Disclaimer: The following product was sent for free for the purposes of a review. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely that of the writer’s.
I will begin with a confession: I am not the most technology adept person. I do not crave the latest and greatest gadgets. I do not find joy in learning new platforms. And I definitely do not feel excited about downloading a new app.
Call me boring or call me basic, but when I built my baby registry, I didn’t register for a baby monitor. I figured I could just walk in the room and check on my baby if I wanted to know how they were doing.
Then I had the opportunity to test out the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor. And friends, my tune has changed. I love this thing! I wouldn’t call myself a tech convert by any means, but I am definitely dabbling. And I am oh-so-impressed by well-researched technology that helps me care for my baby. The team at Miku thought of it all when developing this video baby monitor: from install ease to app navigation, so both tech-wary folks like myself and tech-loving people like my husband are impressed.
If you are like me and didn’t think you needed a baby monitor, do me a favor and keep reading, you just might find yourself seeing the benefits. And, if you know you want a monitor, definitely keep reading. You are going to be in awe of all the Muku Pro Smart Baby Monitor has to offer.
Pros & Cons
Pros
High image quality
Secure feed
No wearable required
Breathing monitor
Cons
Investment
No handheld monitor; it’s your phone only
Not easily portable
“The team at Miku thought of it all when developing this video baby monitor: from install ease to app navigation, so both tech-wary folks like myself and tech-loving people like my husband are impressed."
Why is a Baby Video Monitor Important?
If you’re wondering what the big deal with getting a video baby monitor is, let’s chat about how much more a video monitor can do vs. a simple audio-only version.
With my first baby, I had a simple audio-only baby monitor. I assumed the purpose of a monitor was to merely hear if my baby woke up enough to cry so I could be alerted and tend to them.
Now, however, I know that a baby monitor can offer so much more. A video monitor gives you a visual peek at your little one while they sleep. You can check on them without having to leave your bed or from the kitchen while they nap, watch their breathing without having to hear them cry or feel their belly go up and down, and see any wiggles, stretches, and squirms.
Video monitoring offers so much peace of mind. Even now, as I cover all the specifics of the Muku Pro Smart Baby Monitor, I can glance down to see my three month old sleeping soundly. I see that his breathing rate ranges from 26 to 37 rpm and that he has been asleep for 1 hour and 24 minutes. He has had ten episodes of movement, but no full wakes. With video access, I don’t have to constantly question if I should sneak in and check on his well being. Instead, I can access the camera footage and rest assured.
Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor: Convenient Features to Love
OK, now let’s talk about the nitty-gritty of this baby monitor. It advertises itself as “smart,” and I have to say, the parent-friendly features it includes are pretty cool. Here’s what we loved about it:
Easy to set up
The first feature to appreciate with the Miku Pro Smart baby monitor is how convenient they make everything to set it up––it even comes with literally everything you need for assembly right inside the box: monitor, power supply and cord, wall mount and levels, wall anchors and screws, cable guides, measuring tape, screwdriver, and a pencil. (Seriously!)
With everything you need right at your fingertips, can expect the install to take less than 30 minutes. Plus, there’s both written and video instructions available for mounting, which makes it pretty much foolproof. We followed a few simple steps to install:
- Mark the center of your baby’s crib with the measuring tape. (Be sure that the crib is placed within six feet of a plug in so you can easily connect the power cord.)
- Mark the wall 60 inches up on the midline.
- Hold up the wall mount to your marking and confirm it is level (yes, a level is included in the Miku box!)l.
- Mark the wall through the two holes and remove. Use the screwdriver and wall anchors to secure the wall mount to the wall.
- Connect everything.
- Remove the adhesive strips on each cable guide and cover the cord. Plug it all into the nearest outlet and watch for the light to turn on. Then, the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor is ready to get to work!
Customizable profile in a secure app
Once the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor is mounted above your baby’s crib, the real magic begins. The monitor comes with a coordinating app for your phone that lets you do a few things:
- Make a customized profile for your baby
- Invite a partner or caregiver to join your child’s profile
- Adjust the camera to encompass a 140 degree view
- Connect to Wi-Fi
- Track sleep data for your infant.
- If you have two little ones you can monitor two cameras through one app, easily switching between devices
When logged on to the Miku app, the main screen shows sound control, room temperature, room humidity, screen capture (oh, hello little cutie!), real-time breathing, and an option for two-way microphone communication. It is like you are almost there in the room!
“When logged on to the Miku app, the main screen shows sound control, room temperature, room humidity, screen capture (oh, hello little cutie!), real-time breathing, and an option for two-way microphone communication."
Real-Time Breathing and Sleep Monitoring, No Wearable Needed
Next up, let’s talk what the Miku baby monitor offers as far as actual monitoring. Here’s the type of monitoring the Miku will offer parents for both convenience and peace of mind:
Breathing tracking without a wearable device
The first and possibly most important function of this monitor is that it tracks your baby’s live breathing without requiring them to wear anything special. Miku’s breathing monitoring technology transfers waves of breath directly to the app in real time without requiring your infant to wear anything.
With no wearable accessory, the Miku gives you both respiratory and movement monitoring. Plus, you won’t have to buy a new size or make sure a particular sensor is aligned just right. So, despite the higher price point, you do get double the monitoring benefit with Miku.
Sleep insight
Nap over nap and night over night, the Miku monitor also tracks your little one’s sleep movement, providing you with information and real-time alerts on their sleep patterns and preferences. This data is displayed in graphs and charts making it simple to understand and interesting to analyze. You can even go back on the video to each tracked movement and rewatch clips.
You’ll find your child’s bedtime, wake time, sleep duration, average onset, sleep timeline, and overall sleep quality rating under the analytics tab in the app.
Room temp + humidity
The Miku monitor also tracks and reports the room temperature and humidity. You can also access a plethora of lullabies and calming noises to provide calming sleep sounds. So check “noise machine” off your baby registry, because the Miku encompasses that too!
Let’s Talk Tech
Now, I already admitted that I am not totally up on the tech side of things, but after using the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor, I can fully appreciate all the tech-specific features this monitor offers.
Here’s what you’ll get with the MIku Pro:
- Night vision
- 1080p high definition video that can be saved, rewatched, and shared
- Tamper-proof 256 bit encryption
- 5 sensors for a full sleep report
- 8-core processor (so nothing can get lost in the cloud)
- Works with both Android and iPhone apps
- Customizable alerts
- Relies on Wi-Fi
- Two way talk, plays music, and provides white noise
- Can manage 2+ devices and multiple app users can view with permission
- Accepts HSA/FSA as well as financing available
Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor in Action: What to Consider
My one hiccup in using the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor is that my phone acts as the video receiver and picture display. So, on nights when I want to be on my phone I have to choose if I want to watch my baby through the Miku app or use another app (yes, I’m very guilty of the late night social media scroll).
Granted, I have alerts set up to notify me if my baby or anything in the room needs my attention when I’m not actively using the app, but I do wish I could have a secondary screen available.
Another thing to consider is that the main Miku kit comes as a wall mount; if you want the floor stand system, which is more portable, that has to be purchased separately.
Pro vs. Original
Before we go, I also wanted to mention that there are two different versions of the Miku: the Pro and Original. There is a $50 price difference between the two, and while the Pro and Original both have many of the same features, the Pro is really the best buy, thanks to these specifics:
- 8-core processor: your data is more accurate and safe, with local processing
- Pinch-to-zoom feature
- Wide view feature, offering 140 degrees of your baby’s crib.
- Ambient light monitor: the Pro monitors how morning sunshine or a crack in the door impacts their slumber
- 2.4 & 5GHz support: the Pro can connect to both types of Wi-Fi.
Before You Buy
If you are on the lookout for an all-in-one monitor that offers live breathing analysis without a wearable device required, the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor is ready to deliver.
There are other technology aids to consider, some at a lower price point, but none quite as all-inclusive as the Miku Pro. As you compare features and assess the full scope offerings of the Miku Pro Smart Baby Monitor, keep in mind that this monitor offers breathing tracking, sleep insight, and a customizable app, all without requiring your baby to wear a device.
Other Products to Consider
Want to check out more baby monitor options before you buy? Here are a few other monitors to check out:
The Best Baby Monitors of 2021
Infant Optics DXR-8 Video Baby Monitor
Owlet Duo Review: This Combo Health and Baby Sleep Monitor Helped Me Get My Groove Back
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