There is a particular kind of bedtime optimism that involves putting a child down, closing the door and believing you might get to finish a cup of tea while it is still hot. The Babysense Prisma cannot deliver that, but it can save you a few trips upstairs to check whether they are asleep or quietly shredding their favourite story book.
The Prisma uses a dedicated parent unit rather than your phone, so there is no apps to open or Wi Fi connection to rely on, making it handy for babysitters to take over nighttime duties. The 5 inch, 720p screen shows the nursery clearly, with night vision for those after dark checks. You can move the camera remotely to look around the room and zoom in when the shape on screen could be a cuddly toy or an opportunistic pet cat.
It comes in one and two camera versions. Choose the latter and the split screen lets you keep an eye on two children or rooms at once. That is genuinely useful, though each picture is naturally smaller, and you can only hear audio from one camera at a time. The system can also accommodate up to four cameras if your household grows.
The cameras do more than watch, each has a six-colour night light, while lullabies and white noise may help settle a restless baby. Two-way talk lets you offer a quick reassurance without immediately going in, although parents will know how often that works depends entirely on the baby.
Babysense claims up to 12 hours of parent unit battery life with the screen on, or up to 20 hours in its voice activated power saving mode before the 4000mAh battery needs recharging. The range reaches 300m feet in open space, but walls and floors will affect what you get at home. Other features include hack-proof and secure connection, temperature alerts and SCAN mode which alternates audio between cameras every 15 seconds, ensuring both rooms are covered.
The trade-off is that you cannot check the camera from your phone while you are out. For parents who want a straightforward monitor beside the sofa or bed, though, the Prisma covers the essentials and adds a few welcome comforts. RRP £159.99
- Clear 5-inch screen with night vision
- Remote camera movement and zoom
- Split screen viewing with the two-camera version
- No Wi Fi or app required
- Night light, lullabies and white noise
- Good parent unit battery life
- No viewing from your phone when away from home
- Split screen makes each image smaller
- Audio plays from one camera at a time
- Extra cameras cost more
