Baby Monitor Making Noise? (10 Reasons & Solutions)

Baby monitors allow parents to hear, and depending on the model, keep an eye on their baby whilst they are not in the same room. These handy devices give parents the peace of mind that their baby is safe and sleeping soundly.

However, some parents have found that their baby monitor is making noises that they didn’t expect.

If your baby monitor is crackling, squeaking, clicking, or sounding a little odd, then read on to find out why that may be, and most importantly, how to prevent it from happening.

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The Distance Between Parent & Baby Unit Has Exceeded The Optimal Limit

Static, distortion, and white noise are not the type of noises that any parent wants to hear emanating from their baby monitor.

Let’s face it, they’re certainly not lullabies!

If you’ve been experiencing these unwanted sounds then don’t panic, your baby monitor is not necessarily faulty.

In fact, these sound issues could be solved simply by moving your parent and baby unit closer together.

Why Distance Matters When It Comes To Baby Monitors & Signal Strength

Signal strength is a crucial factor in ensuring that your baby monitor produces clear sound, and more importantly, does not produce noises that interfere with hearing your baby.

This is the key information you need to understand:

Parent and baby units have an optimal range that they work within.
The greater the distance between the two units, the further the signal must travel.
Baby monitors have a maximum distance or range that the signal can travel before the transmission begins to struggle.
If the two units are ‘out-of-range‘ from one another the signal will be weaker and can result in static and distortion.

To understand the exact range of your baby monitor you must check your user manual for your specific model, however, there are some general tips that you should keep in mind which will often solve the issue:

If your baby monitor is creating a crackling sound or static, try moving the units closer together.
Check to see if there is an improvement in sound quality as you reduce the distance between the two devices.
Your baby monitor may have a symbol or show you a notification about the signal strength between your units.
- Take heed of any notifications or changes on the display of your parent unit that offer you information about signal and act accordingly.
Remember that the maximum range of your baby monitor may well be different depending on whether you are using it inside or outside.
- For example, HelloBaby baby monitors have a maximum range of 50m inside, but a whopping 300m outside.

Read our blog here about can phones & baby monitors be linked?

Your Baby Monitor Is Making A Strange Noise Because Your Parent & Baby Units Are Too Close Together

So now that we’ve got you moving your units closer together we need to issue a warning:

There is such a thing as too close!

We’ve got to grips with the fact that a great distance between your units causes static to occur, but moving your baby unit and parent unit in too close proximity to one another will result in a sound that is just as unwelcome.

You can tell very quickly if your units are too close together as it will be accompanied by a specific sound – the dreaded squeal (and we’re not talking about the baby).

Your baby monitor will make a high-pitched squealing or squeaking noise if the two units are too close together.
This noise is the result of feedback.
The microphone from the baby unit and the speaker from your parent unit is creating a closed ‘loop‘.
Increasing the distance between the two devices will eliminate this feedback loop and the deafening sound will cease with it.
In general, a good rule of thumb is to keep your two units apart at a distance of at least 1.5m, but you can check your user manual for proximity specific to your exact model.

Wi-Fi Interference Is Creating Noises From Your Baby Monitor

Interference from another wireless electronic device can be a common complication amongst baby monitors, and when it happens, it can be incredibly frustrating.

If you are unaware that your baby monitor is experiencing Wi-Fi interference then it may lead you to wrongly believe you have a malfunctioning product, so it is best to be clued up when it comes to the symptoms.

When interference happens, the baby monitor will produce strange clicking, beeping, or static noises.

If you have a monitor with a digital picture this can also be affected and become blurry and judder.

Most baby monitors run on a 2.4GHz channel.

When you happen to have other electronic devices running on the same channel interference can occur.

Here are some gadgets that are commonly known to cause Wi-Fi interference:

Mobile phones.
Wi-Fi routers and modems.
Wi-Fi speakers.
iPads/tablets.
Cordless Wi-Fi house phones.

These clicking or static noises emanating from your baby monitor can be alarming, but it is simply the result of your baby monitor having Wi-Fi interference and isn’t necessarily anything to worry about; you just have to know what you can do to avoid interference from occurring.

It is impossible to make an electronic device completely interference-proof, but here are some measures you can take to help reduce the risks of interference with your baby monitor:

Alter the positioning of either the parent unit, baby unit or both.
- Moving your monitor away from electronic devices dramatically reduces the risk of interference.
Ensure the router isn’t too close to your baby monitor.
Change the Wi-Fi channel of your baby monitor to avoid conflict with other devices.
- Most can do this automatically, but you can manually do this, too.
Ensure you switch on the baby monitor first and then your other devices afterward.
- This lowers competition and allows your monitor to connect more easily.
Switch off the Wi-Fi on your devices when they aren’t in use.
- If your phone keeps connecting and disconnecting from the Wi-Fi, it can interrupt the baby monitor’s signal.

One factor that you need to keep in mind is the fact that your baby monitor may well be sharing the same frequency, or channel, as other devices in your home.

As WatchfulDad.com points out:

“Most baby monitors use the 49 MHz, 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz and sharing those sets of frequency channels with other devices. Cordless phones use the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz. Microwave and router use the 2.4 GHz. As you can see it pretty crowded on those frequency bands.”

You can purchase baby monitors that use a 1.9GHz frequency; this is a frequency that is usually far less prone to interference due to the low number of devices operating within it.

More often than not, this type of baby monitor will be using DECT which stands for “Digital Enhanced Cordless Technology”.

Read our blog here about how long do baby monitors last?

Strange Sounds Are Being Caused By Radio Wave Interference

Analog baby monitors only have the capability to transmit audio from one unit to the other – similar to a radio transmitter.

They work on certain fixed frequencies, typically between 40 to 900 MHz, which create the FM channel.

Analog baby monitors are a great, budget-friendly option, but they tend to be much more susceptible to interferences than digital models.

When your baby monitor is having this type of interference, you can hear anything from crackling noises, and whines, to static.

To avoid this happening, keep your baby monitor away from items such as cordless phones and walkie-talkies to reduce the congestion on certain frequencies.

Household Appliances and Obstacles Are Affecting The Sound Of Your Baby Monitor

It’s not just electronic gadgets that can cause problems, certain household appliances and obstacles can also cause interference and affect the signal with baby monitors, resulting in unwanted noises.

The most common appliances that can interfere with the functionality of baby monitors are:

Microwaves
Ovens
Refrigerators
Dishwashers

This is because they all emit radio waves which can disrupt the WiFi signal that travels through the open air.

They are also typically made of metal, which is known to affect signal strength between wireless devices.

Fridges and freezers are one of the worst culprits because not only are they made of metal and emit radio waves, but they add complications due to the fact that they are full of ice – which can dramatically impact the signal strength.

However, appliances are not your only concern.

The most common obstacles that can affect the signal strength with baby monitors are:

Thick concrete walls
Large bodies of water
Aluminum sheeting
Mirrors

To avoid obstacles and appliance-based issues with your baby monitor, be conscious of where you are placing both the camera and parent units.

Try to place them as far away as possible from the appliances listed above and attempt to keep the two units in the line of sight of each other to steer clear of unnecessary obstacles.

Beeping Noises Could Be Due To Low Battery Levels

Things should not go beep in the night. It’s likely to disturb your sleep as much as it will disturb your child’s.

However, if your baby monitor is persistently beeping, there’s likely a good reason.

Baby monitors beep to alert parents to a specific issue. More often than not, your baby monitor will be beeping because the battery levels of your device are low.

Therefore, this beeping noise is to remind you to charge your device, or devices, before they run out of juice.

A flat battery in your baby monitor will means you’ll have a baby monitor that doesn’t function when you need it to.

Remember to keep in mind the following information:

If your baby monitor is beeping persistently then it is time to check the battery levels.
Plug your baby monitor into the mains using the charging cable provided.
Once fully charged, check whether the baby monitor still beeps.
Some baby monitors will display the battery level on the display screen or with LED lights, this is a good indication as to whether your baby monitor is beeping because of battery issues.

The Nightvision Mode Is Making Your Baby Monitor Click

Nightvision is a fantastic feature that baby monitors employ to allow parents to keep an eye on their precious bundle of joy whilst the lights are down.

Having the ability to check in on your baby without needing to switch the lights on is very handy as there’s no need to risk waking them up from their peaceful slumber.

However, some parents have reported hearing a clicking sound coming from their baby monitor and it’s given them the creeps.

If you’ve heard a clicking sound from your baby monitor whilst it’s sitting there in the dark then don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal.

When a baby monitor enters night-vision or night mode, you will hear a ‘click‘.
This sound is made by the infrared sensors making the camera lens change from day to night mode, and vice-versa.
The ‘clicking‘ sound should align with when you see the picture on your parent unit’s display change to black and white night mode.
If your camera is making a clicking sound and it does not seem to be due to changes in the ambient light then it may be worth updating your firmware.

Your Baby Monitor Is Beeping Because Of The Temperature Sensors

Temperature sensors in your baby monitor ensure that you’ll be alerted when there is a change in temperature inside your baby’s room.

This is a top safety feature that some baby monitors use so that you can be secure in the knowledge that the room stays at a safe temperature.

Keep in mind that baby monitors have specific temperature levels which they deem as safe.
An alert in the form of a beep or an alarm will sound if the temperature exceeds or drops below those specific levels.
If you hear a beeping then it is important to check what the temperature of the room currently is.

However, the temperature sensors can be set-off necessarily if:

Your baby monitor is placed next to a source of heat such as a radiator or an appliance that runs hot.
Your baby monitor is placed by a source that produces cold air such as an air conditioning unit or an open window.

Ensuring that your baby monitor is not in a location that produces inaccurate temperature readings is crucial if you want to prevent the temperature sensors from being unnecessarily triggered.

The Baby Monitor Is Making Noises Because It Has Become Unpaired

Sometimes you may find the camera and parent unit of your baby monitor have become disconnected and are in need of re-pairing.

When the units are no longer paired to one another a beeping noise can sound from either of the two devices.

Typically you will also be able to see a written alert on the monitor saying ‘unpaired’ or ‘pairing…’

If your baby monitor does not automatically pair then try the following steps:

Switch off and unplug both the camera and parent units.
Wait for a few minutes.
Power both units back on.
Follow either the on-screen instructions or the user manual to re-pair the units.

Once they are successfully paired you should no longer hear the beeping noise.

Your Baby Monitor Is Making Strange Noises Due to Faulty Or Damaged Components

Sometimes the cause of undesirable noises coming from your baby monitor is because of problems with the hardware.

Distorted sound could be due to the following:

A damaged antenna.
A faulty speaker.
A faulty motherboard.

It is possible to identify whether there is a problem with your antenna by inspecting it for breaks or bends.

However, when it comes to the internal components, such as the speaker and the motherboard, it may be more difficult.

Some baby monitors will provide instructions on how to replace components, however, some technical know-how will be needed.

If you’ve tried all of the solutions listed above, but are still experiencing issues such as static and distortion, then it may well be worth contacting the manufacturer and if your baby monitor is still in warranty you should determine whether you are eligible for a replacement.

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