Guides
Answers to the questions parents ask about baby monitors and the evening – with sources.
How to use an old phone as a baby monitor
Yes, you can use your phone as a baby monitor. Put an old phone or tablet in the nursery, install the same baby monitor app on it and on your own phone, plug it in, and your phone receives the sound and the alerts.
Fell asleep putting your toddler to bed? Why it happens and what helps
You lay down in a dark, quiet room next to a child whose breathing is slowing – of course you fell asleep, especially as parents’ sleep takes years to recover. Sitting up, a plan with your partner and a bedtime that matches your toddler’s sleep need help more than willpower.
Can baby monitors be hacked?
Yes. Analog monitors can be overheard by anyone in range with a suitable receiver, and researchers have documented serious flaws in Wi-Fi camera monitors since 2013. How exposed you are depends on the technology and on how you set it up.
Baby monitor radiation: is it safe, and how do you keep it low?
Health authorities do not expect the radio waves from a baby monitor to harm your baby, and measured devices stay below the international limits. Because questions about long-term effects remain open, Germany’s Federal Office for Radiation Protection still recommends precaution – above all, distance from the cot.
When to stop using a baby monitor (and when to start)
There's no official age. Many families stop once their child can get out of bed and come to them at night, though you may still want it a while longer for the evening, when you're further away than at night.
Do I need a baby monitor?
Not to keep your baby safe – no monitor has been shown to do that; safe sleep practice is what lowers the risk. A monitor is a convenience that lets you hear your child when you're out of earshot, which matters in a bigger home or in the evening once your child sleeps in a room without you.