What Are the Benefits of a Baby Movement Monitor? Do I Need One?

Rather than simply alerting you to your baby’s nighttime or naptime sounds, a number of baby monitors available today provide an incredible amount of information. Baby movement monitors, such as the Owlet or the Angelcare, use special sensors to track a baby’s movement while they’re sleeping and alert you to any stillness that may signal a problem.

These devices can also monitor temperature, breathing, and heart rate to give you a more complete picture of your child’s health. Some even transmit video so you can see exactly what’s going on in the crib without risking an untimely awakening by opening the door and walking into the room.

Many parents say that the extra perks of baby movement monitors—also called baby vitals monitors or baby breathing monitors—give them added peace of mind. Instead of staying awake wondering if their baby is okay or even checking multiple times through the night, they can get more precious sleep because they’re confident in the monitor’s ability to wake them up if there’s any problem.

Because these monitors can sound an alarm if the baby may be in danger, the potential lifesaving benefit of these devices makes them very appealing. Those early days of parenting are full of unknowns and fears; alleviating some of that stress is a major perk.

Are baby movement monitors necessary for every family? No. Some will opt to use a traditional baby monitor instead or to forego monitors altogether. And depending on sleeping arrangements, such monitors aren’t feasible for every family.

If you think this kind of monitor may be a good fit for you, though, take a look through our Baby Monitors Buyers Guide. There you’ll find easy-to-read information to help you compare different products, along with links to more details and online merchants. While you’re researching, you can also check out our guides for baby-proofing locks and baby gates.

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• Smart Baby Gadgets for New Parents
• Most Googled Baby Safety Questions
• Best Baby Cribs
• Best Baby Monitors