Guides

Guides for families who live apart.

Straight answers to the questions families ask: calling a TV from a phone, keeping grandparents in the middle of things, staying close to aging parents, and watching the baby privately.

Can I watch my baby monitor on my TV?

Yes. Mirror a phone monitor app to the TV, use a monitor with its own TV app, or use FamilyView on a Samsung TV. Here is how each works and what to check.

Facebook Portal alternatives for family video calls

Meta stopped selling Portal at the end of 2022. The best alternatives for family video calls: smart displays, tablets, and a camera on the TV, compared.

How can a parent who travels for work stay close to the kids?

Keep a steady call time, make calls short and often, leave video messages for the time zones you miss, and keep goodbye rituals. A plan for traveling parents.

How do I turn an old phone into a baby monitor?

Yes, an old Android phone makes a good baby monitor: update it, add a monitor app, mount it 3+ feet from the crib, keep it plugged in, and test it tonight.

How do I video call a TV from my phone?

To video call a TV from your phone, the TV needs a camera and a calling app that rings it. Here is what works, what does not, and how to set it up in minutes.

How to do a bedtime routine over video call

Call early in the routine, keep it calm, read the story, then hand off to the parent at home for brush, book, bed. A simple plan that keeps sleep on track.

How to set up a TV so grandma can see the whole family on a video call

To let grandma see the whole family, put a wide camera on top of your TV, sit back on the couch, and light the room from the front. Step-by-step setup and tips.

How to stay close to aging parents when you live far away

Stay close to aging parents from far away with a steady call routine, a local support circle, key papers in order, and visits with a plan. A practical guide.

How to video call on a Samsung TV

To video call on a Samsung TV, add the Samsung Slim Fit Cam and a calling app on the TV. Here is what you need, how to set up, and how to get a clear picture.

Is a phone baby monitor app safe and private?

It can be, if you check who can watch, lock down the account, avoid ads and tracking, and allow only camera and mic. A plain checklist for any monitor app.

Is there a free baby monitor app with no subscription and no ads?

Yes. FamilyView is free on home Wi-Fi, 8 hours a day, forever, with no ads and no trial clock. Here is how to tell a truly free monitor app from a trial.

Long-distance grandparenting: ideas to stay close to the grandkids

Long-distance grandparenting works best with regular video calls, small rituals, and shared activities. Ideas sorted by age, from babies to teens.

The easiest way for grandparents to video chat on their TV

The easiest way for grandparents to video chat on TV: a camera on their TV and an app the family calls, so they answer with the remote. Setup and tips inside.

What can I do with the Samsung Slim Fit Camera?

The Samsung Slim Fit Camera adds video to your Samsung TV: family video calls, workouts with Samsung Health, and more. What it does and how to use it.

What is the best baby monitor I can check from another state?

Pick a Wi-Fi monitor that works away from home, lets only your family watch, has talk back, and runs on a phone you own. What to look for and how to set it up.

Where should I put the baby monitor camera?

Put it high, angled down at the crib, at least 3 feet from any part of the crib, with every cord out of reach. Never on or inside the crib, says the CPSC.

Try FamilyView free.

The baby monitor is free on your home Wi-Fi forever, and free from anywhere for your first 30 days.