Review of using Tapo C200 as a baby monitor for six months

2025-09-11

I have used TP-Link's indoor camera 'Tapo C200' as a baby monitor for one year.

It's inexpensive, around 3,000 to 4,000 yen, and notifies your smartphone if your baby moves while sleeping in another room.

To start with the conclusion, I can't live without it anymore! It's super convenient.

Why do I think so?

And I will summarize the actual shooting screen, usability, camera body, and initial setup.

Purchasing through this button would be encouraging!

[Amazon Alexa Certified] TP-Link Network Wi-Fi Camera Pet Camera Full HD Indoor Camera Night Vision Two-Way Audio Motion Detection Smartphone Notification Dome Security Camera Tapo C200 3-Year Warranty

Actual Shooting Screen
- Image Quality is Sufficient
How to Use / Usability
- About Motion Detection
Camera Appearance / Included Items
- SD Card Not Required
Initial Setup
- How to Reconfigure When the Wi-Fi Environment Changes

Actual Shooting Screen

First, I'll show you the actual shooting screen.
These are unedited, straight-out-of-camera shots.

Here's what it looks like during the day. No baby, though...

Here's what it looks like at night.

It automatically switches to night mode when it's dark.

You can also record.

Image Quality is Sufficient

You can choose between 1080p and 720p for image quality. I have set it to the lower quality 720p to prioritize Wi-Fi stability, but I think the image quality is sufficient.

Looking at Yahoo! Shopping, there are options from 2 to 8 megapixels. I was a little worried if the cheapest 2-megapixel option would be sufficient, but

Higher image quality requires more Wi-Fi stability, so I'm glad I went with 2 megapixels.

Purchasing through this button would be encouraging!

How to Use / Usability

Here are the actual app screens and my impressions of its usability.

This device does not have a dedicated sub-unit; you use your smartphone as the sub-unit (monitor).

In my home, I use a spare Android smartphone as a dedicated Tapo device.

You need to install the Tapo app on your smartphone and register as a member.

TP-Link Tapo

TP-Link Systems Inc.Freeposted withAppreach

When you launch the app, a screen like this opens.(Initial setup complete)

Tapping the red frame allows you to view the video, and tapping the orange frame allows you to toggle the camera on/off.

When you open the video, a screen like this appears.

First, tap "Pan & Tilt" to adjust the camera angle.

Tapping the camera icon allows you to take photos,
and tapping the video icon allows you to record videos.

Taken photos are saved to your smartphone's camera roll.

Tapping this icon or turning your smartphone sideways

allows you to view in full screen.

Tapping the split icon in the bottom right

allows you to view multiple Tapo feeds simultaneously.

It seems you can view multiple Tapo feeds simultaneously even if you install them in multiple rooms.

Although I don't use it as a baby monitor, you can also make calls from the phone icon.

About Motion Detection

Let's look at the motion detection feature, which notifies you when your baby moves.

From "Settings" in the top right

"Detection"

Tap "Motion Detection"

Motion detection settings open.

You can adjust the sensitivity; increasing the value will notify you of even slight movements,
while decreasing the value will only notify you of significant movements.

In my home, I keep it at the default setting of 6.

Notifications arrive like this.

When I'm off guard, watching TV or something, and it rings "Piroon," I can't help but gasp. (laughs)

You might think I'm overly sensitive, but when the baby is sleeping in another room, like on the second floor, having this definitely gives me peace of mind.

Notifications arrive even when your smartphone is asleep, so you don't necessarily need to keep the screen on.

There's also a baby crying detection feature, but I prefer to be notified when the baby moves rather than cries, so I have crying detection turned off in my home.

Purchasing through this button would be encouraging!

Camera Appearance / Included Items

Let's look at the camera's appearance and included items.

The included items are like this.

The camera body, power cable, manuals, and wall-mounting parts are included.

Again, here's what the camera body looks like.

Its diameter is approximately 86mm, and its height is approximately 118mm.

There's a speaker on the back.

The bottom has indentations for wall mounting.

SD Card Not Required

If you manually tilt the camera all the way up, you'll find the MicroSD card slot and the reset button.

I think an SD card is not necessary when using it as a baby monitor.

It's good to use if you want to record continuously, such as for a security camera.

The reset button is used when the Wi-Fi changes, such as when you visit your parents' home.

For details, see below.

Purchasing through this button would be encouraging!

Initial Setup

I will explain how to perform the initial setup.

Install the Tapo app and register as a member.

TP-Link Tapo

TP-Link Systems Inc.Freeposted withAppreach

Connect Tapo to an outlet and turn on the power.

At this time, a loud "Piroon" sound will play, so do this when the baby is awake.

When you open the Tapo app, it will initially look like this.

If it's your first time, create an account from "Create TP-Link ID".

Once account creation is complete, "Home" will open, so proceed to register Tapo.
Tap "Add Device" from the "+" in the top right.

Select "Tapo C200". (Please match the model you purchased)

Confirm that Tapo is blinking green and red, then tap "Next".

Connect to Tapo's Wi-Fi.

Open your smartphone's Wi-Fi settings and connect to "Tapo_Cam_XXXX". (No password entry is required)

Return to the Tapo app and tap "Connected".

Once the connection is complete, you'll see a screen to select the Wi-Fi Tapo will use, so specify your home's Wi-Fi.
Checking "Save password" is convenient for reconnecting when you visit your parents' home or return afterward.

It is said that 2.4GHz Wi-Fi is more stable than 5GHz, so in my home, I connect to the 2.4GHz band. (If you don't know, don't worry about it)

It will say "Connecting to network".

Once the connection is complete, a "Piroon" sound will play again, so be careful.

Name the device. Anything is fine. (Can be changed later)

Set the installation location. Anything is fine. (Can be changed later)

Set the icon. Anything is fine. (Can be changed later)

Great job! Setup complete.

Cloud storage is not needed, so close with "Stop" and "OK".

Local storage settings will be displayed, but for now, it's not needed for a baby monitor, so tap "OK".
For firmware updates, also tap "OK" with the default settings.

Tapo has been added to "My Home"!

How to Reconfigure When the Wi-Fi Environment Changes

I will explain how to reconfigure when the Wi-Fi environment changes, such as when you visit your parents' home.

First, install Tapo and connect it to an outlet.

Connect your smartphone to Wi-Fi and open the Tapo app.

Then, Tapo will be "Offline", so tap it.

It will say "Cannot connect to device", so tap "Details".

Scroll down a bit and tap "Reconnect smart device to Wi-Fi" in the "If the LED is slowly blinking red" section.

It should be blinking red now, so tap "Is the LED not blinking red and green?"

Perform a reset.
Manually push Tapo upwards and press the reset button for 5 seconds.
Once you hear the "Piroon" sound, wait about 30 seconds just in case, then tap "Already Reset" on the left screen.

You will return to the previous screen, so confirm that Tapo is blinking green and red, then tap "Next".

From here on, the steps are exactly the same as here, so I will omit them.

Even when you return home from your parents' house or elsewhere, the Wi-Fi environment changes, so you'll need to perform the same reset operation again.

If you move frequently, it might be troublesome, so buying an additional one specifically for your parents' home might be an option.

That concludes the review of using TP-Link's indoor camera Tapo C200 as a baby monitor.

If you're considering it, please get one and gain peace of mind.

Purchasing through this button would be encouraging!