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The baby tech you need (and the tech you don’t)
When you start life as a parent, you hope that buying every gadget on sale will make your life easier. But that's not always the case in the realm of baby tech, which often offers solutions to problems that don't exist. Because you don't have the time, or money, to try everything out on your own kids, let us guide you toward what you really need.
What we're buying: A terrible replacement baby monitor
This week's IRL tale has nothing to do with new year's resolutions. Thankfully. Instead, Senior Editor Dan Cooper tries to replace his decent (but broken) baby monitor, and finds that cheaper models no longer cut it.
Fisher-Price’s wearable baby monitor is an unreliable rash machine
Spoiler alert: This does not end well for Fisher-Price. For several months now I've been using the company's Sproutling wearable "baby monitor." And you'll notice that's in scarequotes, because it is definitely not a baby monitor. In fact, it's really just a sleep tracker for your child (read: half a Fitbit), and a bad one at that. Even at half the price, the Sproutling wouldn't be worth it. At the full $250 retail, it's an insult.
The best baby monitor
By Harry Sawyers, Sarah Kovac, Winnie Yang This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.
Nanit the AI nanny tries to unravel the mysteries of a restless baby
When my wife and I became parents, the most important weapon in our childcare arsenal was an A5-size notebook. In this mighty tome we wrote out every single data point relating to our new baby, from the quantity of milk she drank and duration of sleep through to the volume of excreta. It was, after all, only with this information that we were able, in our sleep-deprived and confused state, to coordinate how to meet her needs.
The best baby monitor is a simple night-vision camera
As a tech reporter, I've been pitched a whole host of smart baby monitors recently. That's partly because I work here, and also because I have easy access to an infant with whom I can test out such gadgets. Nanit, Cloudtot, Neebo, Owlet and Knit (to name a few) all claim that they can soothe the brows of novice parents like myself. But the more time I've spent with Project Nursery's 5-inch HD Video Baby Monitor, the less I want the extra bells and whistles. They're nice, for sure, but they aren't essential to the fairly simple practice of parenting.
Raybaby is a baby monitor that tracks your child's breathing
When Ranjana Nair, Sanchi Poovaya and Aardra Kannan saw a friend's prematurely born child two years ago, they were shocked at the amount of electronic equipment hooked up to her tiny body. But even after their friend was able to bring her baby home, the anxiety persisted. Constantly concerned, she kept going to the crib to put her hand on the child's chest to make sure she was breathing. There are respiratory trackers for infants, but most of them require putting some kind of battery-powered sensor on the baby's body, which is a concern for many parents. Nair, Poovaya and Kannan -- all engineering graduates -- thought there had to be a better way. And so the Raybaby was born.
Netgear's smart baby monitor is more than a walkie-talkie
After decades of success in the networking market, Netgear is taking its first steps into infant security. Following the release of its Arlo surveillance cameras, this year will see the company producing its first baby monitor, the Arlo Baby.
Mattel built a $300 Echo for kids
It's late, and you're tired. Before you can knock off for the night, however, there's one thing left to do: read your child a bedtime story. In Mattel's world, you might not have to pick up a book or even put on voices for their favorite characters. That's because it's working on an Echo-style speaker with an assistant called Aristotle. It's built specifically for kids, offering games, facts and soothing sounds on demand. Most importantly, it has the smarts to recognize your little one's less-than-perfect speech and adapt as she gets older and more curious about the wider world.
Ben Heck's sound-switching headphones
try{document.getElementById("aol-cms-player-1").style.display="none";}catch(e){} You might not have wondered what Felix was like as a baby, but you're about to find out. Ben hacks apart a VTech baby monitor so that it's possible to listen to your favorite music with headphones, with interruptions when your little one needs attention. After breaking open the baby monitor, Ben finds the perfect place for the digital logic level control and 555 timers needed to latch onto the audio signal and switch over from music and back again. What devices do you need to make your life easier or more comfortable as a parent? Let the Ben Heck Show team know over on the element14 community.
Nest seems to be working on a 'smart crib' loaded with sensors
The hyper-connected home of the future will come with an equally connected nursery. Nest, the company widely known for its WiFi enabled energy-saving thermostat and smart smoke alarm system, has filed a patent for a baby crib that could be "embedded with smart sensors". According to the patent application, Nest's potential crib would do away with some of the paraphernalia that comes with a baby's bed. So instead of buying separate monitors, the crib would be loaded with cameras, microphones, a communication device and sensors to track the baby's movements and even detect "a deviation from the pattern of behavior."
Nanit's baby monitor offers wearable-free sleep tracking
A company that's describing itself as the "Tesla of baby monitors" has produced a device that it says is the best way to watch your munchkins at night. Nanit (geddit?) stands over your baby's crib like a shower head, with a night vision camera and motion sensor aimed towards the mattress. Should it detect any noise or movement, your smartphone will get a ping, enabling you to watch the action as it unfolds. That way, parents in another room avoid the vagaries of simply listening out for signs of distress.
Internet-connected baby monitors are vulnerable to attacks
Don't call a priest just yet if you hear strange voices coming out of your child's baby monitor -- it's more likely a hacker than some kind of supernatural entity. Security firm Rapid 7 has released a study that shows just how vulnerable at least nine internet-connected baby monitors are. The team tested models from eight manufacturers (including Philips and Withings) this 2015 and found that hackers can easily break into them, not only to scare the living daylights out of a family, but also to monitor their activities. For instance, some models have unencrypted web apps, so hackers can use that flaw to gain access to their cameras.
Samsung's Galaxy S5 doubles as a baby monitor, if you have a Gear watch
The Galaxy S5: powerhouse smartphone, fitness guru... baby monitor? Yes, you read that right. SoyaCincau has learned that Samsung's jack-of-all-trades Android flagship includes a "baby crying detector" mode that uses the phone as a listening station. If your child is upset, the GS5 sends a vibrating alert to your Gear watch (needed for the feature) that urges you to come to Junior's aid. You probably wouldn't want to lean on the detector too often -- Samsung certainly doesn't think it's a wise idea, as you can see from the massive legal disclaimer pictured here. Still, it could come in handy if you don't have a dedicated monitor and occasionally want to keep tabs on your tyke while you run around the home.
iBaby M6 baby monitor lets you and three family members keep eyes on junior remotely
iBaby Labs' newest child monitor, the M6, with its 350-degree view and 170-degree tilt, is touted as being the most robust viewer in the market. Setup is a simple plug-and-play affair for both the device and the mobile app that allows control of the device and even some interaction with your sleepy beauty. When the M6 detects motion or sound from your offspring, it can send a notification and snap a pic with its 720p camera and then allow you to speak to your baby if you happen to be out by the pool. Unlimited users can be configured on the device and up to four users can get sent notification and images at any given time. Also on tap are sensors for temperature and humidity, a few different lullabies and LED lighting for night viewing -- or is that night waking? The iBaby M6 is set to launch in spring 2014 for $249.
D-Link hits CES with portable router and charger combos, WiFi range extenders and surveillance equipment
With the exception, perhaps, of the traditional trade show flu, nothing's thicker in the air CES than overlapping WiFi signals. Phones, PCs, SmartTVs, game consoles, tablets and routers are all desperately reaching out to something to connect to, and D-Link is happy to oblige. This year, the company is debuting the DIR-510L, a $100 portable router that doubles as a device charger. In addition to crafting wireless and ethernet signals into a local hotspot, this router can stream content from connected USB devices, share files wirelessly from any device plugged into its two USB ports and even charge gadgets with its built-in 4000mAh battery. If the diminutive router's range is too short for you, the firm is offering a pair of dual-band WiFi range extenders for $60 and $90, depending on how much bandwidth you need. That extended network area will come in handy if you pick up D-Link's new WiFi Baby Camera, a lightweight child monitor that lets you peek in on your children from any device with a WiFi or cellular internet connection. The $180 shooter is outfitted with night vision, temperature and motion sensors and can even play pre-recorded lullabies on cue. If you're looking for something a bit more advanced, the company is also showing off a new mydlink Network Video Recorder for small businesses -- a $380 surveillance system with remote access, up to 4TB of video storage space and support for nine cameras. The gadgets are all being shown at CES 2014 this week, but you can find the details at the company's product pages in the adjacent source links.
Baby Monitor 3G makes watching your baby much easier with new OS X version
Having a baby requires constant vigilance -- morning and night you are watching over your little one to keep them safe and happy. One indispensable tool for parents is a baby monitor that lets you watch over your child from afar. If you have an old iOS device lying around, then you might want to skip the traditional audio- or camera-based monitors and take a look at Baby Monitor 3G and its new OS X version to see if this software package fits your baby-watching needs. Baby Monitor 3G from TappyTaps works like a standard baby monitor system with an iOS device serving as a monitor in the baby's room and a second device as the parent's listening station. You can use two iOS devices as the baby-parent station pair or add in a Mac now that the latest version of the Baby Monitor 3G software includes an OS X app. The system works best over WiFi, but you can configure it to work over 3G as well. In my case, I set up an old iPhone in the baby's room as the baby station and configured both my iPad and my Mac to be parent stations that let me watch my child while I am downstairs. Setting up the software is a bit more complicated than just install, launch and go. You have to pair your devices before the two can connect as a baby and parent station. Pairing is easy and requires you to enter a code from the baby station into the device that is the parent station. A video within the app shows you how to pair the two devices if you are confused by the setup. Once the devices are paired, you don't have to pair them again unless you uninstall the Baby Monitor software. The OS X version of Baby Monitor 3G serves as a parent station and is very similar to the iOS app. The app launches as a normal-sized window that takes up half the screen on my 13-inch MacBook Pro. It also can be configured to display in a small square that you can place in the corner of your screen. To save battery life, Baby Monitor 3G lets you listen to an audio stream of your baby. Just like the iOS version, the OS X app lets you turn on live video so you can watch your child and make sure he or she is safe. Live video works only on WiFi; you will view a still shot over 3G/4G. If you need additional lighting at night, you can tap the flash button on the parent software and turn on the baby station's camera flash. Be prudent in using the flash as the LED is bright and can startle a half-asleep baby. I found this out the hard way one night at 3 AM. When your baby cries, the monitoring software turns red and you can hear the crying over your speakers or headphones. If you are using your iPhone as the parent station, you can also get a vibration alert. There is no support for notifications, so you do have to listen for your child or keep an eye on the software. The app keeps track of when your baby last cried, so you can glance at it and see that your child cried x number of minutes ago. If you want to soothe your child, you can speak to them using the speaker on the remote device. The only detractor that I found was a pairing limitation that allows the baby station to connect to only one parent station at a time. I could listen to my baby while downstairs on the treadmill, but my husband couldn't connect at the same time on his iPad in the living room down the hall. The connection was just for one baby station and one parent station only. This limitation doesn't dissuade me from using Baby Monitor 3G, but you should keep it in mind when comparing this software with other systems like this audio-only one from Vtech that has one baby station and multiple monitors. Baby Monitor 3G is available for the Mac and costs US$4.99 in the Mac App Store. The iOS version is available for $3.99 in the iOS App Store.
Ask Engadget: best video baby camera?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Berry2Droid, who wants to geek-up monitoring his first-born. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "My wife and I are having a baby soon and need a video monitor. We'd like it to be compatible with our Android phones, rather than having a separate screen in the package. We'd also like some sort of visual aid as my wife is deaf so she would need some sort of other signal. If there was any ability to add additional cameras, that'd also be great. Thanks for your help!" We could certainly point you in the direction of Samsung Techwin's Video Baby Monitor or Y-Cam's offering, both of which are infrared-and-internet capable cameras that pump the picture straight to your mobile device. We came a little unstuck on the visual warning element for your wife, however, but that's why we'll turn this question over to our faithful group of commenters to see if their knowledge stretches further than our own. Dear friends, help out a lovely couple as they embark upon the majestic (albeit fraught) journey of parenthood and provide some wisdom in the comments below.
WiFi Baby is a first-class remote video monitoring system for your baby
Parents with a young baby know how hard it is to check your little one while he or she is sleeping. You try to quietly tip-toe into the room, but inevitably the baby senses your presence and wakes up from his slumber. One solution that'll let you watch your child without disturbing their sleep is the US$279 WiFi Baby video monitoring system. Unlike other video monitoring systems, the WiFi Baby works over your home's WiFi network and is compatible with your iPad, iPhone and Mac. It also supports off-site viewing so you can check-in on your children when you are outside the home. We reviewed an earlier version last year, and will take a look at the latest version of the WiFi Baby in this review. This updated unit now supports WiFi N, has a microSD slot for recording and an easier setup process. Design The WiFi baby is a compact camera that's 3.4 inches wide, 3.4-inches high and 1.2-inches deep. It includes a mounting bracket/stand that adds an inch or two on to the height of the unit. The bracket has an adjustable mount so you can position the camera as needed. The camera itself includes a 1/4" CMOS sensor for daytime viewing and 30 IR LEDs that provide the unit with night vision. It'll easily let you see your baby from across the room, but works best when it's a few feet away from the crib or playpen. The WiFi Baby has an integrated WiFi 802.11 b/g/n antenna on the side of the unit. Though it doesn't look as stylish as the cameras that use a removable antenna, I prefer the design of the WiFi baby. I've owned several remote cameras with the removable antennas and they break or get lost when packing/unpacking the unit. With the WiFi Baby, the antenna is always attached and won't break unless you damage the unit by dropping it or stepping on it accidentally. Based on external appearance, the WiFi Baby appears to be a Y-Cam camera that's bundled into a parent-friendly package. Functionality The WiFi Baby includes all the hardware and support necessary to setup the monitor in your home, but it's not the easiest process in the world. After you unpack the camera and attach it to the mount, you then need to connect the device to your Mac and configure the unit to connect to your home WiFi network. The process is straight forward for a tech-savvy user, but it can be tricky for those who are not familiar with WiFi router settings and IP addresses. WiFi Baby, however, provides detailed written instructions, video instructions and a telephone/online support service that's top notch. Customer service reps will talk you through the setup process and can even connect remotely to your computer if you require the additional assistance. Once the WiFi Baby is connected to your home wireless network, you must install the viewer apps on your iOS device or Mac. In this review, I used an iPhone and an iPad about 90 percent of the time. The free Mac app works well, but it has some issues with audio on Lion and Mountain Lion. Lion and Mountain Lion require you to change the audio on the camera from AMR format to AAC format. The AAC format works great on the desktop, but it won't work on your iPhone or iPad. You either have to keep switching the audio format back and forth or decide to go with either the Mac or an iOS device as your primary viewing device. I decided to stick with iOS as it is much more convenient to pull out my iPhone than it is to login to my Mac. The WiFi Baby does not ship with the software required to view the video stream on your iOS device. The company recommends the $12 Baby Monitor HD app from SunshineApps GmbH and has worked with the developer to get a profile for the WiFi Baby camera included in the app. The app was easy to configure thanks to this pre-installed profile. You can use any surveillance app to connect to WiFi Baby camera, but without a preset profile, you'll have to try a bunch of other camera profiles to get the WiFi baby to work. There's also an Android app that I tested and works equally as well as the iOS version. The Baby Monitor HD app lets users connect to their WiFi Baby and receive both live audio and video from the camera. When in video mode, the app disables auto lock so you can have an always-on video feed. I used the video mostly in the morning when I was writing and my son was starting to wake up. I could keep the video running and watch him as he started to stir. It was convenient, but my iPhone's battery life did take a small hit. The app also includes an audio-only mode and works in the background, so you can still listen to audio from the camera while you check your email or browse the web. The audio-only mode is also great for night time use when you want to hear your baby crying, but don't need to see him because you are sleeping. Once again, running the app all night has an impact on battery life. To get through an 8-hour sleep, I needed to start the night with a fully-charged phone or charge my phone while I sleep. Baby Monitor HD app supports up to four cameras and includes alerts that'll notify you when your baby starts crying or making noise. The app-camera combo also supports multiple authorized users so Mom and Dad can watch the baby at the same time. The quality of the video coming from the camera over my WiFi network was superb. The color video during the day was detailed, while the night vision was crisp and clear. The video was clear enough that I could see my child breathing. The camera also has a wide view so you can see the baby's entire crib or the corner of room in which they sleep or play. This view almost makes up for the fact that you can't pan or tilt the camera remotely. The WiFi Baby is a fixed camera, so you can't move it when your child moves. This is a small drawback that makes the camera useful for a child that is confined in their crib, but not one that is walking all over a room. The microphone on the WiFi Baby was sensitive enough that you could hear crying, but not breathing noises. This level of detection is perfect for parents who want to be alerted when their child wakes up or is upset, but not one that needs to monitor every breath. You can also configure the WiFi Baby to record automatically when a noise is detected or at an interval. You can record a video or grab a still that can be save to a microSD card or to a NAS (Network Attached Storage). I found the video recording feature to be very helpful with my older daughter. She snores and we were able to use the camera's recording feature to capture her snoring. We did this for a few nights and then watched the recorded video clips to see if it was a normal snore or sleep apnea. While most users will use the WiFi Baby to monitor their child from the comfort of home, there are times when you'll want to view your child when you are outside your home WiFi network. In these cases, the monitor can be configured to send its video signal to your mobile phone. This scenario requires you to open up a port on your router that is used to send and receive the camera feed. WiFi Baby has detailed instructions that'll show you how to setup port forwarding on your wireless router and how to use their dynamic DNS service to detect any changes in the external IP address of your cable/DSL modem. Once again, WiFi Baby's customer service is there to walk you through the setup process and will continue to work with you until everything is working correctly. Once you get the settings correct, the video over a 3G connection is fantastic. It's not HD quality, but it is good enough for you to watch your child while he is sleeping or playing. It's perfect for when you leave your child with a baby sitter or want to check in on things when you are away on a business trip. Conclusion The WiFi Baby is an excellent video monitoring solution for new and seasoned parents. I used it with my one-year old during naps and at night. Before I went to bed every night, I would fire up the app on my iPhone and check in on my one-year-old son to make sure he was comfortable. When he cried at night, I would launch the app and see what was wrong. Usually it was a quick night-time cry in his sleep, but sometimes I discovered he was upset because he dropped his blanket outside the crib. It was extremely convenient to be able to check on him without going into his room. When he was sleeping, it was also comforting to be able to see him breath. I also used it for my older kids as noted above and even used it to keep an eye on the dogs when we went away for an afternoon. This latter scenario led to the discovery that the dogs like to sleep on the couch when we go out and hop off when we pull in the driveway. The quality of the video coming from the WiFi Baby was fantastic, but I wish you could pan and tilt the camera. I would love to be able to use it to watch my baby sleeping at night and then turn it remotely to focus on my 3-year-old while he plays in the room. It's a trade-off, though, as competing cameras that support pan/tilt don't have the high-quality optics of the WiFi Baby. The WiFi Baby video monitoring system is available for $279. This price includes free tech support and free shipping. It does not include the iOS or Android apps, which are an extra expense. The WiFi Baby is an expensive video monitoring system, especially when compared to standalone surveillance cameras like those from Dropcam and Loftek. This extra cost is likely due to WiFi baby's customer service, which is superior to the customer support offered by other camera manufacturers. Pros Quality video and audio feed. Setup is made easier by excellent customer support. Compatible with the iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and the Mac. Can setup the camera to record automatically, which is great for diagnosing sleep problems. Cons Expensive. Apps are an extra cost. Camera is fixed and can't be tilted or panned remotely. Who is it for? Any parents who want to keep a close eye on their children while they sleep or play.
Belkin WeMo Baby monitor lets you listen to Junior via an internet connection and an iOS device
Belkin's line of WeMo products is all about home automation, and its latest addition, the WeMo Baby, lets you listen to the cooing and crying of your offspring from afar. The device is a WiFi-enabled microphone that streams audio of your baby to up to six devices simultaneously -- provided they're running iOS 5 or higher and the free WeMo Baby companion app. That app's powered by Evoz's baby monitoring service and it works over a 3G, 4G, or WiFi connection. So, absentee parents can keep tabs on their bundle of joy whether they're in another room or sneaking a cold one at the pub round the corner. What's the price for such parental freedom? $90 when it goes on sale early next month. Full PR and an app screenshot can be found after the break.
