If you are on social media it is likely you have seen the Cubo Ai Baby Monitor advertised or featured on a friend or influencer’s feed. When we were on the market for a baby monitor we constantly saw it pop up and once we looked at all the features, we decided to purchase it. We have been using it for the past 6 months, so I thought I would write a review. But before we get into the review, let’s look into whether you need a smart monitor in the first place:
What is the difference between a smart monitor and a traditional one?
Traditional monitors have a camera at the baby’s cot and a video monitor which sends a digital signal to transmit the video. The monitor needs to stay in range for the connection to remain and for the user to be able to view footage. Traditional monitors are cheaper but are limited in their features. However most have the ability to speak to your baby through the monitor and a thermometer to display room temperature.
A smart monitor operates via your wifi and can be controlled remotely from anywhere. Smart baby monitors tend to have additional features such as additional alerts, analytics, ability to take photos and keep recordings. Most smart baby monitors are controlled via an app on your phone which allows multiple people to have access at once.
Do you need a smart monitor?
It is up to your needs and your budget. Smart monitors are a lot more expensive, but with that you get the additional features. I know when you are having a baby there is a lot to purchase so if you are on a tight string budget, it may not suit you. Or if you have a hand me down traditional monitor, that will still do the trick! In this day and age where more and more people have an array of smart devices in their homes. l like to be equipped with information and have the ability to tune in remotely so for me it is definitely worth the cost. Also Olivia is our first baby and (fingers crossed) we will have another one in the future so I definitely think we will see the longevity of this monitor in use.
My Favourite Features
- My favourite feature is that you can use it remotely. I am very guilty of checking in on Olivia when I go out for dinner with my girlfriends. I can’t help but take a peek at her sleeping and check in. It also gives my husband a way to stay connected with us during the day. Sometimes when I am putting her down for a day nap, he will get the notification that she is crying and then talk to us through the monitor to say sweet dreams to Olivia;
- You can go back and look at 18 hours of video footage. This feature has been so helpful a few times in the past when all of a sudden we hear Olivia make the loudest scream and is extremely upset. We can look back at the footage and see what happened. There has been a few times she has hit her head and having the footage is so handy so we know where to check;
- You use the monitor via an app on your phone which means when you are wandering around the house you don’t need to carry a separate baby monitor with you. It is just one device you need to carry;
- Notifications on the room environment is really handy. Cubo will tell you if the room temperature or humidity is low. This will give you a chance to add a blanket or turn on a heater if you think the little ones needs it;
- The analytics are great! I am a numbers person so I like having the statistics of Olivia’s sleep the next morning. I enjoy showing my husband the next day to get some sympathy points too. It is a great validation source, here are some doozy of a nights I would like to share:
- Lastly – its cute! The monitor is in the shape of a bird and will suit all nursery decors. We got the 3 stand pack so we could place the unit free standing above the cot. It comes with a strap so you can strap the stand to the cot. This comes in handy as Olivia loves to play with the Cubo stand and move it around!
Improvements/Critiques
- If you are someone who wants a lot of notifications then you will like the feature where it will notify you if your baby has rolled over or has a covered face. For me I received too many notifications and was not concerned if she slept on her front, so I do not use this feature. I just ask Cubo to notify me when she cries. You can set this notification at different sensitivity levels which I set to High.
- When someone looks after your baby, if you want them to have use of the camera they will need to download the app on their phone. Which for me is too much of a hassle if they are only going to look after your baby once in a blue moon. A traditional monitor would be easier to handover. If it is someone who will look after them regularly you can allow them different access than you and switch off certain features.
- It is definitely on the expensive side for baby monitors. The wall mount pack price at the time of writing this is $329 and the 3 stand set (highly recommend) is $409. However if you use my referral link https://refer.getcubo.com/MOmrfDuLHk8b you will get an additional $20 off!
Wish List features
- I wish notifications would not sound if you are within 2m of your baby. I know this sounds like a strange request, but hear me out. There is a slight delay in the notification of her cry to come to your phone, just a few seconds. But sometimes I am putting Olivia to bed and she goes from crying to sleeping in a few seconds. Then my notification on my phone sounds and wakes her up. Granted this has only happened a couple of times, but thought I would thrown in a wish list feature here.
- The analytics are great, but they are only available the next day and then they disappear. It would be great if Cubo brought out a feature that would track sleep over time. Perhaps show overall improvements/show regression times etc.
Overall I am very pleased with the Cubo Ai Baby monitor and give it a 8 out of 10. For me I love the smart features and ability to dial in remotely. the score would of been higher if it was priced a little lower.
Are you in the market for a baby monitor? You can use my link to receive an additional $20 off: https://refer.getcubo.com/MOmrfDuLHk8b
Do you have a Cubo Ai Baby Monitor? What are your thoughts? Any other baby monitors you are loving?
