Tuck · Blog
The Tuck blog
Long-form writing on what actually matters when you're picking and using a baby monitor in 2026 — what AI is good at, what it isn't, how voice cloning works, when to trust an app vs hardware, and the line between cry detection and medical claims.
Repurpose an old iPhone as a baby monitor
An old iPhone makes an excellent baby-monitor camera — better camera than most $399 baby cameras, free if you already own one. Models from iPhone XS onward work well. Plug it in, lean it 4-8 feet from the crib, run the right app.
· 8 min read
The best baby monitor for travel without Wi-Fi
If you travel with a baby, your monitor needs to work without Wi-Fi. Three categories qualify: closed-loop 2.4 GHz hardware, Bluetooth-capable phone apps, and walkie-talkie-style audio monitors. Each has tradeoffs. Phone apps with offline Bluetooth — including Tuck — are the most flexible.
· 10 min read
Cry detection vs SIDS detection: what every parent should know
Cry detection is a behavior signal — your baby is making noise, you should check in. SIDS is a diagnosis of exclusion (no clear cause), and no consumer product can detect it. Owlet's FDA-cleared Dream Sock measures pulse oximetry, which is a real medical signal but is not the same as detecting SIDS. Be skeptical of any monitor implying otherwise.
· 9 min read
Voice cloning for baby lullabies, explained
Voice cloning for lullabies works by recording a short sample of a consenting family member, training a voice model, and using it to generate fresh lullabies on demand. The technology is mature in 2026; the ethics are what matter most.
· 9 min read
Do AI baby monitors actually work? An honest answer
AI in baby monitors helps with three real things: better cry detection, scene description so you can glance at a phone instead of staring at a video, and personalized lullabies. It does not detect SIDS, predict sleep, or replace adult supervision. Most of the rest is marketing.
· 9 min read
Are baby monitor apps safe? A privacy audit guide
Most baby monitor apps in 2026 are safe enough — better than the early-2010s hacked-baby-monitor era. The remaining risks are around what data leaves your phone (cloud video recording, AI processing, shared analytics). Pick apps with clear privacy answers and you're fine.
· 9 min read
Baby monitor app vs hardware: an honest comparison
Hardware baby monitors are better at one thing: turn-key setup with no decisions. Phone apps are better at almost everything else: cost, flexibility, image quality (with a modern iPhone), and travel. The exception is closed-loop 2.4 GHz hardware for parents who want zero internet exposure.
· 9 min read
Setting up a baby monitor for grandparents
Grandparents who live far away can monitor a grandchild via the same baby monitor app the parents use — multi-caregiver support is standard in 2026. The setup takes about 5 minutes. The harder part is matching the technology to how technical the grandparent is.
· 8 min read