Travel Baby Monitor: Using a Spare Phone as a Baby Camera on the Road
Updated
A travel baby monitor doesn't have to be one more gadget in the suitcase. If you have an old phone, it already has a camera, a microphone and Wi-Fi, so it can be your baby camera in a hotel room, a rental or at grandparents' house.
First, how should the baby sleep when you travel?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that babies sleep on a firm, flat surface with a fitted sheet only, and that nothing else goes in the crib. It also recommends that you share a room with your baby for at least the first 6 months. A portable crib or play yard that meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standards is on its list of acceptable options (AAP HealthyChildren.org).
A monitor is an extra pair of eyes, not a replacement for any of that. Use it for the moments you are in the next room of a suite or at a relative's house, and keep the sleep setup itself by the book.
What to pack
- The spare phone (the camera) and your everyday phone (the viewer)
- Two chargers, plus a long cable for the camera phone
- A small tripod or phone stand, so you don't have to balance it on a pile of towels
Set it up before you leave home
- Install the same app on both phones and sign in with the same account.
- Set the old phone as the camera and your phone as the viewer.
- Test it in two rooms at home so you know how it behaves.
Hotel and rental Wi-Fi can be different from home Wi-Fi. Some networks ask you to accept terms on a sign-in page first, so connect both phones on arrival and test before bedtime, not at 9 p.m. with a baby who is already asleep.
Where to put the camera in a hotel room
- Out of the baby's reach, and about 3 feet (1 m) from the portable crib
- Never clip or tape the charging cable to the crib. Keep every cord out of reach
- On a stable surface where it can't be knocked over by a curious toddler
- Not on a bed, pillow or anything soft — phones get warm during long sessions
- Aimed so a bright window isn't behind the crib
Why a phone-based monitor travels well
Many cloud cameras upload video to the company's servers. Momseye connects your two phones directly, and your video is not stored on our servers. Transport is encrypted. The free plan includes live Full HD video, motion and sound alerts, one camera and up to two viewers at a time, and it shows ads. You can start without a credit card.
If you want 4K, AI cry detection or more cameras, PRO is available as a monthly or yearly subscription (see the price in the App Store or Google Play), and you can cancel any time.