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How to Set Up a Travel Baby Monitor (No Extra Gear)

Setup guide · 4 min read

Travelling with a baby means packing light — and a bulky monitor with its own screen and charger is exactly the kind of thing you don't want taking up suitcase space. The good news: if you've got two phones (or a phone and a tablet), you already have a travel baby monitor. Here's how to set one up in a hotel, an Airbnb, or at the grandparents'.

Why phones are ideal for travel

• Nothing extra to pack — you're already bringing the devices.
• No pairing radios to lose range — it works over whatever network you're on.
• No app store downloads if you use a browser-based monitor like naptutto — handy when you don't want to install software on a borrowed device.

Quick setup

1. Connect both devices to the same Wi-Fi (the hotel or rental network).
2. Open naptutto on the spare phone, choose Use as Camera, and prop it up facing the travel cot.
3. Open naptutto on your phone, choose Use as Monitor, and enter the 6-digit code.
4. You're watching — with motion alerts and talk-back, just like at home.

Hotel & rental Wi-Fi tips

• Both devices on the same network. Some hotels isolate guests on separate networks or require a per-device login portal — sign both devices in first, and keep them on the same Wi-Fi name.
• Bring a small tripod or use what's there. A toiletry bag, a stack of books, or a propped-up case all work to aim the camera phone at the cot.
• Keep the camera phone charging. Pack one extra cable; streaming for a full nap or overnight uses real battery.
• Mind the cords. As at home, keep charging cables well away from where the baby sleeps.

What if the Wi-Fi is unreliable?

Rental Wi-Fi can be patchy. naptutto sounds an alarm and shows a clear "connection lost" warning the moment the feed drops, so a frozen frame can't be mistaken for a calm room. If a network keeps cutting out, putting both phones on the same hotspot can be steadier than shared guest Wi-Fi.

First time repurposing a phone as a camera? See How to Use an Old Phone as a Baby Monitor, and if you're weighing your options, App vs. dedicated monitor.