It is the problem that every parent faces at least once. We are not only parents, but also workers. And it can happen that we absolutely have to go to the office because of an important meeting or deadline, but we would like to keep an eye on our child. Someone is at home with it, but we feel it is just not enough. What if it needs something that only we can help with?
Whether your child is a newborn or a toddler, installing a CCTV camera system is something you should definitely consider if you do not intend to spend all day next to your child. Modern technology has made live supervision affordable and available to anyone, so why not use it? Once you have it, all you need is a smartphone and an internet link. It will enable you to watch live footage of your child and even let you know when the child moves.
Even if you work from home, it is incomparably more convenient to manage a home office when you are not in the same room with a small child that needs peace and quiet. With a CCTV camera system, you can have customers come to your home and hold meetings, all the while keeping an eye on what is most precious to you your child in the other room.
Finally, we suggest you install a CCTV camera even if you intend to spend all your time with the child because there will be situations when you will be glad you did. For example, you might find that you are out of diapers and need to go buy them right away. You leave the child with your spouse you will be gone for five minutes, what can go wrong? Then your car gets stuck in a traffic jam and you are blocked for half an hour. Wouldn’t it help to be able to see what is going on with your child on your smartphone and give instructions based on what you see and not just what your spouse tells you?
When deciding on how your child should be monitored, there are some things that you should consider:
Use the smartphone
When you are installing a CCTV system, you will probably want to have it linked to your smartphone so you can check on your child anywhere, any time, by simply pressing a button. CCTV systems can use the broadband connection of your home, which means that you can access the footage from anywhere in the world, as long as there is an internet connection and you have the appropriate app installed on your smartphone or tablet.
Motion detection
This is a very useful feature. If the CCTV camera detects that your child has moved, you can receive an alert on your smartphone in the form of an e-mail or an app notification.
Infrared vision
If you need to keep an eye on your baby during the night or in a darkened room, you need an infrared camera. Nowadays, standard infrared CCTV cameras can record video footage in absolute darkness, even up to a hundred meters.
Password
It is very important to protect your camera stream with a password. You want the footage to be seen only by you or the people you trust.
Babysitter monitoring
Of course, you trust your babysitter. You would not have hired her otherwise. But babysitters are human like you. They can faint or have an accident, leaving your child without supervision. A CCTV system provides additional protection. If your babysitter is not comfortable with such monitoring, it might be a sign that all was not well while you were not looking.
Fond memories
This is another advantage of a CCTV system. Whenever you spot your child doing something particularly cute or interesting, you can use the recording option and save the moment for eternity. When your child gets older, you can both have a wonderful time looking over the saved footage that captured its first smile, its first steps or its first words.
Camera position
This depends on where the child is located, of course. If it is a baby, you have the fairly simple task of setting it so that it overlooks the cot. If it is a toddler, you might need to set the CCTV camera higher up, so that it does not miss any part of the playroom.
Plug and play
If the CCTV camera seems complicated to set up, do not buy it. Most of the cameras available nowadays have plug-and-play technology, which means you just turn it on and it is ready.
Remote controls
Try to have a camera that can be operated remotely, so you can move its lens, zoom in or turn on widescreen view from your smartphone. Even if you think you will never use these options because the CCTV camera overlooks the whole cot, you never know when they might come in handy.
One or more?
Should you use just one or several CCTV cameras? It depends. One camera is usually enough to keep a small child under supervision, but once you have decided to install a CCTV system, it might be a good idea to consider whether you need cameras in your house, garage or garden. Installing a single package should be cheaper than calling the installation crew several times. And your smartphone will become the security headquarters for the entire house.
Two-way audio
Listening to your child is good, but it is even better when you are able to talk to it. With two-way audio installed, you can soothe your child by talking into your smartphone from your office or even singing a lullaby, if you can find a quiet spot where your colleagues will not give you strange looks.
Compatibility
Your CCTV system should be compatible with any kind of internet-enabled device: a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop PC. Do not forget to ask about the operating systems that are supported by the app, and if there are any limitations (for example, some systems might not be able to record footage or use remote controls). You might need to use Windows, iOS, Android or some other operating system in the future, and you do not want to find out too late that they are not supported.
We hope this advice will help you make an informed decision. Of course, you might decide not to use a CCTV system. After all, our parents and grandparents managed quite well without it. But we believe we should use whatever makes our life easier. And being able to see our small child at all times certainly relieved some of the stress we felt as parents.