Objective：To explore the most appropriate montage for bedside video-electroencephalography（VEEG） of neonates and preterm infants. Methods：VEEG using monopolar，average reference，and bipolar montages were simultaneously recorded for 22 preterm infants with different conceptional ages. In the same time period，the patterns and numbers of artifacts were analyzed. The pa－rameters that constitute of EEG background activity and the morphological characteristics of the deformed slow waves were analyzed and compared in each VEEG. Results：The number of artifacts recorded by monopolar montage was more than that for average refer－ence and bipolar montages. Monopolar montage had significantly more activation（P=0.000，0.000） and artifacts due to electrodes（P=0.000

0.000），environment（P=0.000，0.001），cardiac（P=0.000），and line/electrical noise（P=0.002，0.004）. The amplitudes of the brainwaves for the three montages were similar（P=0.172，0.099，0.145）. And each brainwave was synchronized ，with no obvious change in brainwave frequencies. Moreover，the morphology，phase，and spatial distribution of the recorded waves by average reference montage resembled the actual situation，better than the bipolar montage. Conclusion：EEG recorded by average reference montage ex－hibits fewer artifacts and better represents the background activities and the deformed waves of preterm infants.