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In a nutshell

An all-singing, all-dancing monitor that offers great reassurance

What we tested

  • Ease of use
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Sound and/or picture quality
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Signal range
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Design
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
  • Durability
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Worth the money
    A star rating of 3.5 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 3.8 out of 5.

Pros

  • Movement and sound monitor in one, plus nightlight and temperature guage on baby unit

Cons

  • Sensor alarm could be louder, big aerial on parent looks ugly, parent unit needs separate batteries to use as a handheld unit

Marvellously multifunctional, the Tommee Tippee SureSound Ultimate Monitor offers complete peace of mind for new parents. It monitors sound, room temperature and movement, but hasn’t mastered making the tea yet…

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The SureSound Ultimate effectively does the job of two different monitors, as it monitors both sound and movement, and you can use it without the mattress sensor if desired (only really a good idea when your baby is older and the risk of cot death has decreased, otherwise you might as well buy just a sound monitor). Setting up is delightfully easy: just plug in each unit, flip open the baby unit – it looks a bit like a telephone – connect to the mattress sensor, switch on and you’re away.

The sound monitor will tell you if your baby is crying (or gurgling happily), while the mattress sensor will sound an alarm if no movement is detected for 20 seconds.

This monitor can be used solely as a battery-operated unit, but is intended predominantly for mains-operated use, with the reassurance of batteries in case there’s a power cut. The night light gives a warm orange glow, and can be dimmed when your baby is sound asleep or turned up if you need to come into the room, for example if you need to feed your baby but don’t want to wake her up too much.

What we love

The multifunctionality! From knowing that the nursery is the right temperature, to hearing every last gurgle (if you really want to turn the volume up that high), through to the absolute reassurance that your baby is breathing, this monitor will tell you all you need to know. The mattress sensor may add an extra item to fit, but set-up is still easy as pie. And while it may be analogue, the sound quality is good and Tommee Tippee’s own SureSound technology means that confidentiality is also assured. With a full price of over £100, it’s not cheap, but many mums can’t put a price on peace of mind.

What to watch out for

The alarm from the movement monitor, though scary, is not actually that loud – others are more ear-splitting. That said, I’m sure you’d hear it if it were to go off. The parent unit is not the most beautiful thing, and the aerial is big and cumbersome, so if you do clip it to your trousers it may be uncomfortable. This is a shame, as the baby unit, with its flip-up light and curvy shape, is much more attractive but less likely to be seen.

The fact that you need separate batteries rather than a rechargeable parent unit, as seems to be standard in many other brands, makes this less convenient and eco-friendly. You have to use the movement sensor in a cot with a firm base; it won’t work with soft-base Moses baskets or hammock-style cribs.

Who is the Tommee Tippee SureSound Ultimate Monitor best for?

Parents seeking ultimate reassurance.

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MadeForMums verdict

A clever monitor that can reassure parents in a variety of ways, and it’s so easy to use it would be hard to get wrong. The appearance of the parent unit needs work, and the alarm could be made a bit louder, as this is meant to spur you into action.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandTommee Tippee
ModelSureSound Ultimate
Price£109.99
Features
Video screenNo
Movement sensor padNo
Range indoors100m
Number of channelsMulti
Sound level indicator lightsYes
Two-way talkbackNo
Night lightYes
Soothing lullabiesNo
Features
  • Movement sensor
  • Nightlight with dimmer switch and digital room temperature display on baby unit
  • Power cut protection
  • Out of range indicator
  • Belt clip on parent unit for portability
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