Movement monitor

A movement monitor is a sensor, either a pad placed under the crib mattress or a small wearable clipped to a onesie or sock, that tracks a baby's breathing motion and sounds an alert if it detects a pause or a significant change in pattern. These are sold as an added layer of awareness alongside, not instead of, standard safe sleep practices.

Pad-style monitors sit under the sheet and do not touch the baby directly, while wearable versions attach to clothing or a foot. Some pair with an app or a dedicated video monitor for a combined view. Because these are consumer wellness devices rather than medical equipment in most cases, it is worth reading exactly what a specific product is rated to detect before relying on it heavily, and discussing any specific medical concern about a baby's breathing with a pediatrician rather than a monitor's marketing claims.

A common misunderstanding is treating a movement monitor as a reason to skip other safe sleep steps, like a firm mattress or an empty crib, when guidance is clear that these products supplement rather than replace those practices. False alarms are also common enough that new users should expect some, rather than assuming every alert means an emergency.