Camera Monitors: A Help Or Hindrance?

The Pros and Cons of Camera Monitors

More and more parents are using technology to help them care for their babies and toddlers. One of the most popular tools is the camera monitor, set up in your child’s room so you can see what they’re doing without needing to go in and check.

For many families, these monitors can feel reassuring and convenient. At the same time, I often see parents become more anxious, more alert, and more unsure of their own instincts because they’re watching every little movement on a screen.

So the question really is, are camera monitors a helpful support, or can they sometimes get in the way?

Let’s look at both sides.

The Pros

When your baby is unwell
Caring for a sick baby can feel stressful and, at times, quite scary. A camera monitor can offer some peace of mind by letting you check on your child without going in and disturbing their sleep. Being able to see them resting comfortably can be reassuring, especially during those long nights when you’re already feeling tired and worried.

When something unexpected happens
Most of the time, if your baby needs you, they will let you know. They cry, call out, or make enough noise for you to hear them. Very occasionally though, a baby can get themselves into an awkward position or become a bit stuck. In those moments, a quick glance at a monitor can give you an early heads-up that something isn’t quite right.

A bit more freedom around the house
Let’s be honest, all parents are busy. A camera monitor can make it easier to move around the house or step into the garden without feeling like you need to hover near your baby’s room. It can give you the confidence to get on with what you need to do, knowing you can check in easily if you want to.

The Cons

Worrying about things that are actually normal
Some monitors are very sensitive. They pick up every sigh, shuffle, and little murmur, and sometimes even alert you to every small movement. It can be easy to feel alarmed by what you’re seeing or hearing on the screen, even when your baby is actually fine.

Babies move in their sleep. They stir, change position, sometimes open their eyes, and often make noises as they move between sleep cycles. When you’re watching this happen in real time, it can look like something is wrong when in reality there isn’t.

Getting in the way of independence
Before monitors, parents usually only went into their baby’s room when they heard a clear cry for help. We now know that it’s completely normal for babies and toddlers to wake briefly, look around, practise a new skill like rolling or sitting, or simply lie there before drifting back off to sleep.

Sometimes these awake moments can last 20 to 30 minutes or even longer, and that’s still normal. When we rush in as soon as we see eyes open on a screen, even if our child isn’t upset, we can accidentally interrupt their chance to resettle on their own.

In the long run, this can make it harder for them to build confidence in falling back to sleep independently.

Sleep disruption for everyone
Some monitors have lights or screens that can slightly brighten the room, which isn’t always helpful for sleep. And then there’s your sleep to think about too.

It’s very easy to become focused on the screen, checking it frequently or waking at every alert or movement. Instead of helping you sleep, the monitor can sometimes make you more alert and more restless, costing you even more precious sleep.

The Bigger Picture

Before you invest in a camera that promises to track and monitor everything,, it’s worth remembering that parents have been caring for babies long before monitors and screens ever existed.

Your instincts are there for a reason. Over time, you naturally learn the difference between a cry that needs you right now and a little grumble that will pass. You start to recognise your child’s sounds, rhythms, and patterns, and you become surprisingly good at knowing when to step in and when to give them a moment.

If you choose to use a camera monitor, try to see it as a support, not the decision-maker. Let it sit alongside your own judgement and intuition, rather than replacing them.

You don’t need to watch your child sleep to be a good parent. Sometimes, the most helpful thing you can do is trust that they’re okay, close your eyes, and get some rest too.