This is my 2 year old boy peacefully sleeping in his bed. I am using my iPhone, the Foscam Pro iPhone app, and the Foscam camera for a complete audio/video baby monitoring setup.
This article will give you everything you need to know about how to use iPhone, iPad (Mini), or iPod Touch as an audio video baby monitor with Foscam Camera and a Foscam Camera App – all for under $75!
When my 2 year old was born, one of the things I wanted was a video monitor that I could use to make sure my baby was safe and sleeping well. As I looked around at the options, I was disappointed by the low quality of the devices and the high cost. So, at first, I gave up. Then, I had an idea: what if there was a Wifi enabled camera that was compatible with my iPhone, iPad (Mini), or iPod Touch where I could use my iOS Device screen as the audio and video monitor. After some searching, I found one on Amazon and was surprised at how low the price was. Then, I was able to find 2 affordable app options that offered all of the features one could want in a baby monitor (these are arguably the best baby monitor apps to use with Foscam cameras): Foscam Pro App and Baby Monitor HD. With my new setup, for under $100, I could have peace of mind knowing that I could check in on my baby at any time with both audio and video.
First the camera: I chose a Foscam camera for a couple of reasons. It had the ability to pan and tilt so that I can remotely change the viewing angles with the app on my iPhone allowing me to scan the entire room. Secondly, it had IR night vision capabilities (important if you want to see anything in the dark). With this feature, I can see everything in the entire baby room in the middle of the night without a light on – pretty impressive.
This is the newest version of the Foscam camera that is ideal for using in the baby monitoring setup.
Next, the Foscam has a speaker on it and a built in mic. This means that you can have 2-way conversations right from your iPhone. I use this audio feature all the time. And, the Foscam Pro app, has background audio meaning that I can turn the audio on, lock the screen, and the audio continues to sound allowing me to work around the house or in the yard while still monitoring my baby. The camera even has capabilities to allow for remote access giving you the ability to monitor things when you have a babysitter and aren’t at home. Click here to see the Foscam Camera I recommend on Amazon: Foscam FI8910W
Next the apps.
This is the perfect app for using your Foscam camera as a baby monitor. The app easily searches for and finds any available cameras on your network. Once the camera is connected to the app, you can start monitoring your baby. The app features pan/tilt controls so you can pan around the room if need be. It also features a visual audio log that allows you to have the audio muted but still see the active audio levels. You can even set an audible or vibration alert to let you know when the audio has peaked over a certain level. You can also turn the audio to Auto Mute which allows the audio to be off for most of the time (to accommodate for white noise machines, etc), but then the audio automatically turns one when the audio reaches a certain threshold that you set. This is very helpful. You can even turn off the video feed and only use the audio feed to save battery. To activate these features, simply tap and hold on the video feed itself to bring up all of the customizable options. To mute and unmute the audio manually, simply tap and hold on the visual audio feed for a few seconds. There is an option to keep the audio on even when you exit the app or lock the screen of your device.
Overall, this is one of the best apps to turn your iPhone, iPad (Mini), or iPod Touch into a baby monitor with your Foscam Camera. Here is a direct link to the app in the App Store: Baby Monitor HD. The only downside to this app is that it doesn’t allow for multiple cameras to be visible on the screen at once and it doesn’t allow for two-way audio.
This app is loaded with a ton of helpful features too. The Foscam Pro app allows for both two-way audio and audio in the background. It also has controls to pan the camera around the room, adjust the brightness/contrast settings, turn the IR night-vision on/off, take a snapshot, or record video. If you have multiple rooms with multiple cameras, this app can handle multiple cameras at once. Anyone in the house with an iOS device (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) can add this app and with a username and password be given access to the Baby Monitor setup. This is handy for a grandparent, babysitter, or roommate who might also need to monitor the baby.
This is a screenshot of the camera when used in daylight. It is full color and you can pan around the room to keep an eye on an active toddler.
The FoscamPro App combined with the Foscam camera can also double as a security camera giving you notification when you are away if there is motion detected. The app is universal meaning that you buy it once and it can be used for both iPhone and iPad.The other big advantage to using this setup is that it is all built on your wifi network. Typically, a good wifi network will extend far beyond a conventional baby monitor’s range. Earlier today I was out working in the front yard and had full baby monitoring capabilities while my 2 year old and 3 month old were sleeping peacefully inside. I knew exactly when my 3 month old woke up and was ready to eat :).
I highly recommend this setup for any parent who wants an affordable way to add audio and video monitoring for under $100. It is the best setup that I have discovered for this price. If you have any questions about installation or setup, feel free to post them in the comments section. Here are links to both apps: Foscam Pro App, Baby Monitor HD and the Foscam Camera on Amazon.
*If you use these links and purchase the apps and camera, I will get a small commission on each purchase which goes to help support further developments of this blog. Thanks for your support!
