If you’re currently expecting and looking for a baby monitor for your upcoming little one, you’ll want to consider the video baby monitor that VAVA just released. I’ve used and reviewed many baby monitors over the years. Now that I’ve tried the new VAVA baby monitor, my family is making the switch. We tested it out and compared all of its features to the other baby monitor that I’ve used for my son, and it’s by far superior. Here’s what you need to know about the new VAVA baby monitor and our honest review.
First Look
The packaging is simple and neatly organized. As soon as you open the box, you can see how easy everything is to set up and use.
I also like that the design of the camera and monitor are clean, sleek, and modern.
As soon as you take the camera and monitor out of the box, all you have to do is plug them in. They use an auto-paired wireless connection, so you don’t have to mess with connecting them to wifi. Just place the camera where you can best see your baby, and you’ll immediately see the difference between this monitor and others.
The monitor has a kickstand so that it can stand up. And it has a built-in antenna. All of the buttons are located on the right side and are clearly labeled and easy to use.
Now let’s take a closer look at the monitor and camera!
Size & Picture
I like the size of the monitor, and I love the large 5-inch color display screen. As soon as I turned it on, I was shocked by the clarity of the picture. It is so much crisper and clearer than any other video monitor that I’ve used. I discovered that the reason it’s so clear is that the monitor uses 720x1280p High Definition IPS, which means it uses the best color and viewing angles among the other main types of display panels. This is why the picture’s quality is crystal clear, and it is essentially an HD monitor.
During the daytime, you will see full color on your screen. At night time, it uses night vision so the images will appear in black and white. I mainly use my baby monitor when my child is sleeping, so the room is pitch black. Good night vision is a must on a baby monitor for me, and I was very pleased with the picture quality so that I can keep a good eye on my little one at night.
Display Functions
When you turn on the monitor, at the top of the display screen, you will see the signal strength, zoom level, night vision activation, room temperature, the time, the battery life, alarm, mute, talkback activation, and which camera you are viewing.
Zoom
With this monitor, you can pan and tilt the camera 110 degrees up and down, and 270 degrees left and right. You can also put it on auto-pilot to circulate the room for all-around visibility. It then automatically scans the whole room back and forth. (You don’t have to use this feature if you prefer to scan manually.) I recommend placing the camera about three to six feet away from where your baby will sleep. You can then see more of the room, and because it has a 2x and 4x digital zoom, you can easily see clear details if you need to get a closer look.
For all the mamas with light sleepers, don’t worry. The movements of the camera as you pan or do auto-pilot are silent. I made sure myself because the last thing we want is for the camera to wake up our babies!
Room Temperature Monitoring
Something also important to monitor for safe sleep is the temperature in baby’s room. I like that it has a built-in thermostat and that the monitor’s display screen shows the room’s temperature. I can easily see how hot or cold it is in my son’s room and adjust the temperature if needed if it gets out of the range of comfort or safety.
Battery Life
The battery life on this monitor is amazing! I charged it up fully once (it takes about 8 hours to charge fully) and was able to use it for two days–turning it off and on throughout the day when I needed it for naps and on for two nights without having to recharge. VAVA says that their baby monitor “boasts the longest battery life of any monitor on the market.” And I wouldn’t disagree after our trial. Their built-in 4,500 mAh power supply gives up to 10 hours in display mode and 24 hours on standby mode (sound only).
I have the charging cable by my nightstand, so the monitor charges all night and is perfectly charged and ready to use all day. I do want to mention that the camera has to be plugged in at all times. Because of this, make sure that there is an outlet within a few feet of where you plan to place or mount the camera. (Yes, the camera has a hanging hole on the back for wall mounting!)
Range
One of my favorite features of the VAVA baby monitor is the 480-900 feet range signal range! You can go up to 900 feet away and still get a connection between the camera and the monitor. Incredible! In the past, when I was using another monitor, I could never step outside to open our gate, check the mail, take out the trash, or just sit outside to get some fresh air. I would always lose signal. With the VAVA, I have been able to go outside and still keep an eye and an ear on my son. I love that!
Two-Way Talk
Another great feature is the two-way talk. The sound is also super clear on this monitor with its 2.4GHz FHSS connectivity. I like how it has 8 levels of volume that I can control, and even on the lowest setting, I could hear every little thing clearly in the nursery. The handy two-way talk button also allows me to talk back, soothe and calm my little guy from afar as I also watch on the screen.
Alarm
Because my son is older, I don’t use this feature, but there is an alarm option that you can use. You can set an alarm to go off at two-hours, four-hours, or six-hours. I think this feature can help parents who are feeding their newborns every two to three hours at night. If you need a wake-up reminder to feed your baby, this alarm will help. It’s also a great reminder to wake up your baby during daytime nap times if you are trying to stick to a schedule.
The alarm will go off for 30-seconds until you turn it off. If you don’t press anything to turn off the alarm, it’ll stop for 1 minute after beeping for 30-seconds and then go off again.
Multiple Camera Function
If you have more than one baby, this monitor has you covered. The VAVA baby monitor gives you the ability to connect up to four cameras to the monitor. It’s amazing how it can grow with your family!
Privacy
Privacy is something that a lot of parents are concerned about. Now that some baby monitors are connected via WiFi, parents are worried about who can get access to their sweet babies. Thankfully, since none of the sounds or images go online with VAVA, no one can hack into the system to watch your family. It uses secure wireless encryption digital technology, with a 2.4GHz FHSS connection so you can be safe from prying eyes and ears.
Returns & Warranty
VAVA is so confident in its baby monitor’s quality that it offers a 30-day no questions asked Returns Policy, an 18-months warranty, and a 12-months free warranty extension if the customer registers their product on www.vava.com. So, a potential 30-months warranty!
My Opinion
I honestly had never heard of VAVA before we tested out this product. And even though this is a new product from a brand that is not as well recognized in the baby industry, I give this baby monitor two big thumbs up! It has outperformed some of the most well-known baby monitors that I have tried. My favorite things about the VAVA baby monitor:
- extremely user-friendly
- fair price for the great quality and smart features: available at Amazon.com for $159.99
- Amazon Choice product and has a 5-star rating
- the long battery life
- amazing signal range
- extremely clear picture and sound
- also great for parents who want an audio-only monitor but would like the option of a great camera, too
- grows with your family with the ability to connect 4 cameras to the monitor
- additional cameras sold separately at $95.99 each
- the monitor is portable, durable, and has a cool wide-angle lens accessory at $6.99
This product was designed by parents for parents. The Founder of VAVA, Frank Sun, said, “As parents, we wanted to create a baby monitor that combines vital and useful features, is hard-wearing, stylish and easy-to-use.” I can safely say that the VAVA Baby Monitor ticks all of those boxes. They have created a product that gives parents peace of mind and everything they need to easily and safely keep a close eye on their loved ones.
