Can EMF Radiation from Our Baby Monitor Harm My Baby?

It sure looks like it. Many studies on the subject have suggested that EMF (electromagnetic field) radiation of the type emitted by baby monitors has significant long-term health effects.

Because of their smaller size and thinner skulls, children are especially vulnerable to EMF effects.

So what does this mean for you? It means anything you can do now to reduce your baby’s EMF exposure can greatly reduce potential long-term health effects later in life.

Let’s start with your baby monitor.

How Baby Monitors Work

Wireless baby monitors emit RF (radiofrequency) radiation, a type of EMF (electromagnetic field) radiation that all electronics give off. The monitors that are considered safest emit radiation in the FM radiofrequency range.

Most baby monitors models run in the higher microwave range, however. This is the same type and at the same high level as Wi-Fi [internal link?] and cell phones [internal link?]. These levels of EMF are considered harmful to adults and worse for children.

Analog vs Digital

There are two types of signals that baby monitors use: analog and digital. Analog models are the safest, but they are becoming hard to find in the US. They use the FM radiofrequency, usually at 40 MHz. Analog models are sound-only monitors.

Digital monitors, on the other hand, operate via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, DECT (digital enhanced cordless telecommunications) or FHSS (frequency-hopping spread spectrum). They work at the 2.4 GHz (or 2400 MHz) microwave frequency, a far more potentially dangerous level than analog models.

If you feel you need more features than analog offers, the next best thing would be low-emissions digital monitors or models with an eco mode, or sound activation. These units don’t produce high emissions constantly. They power up only when they detect sound, which offers a moderate level of EMF protection.

Best Wireless Baby Monitors for EMF Reduction

Safest – Analog Monitors

Analog monitors are harder to come by these days, but they are absolutely the safest choice. At the time of this writing, we were only able to find one:
Safety 1st Crystal Clear Audio Monitor – This is a no-frills, audio-only monitor that operates at 49 MHz. The parent unit can be clipped onto a belt, and it’s inexpensive. $29.02.

Next Best – Low-emission Digital Monitors

We were able to locate two low-emissions digital models that operate at 900 MHz. This is still higher than analog models but much lower than the typical digital models. Both are voice-activated.

Sony MTM-900 900MHz BabyCall System – This unit features alerts with both sound and lights. $99.99.

Babymoov Expert Care – This is a low-emissions model that has great range (2650 feet). It is sound-activated and priced around $80.88.

Digital Monitors with Video and Sound Activation/Eco Mode

For the family that feels they can’t do without video, these models are not technically low-emissions (they operate at 2.4 GHz). However, they do offer sound activation or eco mode for EMF reduction.

Baeishiji Baby Monitor – This highly rated unit has a 3.5-inch camera and features night vision. $89.99.

Philips AVENT SCD630/37 Video Baby Monitor – This unit has a 3.5-inch video screen. It has both sound-activation mode and audio-only mode. The baby’s unit is wall-mountable. Other features include night vision and room temperature monitoring. This one’s a bit pricier at $155.47.

Overall Top Pick for Digital Monitors

Nuk BabyMonitor with Eco Control +Video – We’ve put this in a section of its own because while it’s our favorite wireless monitor, it’s not available in the US. The manufacturer will ship to American addresses, but the shipping makes the unit quite costly.

This monitor features “full-eco mode” that reduces EMF exposure by 90%. It offers night vision, 2-way communication, and a power-saving feature. It’s costly at 173€ (about $194.00) plus shipping.

Hard Wire Your Monitor for Best EFM Protection

Hard-wiring is the safest method of all—it bypasses Wi-Fi altogether. It will mean running Ethernet cable to your baby’s room, but this method offers the highest level of EMF reduction. You will need a monitor that has an Ethernet port. Not many brands make these anymore, but we found one that’s highly rated and feature-rich.

MOM&BB Baby Safe Camera Monitor – Features include an ultra HD camera with 360-degree view and pan-and-tilt functions, video recording, cloud storage, night vision, and 2-way audio. This model even works with Amazon Alexa.

A Final Word

Regardless of which monitor you choose, you should locate your monitor as far from the baby as possible without giving up functionality. The closer your baby is to EMF radiation, the more they will absorb.

We all want to do what’s best for our kids, but it’s not always easy to know what that is. When it comes to EMF radiation, with a little research and a lot of common sense, it’s fairly easy to make a responsible choice.