Nursery safety
Where should I put the baby monitor camera?
Put the camera high on a wall or a tall piece of furniture, angled down at the crib, at least three feet from any part of the crib, with every cord out of the child's reach. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says never to put a monitor inside or on the edge of a crib.
Updated October 26, 2026
Why it matters
The cord is the danger, not the camera.
Most parents think about the view first: can I see her face, can I see the whole crib? The safety agencies think about the cord. The CPSC and the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association warn that cords on baby audio and video monitors are a strangulation hazard when they are within a child's reach, and they report that seven infants and toddlers died in monitor cords between 2002 and 2012, when that warning was published, with three more nearly strangled. The children were 6 to 20 months old (CPSC).
That is why their advice is so specific: place cords at least three feet away from any part of the crib, bassinet, play yard or other sleep space; never put a monitor inside or on the edge of a crib; and check every corded product in the room, including ones mounted on the wall. In a separate recall notice the CPSC put it simply: never place corded cameras within three feet of a crib, and make sure the cords are out of arm's reach (CPSC recall notice).
The good news is that the safest spot is also the one with the best view. A camera high up and a few feet back sees the whole mattress. A camera clipped to the rail sees half of it.
Step by step
How to place a baby monitor camera safely
- 1
Measure three feet from every side of the crib
Use a tape measure, not a guess. Three feet from the rails, the corners and the ends. That is the CPSC minimum for the monitor and its cord (CPSC). Anything closer is too close.
- 2
Go up, then angle down
Mount the camera on the wall or set it on top of a tall dresser or shelf, outside that three-foot line. Point it down at the mattress. From up high, you see the whole sleep space and the baby's face without the rails in the way.
- 3
Route the cord where hands cannot reach
Run the cord along the wall and away from the crib, behind furniture, or through a cord cover. Plug into an outlet that is also away from the crib. If you are using a phone as the camera, its charging cable counts as a monitor cord.
- 4
Check the crib itself is bare
While you are standing there, look at the crib. The AAP says to use a fitted sheet only, with nothing else in the crib: no pillows, blankets, bumper pads or toys (AAP). Nothing should hang over the crib, either.
- 5
Look at the view on the screen you will use
Open the monitor on your phone or TV with the nursery lights off. You want to see the full mattress and the baby's face. If the picture is too dark, a dim night light away from the baby's eyes usually helps.
- 6
Check again every time the baby grows
Babies roll, then sit, then stand and reach. A cord that was out of reach at 3 months may not be at 9. Look again whenever the baby hits a new stage or you move the crib or any furniture.
Quick reference
Good spots and spots to avoid
| Spot | Safe? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wall mount, high, 3+ feet from the crib | Yes | Out of reach, sees the whole mattress |
| Top of a tall dresser or shelf, 3+ feet away | Yes | Out of reach, if the cord is routed away too |
| Clipped or clamped to the crib rail | No | The CPSC says never on the edge of a crib |
| Inside the crib | No | The CPSC says never inside a crib |
| On a low table beside the crib | No | Too close, and the cord is in reach |
| Across the room at crib height | Safe, poor view | You see the crib side, not the baby |
Source: CPSC Publication 5066. The three-foot rule applies to the monitor and every cord in the sleep area.
Mistakes we see most
Easy to miss, easy to fix.
The cord that drifts
The camera is three feet away, but the cord droops back toward the crib behind the dresser. Follow the whole cord from the camera to the outlet.
Moving the crib
Rearranging the nursery is the moment cords end up in reach. Re-measure whenever the crib moves.
Chasing a closer view
Parents move the camera closer to see the baby's face better. Raising the camera higher and angling it down is the safe way to get a better view.
Forgetting the other cords
Night lights, sound machines and humidifiers count too. The CPSC asks parents to check the location of every product with an electrical cord, including ones mounted on the wall.
Where FamilyView fits
A spare phone, three feet back, on the big screen.
With the FamilyView baby monitor, any spare Android phone is the camera. Put it on a wall mount or a tall shelf at least three feet from the crib, angle it down, and keep its charging cord along the wall and out of reach. Then watch on your own phone, in any web browser, or on the living room Samsung TV (2022 and newer, with FamilyView), where the whole crib fills the screen.
Hold a button to talk and your voice plays in the nursery. Luna Tunes lullabies play in the room, and you can record your own voice between songs. Only your family can watch, the monitor shows who is watching, and one tap pauses the camera for privacy. No ads, nothing sold.
On home Wi-Fi it is free for 8 hours a day, forever. If you want to watch from work or on a trip, the Family plan is $14.99 a month (and every new family can watch from anywhere free for its first 30 days). See the pricing page, or read how to turn an old phone into a baby monitor.
Questions about where the monitor goes
How far should a baby monitor be from the crib?
At least three feet from any part of the crib, bassinet or play yard, for the monitor and its cord. That is the CPSC guidance (CPSC).
Can I attach the monitor to the crib?
No. The CPSC says never to position a monitor inside or on the edge of a crib. Mount it on the wall or a tall piece of furniture instead.
What is the best angle for a baby monitor camera?
From above, looking down at the mattress. A high camera sees the whole sleep space and the baby's face without the rails blocking the view.
Does the three-foot rule apply to a phone used as a monitor?
Yes. A phone on its charger is a corded monitor. Keep the phone and the charging cable at least three feet from the crib and out of reach.
Is it safe to have a camera in the nursery at all?
Placed by the CPSC guidance, yes. Remember that a monitor helps you see; it does not lower SIDS risk. Back to sleep, a firm flat surface and a bare crib do (NIH Safe to Sleep).
Sources
- Infants and Toddlers Can Strangle in Baby Monitor Cords (CPSC Publication 5066), the three-foot rule, never in or on the edge of a crib, incident figures
- CPSC recall notice on corded video baby monitors (2011), never within three feet of a crib, cords out of arm's reach
- A Parent's Guide to Safe Sleep (AAP, HealthyChildren.org), a fitted sheet only in the crib
- Ways to Reduce Baby's Risk (NIH Safe to Sleep)
A safe spot, a clear view, and only your family watching.
Set up the free FamilyView monitor with a phone you already own. Free on home Wi-Fi, forever, with no ads.