If you’re a parent, you probably bought or used a baby monitor. But when choosing one, is there more to consider than just range, convenience, and price?
The baby monitor; that humble bit of kit that every parent has, so that we can keep an eye on our children overnight while they’re sleeping. Depending on the one you chose, you could be checking in from your lounge or maybe checking in from your local.
But what should we actually be thinking about before we splash out on a particular monitor? Is it a simple case of choosing the most affordable one? Is the “top of the range” model with its ££££ price tag, exhaustive features and ability to make you a coffee in the morning* really the best one?
Broadly speaking, there’s three types of baby monitor:
- Audio only monitors
- Short-range audio/video monitors
- Smart monitors
The audio only type are the ones that our parents likely would have used many years ago, before digital cameras became ubiquitous. They let you hear when your child is upset or awake, maybe there’s a “talkback” function so you can talk to them, but that’s pretty much it.
The short-range AV monitors are more modern, and let you see and hear your child. The addition of the video feed makes it easier to check in on your child, say to check whether they’re asleep after you’ve put them down. I call these “short-range” because they are; the link between the monitor in your child’s room and the parent unit is a low-power radio link. It’s not too different to the connection between your phone and your Bluetooth headphones, or your tablet and your Wi-Fi router.
Lastly, smart monitors are the ones which link up to your home Wi-Fi. This lets you check in on the feed from anywhere, at any time. Super convenient if, say, you’re back at work and you’re missing your little one.
But who watches the watchers?
On one hand, the idea of a smart monitor sounds great from a convenience point of view. You can literally check it from anywhere! Little one asleep and you need to pop to the corner shop for some milk? Easily done with a smart monitor, so you’ve not got to wait until they wake up for your next brew. (Assuming you’re comfortable with doing this!)
On the other hand, maybe you’re like me and you’ve read the stories about people’s “smart” cameras being “hacked” over the years. Here’s a few, if you want to have a read:
- Parents say baby monitor was hacked, someone talked to child (NY Post)
- Smart camera and baby monitor warning given by UK’s cyber-defender (BBC News)
It’s important to mention that these risks aren’t unique to baby monitors. Any “smart” device that you or I can buy and connect to our home networks comes with a security risk. However, we’re talking about tech that’s going to be watching our children. It’s understandable to be a bit more wary here than you might be with other tech.
Fortunately, at least for those of us in the UK, things ought to be improving here.
“Things can only get better” – D:Ream
New devices with improved security
In response to the frankly dire state of security on “smart” devices, the UK Government tried to improve things with two new pieces of legislation:
- The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act 2022, and
- The Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (Security Requirements for Relevant Connectable Products) Regulations 2023
As a result of these Acts, which came into full force in the UK on the 29th April 2024, companies which manufacture and sell “smart” devices to UK consumers must meet certain minimum standards when it comes to the security and ongoing support of their products.
Making your choice
When the time came for my wife and I to buy a baby monitor, having my Cyber Dad hat on we opted for a non-smart model. I don’t, where possible, go for “smart” anything. We settled on an audio/video model from a large, established, well-known manufacturer which was within our price range. A bigger company has more to lose if the product sucks or doesn’t comply with the law.
Ultimately, when it comes to making your choice you hopefully ought to be secure as standard as a UK consumer. In fact, I’d like to think that by extension you should be covered wherever you are. It’s more complex, and more expensive, to make two versions of one product. Since the UK is demanding secure as standard, it’s easier for a manufacturer to just make everything compliant.
Even so, if you’re being environmentally or budget conscious and looking at second-hand monitors then you may need to be a bit more wary. The rules only came into full force in April 2024. So, anything sold after that date ought to be compliant with the UK law. If it’s older, it may not have quite the same level of secure defaults.
Fortunately, there are resources available to help you make an informed decision.
Helping you make an informed choice
The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) have created a brief, helpful guide for securing your smart devices. It’s freely available on their website, or you can find the link on our helpful resources page.
Additionally, the consumer group Which UK have an independent review of a number of baby monitors across all three of the categories I described above. A free summary of each of the models they reviewed is available. Unfortunately, the detailled review requires you to subscribe.
In conclusion
So in summary, while there have been horror stories about the safety of “smart” monitors these are fortunately the rare exception and not the rule. With the new laws coming into force in the UK, hopefully smart device security will improve for everyone and not just us Brits. A rising tide and all that.
If you’re buying a new baby monitor, whatever you choose ought to be reasonably secure as standard. Buy the one that has the features you need or want, and that sits within your budget.
Thanks, as ever, for reading and we’ll see you again for more thoughts from The Cyber Dad.
— TTFN
* I haven’t found a baby monitor which actually makes your morning brew, but what a feature that would be, eh?