Gear

Do I really need a baby monitor?

Q: Do I really need a baby monitor?

Not strictly — plenty of families in smaller homes manage fine without one, since you can often hear a baby crying through a wall or from downstairs. A monitor earns its place once baby's room is out of easy earshot (a different floor, a bigger house, a garden flat below), or if you want the extra reassurance of video and movement tracking. It's a genuine convenience, not a safety requirement.

When a monitor genuinely helps

Distance: if baby's room is on a different floor, at the far end of a larger home, or otherwise out of easy earshot, an audio monitor is a real practical aid, not a luxury.
Peace of mind: video monitors let you check on a sleeping baby without opening a creaky door, and movement-sensor add-ons (a pad under the mattress, or camera-based tracking) appeal to some parents, though the NHS and Lullaby Trust don't require them — safer sleep guidance, not a gadget, is what actually reduces risk.
Multitasking: being able to potter in the garden or another room while baby naps upstairs, with genuine confidence you'll hear them, is where most families feel the value.

When you can skip it

Small flats, houses where you can hear through a wall or door easily, or families who simply keep baby close (room-sharing, as recommended for the first 6 months anyway) often find a monitor adds cost without adding much. There's no "should" here — it's entirely about your home and how it sounds.

If you do buy one

Video monitors with a genuinely private connection (not relying on an open wifi network, ideally end-to-end encrypted) are worth the small premium over the cheapest options, given what they're pointed at. Our baby monitor guide compares audio-only, video and wearable options.

Go deeper: Best baby monitors

Health answers describe NHS guidance and are not medical advice — for anything urgent, call 111 (or 999 in an emergency). Spotted something out of date? Email editors@clevermum.co.uk.