Want reassurance that your baby is safe and sound in the crib? Look no further than your smartphone. Thanks to a slew of new apps, your trusty mobile can easily double as a baby monitor. “We use cell phones to Skype, teleconference, and enjoy audio and video with friends and family,” says Scott Steinberg, a leading technology expert and author of the Modern Parents Guide Series. “It’s intuitive that you’d be able to also use these devices to keep an eye on the one you love the most — your child.”
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.
How to Turn Your Smartphone Into a Baby Monitor
- Shop baby monitors!
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:
- Download Cloud Baby Monitor on iTunes
- Download Dormi for Android on GooglePlay
- Download Baby Monitor 3G on iTunes
- Download Baby Monitor 3G for Android on GooglePlay
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