When should I buy a baby monitor?
Short answer: Buy in time for when you will first use it: once your baby naps or sleeps out of earshot. For newborn essentials, many parents order in the second trimester to allow for delivery and assembly.
- 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.