Top 5 Best Fetal Dopplers | 2018 Reviews
Every pregnant woman gets a thrill when she goes in for her first ultrasound or pre-natal visit, and gets to actually hear her baby’s heartbeat. And every doctor will also explain to an expectant mother how to count the number of times her fetus kicks during the third trimester of pregnancy. The heartbeat of the baby can also be heard at home, though not very accurate, using Fetal doppler(or Doppler Fetal monitor) commonly known as Fetal doppler heartbeat monitor.
That’s not enough for some women, though. Technology now allows moms-to-be to listen to their baby’s heartbeat using at home fetal doppler with an affordable price tag. These units can provide some much-needed reassurance for first-time mothers, or provide for increased peace of mind if the pregnancy is a deemed complicated. Others who buy home dopplers do so for a greater sense of bonding between mother and baby during fetal development, while some just want their partner or family to be able to hear the exciting sound of the baby’s heart beating in the womb.
Home units are not as sophisticated, and not as accurate, as the ones in a doctor’s office. That often leads to unwarranted concern on the part of parents who purchase bargain-basement fetal dopplers, which often don’t work well enough to actually hear a heartbeat. The models we’ve reviewed aren’t very expensive, but they all work; if you go searching on your own for the lowest-priced monitor on the market, you may not only be disappointed, but unnecessarily alarmed. Consider a fetal doppler as something to provide excitement and entertainment, rather than reliable medical information, and you’ll be best served.
Before looking at our review of the best fetal dopplers in the market, you may want to read first our comprehensive best fetal doppler buying guide.
Here’s our look at the top 5 best fetal dopplers.
Quick Comparison Table
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Baby Monitor By Wusic   Read Our Review |
16 weeks, some hear heartbeats as early as 8 weeks Two sets of earbuds, splitter, output cable |
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 Read Our Review |
16 weeks, some hear heartbeats as early as 14 weeks Two pairs of headphones, Headphone Splitter,Micro USB Cable |
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Heartbeat Monitor  Read Our Review |
15 weeks Headphones (one set), output cable |
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 Read Our Review |
Final trimester Two sets of earbuds, output cable |
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 Read Our Review |
Final trimester Stethoscope |
Sure, this unit is bit gimmicky. But if two of your major reasons for purchasing a fetal doppler are bonding and entertainment, you’ll appreciate the Womb Music monitor.
We’ll start, however, with the heartbeat function. This is a very good monitor to hear a baby’s heartbeat at 16 weeks or later, although you’ll sometimes be able to hear it with the Womb Music as soon as eight weeks into a pregnancy. Bear in mind that with any home doppler you may have to put in some work before you find the heartbeat; it can take minutes of slow movement around the surface of the belly in order to discover just the right spot. Your natural impulse will be to be extremely gentle with the probe, but it’s important to remember to bear down as you search for the heartbeat.
As with all of the dopplers on our list, using the unit is completely non-invasive although you’ll need to put lubricating gel on the monitor just as they do in the doctor’s office. Without gel, the static created by moving the instrument around the belly will drown out the tiny baby heartbeat. You also shouldn’t expect to see a digital readout of the fetal heartbeat, as this monitor is simply a listening device. You can find high-quality units with digital display at a somewhat-higher price, as you’ll see in our next review.
One reason we put the Womb Music at the top of our rankings, other than its price and the fact that it works well for the enjoyment it delivers, is the unit’s versatility. It comes with two pairs of earbuds and a splitter so both mom and dad can listen (and bond) for the heartbeat together, plus a cable to connect the audio output to a speaker, or to a computer or other device to record sound for later replay or sharing on social media. Some people also use the recordings to play back for a newborn, to soothe her with the sound she grew familiar to hearing in the womb. There’s a volume control, of course, and you can plug your own devices into the 3.5mm audio jack if desired.
Now for the gimmick. When you purchase this unit, you also receive a digital download of lullaby music that’s been personalized with your baby’s name. Why is it a gimmick? Simply because you can’t play the music for your fetus or newborn through the monitor – all the company is giving you are sound files, and you’ll have to figure out how to play them another way.
The Womb Music is FDA-approved, water-resistant (not waterproof, though), and comes with the required 9-volt battery. The only real drawback we’ve found is that it doesn’t come with its own speaker. Other than that, this is an excellent product for a little over 50 bucks.
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Details of the Womb Music Heartbeat Baby Monitor By Wusic |
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Recommended fetal age |
16 weeks, some hear heartbeats as early as 8 weeks |
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Monitoring Accesories |
Two sets of earbuds, splitter, output cable |
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Power |
9 volt battery |
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Weight |
2 ounces |
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Warranty |
90 days with registration |
This incredible heartbeat monitor by SnuggBugg does all womb music does and more for a lesser price. We can guarantee you won't be disappointed with this product.
The SnuggBugg works exactly in the same way as the Womb Music but also provides the extra feature of recording it onto your tablet or computer for you to hear the little ones heart beat whenever you want. You just need to switch it on, place it on your tummy and there you go. You do still need to use gel for better results.
The 2 headphones provided can be plugged into the device at the same time with the help of two jack ports. Both mummy and daddy can hear the heart beat of your little one at the same time. Every hiccup, kick or heartbeat is clearly audible and you could also record it using the cable provided.
This is a perfect gift for a pregnant women who is anxious and excited to hear her baby before she can see it. They will simply adore you for this thoughtful and most useful gift at the exact time they need. This will work wonders for a women who is stressed about her baby and would like to know about his well being at the comfort of her home.
The Heartbeat baby monitor is FDA approved, convenient to use, and does the job well with almost every feature you would need. All of these monitors clearly state that they are not designed or intended for diagnosis or medical use. If you find any discrepancies or worried about your child please contact your doctor immediately for further advice.
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Details of the Heartbeat baby monitor by SnuggBugg |
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Recommended fetal age |
16 weeks, some hear heartbeats as early as 14 weeks |
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Monitoring Accesories |
Two pairs of headphones,Headphone Splitter,Micro USB Cable |
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Power |
9V battery, Included |
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Weight |
2.2 ounces |
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Warranty |
2 year warranty |
This is a unit which is similar to the Womb Music. It costs about the same, but doesn’t come with everything you might need and isn’t as sensitive. What that means is that you’ll have to buy a second set of earbuds if you want the baby’s father or another relative to listen at the same time (although there are two audio output jacks) – and more importantly, you’ll have to wait a few extra weeks before you’re able to hear a heartbeat.
As with the Womb Music, you move the entire monitor around your belly until you discover a heartbeat (there are helpful tips in the included manual), making sure to use lubricating gel to prevent static from being louder than the baby’s heart. That’s really all there is to it; there’s a volume switch and a cable that lets you connect the audio to your computer or device for recording and sending to family members or posting on Facebook. But for bonding and entertainment that’s pretty much all you need.
We did feel the FIGERM wasn’t as well-constructed as the Womb Music, but you’re not going to be doing a lot of heavy lifting with a heartbeat monitor like this one. To be honest, hearing (and counting) the baby’s heartbeat isn’t difficult once you get used to a fetal doppler monitor, and the novelty wears off after a while so you probably won’t spend much time listening for enjoyment. We preferred the Womb, but this will do almost as good a job as long as you’re willing to wait until about 15 weeks to use the FIGERM.
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Details of the FIGERM Baby Heartbeat Monitor |
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Recommended fetal age |
15 weeks |
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Monitoring Accesories |
Headphones (one set), output cable |
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Power |
9 volt battery |
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Weight |
2.4 ounces |
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Warranty |
Information not available |
This is a very inexpensive fetal doppler which will do the job, but only if you’re very careful how you use it.
Before getting into the monitor’s limitations, here’s a look at what you get with the Heart to Heart system. It’s a one-piece unit similar to the Womb Music and FINGERM, which you place directly on your belly in order to detect the baby’s heartbeat. There are two headphone jacks (with two included sets of earbuds) and a separate cable for attaching to a computer or device to record audio. There’s also one unusual accessory: a belt to allow you to attach the monitor to your belly if you want to move around and listen to your baby. We don’t really see this as being particularly useful, but it’s there if you want it.
Now, for the downsides. First of all, you can’t use the earbuds included with the Summer monitor because the sound level produced by the unit and the low quality of the earbuds will only let you hear static. Use your own higher-quality headphones instead. Next, you must be sure to be in a completely quiet room and lying still without moving, because the audio level is too low to hear the fetus if there’s any extraneous noise. Finally, you can’t use this model until your third trimester; the system isn’t designed to detect the tiny heartbeat in earlier stages of development.
You’re probably wondering why we even bothered to include the Heart to Heart on this list of top 5 best fetal dopplers. Quite simply, it’s the unit’s cost: $12.50. For that price, and used as intended, it can be fun to listen to your baby’s heartbeat for what less than you probably spend at Starbucks during the week.
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Details of the Summer Infant Heart To Heart Prenatal Listening System |
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Recommended fetal age |
Final trimester |
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Monitoring Accesories |
Two sets of earbuds, output cable |
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Power |
9 volt battery |
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Weight |
11 ounces |
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Warranty |
Information not available |
Full disclosure: this is not a fetal doppler. But it does the same job for just $13, it’s more natural (and some may feel it’s safer) than a doppler unit, and it can make you feel like you’re a doctor or nurse as an added bonus.
The Dixie EMS is what’s known as a “fetoscope” – a fetal stethoscope designed to better hear the very soft heartbeat of a baby in the womb. That doesn’t eliminate the process of searching for the heartbeat; it will take some time, just as it does with an ultrasound fetal doppler, and your listening is best done in a quiet environment. Once you’ve found the beat, though, you should be able to hear your baby’s heart softly but clearly. A fetoscope is meant for use in the third trimester but many people will be able to hear a heartbeat well before then.
This fetal stethoscope feels well-built, with sturdy 22-inch latex-free tubing and chrome plating, and it’s easy to use once you’ve gotten the hang of it. But even medical professionals accustomed to using regular stethoscopes report there’s a learning curve with the fetal version, so be patient. It works, it’s inexpensive – and it’s kind of fun.
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Details of the Dixie EMS Fetal Stethoscope |
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Recommended fetal age |
Final trimester |
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Monitoring Accesories |
Stethoscope |
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Power |
Not applicable |
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Weight |
11 ounces |
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Warranty |
One year, limited |
FAQ (By Our Ardent Readers)
- What is a Fetal Doppler? It is a handheld ultrasound device used during your prenatal days to detect the heartbeat of the baby.
- Why buy or use a Fetal Doppler? If you are first time mother or going through pregnancy with complications involved, or live miles away from your doctor, it is obvious to be anxious at times. This little instrument is a blessing to pregnant ladies who would want to hear the baby's heart beat and be rest assured of its well being.
- Can I Buy A Fetal Doppler At Walmart or In a store, if not , where can i buy one? - Yes, of course, you can in-store but we suggest you go through the reviews on authority sites like ours as well as consumer reviews on Amazon etc before making the purchase.
- Should I buy a pregnancy baby doppler and did you buy one? This is a common question posed by many of our readers. Dopplers or heart rate monitors are no longer a fad and provide a very convenient way of monitoring at home. Its not a necessity yet, but not a luxury either-most modern parents possess one and we highly recommend it
- When to buy or use a Fetal Doppler at home? It is best advised to buy them after 18 or 20 weeks as you cannot catch the sound until then. Also it takes a bit of a practice to use the instrument appropriately.
- How often should a Fetal Doppler be used? The health regulators in the US have cleared the use of Fetal doppler for continuous use. But it is always sensible to use it when it is absolutely needed or when you can have any concerns. It is highly recommended Not to use the doppler for more than 10 min at one go. If you cannot find the heartbeat in that time duration, take a break and than try again.
- How do i use my Fetal Doppler? The best way to use the doppler is to lie down on your back exposing your abdomen, although you can use it while sitting and standing. Apply a generous amount of ultrasound gel on the abdomen. The best technique is to start moving the transducer from the midline of the abdomen and working your way downwards.
- Do i have to use ultrasound gel? Ultrasound gel is imperative when using a fetal doppler. It is specially formulated to act as a coupling agent and reduce static that is often caused when using a fetal doppler. To get optimal results and hear the sound of the heart beat properly from your fetal doppler monitor, use plenty of gel. It is not recommended to use colored gels or lotions. The oil based substance used with a fetal doppler will only cause excess static and can damage the doppler.
- How do i know i am hearing my baby's heartbeat? The most conclusive way to differentiate your heartbeat from your baby's is by calculating the heart beat rate(BPM). The baby has a BPM ranging from 120-180 and adults have BPM of 60-100.
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