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Looking for your opinion on nanny cams. I feel like you should trust the person watching your child so there should be no need for one (I am a nanny), BUT I can also see why some people may want them.
I was in childcare for years and I also have a son that's nearly 7. I've seen it from both sides and I don't like them. It's an invasion of privacy and makes people feel uncomfortable. I trust the people watching my son enough to not have to use them... if I didn't trust them I'd find someone I did trust.
We will be doing them for sure. As a victim of childhood abuse in multiple forms, you can never fully know/trust someone.
Edit: Also since it's in my home, to ME it is not an invasion of privacy. My home, my rules. Your privacy goes out the window with my child.
I'm with miss green. My home, my rules. We adore our nanny and she is someone we knew personally before she became our nanny, and we'll probably install a few. It's mostly for me so I can log in from work to see baby, but if our nanny was someone we didn't know prior, I'd be all over watching them.
@MissGreen: Yup. Totally agree. It's my home, my child, my rules.
If I were a nanny, I would take no offense whatsoever to a parent having a camera. In fact, I would welcome it so they could see their child throughout the day and so they could see what a great nanny I would be.... cause I would be a pretty cool nanny. ;-)
I babysat for years, and sure, while I would be a little bummed if the nanny cam caught me tripping or doing something embarrassing, I wouldn't like it, but I would not be against it at all. This is because I never had anything to hide!
I'm not sure if I would personally use one, but I don't have kids yet, so it's hard to say. I can see where parents are coming from on this one and can't really criticize too much.
@MissGreen: totally agree. when it comes to my child, i will do whatever it takes to keep my baby safe. i really don't care about hurting someone's feelings.
I was a nanny for several years, and there was one job in particular that had nanny cams in every room of the house minus the bathrooms and their room.
I understand the need for nanny cams, but I felt like I couldn't relax and be fun and goofy with the kids because I didn't want to look stupid lol...no thank you! It was nanny cam overload in that house.
I don't have kids, but I have been a nanny for about 4 years. None of the houses had nanny cams (that I knew of). I wouldn't have minded if they did have cameras, as long as I was told that there were camera watching me. As much as it is your right to set up cameras to check in on your baby and nanny, its also your nanny's right to know she is being watched, and if she is uncomfortable with that, to find employment elsewhere. I would have been horrified if my employer had seen me do something embarrassing, like once the 3 year old I nannied for dacked me in the loungeroom!
I think that if you feel like you need a nanny cam, you need a new nanny. Instincts should be trusted.
I agree with @MapleBecky: The cams wont catch everything and there will always be blind spots. Plus will you watch every second that the cam records? No you'll just check in every now and then and again wont catch everything. You gotta trust the nanny otherwise get a new one.
I would most definitely consider having a nanny cam and not letting it be known to the nanny. People can be deceiving and very good liars. No one expects it when something bad happens at the hand of someone they trusted, but it happens all the time. Just because you feel the desire to have a nanny cam doesnt mean you *dont* actually trust your nanny, its just an extra piece of mind... just in case. Just like car insurance, home insurance, jewelery insurance, you dont think anything awful will actually happen to you, but... just in case..
@pinkshoes: Don't forget that your house is also the nanny's workplace. Would you feel comfortable if your employer was filming you without your knowledge at work? I think if you are really suspicious your nanny is abusing your child or stealing from you, they shouldn't be your nanny.
To all the posters saying if you do not trust your nanny, get a new one; have you've ever been in a situation where you trusted someone and that was violated? Doesn't sound like it. Sorry, my children are different. I would never want them to experience things I did or things you hear of so I will do all I can to prevent that. Why do I need to inform you? BC you dont want to look stupid? Ridiculous. You're human, you think I care if you fall on your ass playing? Also there are more places that have security cameras on the job than you probably realize. Will I watch it? Yes. You can easily fast forward and still catch something. Eh, to each their own but to tell someone to either trust a person 200% with their child or get a new one is pretty ignorant in my eyes.
@Roux: The reason for doing it wouldnt be because I was suspicious. Yes, if I was suspicious of something to begin with, theres no way I would hire that person. My reason was because you just NEVER know. Many work places do have cameras, such as places where people handle cash and could steal it. You use the camera in place for your own protection.
@MissGreen: what about your family members? do you trust your family members with your kid? do you know how many family members abuse kids in their care? Is it ignorant for you to trust your family with your kids? Or do you spy on them too? More often than not abuse is done by the person you least suspect, its more likely to be an uncle, aunt or even father than a nanny.
Also, my uncle had a live in nanny for a year. She was great with the kids, great around the house. Perfect, zero issues. On her last day when she was moving out, something was just off, and they decided to search her bags (and lets not get into if that search should have been allowed or not to begin with) before she was out the door, and found that she was trying to steal a crap load of jewlery and clothes and stuff. This is a person they trusted and had in their house for a full year.
I have a "nanny cam" for my dog. The dog walker noticed right away (of course it wasn't hidden like a real nanny cam, it's just a web cam) and commented on how great an idea it was in his regular note. I was glad he noticed because I didn't want him to think I was spying on him. And the one time I caught him on video playing with her, I felt kind of weird watching. Even though it's my house and he knew it was there, it felt creepy to watch him.
Of course kids are different, but I don't see myself being able to have cameras all around the house. Maybe in the nursery, so I could see when the baby was sleeping.
Why would you hire someone to work with your children if you thought you *MIGHT* need a nanny cam?? I think parents like to put the blame on others.
I think I would get one. Not because of the trust issue, but for occasional amusement. And no, I wouldn't tell the nanny! I can picture my husband and I sitting down on the couch with a bag of popcorn watching the footage for a good 10 minutes before we got utterly bored then put a real movie on.
I wouldn't use it on family memebers, just strangers. I don't think I would want to see Aunt Bertha picking a wedgie or anything of the sort!
I should think you'd have to cover EVERY corner of the entire house or else there'd be no point. If someone did want to abuse your child and there were cameras but, say, no cameras in the bathroom so they could use the loo in peace, what if they took your child to the toilet for potty training or to wipe them? Abuse could happen then. I don't think you can ever know unless you can build a relationship with your child where they can tell you these things. And when they're younger, well, sadly, I'm not sure it is very easy to ever know.
If it was someone from an agency that I didn't have personal history with, yeah I would install a camera. Maybe that makes me paranoid, oh well.
Family and trusted friends can screw you over as well, but I'm more inclined to trust someone who was already in my life before. They have more of an interest in not betraying my trust since we have family and social ties.
I don't see it being any different from the day cares that have webcams up. And, I wouldn't really call it a "nanny" cam, but more of a way to watch what my child is doing while I'm away from her at work, since I won't be there to catch all those special "first" moments. So, yes, I would have one.
@Candace From BC: That seems like kind of a blanket statement. I am a parent who values the safety of her child. If I hired someone I did not know personally I'd want to make sure things were on the up and up. It's like dropping in at a daycare randomly to make sure your child is happy, well fed, changed and clean. I can get an idea of how the person I'm paying is interacting with my child. If she's not abusing her, but sitting on the couch all day watching tv instead of taking her for walks?
I used to believe in trusting your gut feeling about people but that was violated.
We had a nanny that I trusted immediately because she had such a sweet demeanor and she was friends with a family we know at our church. I really felt deep down that she cared about my daughter. She was always very loving toward her when I was around. Then we grew suspicious because she said things that didn't make sense so we installed a discrete nanny cam but didn't tell her about it. Well it turned out she was a great actress because as soon as I was out the door she turned on the tv and put my daughter in front of it while she surfed the net all day (which she snuck into the house in her big bag). And I mean ALL day. She only picked her up to feed and change her. There were also several times when my daughter was crying and she left her to cry while she continued to surf the net. A few times she left the room and did not come back for 45 min! We were devastated. I felt physically ill just thinking that I trusted her. My daughter was only 9-10 months old at the time. She was pulling things off the TV stand and even fell backwards but the nanny was nowhere to be found. We paid this woman very very well and were very good to her so there's no reason why she should have been so negligent. She was simply lazy and acted like child care was beneath her in the videos.
It was a very difficult lesson to swallow and I've learned to no longer trust my gut. I need evidence to earn anyone's trust who comes into my home. I don't understand why some legitimate, good-hearted nannies can't empathize with the parents who feel like they need to video secretly. Trust has to be earned. Personally if I were a nanny I would always assume there was someone watching me even if they told me they weren't. Our current nanny is absolutely wonderful and I don't feel the need to watch her all the time. We probably check only once a month now. She is awesome and our daughter LOVES her too!
Well aware of this and yes it would be used on anyone. If you don't have anything to hide why would you care if I double checked and "spied" on you?
Edit: And for your information some of the abuse I suffered was from a family member so yes if I can't full trust a family member why should I trust a stranger 100%?
Just wanted to add that parents don't have alot of time to watch these videos so they're just going to fast forward most of it. I probably spend 5 min checking footage for a whole day. And that's only once a month or so.
@MissGreen: My whole point is if I'm a family member of the baby and I take the kid over to my house are you going to come to my house and install your cameras there? Cameras dont go everywhere and dont cover every angle of the house. I just think that having a camera would give you a false sense of security. I have just heard of too many cases of family members abusing kids far more than i've heard of nannies abusing kids.
I'd never install cameras to "spy" and "check in" on a nanny or babysitter. If I couldn't trust them enough to leave them with my children without being able to watch all the time, I wouldn't leave them with my children. Period. I think it is an invasion of privacy and it is just rude to the nanny, IMO. Who wants there employer to basically tell them that they don't trust you but with no good reason for that lack of trust?
While I've never been a true "nanny", I have spent many years babysitting including a few summer jobs where I was watching the kids full-time during the day while the parents were at work. If a parent felt the need to "spy" on me, I'd be hesitant to continue working for them. Not because I have a single thing to hide but because of the lack of trust and respect that my employer would be showing me.
@Mrs.KMM: Plenty of paid employees work in stores and buildings with cameras installed to monitor activity and prevent theft (such as the post office). How is a paid nanny you didn't know prior to employment exempt from the same kind of precautions?
@KatyElle: Those cameras watch the cash register and the exits, not the every movement and action of the employees themselves. If you want to put a camera on your jewelery box to monitor for stealing, go right ahead (I'd never even enter a master bedroom to be anywhere near a jewelery box). But, IMO, there should be no need to monitor the every action of one's nanny.
@Bao: I understand why people would want them. I admit I thought about it a few times. Not because I didn't trust our nanny but I was just curious as to how they spend their days together. But I think I would end up staring at that screen all day like a mental patient. So, no nanny cam for me.
I agree that it's your house, your rules, your employee and your child. And it would be helpful if you're truly suspicious that you're child is being mistreated. But on the other hand, I think nanny cams can lead to micromanaging and helicopter parenting which is not helpful to anyone
@KatyElle I understand your logic here but what you're leaving out is that employers are required to disclose this to employees before just watching them on cameras. An employer can't just set up cameras in his place of business and video tape employees without them previously knowing they're there. At least, not at the organizations I have worked for. I have worked for plenty of places with Cameras and they TELL their employees to discourage them from stealing or doing things they shouldn't be.
I am perfectly comfortable with parents doing what they think they need to. I think this based on their own experiences (see MrsGreen), and their own personal parenting choices. However, I do think that there should be some disclosure so that the Nanny can make personal choices about working for a family and also understanding expectations of their employer. If an employee knows they're being watched, it gives them incentive to behave appropriately. If I found out I was secretely being video-taped I wouldn't be able to trust my employer. How do I know where they keep cameras and if they're not violating MY privacy?
In my personal opinion, It's one thing to suspect abuse and set something up to catch someone acting on something you're worried about. It's another to just have them everywhere and not inform someone.
@Mrs.KMM: Not true, for example at Target they have plain clothes cops wandering the aisles to prevent theft, not only from shoppers, but employees as well. At the post office, the entire sorting floor and package rooms are monitored.I worked at a supermarket in high school and there were cameras in the break room. If you have nothing to hide as someone's employee you should have nothing to worry about.
@nskillet: I should have mentioned, personally I would tell the nanny we had cameras set up, but I fully understand why people have them.
@KatyElle we're in complete agreeance then! Whatever a parent thinks is right is their call. My only gripe is disclosure!
@nskillet: not entirely true. i work in a hospital, and at no point during the hiring process did they tell me there are cameras. obviously, i know they are there, but the information was never disclosed.
It should be illegal to have a camera watching someone without their knowlege. The cameras in stores and at banks are in clear view... a lot of nanny cams are hidden. What if your babysitter is under 18? I babysat before I was 18... I agree with a few PP's as well... If I were being watched I'd quit, not because I have anything to hide but because it's direspectful.
The daycare I worked for had brought up the idea of cameras for moms at work. We all voted against it and we had to give a reason, this was our written reason: Your at work to do work, just the same as we are working while taking care of your children. If you want to watch your child- stay home with them. The issue wasn't brought up again.
@Mrs.KMM: Actually, I used to work at a subway restaurant and they had cameras not only on the register, but in the back rooms as well. They actually used them as evidence to fire a couple employees for laziness. But we all knew they were there, even if it wasn't disclosed to us. I didn't really care, I'm the same person at work with or without cameras so I didn't mind.
To answer OP's question: I have been a nanny for over 5 years, while I was a nanny in NY the family had nanny cams. Mostly for the sole use of being able to watch the kids in the playroom if we had to be in the kitchen making dinner, but I knew they were there and that at any point I could be watched. But I totally didn't mind. I completely respect that I am an employee in someone else's home, they hired me without meeting me and let me come live in their home - it's a potentially scary situation!
If i had a nanny I would consider this as well, but I would disclose it to the nanny right away. If you are honest with a nanny, they'll be more likely to be fully honest with you. I never worried about the cams when I was a nanny because I was the same person no matter what, the mom knew who I was and how I interacted with her kids.
I think they're a good idea if you don't have a longstanding relationship with the family. You NEED to make sure your childcare is solid, loving, stable environment. Especially at young ages when kids can't communicate well, or are prone to making things up.
I can see all sides to this argument...however, I am personally scarred by the fact that two family members of mine were sexually abused by people that their parents wholeheartedly trusted. It breaks my heart to think about.
If I were in a situation where I had to leave my children with someone other than my parents or FI's parents...I would want a nanny cam. Maybe that's wrong...but I am just being honest that abuse is a huge huge fear of mine.
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