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How to Use an Old Phone as a Baby Monitor

A step-by-step guide · 5 min read

That old phone in your drawer is a surprisingly good baby monitor. It already has a camera, a microphone, a speaker, and Wi-Fi — everything a dedicated monitor has, often with a better camera. Instead of buying a single-purpose gadget, you can point your old phone at the crib and watch the live feed from the phone in your pocket.

This guide walks through exactly how to do it, where to place the camera, and how to keep the stream private.

What you'll need

• Two devices — an old phone (or tablet) to act as the camera, and the phone you carry to act as the monitor. Any recent phone, tablet, or laptop with a modern browser works.
• Wi-Fi on both devices.
• A stand or makeshift mount for the camera phone — a cheap phone tripod, a stack of books, or a case that props it up.
• A charger near the crib (more on this below).

Step by step with naptutto

naptutto turns two phones into a baby monitor right in the browser — there's nothing to install on either device. Here's the whole flow:

1. Open naptutto on the old phone and choose Use as Camera. Allow camera and microphone access. It shows a 6-digit code.
2. Open naptutto on your own phone and choose Use as Monitor. Type the 6-digit code — it connects automatically.
3. That's it. You'll see the live video, hear your baby, and get a motion alert if there's movement. You can even tap and hold to talk back through the camera phone.

Where to place the camera phone

Placement makes the difference between a useful monitor and a frustrating one:

• Get a high, wide angle. Mount the phone above and to the side of the crib so the whole sleeping area is in frame — not a close-up of the slats.
• Keep cords away from the crib. Never run a charging cable into or across the crib. Mount the phone outside the crib and route the cable well clear of it.
• Mind the light. Point the camera away from windows and lamps; a bright background makes the baby a dark silhouette.

Battery and screen tips

The camera phone needs to run for hours, so:

• Keep it plugged in. Streaming video uses real power — leave the camera phone on its charger during the session.
• Let the screen stay on. naptutto keeps both screens awake while a session is running so the feed never sleeps; you don't need to fiddle with timeout settings.
• Watch the battery on the monitor side. naptutto shows the camera phone's battery level so you know before it dies.

Keep the feed private

A baby monitor is one of the most personal cameras you'll ever set up, so privacy matters. naptutto streams the video peer-to-peer directly between your two devices — the video isn't routed through or stored on our servers. Pairing uses a short-lived 6-digit code rather than a permanent password, and if the connection ever drops, the monitor sounds an alarm and shows a clear "connection lost" warning so a frozen image can never be mistaken for a calm one.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install an app?

No. naptutto runs in the browser on both phones. If you like, you can add it to your home screen so it opens like an app.

Will it work on an old Android or iPhone?

Yes, as long as the browser is reasonably up to date (Chrome, Safari, or Edge). Older phones make great dedicated camera devices.

Can I use the same phone I use every day as the camera?

You can, but it's better to dedicate the spare phone to the crib so your main phone stays free for calls and the monitor view.

Got an old phone lying around? Put it to work tonight.