Have you ever asked, “Can I use Alexa as a baby monitor?”
I did. Right after my second baby was born.
Our old monitor broke. I needed a quick fix.
So I tried Alexa. And guess what?
It worked.
In this post, I’ll show you how I did it.
What worked. What didn’t. And how you can set it up.
Yes, Alexa Can Be a Baby Monitor
But it depends on your needs.
Alexa is great for short checks—like during naps or while you cook.
Not great for all-night use.
I put an Echo Show in the baby’s room.
I had an Echo Dot in the kitchen.
I used the Drop In feature to listen in.
If you want a low-cost way to check on your baby, Alexa can help.
But make sure your WiFi is strong. Learn how to test WiFi strength in your home
Why I Tried Alexa
I’m a mom. I’m busy.
My baby monitor stopped working.
I didn’t want to buy a new one right away.
Then I saw our Echo.
I thought, “Why not try it?”
We had an Echo Show and an Echo Dot.
I also had the Alexa app.
I used Drop In to hear my baby.
It felt like a little helper.
For naps and short checks, it worked well.
And I didn’t spend a thing.
Best Alexa Features for Baby Monitoring
Drop In
This is the best tool.
You can connect to another Echo.
No one has to answer.
I used it every day.
I said, “Alexa, Drop In on Nursery.”
Then I could see and hear my baby.
Just make sure Drop In is turned on in the Alexa app.
All your devices should be on the same Amazon account.
Two-Way Talk
You can speak through Alexa.
If my baby cried, I said, “Mama’s here.”
That helped sometimes.
Alexa Calling
Someone has to answer.
Not useful for a baby.
Announcements
These are one-way.
You can’t hear back.
Not good for monitoring.
Best Devices to Use
- Echo Show – This gives sound and video. I used the Echo Show 5.
- Echo Dot – For sound only. I kept it in the kitchen.
- Alexa App – I used Drop In from my phone when I was out.
What You Need
- Good WiFi
- Devices on the same Amazon account
Drop In turned on
How to Turn On Drop In
Open Alexa app:
→ Go to Devices
→ Tap Echo & Alexa
→ Choose your device
→ Tap Communications
→ Enable Drop In
How to Set It Up (Step-by-Step)
- Put one Echo in the baby’s room.
- Put another Echo where you’ll be.
- Turn on Drop In in the Alexa app.
- Say, “Alexa, Drop In on [Baby’s Room Name].”
- That’s it!
Privacy Tips
- Set Drop In to “My Household” only
- Turn off Drop In on devices you don’t use
- Mute the mic when you’re not using it
Quick Tip: The mic button turns red when off.
My Honest Experience
What Worked:
- Drop In helped during the day
- I could hear my baby while cooking
- Saying “Mama’s here” calmed him
Easy setup—no wires or cost
What Didn’t Work:
- The app froze once
- WiFi dropped another time
- Sound was delayed sometimes
Why I Switched at Night
At night, I needed more.
Alexa doesn’t send alerts.
It has no night vision.
I had to keep listening.
That was hard when I was tired.
So I got a real baby monitor.
It had alerts. A clear screen.
Now I sleep better.
When I Still Use Alexa
I still use it during the day.
For naps.
For travel.
At Grandma’s, I bring the Echo Show.
It works well in bright rooms.
Is Alexa Safe for Baby Monitoring?
Yes—if you set it up right.
I was nervous at first.
“What if someone else uses Drop In?”
So I did this:
- Set Drop In to My Household
- Turned off Drop In on devices I don’t use
- Checked settings each week
How to Turn Off Drop In for Others
- Open the Alexa app
- Tap Communicate → Contacts
- Pick a contact
- Turn off Allow Drop In
Takes 30 seconds.
Keeps your home safe.
Security Tips
- Restart your devices once a week
- Use strong passwords
- Turn on two-factor login
Mute the mic when not in use
When Not to Use Alexa
Overnight Use
No alerts.
No motion detection.
You must keep listening.
Use a real baby monitor for night checks.
Weak WiFi
If WiFi drops, Alexa stops.
Even a small lag can be risky.
If your WiFi isn’t stable, don’t use Alexa.
No Night Vision
Most Echo devices don’t see well in the dark.
A soft light helps—but not enough.
Use a real monitor if you need to see at night.
Best Alexa Devices in 2025
Echo Show 5 / 8 / 10
Great for video.
The 8 and 10 have bigger screens and better sound.
Note: No night vision. Use a small light.
Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Great for sound.
Small and easy to move.
Final Thoughts
Yes—you can use Alexa as a baby monitor.
It works well for naps and short checks.
It’s quick and free—if you already own Echo devices.
But it’s not great at night.
No alerts. No night vision.
Just sound.
When Alexa Is Enough
- During the day
- For naps
- When traveling
- At Grandma’s house
When Alexa Is Not Enough
- At night
- With weak WiFi
- If you need alerts
If you want video in the dark
My Honest Take
If you’re in a pinch, Alexa is helpful.
If you’re looking for deep sleep and full security—get a real monitor.
Still, Alexa helped me breathe when I needed it most.
And sometimes, that’s all a parent needs.
Q1: Can I use Alexa as a baby monitor without WiFi?
No, Alexa needs a strong WiFi connection to work as a baby monitor. Without internet, features like Drop In won’t work. Learn more about setup tips in the full post.
Q2: Is it safe to leave Alexa on all night?
Technically yes, but not ideal. Alexa doesn’t send alerts or have night vision, so it’s risky for full-night monitoring. Discover safer options inside the article.
Q3: Can I monitor baby from work using Alexa?
Yes, if you have the Alexa app and Drop In is enabled. Just tap and listen. Make sure your home WiFi and Echo devices are online. Learn how to set it up inside.
Q4: Can Alexa detect baby crying?
Alexa can’t detect cries like smart monitors. It only streams sound when you Drop In. So you must keep checking manually. Find smarter baby tech options inside.
Q5: What’s the best Alexa routine for baby monitoring?
Use the Drop In feature with an Echo Show in the nursery and an Echo Dot or app with you. It’s simple, fast, and free. Check out step-by-step setup tips here.
Q6: Can I use Alexa as a baby monitor and play white noise at the same time?
Not with one device. But if you have two Echos, one can play white noise and the other can Drop In. Learn how to set it up for better naps in the full guide.
Q7: Will Alexa notify me if the baby makes a noise?
No. Alexa doesn’t give alerts for noise or crying. You have to listen manually through Drop In. For real-time alerts, a baby monitor works better. Find out why.
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