How to Log Into Your Baby Monitor From a Smartphone

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By Natali Morris2013-07-21 15:31:45 UTC

Tech-loving new parents often ask how they can access their baby monitors like an IP camera on the go.

The Withings Smart Baby monitor is made by the same company that makes the Wi-Fi scale that tweets your weight. It lets you watch your baby from an app on your mobile device running Android or iOS. The monitor connects to the web on your home Wi-Fi network. You then use your mobile device as a receiver.

SEE ALSO: New Parent? You'll Need This iOS App

However, there are a few drawbacks to this. You don't have a separate monitor that you can gaze at while keeping your mobile device free for other tasks. You have to leave a mobile device behind for the babysitter or nanny. You can't log in from the web on a computer — you have to go through app and have a strong Wi-fi network at home to keep the camera running.

But there are a lot of perks to this, too. You can watch your baby from anywhere in the world where you have mobile connectivity. You can play lullabies, speak into the camera through the app so your baby hears your voice and see her clearly at night. You can also set alerts based on motion, noise, temperature and humidity in the room. Lastly, this monitor captures images from your video feed so you have memories of just how sweet your little sleepyhead once was.

I love having a digital feed to my little ones at home when I can't be there, but you have to make sure your childcare providers are comfortable with it. I always tell them in advance that there is a live feed. I want to inspire confidence, but I think it only fair to know: Mommy is watching.

Image: Withings

Natali Morris

Natali is a technology reporter and host/editor-in-chief of Crash Test Mom, a parenting product review show. She is a regular contributor to CNBC and The TODAY Show, as well as an MBA student at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. She is ...More

Topics: baby, Crash Test Mom, Family & Parenting, Lifestyle, monitor, parents