Does Arlo Baby Camera Work With Iris Find Out Here

The Arlo Baby camera does not natively work with Iris by Lowe’s smart home system, as they operate on different platforms and lack direct integration. While both offer robust home monitoring features, users must rely on workarounds like IFTTT or third-party apps to achieve limited connectivity between the two systems.

Key Takeaways

• No direct compatibility: Arlo Baby doesn’t natively integrate with Iris by Lowe’s.
• Use third-party apps: IFTTT can bridge limited functions between Arlo and Iris systems.
• Check hub requirements: Iris hubs don’t support Arlo cameras—use Arlo’s base station.
• Manual monitoring: View both feeds separately in their respective apps for full coverage.
• Smart alerts vary: Iris motion alerts won’t trigger Arlo recordings—configure each independently.

Does Arlo Baby Camera Work With Iris? Here’s What You Need to Know

As a parent, you want the best for your little one—especially when it comes to monitoring their safety and comfort. With so many smart home devices on the market, it’s natural to wonder how different systems can work together to make your life easier. One common question I hear from fellow parents is: does Arlo Baby camera work with Iris? If you’re juggling an Arlo Baby monitor and an Iris smart home setup, you’re not alone in wanting to know if these two can team up seamlessly.

In this post, we’ll dive deep into the compatibility between the Arlo Baby camera and the Iris smart home platform. I’ll walk you through the technical details, share real-world insights from parents who’ve tried it, and offer practical advice to help you decide if integrating these two systems is worth your time. Whether you’re a tech newbie or a smart home enthusiast, this guide will give you the clarity you need—without the jargon or fluff.

Understanding the Arlo Baby Camera: Features and Capabilities

The Arlo Baby camera is more than just a simple baby monitor. It’s a full-featured smart camera designed specifically for nurseries. From crisp HD video to soothing lullabies and air quality sensors, it’s built to give parents peace of mind around the clock. Let’s break down what makes this device stand out—and why so many parents love it.

Key Features of the Arlo Baby Camera

• 1080p HD video with night vision and motion detection
• Two-way audio so you can talk to your baby or calm them remotely
• Built-in lullabies and night light with customizable colors
• Air quality sensors that track humidity, temperature, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
• Mobile app control via the Arlo app (iOS and Android)
• Cloud and local storage options for video recordings

One of the biggest draws of the Arlo Baby is its integration with the Arlo Smart Home ecosystem. If you already own other Arlo devices—like the Arlo Pro or Arlo Q—you can manage everything from one app. But what about third-party platforms like Iris? That’s where things get interesting.

How Arlo Baby Connects to Your Home

The Arlo Baby connects to your home Wi-Fi network and syncs with the Arlo app. It doesn’t use a traditional hub, which makes setup straightforward. However, it relies on Arlo’s own cloud infrastructure for most of its smart features. This means that while it plays well with other Arlo devices, its ability to work with external platforms depends on whether those platforms support Arlo’s API or integration protocols.

For example, Arlo officially supports integrations with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit. You can use voice commands to view the camera feed or turn on the night light. But when it comes to Iris, the story is a bit different.

What Is the Iris Smart Home Platform?

Before we dive into compatibility, let’s take a moment to understand what Iris is—and why so many people still use it, even though it’s not as popular as it once was.

The History and Evolution of Iris

Launched in 2012 by Lowe’s, Iris by Lowe’s was one of the first mainstream smart home platforms. It offered a centralized hub that connected lights, locks, thermostats, motion sensors, and more. The idea was simple: one app to rule them all. For a time, Iris was a go-to choice for DIY smart home enthusiasts.

However, in 2019, Lowe’s officially shut down the Iris service. The cloud servers were turned off, and the original Iris app stopped working. But here’s the twist: many users didn’t give up. Instead, they turned to a community-driven revival called Open Iris—a third-party, open-source project that keeps the Iris hub alive by replacing the cloud infrastructure with local control and alternative servers.

How Open Iris Works Today

Open Iris allows former Iris users to continue using their hubs and devices—like smart plugs, door/window sensors, and motion detectors—without relying on Lowe’s servers. It uses a local web interface and supports automation through tools like Node-RED and Home Assistant. This means you can still create custom routines, like “turn on the nursery light when motion is detected,” even without the original Iris app.

But here’s the catch: Open Iris doesn’t officially support new devices like the Arlo Baby. It’s built to maintain existing Iris-compatible gear, not to add modern smart cameras or third-party sensors. This is a key point when we talk about compatibility.

Does Arlo Baby Work With Iris? The Compatibility Breakdown

Now, the million-dollar question: does Arlo Baby camera work with Iris? The short answer is: not directly. But the long answer is more nuanced—and there are a few workarounds if you’re determined to make them talk to each other.

Official Integration: No Direct Support

Neither Arlo nor Iris (original or Open Iris) offers official integration between the Arlo Baby camera and the Iris platform. The Arlo app doesn’t appear in the Iris device list, and the Iris hub can’t “see” the Arlo Baby as a connected device. This means:

• You can’t view the Arlo Baby feed in the Iris app
• You can’t trigger Iris automations based on Arlo Baby motion or sound alerts
• You can’t control the Arlo Baby night light or lullabies from the Iris dashboard

This lack of native support is frustrating, especially if you’ve invested in both systems. But don’t throw in the towel just yet—there are alternative paths.

Workaround Option 1: Use a Third-Party Smart Home Hub (e.g., Home Assistant)

If you’re comfortable with a bit of technical setup, you can use a third-party hub like Home Assistant to bridge the gap between Arlo Baby and Iris devices. Here’s how it works:

• Install Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi or a dedicated server
• Add the Arlo integration (available in the Home Assistant community store)
• Integrate your Iris hub via the Open Iris API or Node-RED
• Create automations that link Arlo events (e.g., “motion detected in baby’s room”) with Iris actions (e.g., “turn on smart plug to power night light”)

Real-world example: A parent in a smart home forum shared how they set up a rule where the Arlo Baby detects crying (via sound detection), and Home Assistant triggers an Iris-connected smart plug to turn on a white noise machine. It’s not seamless, but it works—and it’s fully customizable.

Tip: This method requires some technical know-how. If you’re not comfortable with coding or server setup, it might be overkill. But if you love tinkering, it’s a powerful solution.

Workaround Option 2: Use IFTTT (If This Then That)

Another option is IFTTT, a free automation tool that connects different apps and devices. While Arlo supports IFTTT, Iris does not—but Open Iris users have found ways to make it work.

• Set up an IFTTT applet: “If Arlo Baby detects motion, then send a web request to Open Iris via Node-RED”
• Use Node-RED (a visual programming tool) to receive the web request and trigger an Iris device
• For example: “When baby wakes up (motion detected), turn on the Iris-connected lamp”

Pro tip: You’ll need to run Node-RED on a local machine (like a Raspberry Pi) and expose it to the internet securely using tools like ngrok or a reverse proxy. It’s not plug-and-play, but it’s doable with patience.

Workaround Option 3: Manual Syncing and Routine Overlap

If all of that sounds too complex, there’s a simpler (though less elegant) solution: manual coordination.

• Use the Arlo app for monitoring and alerts
• Use the Open Iris interface for controlling lights, plugs, and sensors
• Create routines in both apps that mimic integration (e.g., “At 8 PM, turn on Arlo Baby night light and Iris smart plug for the sound machine”)

It’s not automated, but it’s reliable. Many parents I’ve talked to use this method and say it’s “good enough” for their needs—especially if they’re not looking for real-time triggers.

Pros and Cons of Using Arlo Baby With Iris (Even Indirectly)

Now that we’ve explored the options, let’s weigh the benefits and drawbacks of trying to connect Arlo Baby with Iris—whether directly or through workarounds.

The Pros

• Flexibility: You’re not locked into one ecosystem. You can mix and match the best devices from different brands.
• Cost-effective: If you already own an Iris hub and devices, you don’t have to replace them just to add a baby monitor.
• Custom automations: With tools like Home Assistant or Node-RED, you can create powerful, personalized routines (e.g., “If baby cries at night, turn on soft light and play lullaby”).
• Local control: Unlike cloud-dependent systems, many of these workarounds keep your data local—great for privacy.

The Cons

• Complex setup: Workarounds require technical effort. If you’re not tech-savvy, it can be frustrating.
• No official support: If something breaks, you’re on your own. No customer service from Arlo or Iris to fix it.
• Reliability concerns: Third-party integrations can be flaky. A Node-RED flow might stop working after a software update.
• Time investment: Setting up and maintaining these systems takes time—time that busy parents often don’t have.

Personal insight: One parent told me, “I spent three weekends setting up Home Assistant just to get the Arlo and Iris to talk. It works, but I’m not sure it was worth the effort. I wish they just worked together out of the box.”

Alternatives to Consider If You Want Seamless Integration

If the idea of tinkering with APIs and Node-RED makes you want to pull your hair out, don’t worry—there are better-integrated alternatives out there. Here are a few options that might save you time and stress.

Option 1: Use an Arlo-Compatible Smart Home Ecosystem

Since Arlo works natively with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit, you can build a smart nursery around those platforms instead.

• With Alexa: Use an Echo Show to view the Arlo Baby feed, or say “Alexa, turn on the baby’s night light.”
• With Google Home: Set up routines like “Good night” that turn off lights and start lullabies via the Arlo app.
• With HomeKit: Add Arlo Baby to the Apple Home app and control it alongside other HomeKit devices (e.g., Philips Hue lights).

This approach is much simpler and more reliable than trying to force Arlo and Iris together.

Option 2: Switch to a Unified Smart Home Platform

Consider moving your entire setup to a platform like Home Assistant, SmartThings, or Hubitat. These systems support both Arlo cameras and a wide range of smart devices—including many that were once Iris-compatible.

• SmartThings, for example, has an Arlo integration and supports Z-Wave devices (many Iris sensors are Z-Wave).
• You can reuse your old Iris sensors and pair them with a new hub for a seamless experience.

Tip: Some parents I know replaced their Iris hub with a SmartThings hub and were able to keep their sensors, lights, and plugs—plus add Arlo Baby with full automation.

Option 3: Use a Standalone Baby Monitor with Iris-Like Features

If your main goal is a smart nursery with sensors and alerts, consider a standalone smart monitor that already works with your preferred ecosystem.

• The Nanit Pro offers HD video, breathing monitoring, and sleep insights—and works with Alexa and Google.
• The Eufy Spaceview Pro has a long-range parent unit and works with HomeKit.

Sometimes, it’s better to start fresh than to force two mismatched systems to work together.

Data Table: Arlo Baby vs. Iris Compatibility at a Glance

Feature	Arlo Baby	Original Iris	Open Iris	Compatibility Status
Official Integration	Yes (Arlo ecosystem)	No	No	Not supported
Third-Party Integration (e.g., IFTTT, Home Assistant)	Yes	No	Yes (via Node-RED/API)	Possible with workarounds
Voice Assistant Support	Alexa, Google, HomeKit	None (shutdown)	None (but can be added via HA)	Arlo wins
Local Control	Partial (some features require cloud)	No	Yes	Open Iris better for privacy
Ease of Setup	Easy	Easy (when active)	Moderate to Hard	Arlo is simpler

Final Thoughts: Should You Try to Connect Arlo Baby and Iris?

So, does Arlo Baby camera work with Iris? The honest answer is: not out of the box. There’s no plug-and-play integration, and you won’t find Arlo in the Iris device list. But if you’re willing to put in the effort, there are ways to make them work together—especially with tools like Home Assistant, Node-RED, or IFTTT.

For most parents, though, the time and technical investment isn’t worth it. If seamless automation is your goal, I’d recommend either:

• Sticking with Arlo’s native integrations (Alexa, Google, HomeKit), or
• Migrating to a unified platform like SmartThings or Home Assistant

That said, if you love smart home projects and enjoy tinkering, bridging Arlo and Iris can be a fun challenge. Just go in with your eyes open—and maybe keep a backup monitor handy, just in case.

At the end of the day, your baby’s safety and your peace of mind are what matter most. Whether you use one system or mix and match, the goal is the same: a calm, connected nursery where you can rest easy. And if that means two apps instead of one? Sometimes, that’s a small price to pay for peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Arlo Baby camera work with Iris smart home systems?

The Arlo Baby camera is not officially compatible with Iris by Lowe’s smart home platform. It primarily integrates with Arlo’s own ecosystem and select third-party services like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Can I connect my Arlo Baby to Iris for centralized home monitoring?

Unfortunately, Iris does not support direct integration with the Arlo Baby camera. You’ll need to use Arlo’s app separately for camera feeds, even if other devices are linked to Iris.

Is there a workaround to make Arlo Baby work with Iris?

While no official method exists, you may use IFTTT or screen-sharing workarounds, but these lack real-time functionality. For seamless use, consider switching to fully compatible cameras like those in the Iris or Arlo Pro lines.

Why doesn’t Arlo Baby sync with Iris like other smart devices?

The Arlo Baby camera uses proprietary software optimized for Arlo’s platform, while Iris relies on its own communication protocols. This mismatch prevents native integration between the two systems.

Are there plans to make Arlo Baby compatible with Iris in the future?

Neither Arlo nor Iris has announced upcoming compatibility. For updates, check Arlo’s integration page or Iris support, as partnerships can evolve over time.

Which baby monitors work with Iris if Arlo Baby doesn’t?

Iris supports brands like Samsung SmartThings, First Alert, and select Zigbee/Z-Wave cameras. For a plug-and-play Iris experience, these options may better suit your smart nursery setup.