Can You Use A Ring Cam As A Baby Monitor? Everything You Need To Know.

So, it’s you want to keep a close eye on the little one, and with all the tech available, you know there have to be several options. Ring Cams are affordable, can be viewed from anywhere, they’re easy to set up and off two-way communication.

That being said, should you use a Ring Cam as a baby monitor?

The short answer is that you can use a Ring Cams as a makeshift baby monitor, but there are a few setbacks that may not be worth it with other options readily available. Let’s look at all the possibilities and break down your best options

What is Ring Cam?

Ring Cams are used to provide home security monitoring (Click here for an entire article on Ring Cams) accessible via smart devices. Depending on the model, they can be used either indoors, outdoors, or both. The Ring security cameras come in several models:

Image	Title	Indoor	Outdoor	Built-in Lights	Price	Prime	Buy
TopTop	Ring Indoor Cam	✔	X	X		PrimeEligible	View on Amazon
Top	Ring Stick Up Cam	✔	✔	X		PrimeEligible	View on Amazon
Top	Ring Spotlight Cam	X	✔	✔		PrimeEligible	View on Amazon
Top	Ring Floodlight Cam	X	✔	✔		PrimeEligible	View on Amazon

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Are the Ring Spotlight and Floodlight Cams Waterproof? Here’s what you need to know.

Ring Cam Features and Specifications:

• HD Video & Two-Way Talk
• Motion-Activated Notifications
• Night Vision
• 1080p HD Video
• Record footage with Protect (Subscription Plan)
• Built-in Siren alarm
• Battery/Solar/Wired Power (Depending on model)

With Ring Cams, you can receive notifications in real-time when motion is detected. You can also check on your cameras at any time using the “live view” mode in 1080p HD directly on your smartphone. There’s also the ability to use two-way talk.

This allows you to communicate back and forth with the recipient, similar to a walkie talkie. Though a separate subscription is required, they can also be used to record footage. With all these features, why not use Ring Cam as a baby monitor?

Ring Cams can be used in a pinch as a baby monitor, but they would lack the functionality of other, cheaper alternatives available.

The Ring Cam is capable of live streaming footage in 1080p HD available at any time, making it an ideal candidate for a baby monitor. Similarly, the ability to speak to the recipient (two-way talk) allows for quick communication with your little ones.

Combined with a smart tablet, it makes sense why this setup could be considered for a baby monitor. There are, however, several drawbacks of the Ring Cam that might suggest there are better, more affordable baby monitor options available. 

(Check out this review of Blink Cams. They are a great alternative to Ring!)

Ring As A Baby Monitor: Maybe Not The Best Choice

• Bright Blue LED

One major issue with using the Ring Cam as a baby monitor is the bright blue LED light on the unit. When the Ring Cam detects motion, a bright blue LED illuminates the subject, causing a spotlight effect.

Understandably, this could be very disruptive to a sleeping infant. There is evidently no way to disable the blue LED either, making it less than ideal as a baby monitor.

• Delay After Recording Events

When the Ring Cam detects motion, it begins recording the footage. However, once the motion is no longer present, the footage ends, followed by a 60-second interval before resuming again. This may not seem like a long time, but when the footage is so important, any amount of time can potentially be significant. Delays or lag can also be increased depending on the amount of battery left on the device as well.

• Limited Time with Live View

The live view streaming uses a significant amount of the Ring Cam’s battery, limiting the amount of time you would be able to use the feature. This could potentially be a drawback for monitoring young children, especially during the night. Purchasing a wired model might help resolve this issue.

While Ring as a baby monitor might not be the greatest of choice, there are plenty of great options. Here are a couple more cams to look at and then we have 3 awesome baby monitors with 2-way video/audio communication and much more.

Are Ring Video Doorbells worth the money? This should give you an idea…

Alternative Cams as Baby Monitors

If you’re looking to use a security camera as a baby monitor, there are a few more alternatives that are better suited for this purpose.

Nest Cam (1080p HD) As A Baby Monitor

The Nest Cam (click to check current pricing on Amazon) is a strong alternative to the Ring Cams. With its wide range of view and 24/7 live video streaming, it has clear potential to be used as a baby monitor. However, the high amount of internet data required to use as a live streaming smart device could be a downside to many.

• Pros:
  • 24/7 live video
  • 130° view
  • 1080p HD Video
  • Day/Night Video

• Cons:
  • Unable to use outdoors
  • Live streaming requires high internet data usage

Wyze Cam (1080p HD) As a Baby Monitor

Despite the limited range of vision and more basic functionalities, the Wyze Cam (Click here to check out the current price on Amazon) is an extremely affordable security camera and is an excellent candidate to be used as a baby monitor.

Ring Stick Up Cam vs. Nest cam vs. Wyze

Image	Title	Smart Home Capability	Price	Prime	Buy
TopTop	Ring Stick Up Cam - Battery	Alexa		PrimeEligible	View on Amazon
Top	Google Nest Cam Indoor	Alexa		PrimeEligible	View on Amazon
Top	Wyze Cam Pan	Alexa, Google Home		PrimeEligible	View on Amazon

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Smart Video Baby Monitors

Alternatively, there are also smart video baby monitors on the market that might suit the need. As these devices are intended to be used as baby monitors, they offer more features than would be found on a security camera. Here are a few examples of some popular models on the market:

Click here to check out our Article on Alexa enabled smart video baby monitors.

Nanit Plus Baby Monitor

The Nanit Plus is a smart baby monitor with the ability to monitor both temperature and humidity. You can monitor your baby’s breathing with the compatible Breathing Wear as well.

This, in my opinion, is the mack daddy of all smart baby monitors. You can view Nanit’s current pricing on Amazon here.

• Features:
  • Sleep Tracking – The Nanit Plus can track the sleeping patterns of your baby
  • Can be used with smart devices (iPhone, Android, etc.)
  • Two-way Audio 
  • Alexa compatible
  • Humidity and Temperature Sensors
  • Night Vision 

Hubble Hugo Baby Monitor

The Hubble Hugo has a viewing angle of 360°. It also has Alexa pre-built in, allowing for AI capabilities.

Check out Hubble Hugo’s current pricing here on Amazon.

This robotic baby monitor creates an alert on your phone every time there is a notable fuss or cry coming from the room and will allow you to immediately engage in video/audio communication.  There’s also a closing feature that closes a robotic eyelid for privacy when you’d like it.

• Features:
  • AI Functionality (capable of telling lullabies and stories)
  • Two-Way Audio
  • Automatically switches to night vision
  • 360° viewing angle

Cocoon Cam Plus Baby Monitor

The Cocoon Cam Plus (found here on Amazon) has the built-in ability to monitor breathing patterns with no extra attachments required. Smart devices can receive instant notification alerts indicating changes in breathing.

• Features:
  • Built-in breathing monitor
  • Instant Alerts for changes in breathing or movement patterns
  • BPM Display
  • Night Vision

As these devices are dedicated for the purpose of being used as a baby monitor, they offer more features to accomplish that goal. They not only have additional features, but many have the same features one would get buying a security camera for this purpose as well.

Nanit Plus vs. Hubble Hugo vs. Cocoon Cam Plus

Summary

There are many options available for people who want access to smart home technology with baby monitoring capabilities.

Though a Ring Cam could be used as a baby monitor, they lack many features that more affordable products with similar functionalities offer.

I would recommend shelling out a few more dollars to get a smart video baby monitor. My suspicions are that you’ll be much more satisfied with your purchase and content with the safety of your child.