If you are a new parent, then you know the drill- it’s around 2 am, you are finally in your bed wrapped like a human burrito, and boom! Your new parent sense starts to tingle- is the baby okay and breathing?
Of course, you ninja your way across the house, dodging floorboard squeaks like a pro… only to peek in and wake them up. Classic.
Good news, you sleep-deprived hero: use your Apple Watch. Yes, the same little gadget that nags you to stand can also double as a mini Baby Monitor.
Audio? Check. Video? Possible. Peace of mind from your wrist? Absolutely. Welcome to modern parenting, where tech works just as hard as you do.
Is It Really Possible to Use Apple Watch as a Baby Monitor?!
Yes, you definitely can use your Apple Watch as a Baby Monitor, but no your Apple Watch doesn’t come with a Baby Monitoring app pre-installed. And it definitely won’t beam night vision video from the crib straight into your brain. But with a smart setup, using your iPhone or another device, it can act as an extension of your Baby Monitor.
So you consider your Apple Watch as a little baby helper on your wrist. With the right app and settings, you can see or hear your baby without getting out of bed or reaching for your phone.
What Will You Need?
Here’s your parenting tech toolkit:
- An Apple Watch (Series 3 or newer works best).
- Your iPhone (It should be connected to your Watch).
- A second device: To leave near your baby. This could be an old iPhone, an iPad, or even your partner’s phone.
- Wi-Fi: So everything stays connected.
- Optional: A Baby Monitor app like Cloud Baby Monitor, or just use FaceTime.
How to Turn Your Apple Watch Into a Baby Monitor?
Option 1: The FaceTime Hack
This is the “I-need-it-now” method.
- Put a second device (like an old iPhone or iPad) in your baby’s room, pointing at the crib. Plug it in so it doesn’t run out of battery.
- Call that device using FaceTime from your iPhone.
- Answer the call on the device in the baby’s room and leave the call running.
- Now, open the Phone or FaceTime app on your Apple Watch to listen in or even see your baby if you need to.
Just like that, you have got a live feed on your wrist!
Tip: Put your watch on silent and let it buzz gently (haptics), so you don’t wake up your partner or the baby.
Option 2: Use a Baby Monitor App
You can also use some Baby Monitor apps. There are apps like Cloud Baby Monitor or Luna, made just for this.
Here’s how to use them:
- Download the app on both your iPhone and the second device (like an iPad or old phone).
- Put one device in the baby’s room, as this will be the “child unit.”
- Use your iPhone as the “parent unit.” Your Apple Watch will show alerts, too.
- You’ll get sound, video, and alerts right on your wrist.
Bonus: Some of these apps even let you play lullabies or turn on a soft night light from your phone. Pretty cool, right?
When you have set up everything correctly, your Apple Watch can notify you if:
- Your baby starts crying
- There’s unexpected noise
- The app disconnects
Battery tip: Turn on Low Power Mode on your Apple Watch to make the battery last longer at night.
Also, always keep the device plugged in in the baby’s room because if it dies right when the baby starts crying… that’s just bad timing!
Is This Safe & Reliable?
Now, even though your Apple Watch is super helpful, it is not meant to fully replace a regular Baby Monitor.
It works great for:
- Naps
- Travel
- Quick audio check-ins
- Emergency “oh no, I left the monitor at grandma’s” moments
But it’s not the best for:
- All-night monitoring (unless the device is plugged in)
- Clear video or using multiple screens
Use this trick as a clever parenting power-up, not your only line of defense.
Bonus Tips for Tech-Savvy Parents:
- Use Siri Shortcuts so you can start Baby Monitoring just by saying a simple command like “Hey Siri, check the baby.”
- Connect a smart baby camera that works with Apple HomeKit to see everything through your smart home setup.
- Turn on Nightstand Mode on your Apple Watch. It gives you a soft-glow clock and keeps alerts close by while you sleep.
Wrap Up
Well, look at you- you just turned your Apple Watch into a Baby Monitor like a total pro. While the rest of the world is still fumbling with cords and clunky gadgets, you figured out how to run bedtime operations straight from your wrist.
This isn’t just a clever hack, it’s a parenting power move. You have unlocked hands-free, no-hassle, middle-of-the-night check-ins. So yes, you deserve that hot coffee. Give yourself a high-five. Actually, make it a slow clap.
Now, be generous and pass this wisdom on to some other bleary-eyed parent. Or don’t. Let them suffer. Up to you.
Because parenting is hard, but you? You’re smarter than most, and you have got tech on your side.
