Five alternative contactless methods for monitoring respiration in infants during the first year of life are evaluated. The methods are: (i) an air-filled mattress system, (ii) an under-mattress pressure sensor, (iii) a magnetometer and magnet, (iv) a capacitnce-change detector and (v) a radar reflection system. A battery-powered 2-channel radar system is described in detail and some results are given of information obtained from overnight recordings in infants.