Baby Monitor Phone App
With all the monitoring apps out there, how do you know which one is right for you and your family? To help suss out the best of the bunch, we turned to Tim Baran, an app specialist and blog editor for Rocket Matter, a legal software company. Here are his top three picks:
Still, some parents may be wary of streaming what goes on in the nursery, especially in light of recent news stories about hacked baby monitors. Rest assured that, though the thought is scary, the chances of it happening to you are relatively low. "Realistically, as long as you're using a secure solution and an adequately protected network and account, you're probably safe," says Steinberg. Still, a little extra precaution can't hurt. "Make sure your Wi-Fi network is password-protected, and always use the strongest password possible," he adds. For instance, don't use obvious choices like "password," your birthday, or "123456." Also, resist the temptation to upload the monitor feed to the Web so you can share it with all your friends and family.
CodeGoo Baby Monitor is one of the best baby monitor applications for iPhone. This when installed in iPhone and placed near the baby, places regular phone calls to the number fed to the application. This works great while you are travelling.
Baby monitors are just one way to keep track of your little one. For newborns, the Snoo Smart Sleeper is a bed that gently rocks your baby for better sleep, and connects to an app on your phone that lets you receive alerts when your little one needs attention. The Owlet Smart Sock 2, meanwhile, is a connected pulse oximeter that allows you to check on your baby's vitals any time through an app, and will notify you automatically if there's a problem. The Sproutling from Fisher Price is a motion and heart rate sensor that straps to the back of your baby's calf and collects data while he or she sleeps.
Baby Monitor 3G (iPhone and Android App, $3.99) Have an Android and an iPhone? Check out the Baby Monitor 3G, which lets you mix-and-match phones that run on both operating systems. "It transmits live snapshots or video feeds from your baby's room, provides vibration alerts, and allows your baby to hear your voice," Baran explains. All communication is protected by industry standard encryption, and the app works with any Internet connection (read: Wi-Fi or cellular). Plus, you can check in from the comfort of your Mac, PC, or Chromebook.
Cloud Baby Monitor ($3.99) This tricked-out app broadcasts video and audio, allowing you to listen to your baby's every coo, view her movements, and even sing her to sleep. (Industry-standard encryption protects all communication, for extra peace of mind.) "It also provides noise and motion alerts so you're instantly aware of your baby's discomfort, [and offers] built-in lullabies, various white noises and a night light -- all of which you can control remotely," says Baran. Bonus: You can download a companion app for a Mac and watch your baby from your computer.