With my eldest 2 girls I didn't have a baby monitor, I always left all the doors open and could hear them. They were in my room for about 5 months then their own room was very close by. When they were napping during the day I'd just keep things quiet & listen for them.

Now with Angus, Asha & Lauren I have a baby monitor because DH insists on closing bedroom doors, but it's useless!! It's a Fisher Price sound & light one. It's good because you can adjust the volume & you can see the lights even if your husband has turned the volume down. The trouble is reception. We would often pick up a baby from another house, and not be able to pick up within our own house very well.

So I just keep my bionic mummy ears open and keep creeping up the hall to listen at the door when I'm not in the room with them.

When they're tiny they're sleeping in a cradle right beside me, and I listen to them breathing. Those Angelcare things mentioned above sound really good.