Nanit vs Miku – how do these smart baby monitors measure up?
There are so many baby monitors on the market, it’s hard to know which one is best.
Both the Miku and the Nanit smart baby monitors have a lot of great features, but they also have some key differences that make them better for different people.
Choosing between them can be hard, especially if you’re not sure what to look for in a smart monitor. We’ve done the research and here’s our comparison guide so you can make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
Our guide will help you pick out which features matter most to your family and whether or not it’s worth paying more for those extra bells and whistles that don’t really matter to you.
Note: this blog post probably contains affiliate links, which means we may receive small commissions from purchases made through links in this post (at NO extra cost to you). You can read our full disclosure for more information.
TL:DR (too long, didn’t read)
Short on time? Ultimately, we decided that the Miku Smart Baby Monitor was the best buy because of its breathing monitoring without accessories. You can check it out here on Amazon.
Is a Baby Monitor On Your Must Have List?
The first thing to decide is whether or not you really need a baby monitor in the first place.
Baby monitors have come a long way since they first were introduced. Now, you can get a much more interactive experience with your baby.
Do you want to be able to see and hear what’s going on in the nursery while you’re in another part of the house? If so, then a video monitor is probably right for you.
Do you want to be able to check in on baby’s heart rate and breathing to make sure all’s well? A smart baby monitor is just what you need.
For many parents, the added reassurance that their smart baby monitor will alert them if there’s a problem is enough to make them an excellent choice.
Both the Nanit and Miku Smart Baby Monitors are a great choice! Let’s get into the details.
Miku Smart Baby Monitor Review
The Miku is a beautiful, high tech monitor that gives you the ability to get an up close and personal view of your baby at any time you choose.
A single wall-mounted unit that has special technology to monitor your baby without physical contact.
Miku Smart Baby Monitor Important Features
You can talk to your little one from anywhere and see them too with this Miku smart baby monitor! Stay connected and know what’s going on in their room, because being able to respond quickly to baby’s cry gives you peace of mind. Get rest knowing that you’re never too far away while on the go or asleep.
Miku has:
- 130 degree view and a 5 megapixel camera with High definition night vision.
- HD speakers and two-way talk capabilities
- Four Core Qualcomm Processor works in real-time, whether or not you have an internet connection (you do need to have WiFi though). Information will be stored and then relayed to your smartphone once the WiFi is reconnected.
- Temperature and humidity sensor monitors baby’s surroundings.
- Measures respiration rate and heart rate
- Monitors baby’s movements and notifies you if detected.
- You can choose what notifications and alarms you get through the app
- Stores data on sleep quality and hours slept.
- Built-in white noise, soothing sounds or create a lullaby playlist on the app that sounds through the Miku’s speakers.
- Frequent updates to the AI which are automatically downloaded to your device.
- Camera can be mounted on the wall or put on a stand – you can even take it on vacation with you.
- HSA/FSA approved
- must be plugged into an electrical outlet to run
How Does the Miku Smart Baby Monitor Work?
The Miku Smart Baby Monitor uses proprietary SensorFusion technology to monitor your baby. It tracks their breathing rate, heart rate, sleep time and more using an optical sensing via radio wave system on a birds-eye view from the mounted video camera in the nursery. The data is sent to you via app on your smartphone so that you can check up anytime!
Miku Smart Baby Monitor PROS and CONS
Pros
- Monitors without physically touching your baby
- You can choose which notifications or alarms you want to receive
- If you’re a student, teacher, nurse, military or first responder, you get a 20% discount
Cons
- USA and Canada only
- You must have a smartphone to use it
- Doesn’t measure oxygen levels like some smart baby monitors
Nanit Plus Review
The new Nanit Plus is an innovative smart baby monitor that includes many features parents will love.
The Nanit Plus is the perfect baby monitor to keep an eye on your little one. It can give notifications if there’s any sound or motion in their room, and will tell you about the humidity of the atmosphere as well as its temperature. You’ll never want for white noise again with this device either!
The Nanit Plus camera can track your baby’s breathing motion when you pair it with Nanit Breathing Wear, a 100% cotton band, swaddle or sleep sack.
Nanit Plus Features
The Nanit Plus is full of features that make it a great choice for new parents:
- Basic Sleep insights included with Nanit Plus for one year after purchase. After the first year, the cost is $5/month or $50 per year to have the same features continue each month. Includes sleep tracking (time until sleep onset and time asleep), number of visits by caretakers in the room while baby is sleeping, etc.)
- Breathing Motion Monitoring (with Breathing Wear) – Nanit monitors baby’s breathing and notifies the caregiver if they stop breathing you also have access to their breaths per minute (BPM).
- Notifications for sound and motion in real time.
- Temperature and humidity monitoring.
- Video History – access up to 7 days video history with Basic Sleep Insights. If you invest in a higher cost plan you can playback up to 30 days history.
- Highlight reels – watch your baby’s sleep in a fun time lapse video
- 256 Bit Video Encryption to keep your videos safe from hackers
- HD video and night vision
- Zoom in from your smartphone for a better view
- Two way audio (so you can talk to your baby)
- Control white noise or soothing sounds from your phone.
- Night light that’s adjustable from your smartphone.
- HSA/FSA Approved
How it Works
The Nanit Plus, a 4.2” x 3.3″ camera with two way audio and high-definition night vision video comes with digital zoom to operate from your smartphone!
If you’re using Nanit Breathing Wear, the camera uses it’s advanced technology to detect movement of the patterns on the breathing wear.
What Is the Difference Between the Nanit and Nanit Plus?
While the Nanit Plus is identical in appearance to the previous Nanit, it has some new features including nature sounds, two-way audio, advanced user permissions for extra caregivers, and the ability to monitor baby’s breathing.
Nanit Plus Pros and Cons
What’s the deal with the Nanit Plus?
Pros
- Baby sleep data available in the app – includes length of sleep, time since last sleep, any time they were taken out of bed and more!
- A range of notifications for sound, motion, room temperature and humidity so you can be notified about what matters to you.
- Breathing wear doesn’t use sensors or electronics to monitor baby.
- Control white noise through your smartphone app.
- Works even if WiFi is down (so long as your phone and the monitor are on the same network)
Cons
- Breathing wear must be purchased separately and will need purchasing in larger sizes as baby grows
- Requires a subscription to unlock full baby sleep insights
- Not very portable.
- Not recommended to use breathing wear on a sick baby as it can make their temperature rise – which is exactly the time when you would most want to keep a close eye on baby’s breathing.
Why You Need a Baby Monitor
Do you need a baby monitor? And, if so, what kind do you need?
Do you really need a smart baby monitor with all the bells and whistles? Or will a simple audio/visual monitor do the trick (and save you plenty of $$$)
It all depends on your personal comfort level.
You might want to get a smart baby monitor if:
- Baby sleeps away from where your daily activities happen
- Worrying about baby is keeping you from sleeping soundly at night
- You want to see the sleep data
You might not need a smart baby monitor if:
- Baby sleeps in the same room as you (and you’re not feeling anxious)
- You’re close to where baby is sleeping most of the time during the day
- You’re content for baby to sleep without needing to see the data!
An audio or visual baby monitor is great for basic monitoring. But, smart baby monitors like the Miku Smart Baby Monitor and the Nanit Plus can provide you with a whole ‘nother level of detail that can be great for putting anxieties to rest.
How to Choose Between the Miku Smart Baby Monitor and the Nanit Plus
The Miku Smart Baby Monitor and the Nanit Plus are comparable across almost every feature, including price. However, if you’re struggling to decide, one of these minor points may help you:
- Do I want to be able to monitor breathing without having to buy accessories? (Choose Miku Smart Baby Monitor)
- Do I want a night light included? (Choose Nanit Plus)
Smart Baby Monitor FAQ
Is it worth buying the Nanit Plus or the Miku Smart Baby Monitor?
As a smart baby monitor user, I can honestly say that it was worth it 100%. Even though it was quite the expense (one of my most expensive purchases actually), the difference it made to my peace of mind, anxiety levels and ability to sleep was amazing.
If you don’t think you’ll be stressed out about baby’s safety while sleeping, you may just want to get a simple monitor for nap time.
Do pediatricians recommend Smart Baby Monitors?
The American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement regarding Smart Baby Monitors. It says, “There is no evidence that the use of infant home apnea monitors decreases the incidence of SIDS and should not be used routinely for this purpose; however, they might be of value for selected infants at risk for apnea or cardiovascular events after discharge.”
The AAP also says that a home apnea monitor may be needed and prescribed by a doctor if: Your baby needs home oxygen or your baby has serious breathing problems.
Can these baby monitors prevent SIDS?
No – smart Baby Monitors can only alert you to changes in your baby’s breathing or oxygen level, but they cannot definitively prevent SIDS.
Will these monitors tell you if baby stops breathing?
The Nanit Plus will sound the alarm if breathing stops for 20 seconds. It will send a notification and alarm to your phone and the alert will play over the camera in the nursery also.
The Miku Smart Baby Monitor sends an alert for sleep apnea pauses that are longer than 20 seconds.
The Final Word
If you’re on the fence about what smart baby monitor to purchase, we think that Miku Smart Baby Monitor is your best bet. It doesn’t require the Breathing Wear accessory in order to monitor breathing so it may be less expensive and easier to use than the Nanit. You’ll want to figure out which features are most important to you before making a decision!
Read More On Baby Monitors
Angelcare vs Babysense – An In-Depth Comparison
Owlet vs Snuza – Wearable Baby Monitors Compared
Owlet Vs Nanit – Smart Sock 3 & Nanit Plus Compared
Miku Vs Snuza – Miku Smart Baby Monitor and Snuza Pico 2 GO Head to Head
Nanit vs Snuza – Should You Buy The Nanit Plus Or the Snuza Pico 2?
Owlet Vs Miku – How Does the Smart Sock 3 Compare to the Miku Smart Baby Monitor?