Here's the uncomfortable truth about baby tech: babies have been raised successfully for a very long time without any of it. The gadgets are there to make your life easier, not to keep your baby alive. That's your job, and the basics (safer sleep, feeding, cuddles, trusting your gut) matter far more than anything with a charging cable.
So this list sorts things into three piles: worth it for most families, nice to have, and skip it or think hard.
Worth it for most families
- A decent digital thermometer. The one gadget I'd call essential. For babies under four weeks, NICE guidance is an electronic thermometer under the arm; from four weeks, an ear thermometer is also an option. It's the thing you'll grab at 2am with a hot little forehead, so buy it before you need it. Thermometers compared.
- A monitor, if you'll be out of earshot. In a small flat you may not need one at all. In a house where you're two floors away in the evening, a simple audio monitor does the job, and a video monitor is a comfort many parents love. Audio monitors and video monitors.
- A steriliser, if you're bottle feeding. The NHS says to sterilise feeding equipment until your baby is at least 12 months old. An electric steam steriliser takes the faff out of it. Sterilisers compared.
Nice to have
- A formula prep machine, if you're formula feeding and the night feeds are hurting. Choose carefully: NHS guidance is to make up feeds with water of at least 70C to kill any bacteria in the powder, and not every machine handles that the same way. Here's how they compare.
- A white noise machine. Plenty of parents swear by one. Keep it well away from the cot and the volume sensible. White noise and sleep aids.
- A TENS machine for early labour, if you like the idea. Many people find it helpful early on, though the evidence for established labour is limited. Hiring is an option. TENS machines compared.
- A wearable breast pump, if you'll be pumping regularly and want your hands back. Wearable pumps compared.
Skip it, or think hard first
- Home fetal dopplers. The NHS says not to use one to check on your baby. I explain why in this guide, and why I won't review them.
- Anything that claims to prevent SIDS. Nothing you can buy has been shown to. The Lullaby Trust is clear that there's no evidence breathing or movement monitors prevent it. If a smart sock gives you peace of mind, that's valid, but know what it can and can't do. Monitors and safer sleep.
- Anything that lets your baby sleep on a slope. Inclined sleepers are unsafe. Sleep should be flat, on their back, in a clear cot.
- Subscriptions you'll forget about. Lots of smart kit now has a monthly fee for the "good" features. Work out the two-year cost before you buy.
The Tech Dad rule
If a gadget makes a hard job easier, great. If it's selling you certainty about your baby's health, be sceptical. And if anything ever worries you, the answer is never a gadget: it's your midwife, health visitor, GP or NHS 111.