Baby monitors buying guide for UK parents
Short answer: A baby monitor is an audio or video device that lets you hear or see your baby from another room. Choose one that fits your space and your baby's stage, and use it as the instructions say.
What is a baby monitor?
An audio or video device that lets you hear or see your baby from another room. It is used once your baby naps or sleeps out of earshot.
How to choose
- Decide between audio, video and app-connected models.
- Keep cables well out of reach of the cot.
- A monitor does not replace safer-sleep advice or room sharing for the first 6 months.
Common questions
- Do I need a baby monitor?
- Do breathing monitors prevent SIDS?
- Can I leave my baby to nap while I shower?
- How do I choose a baby monitor?
- How long can you use a baby monitor?
- When should I buy a baby monitor?
- Can I buy a second-hand baby monitor?
- Baby monitor buying checklist
What the guidance says
- The NHS advises placing your baby in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first 6 months.
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Sources
- NHS: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) (accessed 2026-10-21)
General information only, not medical advice. Always follow your product's instructions. If you are worried about your baby, contact your GP, health visitor or 111. In an emergency, call 999.