Baby Monitor - WebRTC Video Monitoring

What is Baby Monitor?

Baby Monitor is a free, open-source WebRTC-based application that turns any two devices with cameras into a real-time baby monitoring system. Stream live video and audio from your baby's room to your phone, tablet, or computer from anywhere in the world.

🎥 Real-Time Video

HD video streaming using WebRTC technology for low-latency monitoring

🔊 Sound Detection

Adjustable audio level monitoring with customizable sensitivity

👶 Motion Detection

Visual motion detection alerts you when baby moves

🔒 Secure Access

Password-protected access with server-side validation

📱 Cross-Platform

Works on desktop and mobile browsers - no app installation needed

🌐 Remote Access

Monitor from anywhere with internet connection

How It Works

Setup Overview

Note: This documentation explains how the baby monitor works. To deploy your own instance, clone the repository from GitHub.

Step 1: Setup Baby View (Camera Device)

Open Baby View: Navigate to the baby view page in your browser
Allow Permissions: Grant camera and microphone access when the browser requests it
Note the Room ID: A 6-digit room code is automatically generated and displayed
Configure Detection: Enable sound and/or motion detection and adjust sensitivity thresholds
Place Device: Position the device with a clear view and keep the page open

Step 2: Setup Parent View (Monitor Device)

Open Parent View: Navigate to the parent view page on your monitoring device
Enter Room ID: Type in the 6-digit room code from the baby view device
Connect: Click "Connect to Baby Monitor"
Monitor: Live video stream appears with real-time alerts for sound/motion detection

Tips for Best Experience

Stable Internet: Use WiFi connection for both devices for best quality
Device Positioning: Ensure the camera has a clear view and is stable
Adjust Sensitivity: Fine-tune sound/motion detection to reduce false alerts
Keep Pages Open: Don't close or minimize the browser on either device
Power Connection: Keep the baby view device plugged in
Test First: Do a test run before actual use to ensure everything works

Technical Details

Technology Stack

WebRTC Socket.io JavaScript HTML5 Cloudflare Functions PWA

How It Works

The baby monitor uses WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) for peer-to-peer video streaming. A signaling server (built with Socket.io) helps establish the connection between devices. Once connected, video and audio stream directly between devices for minimal latency.

Connection Modes:

Local Mode: When both devices are on the same WiFi network, they connect directly using local IP addresses (e.g., 192.168.x.x). No external servers needed for the video stream.
Remote Mode: When monitoring from outside your home network, the app uses Google's free STUN servers (stun.l.google.com) to discover public IP addresses and enable peer-to-peer connection across the internet.

Important: In both modes, video always streams directly peer-to-peer between your devices. Video is never stored, recorded, or routed through any external servers. STUN servers only help discover public IP addresses - they never see or handle your video data.

Privacy & Security

Access protected by server-side password validation
Room codes are randomly generated and expire after use
Video streams directly between your devices (peer-to-peer)
No video recording or storage on servers
Open source - you can review the code on GitHub

Browser Compatibility

Works on modern browsers that support WebRTC:

Chrome/Edge (Desktop & Mobile)
Firefox (Desktop & Mobile)
Safari (Desktop & Mobile iOS 11+)
Opera

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Camera/Microphone Not Working:

Check browser permissions (usually a camera icon in the address bar)
Ensure no other app is using the camera
Try refreshing the page

Connection Failed:

Verify both devices are connected to the internet
Double-check the room ID is entered correctly
Try generating a new room code by refreshing the baby view

Poor Video Quality:

Check your internet connection speed
Move closer to WiFi router
Close other bandwidth-heavy applications

Too Many False Alerts:

Reduce motion detection sensitivity
Increase sound detection threshold
Ensure stable camera placement (avoid moving shadows, fans, etc.)