Movement sensors - really necessary?

[NichyNoo]

I am expecting my first baby and have been researching baby monitors. Like all new mums-to-be I am scared at the thought of cot death and all other horrible things that might befall my PFB

I have seen the baby monitors with movement sensors and wondered if they are really worth it or if they are just feeding on new mum's paranoia? My baby is due in August and I'm wondering if sleeping on plastic movement pads will make him more sticky and sweaty? Does anyone have any advice please? Thank you

[ProfessorLaytonIsMyProxyVoter]

They don't sleep actually ON the pads -- the pads go under the mattress.

They aren't necessary, but if you are the sort of person who will otherwise repeatedly creep into the baby's room, stare at him thinking "is he really breathing? I can't tell..." and then prod him until he wakes up, then they can be useful.

I used movement pads with DS and a Respisense with DD for that reason, and they staved off my paranoia. But they definitely aren't necessary.

[JetLi]

Another respisense fan here - it helps me sleep nights knowing that the thing will alarm if it stops sensing movement. I liked the fact that a respisense will actually do something constructive if movement ceases (it tickles baby's tummy) as well as alarming whereas the sleeping mats just alarm. Plus with the Respisense, they can wear it all the time - so breathing is being constantly monitored - not just in the cot. My sis had a bit of a scary experience when her little boy was tiny, which I won't go into, and it played on my mind terribly so I took the plunge before DD was born.

HTH

[TheGodmother]

I had a movement sensor for both my LOs, not a facy one that tickled their tummy though, just used to beep beep beep reassuring during the night. When I eventually switched off the beep it was nice to just open my eyes during the night a see light gently flashing and know everything was ok, without having to get up to prod LO

With dd1 it only went off once and that was a scary moment but all was well, once she started moving around a lot (6-7mths maybe?) it was time to remove it totally as it went off all the time.

However with ds1 the alarm went off a few times in the first few weeks and I often wonder what would have happened if the alarm hadn't been there to wake us and shake the moses basket!