The old phone camera is still useful to keep an eye on my baby. I was so surprised how easy it is to use my phone as a baby monitor. Otherwise, what more can we expect from our old smartphone? Let’s save some time and dust off those old phones. I will show you how to turn an old phone into a free baby monitor.
To turn your old phone into a baby monitor, you will need two phones. Place one phone in your baby’s room. Secure the phone on a shelve using a tripod. Install a baby monitor app or simply use Skype, and you can now check at any time on your baby.
You are probably concerned with your kid’s safety and are looking to get a baby monitor. If you are somewhat like me and hate to buy new stuff that you will use almost never, well, I have a solution for you. I have friends who are using the old mobile phone as a baby monitor. Yes, that’s right, the answer is probably already inside your house. So need to clutter more your home with more stuff.
Why using my old phone as a baby monitor
Many factors will influence parents on if they need a baby monitor:
The chance you will NEVER need a baby monitor is close to none. Here are some factors that could lead you NOT to buy a baby monitor
- Your baby is always with you, 24/7
- You’re still sleeping in the same room
- You never visit friends or families with your baby
- You live in a one-room apartment
- You never go on vacation
- You live on a small desert island
Still, a baby monitor can be handy when:
- You want to start sleeping in different rooms
- You want to be able to do chores around the house when it’s nap time
- You and your baby are visiting over a friend house
Here are the benefits of a phone-based monitor:
- No need to buy more stuff
- You already have it at home
- It’s easy to travel with
- It’s free
How to use two phones as a baby monitors
The easiest way to use two phones as baby monitors is by connecting a call.
First, make sure your mobile phone has at least the mute and speaker features. All modern mobile phones, particularly smartphones, incorporate these options.
You also have to get a second phone. Can be a mobile phone or even a standard landline. Install that one into the baby’s nursery.
Meanwhile, you take the mobile phone (with the mute and speaker options) with you as the parent’s units.
Place a call to connect the two phones. Make sure to activate the mute and open the speaker functions on your phone. This way you are sure to hear your baby without waking him with noise on your side.
Also, you should do a test to be sure that any sound from your baby room is audible on the speakerphone.
Keep your cell phone beside you all the times. Check also, if you lost the call. A good trick is to play smooth and calming music in your baby rooms. This way, if you still hear the music, it’s mean you connected.
Here are the steps to turn your old phone into a baby monitor using a free app.
For this options, you’ll need two smartphones. The good news with this, is you don’t need to pay to use your old mobile phone because you only need access to the Internet with your WiFi network.
This old mobile phone will be the baby monitor.
You will need to choose an app to install on both phones. There’s plenty of free option will discuss in a minute. For a kid’s safety, please make sure to enable the security features of the app. You want to keep private your baby video streams.
Finally, you will need to set up correctly the mobile phone into the nursery. The phone must be connected to your WiFi network and plugged into the outlet.
Monitor your baby for free using Skype
Setting up your new baby monitoring system with Skype is pretty simple and will only take a couple of minutes.
Start by downloading the Skype app on your old phone and on the device you will carry with you. The last one is probably your regular phone.
You will need two separate Skype account, one for each phone.
You will need to set up extra features into the baby monitor account. Since your baby doesn’t know how to accept calls from his end, you need to set it up so it can automatically receive video calls from your account.
With this feature on, all you have to do is lunch a Skype session.
The advantage of this setup, apart from being free, is your kid can hear and sees you too. It’s will never be a replacement when your kids need real comforting. But it can help for small exchange or soothing words when you have both hands busy cooking or helping your other kid.
Free baby monitor app
Baby monitor apps tend to be not expensive. In this case, I will share the top 3 free baby monitor app available for download. You can go ahead and download all 3 and see which one is suitable.
To use a baby monitor app with your phones, you need two smartphones. Download the app on both. After, follow the simple instruction on the screen.
Faebir Baby Monitor
Download the app on Google Play
- Get instant alerts when your baby is crying through a message, regular or skype call
- You can set the level of sensitivity of the microphone
- There is an auto recovery feature that will fix temporary problems
- The app runs in the background
- You get an alert with the battery is low
Third Eye
Download the app on the Apple App Store
- The app supports multiple users
- Video and audio is streaming in real time
- You can record
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi App Box
Download the app on the Apple App Store
- This app lets you use the front and back camera of the phone
- You can save a screenshot while monitoring your baby
- There’s an adjustable snapshot timer
After I researched and reviewed more than 25 baby monitor apps for iPhone, Android, and Even Apple Watch. Here are the 11 best apps I would trust.
How to set up a phone as a baby monitor in the nursery
Now it’s time to select a place to install the monitor/phone in your baby’s nursery. To find the best spot, start the monitor app (or Skype call ). Looking at the live video will help you find the perfect place and angle. You want to see inside the whole crib.
Install it somewhere it won’t be knocked over.
You’ll need a good tripod or stand to secure the phone. Some tripod has flexible legs that can wrap around the furniture.
Also, keep in mind that the monitor’ need to be close to an electrical outlet to be plugged in. To avoid strangulation risk, don’t let loose or unsecured cord to your baby’s reach. Don’t try to mount it to the crib, place it on a shelf or use a universal mount to clip it somewhere.
For more in-depth information, check out my article on how to safely Install a baby monitor in the nursery.
Is it safe to use a smartphone as baby monitors
Like me, you may be still worried about live streaming the interior of your baby’s nursery. Especially with all the stories about baby monitor been hacked.
But there’s no need to go full paranoid because the chances of this happening to your family is relatively low.
With all the sophisticated hacking methods, using a smartphone as a baby monitor might be the safest option you have. Your phone as much more sophisticated security standards than a regular baby monitor.
To be safe, I recommend using a robust password for your home WIFI. Same for your baby monitor app or skype account. Don’t go for the obvious choices like your baby name or 1234567890.
Can mobile phones be harmful to your kid?
When learning about baby monitor app for smartphone, I was worry about the effect of the signal transmitted by the phone. I was skeptical of using an app on my phone as a baby monitor. I remember seeing a 3d image of a person’s brain when they talk on the phone or not. I could clearly see the effect on the brain from the cell phone. That’s why I decide to learn more about the potential danger of mobile phone radiation.
From what I found, the solution is in the distance between the phone and your kid.
Let’s start going over the main facts. All wireless devices, including smartphone, are emitting microwave radiation (MWR). Numerous studies on the potential health risk from cell phones have demonstrated that kids absorb more MWR than the adults.
The Journal of Microscopy and Ultrastructure has published one of those studies. The research was conducted by L. Lloyd Morgan, a senior science fellow at Environmental Health Trust, and his colleagues.
Among all the studies, links between cancer and MWR have been recognized.
According to Morgan and his colleague’s research, children and unborn baby have been more sensitive to MWR, which can lead to more significant damage.
Children are more at risk than adults because of there body structure. With a thinner skull and more soft brain tissues, kids will absorb more MWR. The unborn babies are even more at risk, and the exposer to MWR can lead to degeneration of the protecting cover surrounding the brain.
Morgan and his colleagues recommend keeping a safe distance with smartphone, tablets, and laptops. Holding a cell phone at 6 inches apart should reduce the risk significantly. They also advise to never placed the smartphone inside the crib.
As I did more research while writing this article on baby monitor radiation; I can assure you that a smartphone is not more harmful than a standard wireless baby monitor. In fact, all wireless devices should be used with precaution and moderation. It’s important to turn off the device when not in use and use them only if necessary.
Using an old phone as a baby monitor is quite easy.
There are many benefits from using an old phone as a baby monitor. It’s cheap, it’s easy, and you are already walking around with it in your pocket. From a safety point, using a free app like Skype can be more secure than the regular baby voice monitor. All you need is some cheap accessories, and you can keep an eye on your little bundle of love while being in another room.
If you like the convenience of using your phone as a baby monitor, check out this list of the only apps I would trust.