Would you ever use a Nanny cam?

MommyToAshley wrote: If you've never heard of it, it's a hidden camera that tapes the sitter and child while you are out of your home.

Just curious. DH and I watched a special on child safety and they actually recommended a Nanny Cam. My first thought was that it was an over-reaction and only needed if you suspect abuse, but after watching some of the videos, I am not so sure. The sitters turned into totally different people the minute the parent was gone, it was scarey!

Also, I am thinking about getting rid of my halogen lamps now, after seeing the dangers on the show.

MomToMany replied: I voted yes. You can never be too careful when it comes to your children. Like M2A said, some people morph into someone else when no one else is around.

It's highly unlikely that I'd ever actually use one, but it's nice to know they exist.

My2Beauties replied: I voted yes. I don't use one for DF's grandmother obviously because she is family and I can walk in any time of the day to only find her cuddling her and playing with her, Even when I drop in unexpectedly, oh yeah and we just barge into each other's houses, that's how DF's family is so I let myself right on in! However, if I were to start letting someone else watch her by themselves that wasn't family I would definitely invest in one!

DansMom replied: I voted No, but I've seen some of those videos too and they are appalling, truly appalling. Kids getting smacked or ignored all day. I don't leave Daniel with anyone but family right now, my sisters or my mom, and I trust them implicitly. I suppose some day I'll have to hire someone I'm not related to, but I would get recommendations and Daniel will be older.

Being a nanny is a bit different---it's someone who will be with your child regularly for a full work day, rather than an occasional night out type assignment. In that case, rather than video tape anyone, I would get scrupulous references from other moms, and I would interview the candidates about their approach to discipline among other things. If I recognized major cultural differences that I wasn't comfortable with, I wouldn't hire that person. The nannies on the videos I saw were across the board grossly underpaid women who possibly lacked the legal status to work in the US, and I think a sublimated hostility can emerge on the part of the nanny in those types of arrangements---in addition to there possibly being unanticipated cultural differences in beliefs about child-rearing and discipline.

I just don't like the idea of video taping people without their knowledge---kind of creeps me out that someone would do that to me. I mean, you might be a great babysitter, but maybe you'll scratch your armpit or fix a wedgy when you think nobody's looking, KWIM? I don't want that kind of thing caught on film!

kimberley replied: definitely! when the boys were in daycare (where they have windows i can see in and the kids can't see) i have found 1 worker in the room with over 20 kids and she was yelling at them. she made Jacob cry numerous times forcing him to lie on his cot at nap time when he didn't want to sleep. the other workers always let him either sit on his cot and read or quietly draw a picture at the table, so he couldn't understand at 3yo why this one lady wouldn't let him and was so mean. grrrr
i have also seen her get somewhat physical with the kids grabbing them hard around the arms and holding them down on the beds. i pulled the boys out after that because the supervisor did NOTHING about my numerous complaints. i talked to other parents at the daycare, and they all thought she was sweet as pie little did they know that she was horrible to the kids. i am 100% responsible for these kids of mine and i will do WHATEVER i need to, to ensure their safety and happiness.

MomofJandB replied: I voted yes. If I felt I needed one, there would have to be a reason, some sort of red flag. I don't think I would use one just to spy on a sitter. My kids are older, too, and pretty much tell me everything that happens when we have a sitter. They "tattle" on her when they get to stay up later or have that extra sweet. I look at it like it's their night away from mom & dad, too, so have some fun!!! No major rules get broken and everyone is in one piece when I get home. My sitters do really creative things with my kids, so I don't even mind a little mess! If they got upset when I got a sitter or told me they didn't like one, I would never use them again. Having kids 5 and 8 make a huge difference in knowing what's going on when I'm not home. Plus, we only get sitters once in a blue moon!!!

bucky replied: If i had reason to be suspicious, yes.

Otherwise I would never get one just to spy for no reason.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I say no. Maddie and Ethan have never had a sitter. They have stayed with family for a short time, but I dont' intend to ever have a nanny or a stranger coming in to our home so I vote no.

jolene555 replied: i said yes - definately. i have been a nanny for several years, and the last family i worked for informed me that they did have a camera that was on constantly. they told me that they had never seen the need to check any of the feed, but knowing that they could made them feel safer. as an employee, i completely understood and actually felt more at ease. it's so awkward explaining to parents that their child got a bruise from running into the table or something - wondering if they think i am beating him up.

my problem is with the hidden part. it isn't ethical, i think, to videotape anyone without their knowledge. i would rather them know that they are being supervised, and if they don't like that then i would be suspicious of them anyway.

the camera is not so much a trust issue for me. i don't think there is any way to be too safe in regaurd to my babies.

coasterqueen replied: Yes! I'd do it at my dcp's home if I could. I'd just LOVE to know what goes on there during the day. My dcp is great and she says she does certain things every day but it seems like everytime I've picked or dropped off Kylie the tv is on. Kylie seems to know too much about cartoons we don't watch. If she wasn't learning so many other things there I'd question the whole tv thing but I won't. She's doing great and learning lots..I try to let her be a kid sometimes. But I would DIE to know what goes on there.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I woudl if I felt I needed to, I also wonder what kaitlin does all day when I am not with her, and as she gets older I will ask her how her day was and what did she do....I can pop in on the sitter at anytime and the door is usually open so i just go right in. the sitter is pretty much family, i only worry when she has had a bad day or does not get along with someone

lsjulee replied: I voted yes too. I've heard so many horror stories about getting an outsider taking care of children. And over here, we'd hire foreigners (from Indonesia or Philippines) as domestic helpers, to also take care of children at home while the mothers at work.

There are just too many horror stories, from words of mouth, from News etc about these helpers abusing their care. And most were caught on cam.

momof2girls replied: I said yes
We have never used a babysitter or daycare so I have never had to but if I did not feel totally comfy I would do it in a heartbeat.

mummy2girls replied: Im a fulltime nanny... And if i was videotaped at work i wouldnt be mad. because i love my job and i love caring for the little girl and doing things with her. They would see nothing but love going on anyways... I feel that if the nanny gets mad that she is being videotaped then she may be hiding something. because if your doing a great job who cares about the cam. I do understand the feelings of infringing on the nannys privacy also. So i am looking at it in both sides. even though there are excellent caregivers out there there are also nasty ones and i think those nasty ones is what ruins it for the good ones out there! Life is scarey and scarey things do go on in some daycares and homes...

ctymom replied: Noone outside of immediate family has ever watched my kids. I'm so paranoid about that stuff. I was a nervous wreck once when my kids stayed the night at a dojo for halloween but tried to keep in mind that it was full of black belt instructors so what could happen? lol

My youngest went into part time daycare for one year just so he would have other kids to play with but then I realized I was working to only pay them! I cant imagine having a babysitter. But if I had to... I wouldnt be against using a nanny cam.

Pamela

Josie83 replied: I agree with Jolene. As long as th eperson knew that they were being taped, then that's okay./ i don't think its right to video someone without ther knowledge - how would you feel if that happened to you? Although I don't know how I would react if the circumstance ever did arise. cassie only gets looked after by my sisters, my best friend or Jason's brothers so i don't have any reason not to trust them xx

Boys r us replied: Oh yeah! I would use one in a heartbeat if I ever felt the need! Actually I wish, Like Karen, that I could use one now..just to see what goes on during the day. I know with 100% positivity that my sitter would NEVER harm Braedon or any child..she's like a part of our family, actually I've known her since I was about 5..so she is family!

kimberley replied: question....

how is a nanny cam any different than anti-theft cameras in stores/restaurants? not every employer will tell you they have them or where they are. they are just protecting their interest. the way i see it, if a shop owner can hide a cam over his money to ensure no one is stealing, then i sure as heck can hide one to ensure my most precious interests, my kids, are safe! i agree that if someone is offended, they probably have something to hide.

My2Beauties replied:
Amen sista girl!!! I think the same way. How do we know we're not being videotaped at work and other places without our knowledge and as long as we're not doing anything wrong then we shouldn't be hostile when we find out we were being taped.

aspenblue1 replied: I would definately use one. I was thinkign about getting one that is in ateddy bear and sending it with Isabella to daycare.

DansMom replied: I can see both sides here.

The privacy issue is one side. The nanny cam is not like being filmed while you're shopping---it's like being filmed throughout your workday with the implication that you, as a professional and an individual, are not trusted to conduct yourself properly. It's aimed at you and only you doing your job, not at anyone who happens to wander into the house. I have nothing to hide personally or professionally. But I am to be labeled as a someone with a dirty secret or a criminal mind if I dare object to being filmed throughout the day by hidden cameras while I'm doing my job. Such filming can be more destructive than helpful. The idea of being under surveillance as a potential criminal would kill my joy in my work and destroy, not build, the trust between me and my employer. The "as long as you have nothing to hide" argument is scary to me. Those very words (and subsequent "searches") are used by fascist governments to oppress and silence innocent people, especially intellectuals. Of course, I just work with adults and words---protecting and nurturing the life and safety of a helpless little person is not part of my job.

Which brings up the other side of this issue: the safety of your child. Like some others here, I have never had to leave my child with anyone I don't trust completely like a very close friend or family member. Daniel doesn't go to day care. I realize that our family choice to have DH stay at home and my sisters babysit occasionally is a luxury. Many people are forced for financial reasons to leave children with people they don't know well, either in daycares or with a new caregiver, and I can understand why such a person would want to see what is going on during the day. I would want to as well. Especially if your child is pre-verbal and can't tell you what goes on---parents are employers, and they certainly have a duty to do some kind of screening of on-the-job performance. When the life and psychological well being of your child hangs in the balance, utmost scrutiny of caregivers is called for.

So for me personally I would not use the nanny-cam, but I can relate to those who think it would put their minds at ease.

coasterqueen replied: There are *some* and they are few and far between around here that do offer a service through the internet. You pay extra than just daycare costs but you can access your child's room "live" through the internet. DH and I were going to do this if we decided to take Kylie to this particular daycare. BUT we decided at-home childcare was best for us.

TeagansMom609 replied: YES! I would use a nanny cam. You cant trust anyone who isnt family. And even if the person gives you names of other people they say they babysat for it could be just friends or other family members who they asked to lie for them. (not so proud of it but I did it myself before when I was younger and REALLY wanted to babysit)