The digital baby monitor is a marvelous invention that allows parents to keep tabs on their crib-side baby, while watching TV, cooking, gardening, finishing chores or simply relaxing. The drawback of the old analog baby monitors is that they are often prone to interference from household appliances, the neighbors' baby monitors, microwaves, radio signals and ambient traffic noise. In some cases, the neighbors may even hear your baby's frequency! In areas that aren't densely populated, an analog monitoring system may work just fine, but for everyone else, digital baby monitors are the way to go.

There are many good, digital infant monitors from which to choose. The Philips DECT baby monitor gets the highest reviews for sound clarity and offers special features, like parent-to-baby intercom functionality, alert lights, room temperature gauges, a night-light and soothing lullabies. The Summer Infant baby monitor offers video, night-vision, sound-alert lights and zoom and pan functionality. The Secure Sounds infant monitor Summer brand has also received positive reviews for limited interference and its stylish, contemporary design. The new Digitally Fresh digital baby monitor comes with a 1.5-inch color LCD baby monitor screen, a walkie-talkie/receiver and a security camera. The Graco baby monitor, called the "iMonitor," has multi-child monitoring features, an estimated 2,000-ft range, night vision and zoom. Mobi sells systems with unlimited receivers, wide camera angles, zoom, voice-activated video transmission and high-resolution screens. These high-end models run between $100 and $200.

You should definitely consider a digital baby monitor if you have nearby neighbors with babies because analog monitors often cross channels, making it easy to pick up another signal from a similar baby monitor system. Check which frequency your cordless phone operates on and ensure you don't end up with a 2.4 GHz cordless and a 2.4 GHz baby monitor, as these will interfere and cause static. Digital monitors encode signals before sending them, so they're more secure and they have a limited chance of interfering with other signals. Even though digital is more expensive, you'll want a monitor that does its primary job well or it's simply not worth buying one at all.

There is a digital baby monitor for everyone. There are basic $20 monitors that serve as walkie-talkies and transmitters of baby coos, gurgles, talking and cries. There are $60 monitors that give you greater range, better sound clarity, more receivers and lights-only indicators to show when the baby is screeching. The more high-end digital monitors past $100 may add lullabies, other monitoring features and night lights. Then, there are the systems with video monitors, offering a whole new level of baby espionage to the scene. At the end of the day, it's up to you and what you feel is most needed.