Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby Monitor review

Price-wise, the See Pro Baby is at the higher end of teh baby monitor market, similar to the VTech 7" RM7767HD Ultra-Smart Video Baby Monitor, £199.99, although still comes in around £80 cheaper than the Cubo Ai Plus Smart Baby Monitor, £289.99.

What were your first impressions of the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

Everything felt really high quality, with a clean, modern look, and thoughtfully packaged. All of the components were individually packed, using minimal plastic (and recyclable materials where possible), making everything easy to unbox and set up quickly.

The instruction manual, which has a flip-out illustrated guide to the monitor and parent unit, was at the top of the box, so it was nice not to have to rummage around for this. I also liked that the 2 plugs (one for the monitor and one for the tablet) had illustrated stickers on them to let you know which was which. And the cables for the plugs came with attached tidies, which reduced one-use packaging and came in handy when travelling with the monitor.

How does the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby compare to the See Baby Monitor?

The main difference is that the See Pro Baby monitor includes a parent unit and a 6-month trial of CryAssist technology, while the more basic See Baby Monitor includes the monitor only and functions solely via the app.

For me, the main benefit of having the addition of the parent unit was that it freed up my phone and saved its battery life. Using the monitor via the app significantly drained my phone’s battery as you have to keep it running in the background.

How does the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby compare to other monitors you've used?

We had previously been using the Boifun Smart 2k 5in Baby Monitor. At a glance, the Boifun and the See Pro Baby have similar features and functions; both have parent units with 5in displays. However, the See Baby Pro offers more setting customisations and the app is much more user friendly than the accompanying Boifun one.

Initially, I would have said that the two monitors, although similar in design and user interface, don’t really compare. The See Pro Baby felt superior in every way. However, as time went on we started experiencing the same issue with the See Pro Baby as we did with the Boifun; the sound and motion alerts were unreliable.

With the Boifun, we found it would frequently fail to pick up our son crying (even with the settings adjusted to high and the monitor positioned right above him). The See Pro Baby has a similar problem, but to a much lesser degree.

With the sound alert settings on low, Eir might cry out and the monitor wouldn’t always alert us to it. However, if he starts to properly cry for an extended period of time then it will alert us. If we switch the setting to high, then it will alert us to him chatting or crying out, but it also alerts us to a door closing downstairs or a dog barking outside.

How easy is it to set the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor up?

Once everything was out of the box, getting it all initially set up took barely any time at all. Setup is begins with scanning the QR code in the instruction manual to download the Maxi-Cosi app. The app then walks you through everything with animated illustrations and step-by-step guides and tips.

In regards to physical setup, when we transitioned Eir from his bedside crib to his nursery, we found that the See Pro Baby monitor posed some placement challenges. Unlike our previous monitor, which could be mounted on a screw-in tripod for flexibility, the See Pro Baby only allows for placement on a flat surface above the crib or wall mounting.

While this initially made placement in our bedroom slightly difficult, we managed to find a suitable arrangement for the short time we used it there. Once Eir moved to the nursery, we experimented with different positions before ultimately wall mounting it directly above his crib. Fortunately, the included screws and plugs made this process quick and easy, taking only a few minutes.

It’s worth mentioning that while the long cable of the monitor offers the convenience of placing it farther from a socket, it can result in excess loose cable hanging down. Like us, you may need a cable tidy to safely tuck it away.

Is the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor camera adjustable?

You can tilt the camera up and down, and rotate it 350 degrees. There is also a wedge base mount that allows you to add another 30 degree of tilt to the camera. However, there are no other height adjustments so you need to be able to position it on a flat surface that’s appropriately higher than the crib or be prepared to wall mount it.

How easy is it to position everything correctly?

Incredibly easy if you're not using the wall mount and you have a nearby flat surface that’s higher than your crib (e.g. a wall shelf). You just pop the monitor down and make sure it's facing in the general direction of the crib. Then, you can adjust the camera once you're out of the room using the app or the tablet.

The noise the monitor makes when it moves is a little on the louder side, but not so loud that it would wake a baby from deep sleep – it might wake a baby that’s still settling for a nap though, to give you an idea of noise level.

What is the sound quality like on the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

Really clear. We have it positioned about 1.5m above Eir while he’s sleeping and we can sometimes hear him snoring gently. You can adjust the volume of the monitor via the app or the tablet, and there is a talk-back function which you can adjust the volume of as well. Also, you can play music or soothing sounds through the monitor and these have a clear, crisp quality to them.

Is there any background noise when using the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

There is a subtle 'fuzz' of noise, but it's honestly very quiet.

Was there any interference?

None that we noticed. The picture stayed clear at all times and we didn't see an impact to our Wi-Fi signal.

What is the picture like on the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

Very clear, even when on 2 x zoom and at night. It gets a little fuzzy on 4 x zoom but that's to be expected. You can't pan around when zoomed in on the tablet though (or if you can, I haven’t found a way to), which feels like an oversight, but you can easily via the app.

What is CryAssist?

As mentioned earlier, the monitor comes with a 6-month free subscription to the CryAssist service – a clever technology that notifies you when your baby is crying, and 'translates' the crying to help you work out what is wrong.

Since Eir doesn’t cry frequently during the night, we started using the monitor specifically during times when he was likely to cry, such as in the run-up to bedtime, to test this feature. Initially, it analysed his cries incorrectly, mistaking hunger or sleepiness for fussiness, for example.

However, the cry analysis feature allows you to provide feedback when it misinterprets cries, and over time, it gradually improves its analysis. As time went on, it began to analyse his cries correctly more often. It can take a few moments to analyse a cry, as expected, so this tool seems most useful if you have a baby that is struggling to settle for long periods of time (like a sleep regression).

Does the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor display the room temperature?

Yes, it does, and we found it really useful for dressing Eir appropriately and for ruling out temperature as a reason he might be unsettled. You can check the temperature and humidity at a glance (both levels are displayed at the top of the screen on the tablet, or just above the live feed in the app) and set alerts for if either level drops or rises too much.

I particularly liked that you could set this range yourself – I set ours to match the advice of the Lullaby Trust as it comes preset as 10-30˚C for temperature. However, you can’t turn off alerts for either level individually (it’s both of them or neither).

Do you like the various lullabies and sounds that come from the monitor?

The monitor offers five lullabies and two white noise sounds – rolling waves and a tumble dryer; you can adjust the volume of these sounds and set them to loop individually. These options were helpful for settling Eir during the night when a feed wasn’t needed.

The sound quality is clear, and the lullabies and relaxing sounds are pleasant. However, we noticed that the loop function jumps slightly on some tracks, which can detract from their soothing nature.

Is there a talk-back function on the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

Yes, the monitor offers a talk-back/2-way audio function – the sound quality is good and you can adjust the volume. I only used it a few times to reassure Eir while I was on my way to the nursery from downstairs, or to speak to my husband through the monitor (to let him know where something was, or offer to come up and help, for example). From the tablet, you turn it on by pressing a button and turn it off the same way.

Personally, I would feel more comfortable if the talk-back function was engaged by holding a button down. That way, you can’t accidentally switch it on and leave it on without realising. There is an indicator that the mic is on but it’s possible to miss it.

Does the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor have a movement sensor feature?

Yes, you can toggle the movement sensor on or off, and adjust the alert level to high or low to notify you of small or large movements. As with the sound sensor, it took some trial and error to get the balance right – with the movement notifications set to low, we found that it wouldn’t pick up Eir’s movements unless they were large ones (e.g. rolling around the cot) and we would therefore miss his early signs of waking.

However, with it set to high and with sound alerts on, we found the tablet would beep every few moments as he rubbed his eyes or stirred in his sleep. In the end, we left it set to high but turned the noise alert off and kept visual only during the night.

Does the See Pro Baby monitor operate via Wi-Fi?

It does, and according to Maxi-Cosi, it has numerous security measures in place within the Connected Home app which ensure that you (and approved users) are the only one(s) able to access the monitor via the App. Maxi-Cosi also states that the See Baby Monitor has been audited and certified with regards to security by numerous organisations.

Does the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor operate on mains or battery, or both?

The monitor runs on mains but the tablet is mains-rechargeable, lasting several days before needing a charge (72–96 hours). It takes a few hours to fully recharge once depleted, no more than your phone might need, for example. And its usage will determine how quickly its battery life depletes.

What features did you particularly like about the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

It’s a small thing, but it’s great that you can turn the blue indicator light off on the monitor. I also love that you can quickly put the monitor in standby mode from your phone – this is useful if you need to settle your little one in the night and don’t want the monitor to be on the whole time. I also just really like the look of the monitor. The wooden base is a really nice touch that gives it a sort of natural quality. Lastly, I’m a fan of how easily you can mount and unmount it from the wall or the tilted base. This makes it quick to reposition around the house if needed.

How portable is the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

When setting it up while visiting my parents, I couldn’t get the app to work. When looking at feedback from other parents, it seemed like you had to essentially uninstall and reinstall the app in each new location to set it up on a new Wi-Fi. However, the tablet worked just fine so I avoided doing this. The monitor’s long cable meant that we could position it far away from a plug socket, giving us flexibility.

How durable does the baby monitor feel?

Very. Nothing feels like it's going to snap off. It travels well in a pouch – we’ve gone away with it a few times and it doesn’t have any scratches. The cables all stay in place as well, neither of them fall out while in use.

What would you have wanted to know before getting the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

That you can’t separate the alert notifications, i.e. adjust the settings just for motion alerts or just for sound alerts. And that even on its lowest volume setting, the alert tone is very loud. This is great for during the day, when you’re likely to walk away from the tablet, but at night you could really do with the option for a much quieter alert tone.

What’s in the box?

• See Pro Baby monitor
• Camera charging cable
• Parenting unit
• Parenting unit USB cable
• Wedge
• 3 x screws and plugs
• Wall support
• Reset pin

What did you think about the packaging of the baby monitor?

It felt really well packaged and I didn’t feel like there were any unnecessary boxes or plastic being used. The film sleeve covering the monitor was recyclable, as was the majority of the packaging. It felt like a treat to unwrap really. There were no fiddly cable ties – instead, high-quality leather ones that can be reused for travel thanks to their poppers.

How sustainable is the baby monitor?

The Maxi-Cosi user manual recommends environmentally friendly disposal of the monitor and its parts, encouraging people to take their old monitors to communal disposal areas (e.g. a recycling centre), rather than disposing of it at home.

What are the repair options if the See Pro Baby monitor breaks?

The monitor comes with a standard 24-month warranty, which takes effect from the date of purchase (there is no need to register). To make a claim, you simply need your original proof of purchase.

Who would this baby monitor be most useful for?

It’s ideal for any parents who want peace of mind while their little ones rest, but I think it’s best for new parents who could use a little support from the CryAssist, and for parents who want to integrate multiple devices into their home. Although you can successfully monitor your little one with an audio-only monitor, I’ve found it really comforting being able to quickly lay eyes on Eir to check he’s OK. I think other new parents would benefit from that ability, too.

Is the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor worth the money?

For the peace of mind that it brings? Yes. However, since it sits at the higher end budget-wise, I would expect some of the bugs (such as a non-functioning 'medium' setting) to be ironed out with future updates.

Where can I buy the Maxi-Cosi See Pro Baby monitor?

It is available from Amazon, Mamas & Papas and Maxi-Cosi.

MadeForMums verdict

This monitor has quickly become an essential part of our daily routine. While we currently don’t utilise all of its features, it’s reassuring to know that we have the flexibility to adjust as needed. New parents looking for a reliable way to check in on their little one without disturbing them can rely on this monitor to provide a crystal-clear live feed with high-quality audio. The monitor and tablet boast a strong signal that audibly alerts you if it drops, and its user-friendly interface and straightforward setup make it accessible for parents of all experience levels. Overall, this stylish monitor offers peace of mind and convenience to new parents, making it an essential addition to any nursery.