Before I delve into details here’s a video overview of what this app is about and how it can help with setting up a surveillance system the EASY way: Such an example is the AtHome Camera, an app that lets you manage from your smartphone several other surveillance cameras that were connected into their system. The AppĪ couple years fast-forward and now there are several mobile apps that can transform other devices (with cameras on them) into surveillance cameras. And, it apparently is if you have the right app. I gave up after 1 day since I realized I had to buy a new wireless router for it to work externally – maybe it wasn’t the manufacturer’s fault as I’m generally a bit slouch, but using surveillance cameras, for any purpose from baby monitoring to bird watching or whatever, should be easier. I think I even invented new swearing words when trying to connect it.

Granted, it was one of the first models, but trying to have it successfully connected to the internet and accessing it remotely was an impossible task. My next attempt at using a surveillance camera was with a Foscam IP camera. So, I ended up tossing the camera and bringing the baby in the room with us and that solved it (though on the long term that’s bad since a few years later he still doesn’t want to leave our room). The only problem is that it started even when there weren’t actually noises – the other solution was to always keep it on, but then it had this static that made sleeping impossible, especially since new parents, well, they suffer from sleep deprivation. It had this smart detection thingy that, whenever the baby would make a noise or move during the night, it would start-up the receiver and alert us. After my thorough research I ended up a baby monitor camera (supposedly one of the best for the buck) and installed it – think the brand was Levana. And I took that as my priority, to monitor the baby while he slept since his crib was in a different room. Anyway, one of the risks for babies is that they can suffocate during sleep in the first year of their live (it’s called the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) – it always happens during sleep and there are several factors, but the idea is that you must monitor your baby carefully. If you’re the type that likes to have most risks under management as I am, you’re in for busy times.

Becoming a parent is unlike anything else you’ve experienced (except if you’re becoming a parent for a second time).

Athome video streamer app