If you’re a parent who appreciates the latest tech, two smart baby monitors seem to dominate the discussions and recommendation lists: the Nanit Pro and the Owlet Cam 2. Both promise high-tech solutions to help anxious parents monitor their babies, but they take distinctly different approaches to helping parents feel more at ease (keep in mind, though, if you’re the type of parent who gets anxious the more data you have, you may want to opt for a more traditional baby monitor with video and sound feeds but fewer smart features).
The Nanit Pro positions itself as a comprehensive sleep optimization system with advanced analytics, while the Owlet Cam 2 is a smart-phone based monitor that offers night-vision, motion sensors and bigger ecosystem of products to monitor your baby while she or he sleeps. Both have passionate advocates and legitimate strengths, but if you’re struggling to choose between them, you’ll want to consider what type of monitoring actually matches your parenting style.
Key Features: What You're Actually Getting
Nanit Pro features
The Nanit Pro bills itself as the ultimate sleep tracking system that happens to include a premium camera. At its core, it's a 1080p HD camera that mounts above your baby's crib, but the real value proposition lies in its comprehensive sleep analytics and monitoring capabilities; though some of those features will come with an added price.
The standout feature of this camera is the computer vision sleep tracking. The camera uses advanced algorithms and proprietary patterns (on bands, pajamas, sleep sacks, swaddles) to analyze sleep patterns, providing detailed insights about sleep duration, wake windows, and quality trends over time. The system generates personalized sleep schedules and recommendations based on your baby's unique patterns.
The Nanit Pro also includes integrated comfort features like a built-in nightlight with adjustable brightness and a white noise machine with various sound options. The multi-stand design allows for portable use beyond the nursery.
One unique feature is the growth tracking capability, where parents can purchase a patterned crib sheet enabling the camera to track baby’s growth over time. The app provides detailed analytics and integrates with popular baby tracking applications for comprehensive data management.
However, it's important to note that upon purchase, you'll initially receive 6 months of free Nanit Insights. After that, if you want to maintain access to data analytics you'll have to start paying ($120 per year), which adds to the long-term cost consideration.
Key features of the Nanit Pro:
- Breathing motion detection using the Breathing Band Pattern (patterned fabric that helps the monitor track baby breathing patterns; patterned pajamas and sleep sacks are available as add-ons)
- Two-way audio for remote soothing and communication
- Room temperature and humidity monitoring with trend tracking
- Customizable sound and motion alerts with adjustable sensitivity levels
- Time-lapse videos of complete sleep sessions
- Permission access for up to 10 users with the insights plan
Owlet Cam 2 features
The Owlet Cam 2, camera alone, takes a more straightforward approach to baby monitoring, focusing on reliable, high-quality video surveillance with smart features that provide actionable insights. Check on Baby with HD video & night vision streamed right to your phone, with a wide-angle view & 4x zoom, representing the core functionality that most parents actually use daily.
The camera's most practical feature is its intelligent notification system. The Owlet Cam 2 features video clips when sound, motion, or crying notifications are detected in baby's room. Video clips are accessible for 48 hours in the Owlet Dream App, allowing parents to better understand their baby's patterns.
Live temperature & humidity tracking, 4x zoom, and 130-degree angle give parents comprehensive environmental monitoring alongside visual surveillance. The system is designed to work seamlessly within the Owlet ecosystem, particularly when paired with other Owlet products.
The Owlet Cam 2 emphasizes security and reliability, with AES 128-bit encryption, making the Owlet Cam 2 more secure than analog monitors. The app allows viewing from up to four devices simultaneously, making it practical for families where multiple caregivers need access.
Unlike more complex systems, the Owlet Cam 2 doesn't require subscription fees for basic functionality, making it a more predictable long-term investment for families looking for a smart monitor option with fewer added fees (though there is the Owlet 360, a subscription-based app that offers more comprehensive, personalized analytics). The camera alone runs at around $100. The higher-tech bundle with a Dream Sock is pricier at around $380. The bundle option with the smart sock allows parents to track pulse and oxygen and offers smart sleep predictions to track your baby’s optimal sleep/wake windows – of note though, some parents report their babies experiencing irritation and redness from the sensor.
Key Owlet features include:
- 1080p HD video with automatic night vision adjustment
- 130-degree wide-angle view with 4x digital zoom
- Two-way audio for communication and soothing
- Room temperature and humidity tracking
- Cry detection with video clip capture (saved for 48 hours)
- Sound and motion notifications with customizable sensitivity
- Predictive sleep patterns to suggest optimal sleep/wake windows (manually via the app or automatically via the Dream Sock)
What reviewers say about the Nanit and Owlet
Reviews of Nanit Pro
Reviewers praise the Nanit Pro for its comprehensive approach to sleep monitoring and sophisticated analytics. For people into the latest tech and deep analytics, there are features galore to explore. Like any premium parenting product, Nanit falls in the higher price range: the camera package starts from $299 depending on the mount you choose but can go much higher depending on stands, accessories and data packages.
The sleep insights feature can help parents understand their baby's natural patterns and make informed decisions about sleep training. The breathing motion detection through the Breathing Band is praised as an innovative compromise between comprehensive monitoring and avoiding direct wearable sensors. Reviewers also note that while false alarms may happen with any device, the Nanit is fairly reliable but requires proper setup.
One other thing parents should be aware of, other than the price point – like most smart-monitoring systems designed to give peace of mind, depending on the parent, the Nanit can also up anxiety by providing more information and more alerts than a user may really need or know what to do with. Reviewers have noted that in some cases alerts for normal sleep behavior – louder breathing, turning – were so frequent, they ended up turning them off.
Reviews of Owlet Cam 2
The Owlet Cam 2 receives praise from experts for its straightforward approach, crystal clear picture quality and performance. Reviewers particularly note their delight with the predictive sleep features allowing them to better determine sleep/wake windows. Most reviewers also found the Owlet simple to set up.
Relative to the Nanit, the Owlet gets positive marks for providing a basic tracking app, with no added fees. If you opt for a Duo with the smart sock, you may still be paying a premium price, but you’re paying it once vs. hitting a subscription paywall down the road. That’s a big plus for many parents.
On the negative end, while the wearable monitoring smart sock is innovative and for some parents feels like a game changer, others report that it can be easily knocked off or cause skin irritation for babies. The Owlet blog provides some details on how to prevent irritation.
Like with the Nanit and any smart monitor really, depending on your parenting personality, access to more information might not necessarily be better. Some reviewers note that despite being interested in the information the monitoring system provided, they also sometimes felt more worried as a result of the added data.
Who Each Model is Good For
Nanit Pro is perfect for parents who:
- Want comprehensive sleep analytics and personalized recommendations
- Don’t feel overwhelmed by added information or alerts
- Are planning to implement sleep training or work with specialists
- Prefer monitoring that doesn't require wearables directly on baby
- Are comfortable with technology and enjoy detailed data analysis
- Don't mind paying for premium features through subscription services
Owlet Cam 2 is perfect for parents who:
- Want reliable monitoring without complex setup or learning curves
- Prefer one-time purchases over subscription-based services
- Value practical features like cry detection and video clips over detailed analytics
- Would benefit from predictive sleep monitoring for sleep/wake window tracking
- If opting for the Dream Sock, are comfortable using monitoring devices directly with the baby (following proper use recommendations)
What Parents Say About Each Model
Parent Feedback on Nanit Pro
“We love our Nanit. Before we got the Nanit I slept so lightly so I could check on my baby’s breathing frequently. As a first-time mom the breathing band and constant monitoring gives me the peace of mind I need to improve my sleep quality. I also appreciated how easy it was to set up the floor stand and connect the camera to our phones and WiFi. However, I think the app could be more user friendly.” ~Amazon Reviewer
“We have previously loved using our Nanit, but no longer recommend them as a company. While the product has been fine, the aggressive price increases and price gouging is extremely disappointing and borderline predatory.” ~Nanit reviewer
“I’m a big fan of ours. My baby is 7.5 months and I have absolutely no intent of stopping use of it any time soon. I admittedly bought the mid-level insights plan after our trial ended, because our baby isn’t the best sleeper but we’re actively working on it and the data is actually helpful to me.” ~Reddit reviewer
Parent Feedback on Owlet Cam 2
“Overall, a great product. We love the video quality, and the recordings. Paired with the Dream Sock, this product not only helps us know how our children are sleeping, but it also helps US sleep at night knowing that if anything were to happen to one of our children, Owlet will notify us. Set up was super easy, and the clean look of the camera blends well with our children's sleeping space.” ~Amazon reviewer
“I went back and forth on purchasing but finally bit the bullet & did it. We used it maybe 5 times before I decided to return it. When it worked, it was great and I enjoyed being able to track her sleep. However, my [baby] loves to kick her legs in her sleep and would consistently knock the sock off and cause it to give an alert.” ~Reddit reviewer with Dream Sock
“The owlet sock is great!!! The owlet cam2 is a good quality camera but has a very hard time connecting to new WiFi networks so it makes using it while traveling very difficult and frustrating.” Owlet reviewer
Summary Comparison Table
Which Smart Camera Fits Your Monitoring Style?
Which smart monitor or whether to even opt for a smart monitor is a personal decision based on your personality and what you’re trying to optimize. Many parents praise smart monitors in general for allowing them to relax, giving them and other loved ones clear views of the baby and alerts if something is going wrong. If you love digging deep into data and would prefer no direct wearable devices, the Nanit Pro could be a great option for you, especially if you’re not phased by an ongoing subscription cost after 6 months. Want a super clear picture, alerts and sleep guidance? The Owlet Cam 2 might be a good bet – consider the Dream sock as well if you feel like you’ll have trouble being at ease without having access to breathing and pulse monitoring --keep in mind guidance on proper sock usage. As with any smart devices that are WiFi dependent, access can sometimes be glitchy. If you’re easily overwhelmed by added info, you may want to silence some of the alert features or opt for a more traditional monitor that helps you see and hear baby without added notifications.
Where to get
*please check the retailer for latest price
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