How to Use an iPhone as a Nanny Cam

Dust off your iPhone and put it to work for you as a nanny cam. Thanks to new applications, you can use your iPhone as an extra pair of eyes to see what your kids, pets or babysitter might be up to when you aren't home.

Your iPhone can double as a nanny cam. (Image: Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images)

Step 1

Choose and install a nanny cam app on your iPhone. Various applications can help turn your iPhone into a nanny cam. The average cost for a nanny cam app is around $4.99, as of the date of publication. Nanny cam apps include iCam, Foscam, Splashtop Cam Cam, Live Cams Pro and JumiCam Webcam Streamer. If your iPhone is much older and running an outdated operating system, iWebcam is another nanny cam app that is designed for compatibility with both older and current operating systems. The nanny cam apps allow you to remotely access the video feed from another iPhone, iPad or computer.

Step 2

Create a free email account specifically for nanny cam pictures. Most nanny cam apps allow you to set a motion detector that automatically captures and sends still photographs of any action that goes on in front of the camera. Creating a free email account specifically for this purpose is helpful because not only will it prevent your personal email account from getting bogged down with multiple emails from the app, but it also stores all surveillance documentation in one location that you can refer to at any time without having to sift through unrelated messages.

Step 3

Set your iPhone to silent mode so your nanny or children know they are being monitored. Keeping the phone on silent mode prevents it from making a sound each time it takes a photo.

Step 4

Choose a location for iPhone placement and mount it. The ideal spot for iPhone placement is discreet enough to avoid detection but central enough to capture a good view of common areas or particular areas of interest. Mount the iPhone higher up for a bird's eye view of the room as a whole or at eye-level for a closer view of any action that takes place in its line of sight.

Step 5

Plug the iPhone in or ensure it is fully charged each day before use. Because running the nanny cam app will drain your iPhone's power supply, your best bet is to run continuous power to it by plugging it in. If the location of the iPhone hinders your ability to keep it plugged in at all times, charge the phone completely before use and keep in mind that the battery might not last as long as you would like the surveillance to.

Things You'll Need

• Two iPhones with Internet connection

• A nanny cam app

Tip

Test out the nanny cam by viewing its feed on your second iPhone or computer to ensure that it's working properly and that you have a good view of the desired area.

Warning

Do not set up a nanny cam in bathrooms or in any area where privacy is expected.