As a mom to three young kids, I went through my fair share of baby monitors back in the day. With my first child, I had no idea what to expect when shopping for a baby monitor and was both shocked and awed by the array of choices. Did I want one with a video monitor or did I want to go old school with one that only offered an audio option? Did I want a non-WiFi baby monitor or one with WiFi capabilities? How much did I want to shell out for a monitor that, in my mind, would grant me the ability to put around the house doing housework and other tasks while the baby napped.
At the end of the day, my husband and I settled on a Non-WiFi baby monitor with a video screen. And after being gifted a WiFi baby monitor with my second child, I can honestly say I prefer the non-WiFi baby monitor. Why?
- Secure and hack-free
- Large viewing screen, no app equired
- Monitor from anywhere in your home
- Easy to setup and operate
What Makes a Non-WiFi Baby Monitor the Better Choice?
I have experience with both types of baby monitors, and I have to say that non-WiFi baby monitors come out on top for me. They have fewer transmission delays, are easy to use, and are friendly to the wallet. The overprotective mama bear in me also likes that non-WiFi baby monitors are less prone to hacking. I’ve heard enough horror stories during playdates and toddler ballet classes about WiFi baby monitors being hacked that that worry alone was enough to sway me towards non-WiFi baby monitors.
1. Secure and Hack-Free
How are non-WiFi baby monitors less prone to hacking? Well, unlike WiFi baby monitors, non-WiFi baby monitors send data over non-static channels, making them more secure than WiFi connections. The majority of non-WiFi baby monitors use Frequency Hopping Spectrum (FHSS), which is difficult to crack.
It’s important to note the danger of hacking and WiFi baby monitors. Don’t believe me? Take a look at this story out of Utah. Last year, a Utah social media influencer and blogger issued a warning to parents about WiFi baby monitors and how prone they are to hacking. She went on to explain how she caught a stranger talking to her child through his WiFi baby monitor. Read more about her terrifying experience here.
Many WiFi baby monitor manufacturers and companies are attempting to improve the monitors’ privacy protection system. However, no WiFi baby monitor on the market can currently prevent hackers like a Non-Wifi baby monitor does.
2. Large Viewing Screen, No App Required
Another feature I enjoyed about non-WiFi baby monitors, including the VAVA baby monitor, is the large viewing screen. Talk about convenience! Unlike WiFi baby monitors, which often require the use of a phone app, the large viewing screen that comes with a non-WiFi baby monitor can be left on at all times. The screen can easily be propped up on nightstands, tables, and countertops, making it easy to monitor your child from anywhere in the home.
The major problem I found with baby monitors that rely on phone apps is that the app wasn’t always pulled up on my phone. I couldn’t view my babies UNLESS I had the app open on my phone. It didn’t offer the peace of mind that non-WiFi baby monitors do with their large viewing screens exclusively designed to monitor your baby and nothing more.
3. Monitor From Anywhere in Your Home
Non-WiFi baby monitors have fewer transmission delays than WiFi baby monitors because they use non-static channels, so their transmission is faster and more secure. For example, the WiFi baby monitor’s data transmission takes longer because it needs to be uploaded to the cloud via the router before being transmitted to your receiving device. This can result in at least a 10–20 second delay.
It’s also worth noting that, because WiFi baby monitors can only function when connected to a wireless network, if there is a power outage or a poor WiFi signal, the WiFi baby monitor will not function properly.
4. Easy to Setup and Operate
Because non-WiFi baby monitor configurations have limited functionality, setting up and operating the device is easy and straightforward for added convenience.
Are you shopping for a baby monitor? After trying out both WiFi and non-WiFi baby monitors, I have to recommend the non-WiFi option. When it comes to keeping my babies safe and secure, having a device that is less prone to hacking, is easy to operate, has a large viewing screen, and has reliable connectivity is so incredibly important. Read about some of the best places to keep your baby monitor and baby monitor benefits.
