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Nearly 1 in 3 parents admit they're addicted to checking their baby monitor

Nearly 1 in 3 parents admit they're addicted to checking their baby monitor

Are baby monitors giving us peace of mind or making us more anxious? New research reveals the reality of modern parenting.

Oscar Wong/Getty Images

Ruairidh Pritchard

Published: September 28, 2026 at 9:54 AM

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Your little one is finally asleep. You've checked the baby monitor, made yourself a cup of tea and settled down for a much-needed break. But before you've even finished your first sip, you're reaching for your phone to check on them again. Sound familiar?

If you've ever found yourself watching your sleeping baby on the monitor when you could be catching up on your favourite series, you're certainly not alone. New research has revealed that nearly one in three parents feel addicted to checking in on their little ones through parenting technology.

And while baby monitors are designed to offer reassurance, the findings raise an interesting question: is having constant access to our babies actually making it harder for parents to switch off?

Nearly a third of parents feel addicted to checking on their babies

According to the 2026 State of Modern Parenthood Report from baby monitor brand Nanit, 29% of parents surveyed reported feeling addicted to checking in through their parenting technology.

The study, which surveyed more than 1,600 US parents of newborns, infants and toddlers, also found that an overwhelming 91% identified baby monitors as one of the most helpful tools for improving their confidence as parents.

It's an interesting contradiction. While being able to check on your sleeping baby might provide some much-needed reassurance, having that information constantly available can also make it tempting to check just one more time.

And it's not just baby monitors. More than half (56%) of parents surveyed regularly use two or three parenting-related apps or devices to help manage everyday family life.

Of course, these findings relate to US parents, so they don't necessarily reflect the experiences of families here in the UK. However, they raise some interesting questions about our increasingly connected approach to parenting.

Are we putting more pressure on ourselves as parents?

From tracking every nap to keeping tabs on feeding schedules and developmental milestones, modern parents have more information at their fingertips than ever before.

But does having access to all this information actually make parenting easier?

The research found that approximately one in three parents identified comparing themselves with other parents as something that negatively affected their confidence.

Meanwhile, sleep remains a significant source of stress, with 60% of parents identifying night wakings as one of their biggest sleep-related worries.

And among parents with babies aged three months and under, 60% said sleep was the area of parenting in which they felt least confident.

It's easy to see why having access to detailed information about your baby's sleep might seem appealing, particularly when you're navigating those exhausting newborn nights.

However, the research doesn't establish whether parenting technology reduces anxiety or contributes to it. For some parents, having more information might feel reassuring, while others may find themselves checking more frequently.

Could parenting technology actually help mums share the mental load?

While constantly checking your baby monitor might not sound particularly relaxing, the research also highlights a potentially positive side to parenting technology.

Around 60% of fathers surveyed said parenting technology helped them share responsibilities with their partner more equally.

Meanwhile, nearly 70% of mothers reported that having real-time visibility of their baby allowed them to take a break or trust their partner more.

For anyone who's ever found themselves responsible for remembering every feed, nap and nappy change, the idea of sharing that information more easily could be appealing.

Smart baby monitors and parenting apps increasingly offer features such as sleep tracking, shared access and developmental milestone monitoring, potentially giving both parents greater visibility of their baby's routines.

Of course, sharing information isn't necessarily the same as sharing responsibility. But the findings suggest that technology could play a role in helping couples navigate some of the practical challenges of early parenthood.

Could smarter baby monitors help us check less?

As baby monitoring technology becomes increasingly sophisticated, some manufacturers are moving beyond traditional video monitors to offer additional information about babies' sleep and breathing movements.

For example, Nanit recently announced that its Breathing Motion Monitoring System has achieved UKCA medical device status following independent assessment.

The system uses specially patterned clothing and a camera to monitor babies' breathing movements without attaching electronic sensors to their bodies. It can also notify caregivers if breathing motion hasn't been detected for more than 20 seconds.

However, breathing monitors aren't a substitute for following safer sleep guidance, and Nanit's system isn't intended to diagnose medical conditions or monitor babies with known respiratory illnesses.

While these developments may give parents additional information, there's currently nothing in the research to establish that more sophisticated monitors actually reduce the urge to keep checking.

So, should we be checking our baby monitors less?

There's no single answer. Every baby is different, and every parent has their own comfort levels when it comes to monitoring their little one.

What the research does highlight is the complicated relationship parents can have with technology. The very devices designed to provide reassurance can also become something we find ourselves repeatedly checking.

And with sleep deprivation, changing routines and the everyday demands of looking after a baby, it's understandable that parents might appreciate a little extra peace of mind.

Perhaps the more useful question isn't how often we're checking our monitors, but whether the information we're getting is genuinely helping us feel more confident.

Because while technology can be a useful parenting tool, it shouldn't become another thing on an already overwhelming to-do list.

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Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.