Red Nose would like to remind parents that baby monitors do not reduce the risk of sudden and unexpected death in infancy (SUDI), which includes SIDS.
Red Nose Chief Health Advisor and registered midwife Jane Wiggill, said while baby monitors can provide peace of mind, they are not a life saving device.
“We understand that audio and/or visual monitors can be reassuring for parents when babies are sleeping, but there is no scientific evidence that using any type of monitor will prevent a sudden unexpected infant death,” Ms Wiggill said.
“The monitor is only an alarm, it is not a life saving device,” Ms Wiggill said.
Ms Wiggill said the reduction in the number of babies dying suddenly and unexpectedly can be attributed to safe sleeping education.
“The best thing parents can do to sleep their baby safely is to follow Red Nose’s recommendations, which are based on scientific evidence,” Ms Wiggill said.
Red Nose’s evidence-based safe sleep recommendations are:
- Sleep baby on the back from birth, not on the tummy or side
- Sleep baby with head and face uncovered
- Keep baby smoke free before birth and after
- Provide a safe sleeping environment night and day (safe cot, safe mattress, safe bedding, safe environment)
- Sleep baby in their own safe sleeping place in the same room as an adult caregiver for the first six to 12 months
- Breastfeed baby
Read more about baby monitors https://rednose.org.au/article/home-monitoring