Do I need a baby monitor?
Short answer: Not for safer sleep. The NHS advice is to room share for at least the first 6 months. A monitor can help later, when naps happen out of earshot.
Here is the detail behind that answer, taken from current UK guidance from the NHS and the Lullaby Trust.
Things to check
- 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.
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.
Related questions
What is a baby monitor?
An audio or video device that lets you hear or see your baby from another room.
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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.