Baby monitor

A baby monitor lets a parent keep track of a sleeping or resting baby from another room, or from a different part of the same room, without staying physically next to them. Audio monitors transmit sound only, while video monitors add a camera and screen, or a phone app connection, so a parent can see the baby as well as hear them.

In a small apartment, some parents skip a monitor entirely if the nursery space is close enough to hear a baby directly, while others in larger apartments or with thicker walls still want one. Video monitors add the ability to check on a baby without opening a door, which matters more once a baby is sleeping lighter and a door creak can wake them.

When choosing between audio and video, or between a standalone monitor and a phone-app model, check the range against your apartment's actual layout and wall thickness, since concrete or brick walls can weaken a signal more than typical drywall. Look at battery life and whether the receiver plugs in or runs cordless. A common mistake is buying a long-range monitor built for a large house when a short-range, budget model would cover a compact apartment just as well.