Monitors
Whether you use a baby monitor and what kind: none, audio, video, or a wearable device that tracks vital signs.
Do we need a baby monitor, and which kind?
In short: Parents choose between 4 main approaches: None; Audio; Video; Wearable vital-sign monitor. Evidence: well established. Guidance and evidence agree. The real question is whether you'll follow it. Best settled: during pregnancy.
- Evidence
- Well established
- Best settled
- During pregnancy
- Part of
- Pregnancy to first birthday
Monitors: what are the options?
Parents usually land on one of these 4 approaches.
1. None
You do not use a monitor.
2. Audio
A monitor lets you hear the baby from another room.
3. Video
A camera lets you see and hear the baby.
4. Wearable vital-sign monitor
A device worn by the baby tracks heart rate or oxygen and sends alerts.
Monitors: what does the evidence say?
Well established. Guidance and evidence agree. The real question is whether you'll follow it. (Settled on sids; otherwise preference)
AAP: home monitors do not reduce SIDS; the FDA-cleared Owlet sock is not intended to prevent it
Sources
What else is worth knowing?
A monitor lets you hear or see the baby from elsewhere in the home. Wearable devices also track vital signs and can raise false alarms. They offer reassurance but are not a substitute for safe-sleep practices.
Questions to ask each other
- What do we hope a monitor would do for us?
- Are we comfortable with a wearable that sends alerts, and how would we cope with false alarms?
- What would we do if we find ourselves checking all night?
More in Sleep
First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.