We have a video monitor, which I couldn't live without. It's the Summer infant 7" one. Probably the best $170 we spent. We also have the safety 1st digital one because its more portable. But I just have to be able to see where he's at and what he's doing at night in his crib, especially when we swaddled him.
I don't have a movement monitor and the sound monitors are useless to me becaues our bedrooms are so close together that all they accomplish is me listening to every little sound all night. And I am a light sleeper and our baby is a loud sleeper.
DD #1 passed away in January 2011 at 14 days old due to congenital heart disease
DD#2 lost in January 2012 at 23 weeks due to anhydramnios caused by a placental abruption
We have the Graco iMonitor. The only reason I kind of wish I had a video monitor is for when he wakes up in the morning and just hangs out by himself for a while. DS moves a lot in his sleep and I think the movement sensor ones would cause unnecessary worry for me.
Re: If you put baby in crib from day one...
DD #1 passed away in January 2011 at 14 days old due to congenital heart disease
DD#2 lost in January 2012 at 23 weeks due to anhydramnios caused by a placental abruption