From Security to Snoozing: How TP-Link Tapo Smart Cameras Double as Baby Monitors
Last Updated: 5 February 2025
Here in South Africa, we’re no strangers to home security systems. But what if your trusty security camera could pull double duty as a baby monitor? Enter the TP-Link Tapo Smart Cameras: an affordable, versatile option that doesn’t just help you keep an eye on your little one—it’s a long-term investment you’ll appreciate long after your baby outgrows the crib. Whether it’s catching a toddler mid-escape or spotting teenagers sneaking out, these cameras have you covered.
Ready to find out how they stack up against traditional baby monitors? Let’s dive into the pros, cons, and everything in between!
The Upsides Of Tapo Wifi Cameras
Affordable Longevity
One of the best things about TP-Link Tapo Smart Cameras is how cost-effective and versatile they are. Unlike traditional baby monitors that get packed away once your baby outgrows them, Tapo cameras can seamlessly transition into home security tools. Whether you’re using them to keep an eye on your front door or check on your pets while you’re out, these cameras continue to be useful long after the nursery days are over. It’s a practical investment that adapts to your family’s changing needs while embracing a minimalist approach. By repurposing the same device, you’re not only being eco-friendly but also budget-savvy, avoiding the need to buy multiple gadgets for different stages of life.
Flexible Monitoring for Multiple Rooms and Children
Adding multiple Tapo Smart Cameras to your setup is both easy and budget-friendly, making it perfect for monitoring multiple rooms or children at once. For parents with growing families, this flexibility is a game-changer. Unlike many baby monitors available on the South African the market—which often struggle to accommodate more than one camera—Tapo cameras make it simple to expand. You can even view two cameras side by side on the app for a seamless experience.
As your baby grows, these cameras can transition into part of the Tapo smart home ecosystem. From alarms and door sensors to smart lightbulbs, you can build a fully connected home—all managed through the same app. It’s not just about keeping an eye on your baby; it’s about creating a smarter, more secure living space for your entire family.
Motion Detection and Notifications
One of the most helpful features of Tapo Smart Cameras for parents is baby cry detection. With adjustable sensitivity, it can notify you of everything from soft murmurs to full-on cries. This means you’ll always know when your baby needs attention without being overwhelmed by alerts from everyday background sounds like a fan or traffic. It’s a simple tool that helps make those early months a bit easier to navigate.
As your baby becomes more mobile, motion detection starts to shine. By setting up custom activity zones, you can choose specific areas to monitor, like the crib, nursery door, or play area. This helps you focus on what’s important and reduces unnecessary notifications. Some cameras also offer motion tracking, which automatically follows movement to keep your baby or pet in view—handy for when your little one begins crawling or exploring new spaces. Features like virtual boundary lines can alert you if your toddler moves out of a safe zone or if a pet enters a restricted area.
Later on, these same motion detection features can be used to enhance your home security. From monitoring entryways to keeping an eye on the backyard, the cameras adapt easily to your changing needs.
Camera Quality, Mounting, and Settings
Tapo Smart Cameras are equipped with minimum 1080p Full High Definition, providing crisp, clear visuals to help you capture all of life’s precious moments. The high resolution ensures you can see sharp details, and some models even support higher quality viewing for an enhanced experience. With features like zoom and remote panning, you can easily adjust the view to focus on specific areas, ensuring you never miss a thing.
Some models also allow you to save preset views, making it simple to switch between different angles. For instance, you could have one preset focused on the crib, another for playtime in the room, or even a view of the nursery door. With just a tap, you can toggle between these views remotely, offering convenience and adaptability as your needs change.
When it comes to placement, Tapo cameras are incredibly versatile. Whether you prefer them on a shelf, mounted on a wall, or even hung upside down, these cameras can be positioned to fit your nursery’s layout. This flexibility ensures you get the best view of your baby, no matter the room’s configuration.
Camera Quality, Mounting, and Settings
When it comes to storing footage, Tapo Smart Cameras offer flexible options to suit your needs. You can use a microSD card (up to 512 GB, sold separately) to continuously store footage locally, or you can opt for the Tapo Care Cloud subscription service, which securely saves your video history for up to 30 days. If you only need a live feed, the cameras work straight out of the box, with the option to manually record and save special moments to share with friends and family.
Privacy and Security
Privacy and security are understandably major concerns when using a security camera as a baby monitor. With the Tapo Smart Cameras, these concerns are addressed through robust encryption and data protection measures. Tapo utilises AES 128-bit encryption, a highly secure standard that ensures sensitive data is protected by a 128-bit key, making it nearly impossible to crack. Additionally, the TLS 1.2 encryption protocol ensures your data remains confidential and secure during transmission, preventing eavesdropping or tampering. Together, these features offer reassurance that your camera footage and personal information are safe.
For added peace of mind, Tapo Smart Cameras include practical privacy controls. Features like Privacy Zones allow you to block specific areas from being recorded, ensuring personal spaces remain off-limits. Some models even offer a physical privacy mode, where the camera lens can be closed when not in use, providing an extra layer of control over your household’s privacy.
Sharing Precious Memories
Tapo Smart Cameras make it easy to share the special moments of your baby’s life with loved ones. Through the app, you can invite as many people as you’d like to view live footage and even allow them to receive notifications. Whether it’s your toddler wandering out of bounds or your baby waking up with a cry, these shared alerts can help keep everyone in the loop—especially useful for co-parents or family members lending a hand.
Capturing and sharing funny or heartwarming clips is just as simple. You can save memorable moments directly from the app and download them to share via WhatsApp or email. With the option to insert a microSD card or subscribe to Tapo’s cloud service, you can even save recordings automatically, ensuring you never miss a key milestone. There’s nothing quite like discovering that the camera caught your baby’s first steps without you even realising it at the time.
The Downsides Of Tapo Wifi Cameras
By now, you might be thinking, “This sounds too good to be true—why doesn’t everyone use a Tapo camera as a baby monitor?” While these cameras have a lot to offer, there are a few important considerations to keep in mind before deciding if this option is right for you.
No Parent Unit
One downside of Tapo Smart Cameras is the lack of a dedicated parent unit. Unlike traditional baby monitors—or even some smart baby monitors—that come with a separate screen for constant viewing, Tapo cameras rely entirely on the Tapo app, which you access on your smartphone or tablet. This can be a drawback if you frequently use your phone for other tasks, as you won’t be able to view the live feed and use your phone at the same time.
Notifications will still come through to alert you of movement or crying, but to see your baby, you’ll need to open the app. A practical workaround is to log into the app on multiple devices, such as a tablet or an extra phone, so you can keep the live feed up on one device while using your main phone uninterrupted.
While this approach works well, it’s worth noting that traditional monitors with parent units or dedicated screens can offer a more seamless experience for parents who want to monitor their baby without relying on their primary devices.
Cable Management and Loadshedding Friendliness
Tapo Smart Cameras require a constant power source to operate, as they do not have built-in batteries. They also depend on a stable Wi-Fi connection for features like live streaming, notifications, and remote control via the Tapo app. This reliance on external power and connectivity means that during load-shedding, the camera will stop functioning unless you have a backup power solution in place.
To maintain uninterrupted monitoring, consider pairing the camera with a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) or an inverter. Additionally, your Wi-Fi router will also need backup power to ensure the connection remains stable and the camera can continue streaming and sending alerts.
Safe and secure cable management is another crucial aspect to consider. Ensure all cables are firmly connected and placed out of reach of children to avoid potential hazards like choking or accidental unplugging.
Portability
Once you’ve set up your Tapo Smart Cameras in a spot, it’s generally best to leave it there. The camera’s views and settings often depend on its specific placement, making frequent relocation less practical. Additionally, since the camera needs to be plugged into a power source and doesn’t have a built-in battery, it’s not an ideal solution for on-the-go monitoring. This lack of portability can be a limitation compared to some other baby monitors designed with mobility in mind.
Missing Some Bells and Whistles
It’s important to remember that Tapo Smart Cameras are primarily designed as home security devices. Because of this, they lack some of the specialised features found in traditional or smart baby monitors. For example, they don’t include lullabies, room temperature or humidity sensors, nightlights, or sleep tracking—features that many parents find helpful for creating a soothing nursery environment.
While this might feel like a drawback, the camera’s versatility and longevity make up for it. Tapo Smart Cameras can transition seamlessly from baby monitoring to home security, offering multi-use functionality that many traditional monitors simply can’t match.
So, Whats the Verdict?
Tapo Smart Cameras offer a practical, versatile, and budget-friendly solution for baby monitoring. While they may lack a few of the specialised features of traditional baby monitors—like lullabies, temperature sensors, and dedicated parent units—their adaptability, longevity, and ability to integrate into a smart home ecosystem make them a compelling alternative.
Explore Tapo Smart Cameras
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We’re dedicated to providing you with practical, evidence-based information to help you make the best choices for your growing family. All content is medically reviewed by our in-house doctor and/or experts such as OB-GYNs, doulas, and midwives, and is based on the latest international guidelines, peer-reviewed studies, and reputable sources from academic institutions and medical journals. Learn More
