Reply With QuoteIf I thought my children were in any kind of danger I would use one.
Moderator
Nanny cams
Could you, would you ever use a nanny cam?
Do you think they are an acceptable security device for the protection of your children or an invasion of privacy?
Registered User
If I thought my children were in any kind of danger I would use one.
Registered User
We would use one, we had a bad experience with dd1. She was left in wet knickers, put to bed with no nappy and she had the worst nappy rash. She was in hysterics, it took weeks to stop the nightmares and she still isn't toilet trained over a year later. If we ever have an unknown sitter again we would use a camera. We still don't know what this woman did to either of the girls.
BellyBelly Member
hhmmm..... dunno
I would never use a nanny, so not talking from experience but.....
If you need a nanny cam, maybe you need a new nanny???
We dont have cameras in FDC, or centres, so there is no difference really...
If you think, even a little, that you may need one, get a new nanny.. you should trust your carer COMPLETLY before leaving your most prized possesions with them!!
But that said, I would probably spy even if it was family with them, they are my BABIES!!!!!
Registered User
Hmmm. If I was concerned enough to think of installing a nanny cam, I'd probably just get rid of the nanny. I'd go with my gut instinct.
As for being acceptable, well in terms of protecting our children obviously there's nothing we wouldn't do. So if there were genuine fears about the safety of a child, then yes I'd say it's acceptable.
But if it's only being installed to "spy" on someone who is conducting their job well - and if there was no reason to suspect wrongdoing - then yes, an invasion of privacy in my opinion. ETA - I'm talking hypothetically, not suggesting you are going to, or would, spy. Hope that's clear
As lovely as it might be to keep tabs on our children 24/7, I don't think it's possible. At some point, you have to trust that others (ie/ day carers, teachers) are doing the right thing by your child (providing said child/children show no signs of neglect, abuse etc).
Registered User
Yep, I would.
We don't have family over here, so the only way we are ever going to get ANY time off is to use a babysitter/nanny of some description, so yep, would use one certainly for the first few occasions.
Having said that, we had several nannies when I was child, and mum never had the luxury of such things - but the only time we ever needed one, we told her all about it anyway. Luckily, my mum trusted our word over the 'nanny' - even at very young ages that we were. Susan didn't last longlol
Registered User
Yeah I've got to agree, if I thought my kids where in any kind of danger, I would not leave them with that person.
Having worked as a babysitter yes, I would feel very violated if someone filmed me without my knowledge...say I decided to pick my nose once I'd checked on bub...how embarrassing! I'd rather just have concerns raises directly, or, if the parents were that worried, just find someone else. I know if I were at that stage where I felt I needed to film someone, I would be looking elsewhere.
Registered User
You all seem to be assuming the use of them is prompted by a specific concern, rather than just the notion that you don't know this person at all.
If I suspected abuse etc I wouldn't leave my child with them either.
Registered User
True. I know when I was babysitting for strangers, I was asked to cone early and sit and play with the child/ren and chat with the parents. Some people didn't seem to care at all and I'd just get there and they'd leave. Hmm, maybe they WERE filming me?
BellyBelly Member
Thats true Lime..
But I babysat a LOT when I was young, but never a strangers kids, they knew me first.. and I certainly wouldnt leave mine with one either.. but then there are cases like yours where you have no choice.. so in your case, I would use one for sure.
On the other hand, I am a FDC worker, and if I found one of the parents had to film me, they'd have their kids out so fast... If they dont trust me, dont leave your kids here.
I am free in my own home to scratch my butt just like everyone else!!!
Registered User
We had an agency sitter with all the quals and checks and she still did cause problems for dd1. It's just made us very cautious, most likely we won't use someone we dont know again. The girls go to daycare so I don't have a problem with that, but it feels different somehow.
Registered User
Yes but if you are sitting in someone else's home, you are not...
An FDC carer needs to go through sooo many checks to get that status in the first place, I think it implies a particular amount of trust. Joe from Babysitters R Us, doesn't have that same implication of trust. Neither does Catarina, the Spanish Au Pair.
BellyBelly Member
Actually our checks are no different to a proper agency.. Police check, and Working with children check.. thats it unfortunatly....
And we can have ANYONE in our house.. not making a good case for FDC am I???
But I agree, if you paid someone to sit in YOUR house, you'd want all the checks done first, AND references that checked out... anyone with good references from good people should pan out...
...on one side I see the need for nanny cams, and on the babysitters side it IS privacy invasion... I just dunno...
Registered User
Would you consider asking any of the daycare people to waych your DD's if the need arose.
There are a few young ones at ours who are always after the extra cash, and our children adore them.
Would I use a nanny cam? I am not sure. I suppose if the need arose that I had to use a complete stranger through and agency, then for peace of mind yes (and it would have to be linked that I could check it whilst out, not after the event). We don't have any family near by (well my Dad is 2 hrs away but talking of moving on), so if I was to get sick, we would need to hire someone if it was too long to rely on friends and I would want to know they are safe and getting along with my children.
BellyBelly Member
Most of the kids I babysat were from the centre I worked at...
BellyBelly Life Subscriber
We have a little internet camera that I can turn on and off remotely that shows part of our house. Given that I can't really be bothered disabling it then I guess we would have a nanny cam. Its in plain view, though, so it wouldn't be without the nanny's knowledge.
I have heard of some high profile child care centres making webcam feeds available to parents, so the idea isn't completely far fetched.
BellyBelly Member
Actually Schmickers, I did hear that awhile ago... they were live streaming from the centre so you could log in and watch your child at any given time!!!
Registered User
My concern with that would be confidentiality for all children - eg if Sam bit Sarah while you were watching, what is in place to stop the *****y mum from causing trouble - I saw Sam bit Sarah, Sam should be banned, blah, blah. (and yes I have had a parent want me to ban a child for biting).
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