One sensible option for video baby monitors is the MobiCam Digital DL, which lacks some things on our wish list but has a solid set of features overall.

Users are likely to love the option to view what is going on in the nursery from anywhere in the world via the internet. With the MobiCam Anywhere software – a separate purchase – you can see your baby on a computer, a smartphone or other web-enabled device at any time. You have to use it in conjunction with Skype, Windows Messenger, Google Talk or Yahoo Messenger, but those are all very user-friendly even for a novice.

This unit has an impressive range for night infrared vision – 20 feet – and the infrared kicks on automatically when it senses nighttime light levels. That offers a lot of flexibility in how you set up your monitoring system. You can view a very wide swath of the room, too, thanks to the extra wide-angle lens.

The system can be easily expanded to include up to four cameras and can be connected to a DVR for recording. You can also use an AV adapter to view your baby on a television screen if you prefer.

We like that you can power the system through a cord and plug, AA batteries or an optional rechargeable battery – though you do have to purchase the rechargeable battery separately. It is nice to have all three options.

This is one of the video baby monitors that offer voice-activation (VOX) mode. This means your monitor will go into an energy saving mode when there is no sound in the room and come back on automatically when your baby starts to fuss. Unlike other units, you do not get to set this sound cut-off level. It is preset at the factory. That's a bit of a drawback. We much prefer the units that allow you to set the point at which your video baby monitor comes on based on your unique preferences. You do get to choose whether or not to use the VOX mode though, so if you don't like the factory level you can just leave it on the traditional setting.

You can also opt to switch off the screen altogether, regardless of sound levels, and just use the audio cues from the monitor.

The user has full control over brightness and volume levels so you can determine the best settings for keeping an eye on your baby.

Mobi offers a decent support system for this video baby monitor. The website is very easy to navigate and product information is plentiful. A live chat option would be helpful but all the other options are there – telephone contacts, FAQs and email support. The warranty is a bit short in this case, only 90 days from the purchase date. After that you would have to pay for charges related to replacement parts and labor.