It can be easy to get carried away when shopping for a new arrival, but in actual fact, you only really need a small range of staple items, including the best pushchair, best bedside crib, and best cot mattress you can afford, plenty of nappies and the best baby monitor.

Once bulky walkie-talkie-like contraptions, today’s next-gen devices provide high-quality audio and crystal-clear video so you can keep an eye (and ear) on your little bundle of joy when you’re not in the same room.

Your device will be with you from those precious first few months right through into toddlerhood, until they’re able to get in and out of bed and move around the house safely on their own.

Our parenting expert at the Good Housekeeping Institute has been busy putting a range of designs for all needs and budgets to the test. We also sent them out to a group of mums and dads to get their feedback on design, ease of use and performance. So, whether you’re after a simple battery-powered model or want to splash out on an all-singing, all-dancing smart monitor, we’ve got you covered.

These are the best baby monitors at a glance, with the full reviews and advice on how to choose the right one for you below.