Best Baby Scale
The Unicherry Scale is a cool contender with the best attributes in this lineup. This accurate scale has a stable base, can convert to an adult scale, and comes with a large tray with printed measurements to keep track of your baby's length. We like that this option has a straightforward assembly and came with useful instructions, batteries, protective packaging, and an adorable wall growth chart. There isn't much not to love about this simple and straightforward scale.
The Unicherry has a two-piece tray that easily slides together and fits in an oval hole on the scale base. While this is an easy process and keeps packaging small, it creates a centerline with the tiniest of gaps. We worry it might be able to pinch bare skin, though we didn't experience this. The Unicherry is identical to the Mommed Scale, but it is less expensive, making it better in our book. Overall, we are impressed with this scale and think many families will use it for years beyond babyhood.
The Health O Meter Scale runs a close second to the top-ranking scale. This scale comes preassembled with a sturdy base and giant easy-to-push buttons. It is accurate and straightforward with an ergonomically shaped tray that may suit smaller babies better than the flatter trays we saw with other contenders. This scale came in generic packaging that likely helped keep the price down, and for that, we love it. It can also convert to a scale suitable for older children extending its lifespan, and that is a good and uncommon thing in the world of baby gear.
This scale has a fairly short tray compared to the other contenders. This design could potentially make it challenging to use with older babies. And while it converts to a standing scale, this conversion requires tools and parts we suspect sleep-deprived parents will likely lose long before they need them. It also uses a 9-volt battery (sold separately), which is a bummer as most people don't have those on hand. Last, we had difficulty switching between kg, lbs, and oz, with a seemingly random number of button pushes to make the change, and it seemed different every time we did it. However, we suspect most parents will only change the units on first use, and for the price, we think you'll like the sturdy feel and comforting curve of the baby tray enough to overlook this minor and infrequent annoyance.
The SoTech Scale comes with batteries and is the only scale in the group that plugs in. It is easy to assemble, has a simple user interface, and one of the largest trays in the group with printed measurements directly and conveniently on the tray. This scale comes with a handy retractable plastic/cloth measuring tape and easy-to-understand instructions. It also converts to a standing scale when your baby is too large for the tray, thereby extending the useful lifespan of this scale past the baby weighing days.
This scale is identical to the Kazetec Scale except that it plugs in and the Kaztec doesn't. Unfortunately, the cord it comes with isn't long enough to plug the scale in during use, and you need to provide the wall adapter yourself. This scale also tilts when you press the on/off or tare buttons before there is any weight on the scale, this could cause a fall, or the sound could wake a sleeping baby. It also has the same two-part tray as some other contenders, and we worry the centerline might potentially pinch naked skin. However, if your baby wears clothing or you use a blanket, this should be easy to avoid, and we think most parents will appreciate the long tray and longevity of this option.
The Newline Baby Scale comes preassembled and includes batteries. It has big, useful buttons that provide a satisfying click and tactile sensation that confirms you pressed them, unlike some of the competition. This scale is accurate and stable, with a larger display that is easy to read and use. It gets the job done without bells or whistles, and we appreciate the simplicity of the design.
This scale has one of the shortest and narrowest trays in the review, and since it doesn't convert to a stand-up scale for bigger kids, it has the shortest shelf life in the group. However, you aren't likely to need it for most babies after infancy, and it may not matter that it only does one thing as it does it well. We like that this scale is ready to go out of the box with nothing to learn or assemble. If you want to weigh your infant and move on with your day, then we think you'll love the simplicity, the softer tray, and the satisfying button click of this easy-to-use product.
Mommed Baby Scale appears to be identical to the UniCherry scale that ranks higher, but it lacks the fun growth chart that came with its twin, and it is usually more expensive. This accurate scale has three easy to assemble parts and batteries to boot with a setup time of under a minute with no real need for the manual. The user interface is easy to understand, and everything works the way it should. The Mommed comes well packaged, has a nice-sized tray, and converts to a regular scale by removing the tray.
This scale has a two-part tray that leaves the thinnest of gaps in the middle line that could potentially pinch bare skin. We suggest a light blanket on the scale to avoid this concern. Also, if this is the scale for you, we suggest double-checking prices and consider the Unicherry before you buy. As we gave its virtual twin our highest award, you can bet we like this scale. However, we don't believe in paying more for an identical product and recommend you compare pricing before buying.
The Salter Scale appears to be the twin of the Health O Meter that ranks higher. We like the Salter for its large buttons, substantial base, and accurate readings. This scale comes well-packaged, and it feels unlikely to tilt. It also has a curved tray for the baby, which seems more suitable for infants than the flat tray on some of the competition.
This scale requires a 9-volt battery (you need to supply), and most folks don't keep these on hand. This option and its twin struggle with unit change, and we had to repeatedly push the button with inconsistent results. However, you'll probably only do this one time. Also, this scale has parts you need to install to convert it to a stand-up scale for older children, and we suspect most parents will lose these parts or accidentally throw them away. You also need to assemble this version, which isn't a requirement with its virtual twin. The assembly isn't difficult, but it seems unnecessary since the twin doesn't require it. We think this is a good scale, with simple features and a more comfortable tray. We suggest that you check the price of the Health O Meter before you buy, and select whichever product costs less.
The long tray on the Kazetec Scale is perfect for taller babies or even for pets. It is flat and has measurements printed on the surface for straightforward tracking of height and weight. We like that this scale is accurate, has a simple interface, and a backlit display. It is the identical model as the SoTech Scale, which is usually less expensive.
This scale is tilty when there is no weight on the tray, which could result in loud noises waking a sleeping infant or plain annoyance. It also has a split tray with the smallest of centerlines that could potentially pinch naked little ones. We recommend leaving a blanket or towel on the scale for this reason and comfort. Overall, we like this scale, and its twin ranks highly as it also plugs in where this one does not. If you think you may be interested in the Kazetec, be sure to research the virtually identical Sotech as well.
The My Weigh Ultra Baby feels like a dated baby scale you might find in your doctor's office. It has a larger user interface that is detachable and a backlit display screen for easy viewing. We like the tray pad that comes with the scale and the curved ergonomic feel of the softer plastic tray.
This scale is the only one that requires assembly with a tool, and the directions are virtually useless with no writing and blueprint schematic pictures. It also comes with extra parts to convert it to a shipping scale, but this isn't clear in the instructions, and we couldn't figure out what you'd do with them if you did want to ship something. Overall, despite being accurate and sturdy, it doesn't feel nursery-friendly, and the excessive C size batteries and required screwdriver place it at the end of our list.
Why You Should Trust Us
Wendy Schmitz, Senior Review Editor, heads up the baby scale review with a background in human sciences and veterinary medicine and vast experience with all things scale from infant scales to weighing horses; Wendy has seen it all. She has been a member of the BabyGearLab family since 2014, with experience testing and rating everything from strollers and car seats to lotions and baby wipes. We selected the top scales on the market and put them through rigorous, side-by-side testing to determine which options are the best at what they do and struggled to make the copycat cut.
Analysis and Test Results
We purchased and tested 8 impressive baby scales side-by-side, hands-on, to find the very best options for keeping track of your baby's growth. We tested each scale for accuracy, ease of use, and quality.
Accuracy
An inaccurate scale is virtually useless. Results need to be accurate and consistent day after day. When it comes to a baby's weight and growth, if it is off even by a couple of ounces, it could indicate a problem or issue that merits a doctor's call or visit, so your new scale must tell the truth and nothing but the truth. This fact is even more true for babies with medical issues or premies who need regular weight monitoring.
All of the scales in this review were accurate and reported identical weights compared to the competition. Whether using live subjects or hand weights with known values, each scale gave the same answer as the rest, leading us to believe they are all as accurate as they can be. Every product also reported the correct results for the hand weights.
Ease of Use
A helpful scale should be easy to use with no confusion or hard-to-decipher user interfaces. Weighing your baby could already pose some problems if they are tired or squirmy, so the last thing you need is a frustrating scale with complicated features. We prefer straightforward products that require limited buttons to use. The best in our tests are the Unicherry and the Mommed, which appear to be identical scales with large trays, easy press buttons, quick tare / zero responses, and a no-nonsense, sizeable, digital display with backlighting. The NewLine Scale is also easy to use with simple buttons that give a satisfying click sound / feel when pressed, and the baby tray has a useful curve on the edges to keep tiny little ones well-contained. It also has one of the largest displays in the group, making it easy to read despite the lack of backlighting. For use in a clinic or doctor's office, you might appreciate these subtle differences that are arguably easier for multiple people with different experience levels.
The hardest product to set up in this group is the My Weigh Ultra. It requires assembly, is the only one that needs tools, has hard-to-decipher instructions with no text. Also, there are extra parts included to use it as a shipping scale, and it isn't immediately clear which parts you use for which setup. This option also takes C batteries (not included), making it one of the few that comes sans batteries and a battery size most people don't have readily on hand. While the scale itself isn't hard to use, it sports a unit change button off to the side. Once you know the location, it isn't a big deal, but it could pose more of a problem down the road if multiple people are using it.
The Kazetec Scale and the SoTech seem to be identical products with different names. The design on both scales means pressing the buttons causes the scale to tilt. This issue is less troublesome when a baby is on the scale to counterbalance the pressure, but when you turn it on and push tare, the scale is empty and bangs around when tilting. This is a minor issue and doesn't affect its usability, but it feels like a design flaw, in our opinion. Also, should you hope to seamlessly transfer a sleeping baby to the scale without waking them, the banging of the tilting scale might do just that, and waking a sleeping baby is always unwise in our opinion.
Quality
Not all scales are equal when it comes to quality. We considered each product's construction, materials, and whether they feel stable and durable enough to hold up to wiggly little ones that could be laying or sitting unassisted. If the scales feel wobbly, thin, or unsupportive, that could leave you reluctant to use them as your baby gets bigger. Also, if they don't seem to work consistently, that might indicate a potential quality control problem you'll want to know about before you make your purchase.
We had the most trouble with the Salter and Health O Meter, which appear to be identical scales with different brand names. With both scales, we struggled to change the unit measurements, and it took repeated pushes of the button to achieve results. This issue occurred for multiple users and could be frustrating if your baby is crying or upset, and you are fussing around trying to get the scale from ounces to pounds. This feels like a quality issue as it should be a simple push for the unit type to change as it does with the competition. The My Weigh Ultra also seemed to suffer from some quality issues in our tests. It is the heftiest, and it feels dated and clunky. It has very stiff plastic parts and some parts aren't necessary for use as a baby scale. Even if you hope to switch to a shipment scale later, the additional parts could be hard to find. In short, this scale didn't feel as high tech or as well designed as the competition, and we weren't impressed by it in our side-by-side comparisons. The best in the group are the UniCherry and the Mommed. Both are sturdy, work as they should, came with batteries, were easy to put together, and included a tape measure.
Conclusion
If you need to track or monitor your baby's growth or weight gain, a baby scale could be important for your nursery. Finding an accurate and useful scale shouldn't be challenging. We think the information in this review can help you find the right choice for your situation without concerns about accuracy or quality. This lineup includes the award winners we'd recommend to a friend and those we think most families can skip.
— Wendy Schmitz