Dad creates gadget to read bedtime story and see his sleeping children when working away from home

Dad creates gadget to read to his kids when working away from home Caters

Dad Rupert Plumridge wasn't going to let a few hundred miles stop him reading his kids a bedtime story.

He has invented a fancy gadget that allows him to watch his kids on a live internet feed on his tablet, Smartphone or laptop. The gadget has a night-vision camera so he can watch his children, Lily, two, and Dominic, six months, when they are asleep.

It also has a speaker so Rupert, 35, from Bristol, and wife Hannah can read Lily and Dominic a bedtime story even when they are working away from home.

Rupert started the project in 2010 after finding similar devices already on the market only had limited features.

"I can view it on my phone anywhere in the world if you have a mobile network connection. I was in London a couple of days ago, and I watched my son and daughter going to sleep," he said.

"Some people might think it's a bit 'Big Brother' but it's more just to know they're okay. The webcam looks like a glowing eye. It could be a bit freaky but Lily doesn't mind. It reassures her, she knows mummy and daddy are looking out for her."

Introducing the product on his blog, Rupert said: "It is certainly a much cheaper and more flexible approach than the dedicated solutions on the market currently and rather than only being able to view the video feed on one tiny screen, you can view it on pretty much any screen you wish pretty much anywhere you want.

"It's not an alternative to a babysitter but it's really useful if you're away from home and you want to see your kids. I would definitely recommend it for other parents.

'I think when I'm not there it makes our children feel reassured. The webcam has a speaker so that parents can read their kids a bed-time story - but it makes you sound like Darth Vader!"

Devoted dads

Dad of two reverses his snip to father third baby
 Libby Price, 37, had two children and a husband who'd had a vasectomy. When she realised she was ready for baby number three, husband <a href="http:// http://www.parentdish.co.uk/pregnancy-and-birth/i-thought-two-children-was-enough-then-i-made-my-husband-reverse-his-snip/ " target="_blank">Mark had his vasectomy reversed to extend their family</a>. Libby says Mark was incredibly supportive of her desire to have baby number three, saying: “He was supportive. He'd always said he would have his vasectomy reversed if I decided I wanted more - and he was actually really excited despite what he'd have to go through. It was a very hot week though, and I think for Mark it was all a little bit uncomfortable!”
Dad finds his newborn baby in birthing pool after blackout
 Quick-thinking Callum Live saved his baby son’s life after a power cut caused his girlfriend Samantha Preedy <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/02/15/dad-finds-his-newborn-baby-in-birthing-pool-after-blackout-using-mobile-phone-torch/" target="_blank">to give birth in the dark.</a> Callum used his mobile phone as a light to find his newborn son, who was born in a birthing pool during a bad winter storm. “I pulled my phone out and I could see where he was, and shouted to the midwives to grab him,” explains Callum. “It was a bit of a shock. He might have been under for a minute or two, it all happened so fast.”
Dad raises money by photographing medics who saved his baby
 Michael Cockerham’s son Phineas almost died from a deadly virus shortly after his birth. The gorgeous little boy recovered, thanks to the amazing work of medics at the Evelina Children's Hospital in London. Michael was determined to thank each and every member of staff that helped his son survive, and <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/dads/grateful-dad-photographs-hospital-staff-to-raise-funds-evelina-childrens-hospital/" target="_blank">set about photographing all 63 of the team</a>, creating a book called Phineas' Friends, which went on sale to raise money for the hospital.
Soldier spends 14 hours travelling 3,500 miles to see birth of his son
 Corporal Simon Mercer wasn't going to let a little thing like 3,500 miles get in the way of him seeing his son being born - <a href="http:// http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/07/16/soldier-spends-14-hours-travelling-from-afghanistan-for-birth-of-son/ " target="_blank">he raced back via helicopter, three planes and a car from serving in Afghanistan</a> to reach his wife in the UK in just 14 hours. He made it in time to see his son Heath being born and support his wife, Karen, who had gone into labour nine weeks early. The soldier was able to spend two weeks in hospital with Karen and Heath, before returning to his job on the front line.
Mum's new baby is delivered at home...by her father-in-law!
 Stephen Wilson went above and beyond normal grandad duties when <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/07/10/mums-new-baby-is-delivered-at-home-by-her-father-in-law-with/ " target="_blank">he helped deliver his daughter-in-law’s baby!</a> New mum Vicky-Taylor-Wilson went into labour on her hallway floor, with only Stephen there to help. The doting grandfather didn’t flinch as he helped deliver baby Isaac who weighed 8lbs, 10oz. Awkward much?!
Homecoming marine dad sees his son with cerebral palsy walk for the first time
 In a cute recording posted on US site <a href="http://welcomehomeblog.com/2012/05/09/6-year-old-boy-walks-to-his-u-s-marine-father-for-the-first-time/" target="_blank">Welcomehomeblog.com</a>, a marine dad is seen attending a welcome home party and seeing his family for the first time since his deployment. He spots his son Michael across the room and is overjoyed to see him walk over to him for a hug. Six-year-old Michael has cerebral palsy, and when his dad left for Afghanistan he couldn't walk. In fact, doctors told his parents that he might never learn. <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/dads/grateful-dad-photographs-hospital-staff-to-raise-funds-evelina-childrens-hospital/" target="_blank">You can watch the video here</a> (although be warned, tissues will be needed!).
Father donates part of his liver to save son
 When his son Daniel was given just months to live without a life-saving transplant his devoted dad <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/01/31/devoted-father-donates-part-of-his-liver-to-save-son-life-threatening-condition/" target="_blank">David O'Shaugnessy made a brave decision.</a> Daniel was suffering from a rare liver condition and it was unlikely that surgeons would find a donor in time. David stepped forward and risked his life to donate part of his own liver to save his desperately ill son. Surgeons removed a fifth of David's liver and transplanted it into Daniel - who has now made a complete recovery.