In a nutshell

A first look at the latest range of BT's brand new audio monitors; a longer-lasting digital baby monitor that won't break the bank.

What we tested

  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Sound and/or picture quality
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Signal range
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Design
    A star rating of 3.0 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.3 out of 5.

Pros

  • Compact design, easy to use, wireless, link light, talkback feature, adjustable night light, crying alert.

Cons

  • Can momentarily lose link, baby unit not wireless.

BT is a household name and we have come to expect good quality products from the brand, be it a telephone, television or baby monitor. Once the UK’s national communications company, BT now prides itself on being at the forefront of the digital revolution and it produces an array of hi-tech accessories to prove it.

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With five different types of baby monitors on the market already, BT is currently in the process of upgrading its entire collection and the Digital Baby Monitor 300 will be its first release (out this July). The new model will replace the older 250 version, which has been on sale in the UK for a few years now, but was criticised for having a short battery life.

Going back to basics, the 300 boasts, among other things, HD digital sound, 2-way talk back, a built-in thermometer and an adjustable nightlight. It is not, however, a video monitor, which has become so popular with parents who want to see their baby as well as hear them.

First impressions?

I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box as both parent and baby units are very compact and have a very simple and inoffensive design. You can place them in your home and have them seamlessly blend into the background.

You can buy the BT 300 at Asda, Tesco, John Lewis, Boots, Kiddicare or Amazon.

How do you set up the monitor?

Setting it up is quick and easy - simply charge the batteries for 24 hours before you use the parent unit and then away you go. To start, switch both units on and once the units are ‘linked’, a light on each unit will come on.

Is it easy to use the monitor around the house?

Yes, the baby unit needs to be plugged into a mains power source but the parent unit is hands-free, so you can take it around the house and garden with you, thanks to its 300m wireless range. It may have been handy for both units to be wireless but the parent unit is so small and light, it is simple to move around the house.

And thanks to the ‘find’ button on the baby unit, it can be easily located if you can’t remember where you put it. Also, if you happen to drift out of range of the baby unit, there’s an out-of-range warning, for peace of mind.

What is the sound quality like?

The digital sound quality is great, it is much clearer than other monitors I have used in the past. I heard each baby gurgle, moan, twist and turn due to the monitor’s ability to pick up and emit sound clearly.

However, you don’t always want to hear each noise your baby makes - you often only want to hear if your baby is crying or has woken up and the ‘mute’ button on the parent monitor makes this possible. You won’t hear your baby cry but the monitor will bleep and the red light comes on.

Tell us about the mute button?

The mute button is handy for those days when you may have a window open - mine were open one day and I could clearly hear the birds tweeting away outside, which soon became annoying!

Saying that, I had no complaints about the background noise in general, because it doesn’t really pickup much. The sounds I need to hear are loud and clear!

Do the batteries last?

Yes, the rechargeable batteries of the parent unit are quite long lasting – on average, 18 hours. I have heard the battery power of similar BT baby monitors fade quickly over a few months, requiring more frequent charging. But this product comes with a one-year guarantee, so I am not worried about that happening.

What do you think of the talk back button?

The ‘talkback’ feature is really handy for those times when your baby is unsettled - press the ‘talk’ button on your monitor and say a few soothing words to help your baby to nod off again.

I quite liked the visual volume display on the parent monitor too, as it makes it simple to see what noise level you have set the monitor at.

What did you think of the nightlight?

I found the nightlight handy; I used it on my four week-old baby and it gave me the confidence and peace of mind to be able to leave her alone upstairs if I had to.

Is it value for money?

Yes, it is. Retailing at £39.99 it won’t break the bank and is great if you can’t afford a video monitor.

What’s in the box?

  • Monitor parent unit
  • Monitor baby unit

Any additional extras?

  • No

MadeForMums verdict:

A compact, practical device that serves its purpose well. The monitor is lightweight, fuss-free and simple to use. I would recommend it.

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Product Specifications

Product
BrandBT
ModelDigital Baby Monitor 300
Price£39.99
Signal typeDigital
Features
Video screenNo
Movement sensor padNo
Range indoors50m
Range outdoors300m
Number of channels120
Sound level indicator lightsYes
Two-way talkbackYes
Night lightYes
Room temperature displayYes
Soothing lullabiesYes
Power supplyBattery and mains
Power supplyMains
Features
  • Digital sound quality with high definition sound (Hi-dsTM)
  • Wireless range of up to 300m outdoors and up to 50m indoors
  • Out-of-range and low battery warnings
  • Lullabies
  • Link light
  • Talkback
  • Nightlight
  • Crying alert
  • Mute options
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