When it comes to childproofing your home, parents have a lot to worry about. Whether it’s children getting into things they shouldn’t, people accessing a home when they definitely shouldn’t, or a toddler getting out of bed and going for a midnight wander, smart devices can help take some of the stress out of parenting.
In this article we’ll be looking at five popular smart-home products that can help you create a safe, secure and child-friendly home.
1. Secure your doors with smart locks
Smart locks help protect your home against intruders by providing customizable, keyless entry.
While smart locks were designed to keep people out, when you have toddlers or young children running around the home, smart locks can also be great for keeping people in. By setting your doors to lock automatically, you can guarantee that your naughty toddler is never going to find the front door unlocked and get themselves into mischief.
Most smart locks can also create temporary codes, virtual keys, or guest accounts, which is perfect for granting people access to your home under certain circumstances or during specific time periods. For example, maybe friends or family are staying with you for the weekend, or your babysitter is scheduled to watch your child for the evening. In these scenarios, using your smart lock to set up temporary access is far safer (and much simpler!) than handing someone the keys to your home.
Many smart locks also provide code-less access. For example, you might unlock the door using your smartphone or fingerprint. Since users don’t have to remember long, complex access codes, smart locks can be a great way to introduce your child to the exciting world of home automation.
Finally, many smart locks come with a companion app, which is perfect for keeping an eye on older children. Don’t completely trust your teenager to leave for school on time? Simply set up a notification, and you’ll be pinged when they finally decide to leave the house.
2. Take your baby monitor to the next level
The thought of cameras inside your home may sound unnerving, but wireless indoor cameras can serve as an extension to the traditional baby monitor.
By installing a Wi-Fi camera in your child’s bedroom, you can check on them at any point, from any room in your home. If someone is babysitting your child, then knowing that you can drop in and see your child at any time can help set your mind at ease.
If you regularly hire a babysitter, then indoor cameras can also serve as a “nanny cam.” If you do plan to use your camera as a nanny cam, then make sure you inform your babysitter – not only is this just good manners, but it’ll also encourage your sitter to be on their very best behaviour.
3. Smart doorbells: see who’s outside
By installing a smart doorbell, you can see exactly who’s at the door before deciding to open it. A smart doorbell can be a useful addition to any smart home security system, but it can be particularly valuable for parents.
If your children are old enough to be left alone, then a smart doorbell can give you some extra peace of mind, since you know that your children won’t be opening the door blind.
4. Monitor your doors, cupboards and drawers
Do your children make a beeline for the one room they’re not supposed to be in?
Door sensors can let you know when your child is entering a forbidden room. You can add these sensors to rooms that contain dangerous items, such as your kitchen, or items that need to be protected from your child, such as your home office with its shiny new computer.
Although they’re called door sensors, you don’t have to be limited to doors. You can add sensors to drawers, cupboards, or anything else that has an opening mechanism. While dangerous items should always be locked away or placed out of reach, a sensor can provide an extra layer of security. For example, if your child manages to figure out how to bypass your supposedly childproof lock, then you’ll still be notified that they’ve opened the kitchen drawer.
Alternatively, door sensors can alert you when your child is leaving an area, such as their bedroom or playroom. You can even use these sensors in combination with rules, so you’re only notified in certain scenarios, such as when your child leaves their bedroom in the middle of the night.
5. Set up a baby cam
Although we already discussed taking your baby monitor to the next level, that doesn’t mean you can’t still utilize a smart baby monitor.
A smart baby monitor lets you keep an eye on your newborn as they’re sleeping, but many can also be configured to provide extra security. For example, some baby monitors will take a photo or video whenever they detect movement.
Beyond security, some smart baby monitors have fun extra features that you won’t necessarily get from a traditional baby monitor, such as multi-colored lights and lullabies that can help soothe your baby to sleep.
Are you a parent with a passion for smart devices? If you have any more ideas for creating a child-friendly smart home, then we’d love to hear them, so be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below!
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