buy

The Ergobaby 360 retails for $160, but looking at the Ergobaby site, you can sometimes find models/colors on sale if you’re not picky about colors.

It’s important to note that out of the box, the 360 doesn’t work for babies under 12 lbs – you’ll need a separate infant insert, sold for $35.

The 360 is available on the Ergobaby website, or on Amazon, which also sells the Cool Air Mesh and the infant insert. Ergobaby products are also sold at Nordstrom and some botique baby stores, but aren’t available at the typical big-box baby and kids stores.

So there you have it – our review of the Ergobaby 360. Have questions we didn’t answer? We’d love to hear from you – paul[at]fathercraft.com.

Looking for more baby product reviews? Check out all of our reviews here, or visit our baby essentials list for babies 0-6 months old here.

Editor’s note: this review was originally published in June, 2018, but was updated in January 2020 with new information.

We conducted a poll of parents and prospective parents in December 2016 and found that 76% of parents did not know when the AAP last updated SIDS guidelines  – the word on these important guideline changes is just not getting out to the right folks.

In addition, the AAP published a study in September of 2016 that found

• 10%-21% of parents put children on an unsafe surface,
• 14%-33% of parents put children to sleep in an unsafe position
• 87%-93% of parents allowed unsafe items nearby their child

We’re on a mission to get these recommendations into the hands of as many people caring for infants as possible, and we very much hope you’ll help by sharing this post and our related Facebook video. You can click or tap on a share button for your favorite social network to help spread the word.

Let’s Get Started

First, a note. THIS IS SERIOUS SHIT PEOPLE. We’ve researched this extensively and are using the most reputable sources out there, but WE ARE NOT DOCTORS. ONLY YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR CHILD’S WELLBEING. IF YOU HAVE  QUESTIONS, CONSULT YOUR CHILD’S PEDIATRICIAN.

Today we’re going to talk about SIDS and similar causes of sleep-related infant death. We’re fully aware that this topic is so awful to consider it may be tempting to retreat to happier/friendlier/funnier corners of the internet filled with cat photos and the like. Please don’t. With just a few minutes of education and a few simple changes, you can reduce the risk of SIDS for the small, lovable folks in your life.

So, in service of presenting some cuddly creatures, we created this video demonstrating some important SIDS & SUID risk-reduction factors using stuffed polar bears.

You also may feel like you already know about SIDS and how to reduce the risk, but did you know that in October 2016 the American Academy of Pediatrics released updated SIDS guidelines? We surveyed parents and parents to be of small kids and found that while 100% of respondents had heard of SIDs and 86% were taking measures to reduce risk, only 24% of them had seen the updated guidelines. Even if you think you know the latest, this is worth a quick refresher.

So pay attention because you can reduce the risk of SIDS, which is the leading cause of death in infants under the age of 12 months.

TL;DR / For Visual Learners

We don’t recommend you skim or skip parts of this post. It’s not that long and this is important. But, we recognize you may be holding your sleeping infant while balancing on one foot in a crowded subway car because this is the only way you can get her to fall asleep (we don’t recommend this either). So, we present our visual guide to understanding SIDS (click to enlarge):

What is SIDS?

SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It’s part of a larger family of causes of death in infants less than one year of age called SUID – Sudden Unexpected Infant Deaths. All forms of SUID occur while a child is sleeping, and are broken down like this:

Accidental Strangulation and Suffocation. Occurs when an infant suffocates or is strangled during sleep, as a result of 1) being smothered by soft bedding, a pillow or blanket covering the infant’s nose and mouth, another person rolling on top of the infant while asleep, becoming wedged or trapped in between objects (ie. mattress and wall or bed frame or 2) being strangled, for example when the infant’s neck becomes trapped between crib railings.

SIDS. Occurs when, after an investigation is conducted, the cause of death cannot be determined (i.e. not accidental strangulation and suffocation).

Unknown Cause. When an infant dies in his or her sleep, but a thorough investigation cannot be completed. If it were, these deaths would likely be attributed to SIDS or accidental strangulation/suffocation.

The CDC notes even after a detailed investigation, it can be difficult to classify SUID into its different forms. Fortunately, the preventative measures recommended by leading researchers and organizations are designed to reduce risk across all forms of SUID.

What Causes SIDS and SUID?

By definition, doctors and scientists are unsure what causes SIDS – it is diagnosed when an infant dies in her sleep and no other cause can be determined. Recently, researchers in Australia have made important discoveries that may lead to a deeper understanding of the causes, and potential screening techniques to further reduce SIDS deaths.

A variety of factors cause, and are thought to cause, SUID deaths. The most well-understood of these are factors leading to smothering and strangulation.

Smothering caused by:

• pillow
• mattress
• stuffed animal
• loose clothing worn to sleep covering the infant’s face, nose or mouth
• another person sharing a bed with the infant
• Other hazards in the sleep area

Strangulation caused by the infant’s head or neck being trapped

• between crib bars
• between a mattress and a wall
• between a mattress and crib railings
• other hazards in the sleep area

What Can You Do to Reduce the Risk?

The CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and other world health authorities recommend a number of measures to reduce the risk of SIDS and SUID, which we’ve outlined below. A couple of notes here:

• Do the work. Read directly from the CDC here, and directly from the APP here.
• A number of these recommendations seem over-the-top or seem to deprive your child – it is recommended that you do not give your child any stuffed animals, any soft blankets, and that your child’s sleeping surface be very firm (no foam mattresses, pillowtops, etc.) So basically nothing that seems like it would make your infant cute and comfortable. We know this sounds harsh, but all these recommendations are made for the safety of your child by leading health organizations. There will be plenty of time for snuggly blankets and cute stuffed animals down the road.
• Manufacturers and reputable stores may get it wrong. Don’t assume that because your favorite store is selling crib bumpers or stuffed animals that are suitable from birth this means they’re ok to give your child during sleep.

Measures to Reduce SIDS and SUID Risk

Place your infant on her back to sleep, every time. Unless your doctor has discussed otherwise with you, put your child to sleep on her back, not her stomach. Experts have determined this is the safest position for children under one year of age to sleep. A common concern heard about back to sleep is, ‘What if my child vomits? Couldn’t they choke on their own vomit?’. It’s a reasonable concern, but infants have a reflex that causes them to turn their head when they vomit.

Place your infant on a flat, firm surface. A crib with a flat, firm mattress is the safest place for your baby to sleep. A firm mattress reduces the risk of suffocation if the infant rolls over in her sleep, and a flat surface allows airways to remain fully open. It is also for this reason that experts do not recommend that children sleep in car seats or other places that cause them to be in a hunched-over position.

Place your child’s crib in your room for at least the first 6 months of life. This recommendation is new from the APP for 2016 – proximity to you and your partner allow you to use visual and auditory signals to check on your infant. That nursery you’ve prepared? It should wait.

Let your baby use a pacifier. In addition to being helpful for soothing, researchers believe pacifiers may reduce SIDS risk.

Do not allow stuffed animals, pillows, or blankets in the crib. All of these items, plus anything soft or with the ability to cover your infant’s mouth or nose, should be avoided.

Don’t share a bed with your baby. So-called “co-sleeping” is popular in some circles, but your bed is too soft, and you are at risk for rolling over on your infant and suffocating them while you’re asleep.

Don’t use crib bumpers. Cute but also unsafe. Also unnecessary – your baby isn’t going to roll over and bump his head on the crib bars with enough force to do anything harmful.

Don’t expose your child to secondhand, or even thirdhand smoke. This should go without saying, but even thirdhand smoke (you are around someone who is smoking, then come home to your baby with smoke on your clothes, in hair, etc. should be avoided. Take a shower and change if you find yourself around smokers.

Stop swaddling your child when she can roll over. Once your child is able to roll over on her own, experts recommend you stop swaddling to prevent your child from getting stuck on her stomach or rolling into the side of a crib and becoming trapped.

Other recommendations include: avoid alcohol* and illicit drug use during pregnancy and while breastfeeding, breastfeed your child if possible, avoid overheating your child by putting them in too many layers of clothing or in a room that’s too warm, do not use weighted blankets.

Now that we’ve covered the recommendations, let’s jump into some FAQs about SIDS & SUID

Frequently Asked Questions: SIDS & SUID

If you’re like most parents, you probably have a ton of questions about SIDS & SUID. Because there are still some unknowns surrounding the realities of sudden infant deaths, it’s important to stay informed of the latest research. Keep up to date on the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and talk to your pediatrician if you have any questions. That said, here are some FAQs we frequently encounter:

Q: What is the peak age for SIDS?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants are at a heightened risk of SIDS between the ages of 1 month and 4 months old. However, items like soft bedding continue to pose a danger even beyond four months of age. Some people might be surprised to learn that SIDS risk lasts until the baby is at least 12 months old.

This long time frame of SIDS danger explains why the AAP recommends sleeping in the same room as your baby for at least 6 months, but preferably an entire year. So, even if you have that nursery decorated to the nines, you might choose to have your baby sleep in the same room as you for longer than you anticipated.

Q: At what age does SIDS & SUID risk go down? Why?

The National Health Institute provides an interesting infographic on the time frame of SIDS and SUID, highlighting that 72% of infant deaths occur before 4 months and 90% occur before 6 months of age. After this, SIDS risk goes down dramatically (comprising the remaining 10%) – though still remains possible until your baby’s first birthday.

So, why does this risk decrease so dramatically after 6 months of age? Although there is some scientific uncertainty surrounding SIDS, the reason for the drop-off rate could have something to do with increased motor skills developing by 6 months of age. Sure, 6-month-old babies still need a lot of help, but by this time many of them are capable of holding their own weight in a standing position, roll from their back to their stomach, and can even lift their own chest and head when on their stomachs.

Q: Should weighted blankets be used for infants?

No, absolutely not. Let’s elaborate.

You may have come across weighted blankets at some point during your child-supplies research. Stuffed with things like flax or other natural materials, weighted blankets can be a useful device for providing comfort for older children with sensory disorders. The key in this situation is that these blankets are only appropriate for older children and adults.

Weighted blankets have been implicated in tragic deaths for infants. Once again, there should not be anything in the baby’s crib that could pose a risk of strangulation or suffocation: soft bedding, blankets, pillows, wedges, bumpers, and stuffed animals are eall out. It’s best to use a wearable blanket for baby, as it stays nice and snug to their bodies. Just remember that SIDS is linked to over-bundling and overdressing, and make sure your baby is in no danger of overheating.

Q: Can swaddling cause SIDS?

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend against swaddling your baby. However, they also say that there is no evidence that swaddling decreases the risk of SIDS. An important caveat: the AAP states there is a “strong risk of death” for a swaddled infant that is placed in the prone position (on their tummy) or who rolls to the prone position. If you always put your swaddled infant on her back to sleep, then this risk is certainly decreased. Once your baby starts to roll over on her own, swaddling is no longer safe.

Before your baby can roll over, you can swaddle her: just make sure it is snug around her chest, but not too tight around her hips. Again, once your infant shows signs of rolling (which can happen as early as 3 or 4 months old) then discontinue swaddling. In addition, don’t over-bundle the baby, and never cover his face while he is sleeping (or awake.)

We’ll state again that improper swaddling can increase SUID risk as loose materials over a baby’s mouth, nose and face can reduce airflow to your baby. It’s for this reason many experts recommend using sleep sacks instead of swaddling manually with a blanket. Our favorite? The Sleepea from Happiest Baby — you can check out our review here.

Q: Can SIDS/SUID happen while holding your baby?

It’s so important for both moms and dads to enjoy skin-to-skin with infants, and there’s nothing cozier than cuddling your little bundle of joy. However, there’s a risk of SIDS when parents (generally exhausted parents) fall asleep while holding their baby. It’s for this reason that the AAP recommends that you avoid sitting on sofas, recliners, or comfy chairs if there’s any risk you might fall asleep while holding your little one. Similarly, never place your baby down to sleep on any surface that isn’t a firm mattress specifically designed for babies – this presents an “extremely hazardous” situation, according to the AAP.

Unfortunately, what happens in some cases is that the baby becomes wedged in the sofa and suffocates. So, hold your baby whenever you are conscious, awake, and able to respond appropriately. But if you need to sleep or even just rest your eyes for a moment, put your baby down on their back on a firm surface.

Q: Can SIDS happen while a baby is awake?

In the vast majority of cases, SIDS occurs when the baby is sleeping. This is likely linked to babies being placed in improper sleeping positions or other environmental factors, However, there are also some physical factors that can contribute to SIDS in waking babies. For example, a baby may have brain defects in the area of their brain that governs breathing. Or babies might have compromised respiratory systems because of a recently-acquired cold.

Again, it is extremely rare for an infant to die from SIDS while awake. Think about it – while your infant baby is awake, you are probably awake as well and ready to respond to their needs.

Wrapping Up

If you are making all the right choices, following the AAP’s guidelines, and staying alert, then there’s no need to live in a constant state of anxiety about SIDS & SUID. Just remember that parental lifestyle choices count: quit smoking and avoid drugs and alcohol when your kids are infants. Always put your baby to sleep on her back, in a crib, and never keep loose items in her crib or bassinet.

Thanks for taking the time to better understand SIDS and SUID and what you can do to reduce the risk. We greatly appreciate that you care about children’s safety as much as we do, and would love it if you could share this post with others. Just click or tap your favorite share button to share with those you care about.

*Some experts believe alcohol in moderation (ie one glass of wine or one beer on occasion) is ok during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This is a deeply personal choice and we leave this research, and decision making, to you.

Sources

https://www.cdc.gov/sids/about/index.htm
https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162938
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/16/end-of-sids-in-sight-australian-researchers-make-breakthrough-in/
https://www.aappublications.org/news/2016/08/15/SafeSleep081516