THINKING ABOUT SURVEILLANCE FOR A NANNY, BABYSITTER OR ANYONE THAT WILL BE WORKING IN YOUR HOME ON A REGULAR BASIS?

Let me give you my personal opinion that is based on first my own experience as a parent that hired babysitters, installing and selling more than a thousand surveillance systems and having a zillion conversations with moms and dads about nanny cam systems. 

Many people want to choose a hidden or disguised camera to monitor a nanny or babysitter. 

I vehemently disagree with this tactic

First of all any good parent will do a background check on any babysitter or nanny and in many cases the person is a referral or even somebody you already know. In any event you're not allowing just "anyone" to watch your kid(s).  In the end your "instinct" is the most important deciding factor.

With the understanding you'll have a close relationship with this person the choice of the actual camera as well as the entire surveillance issue is a very important decision.

When reviewing surveillance video it is inevitable that you will see "something" that you don't agree with. In the example of a nanny or babysitter it could be as innocent as finding out they are eating on your expensive sofa after you had explicitly stated although they are welcome to your frig they are to eat all meals in the kitchen or (true story) video that depicts the babysitter changing the diaper on your coffee table when you asked this be done only in the baby's room.  

In all other aspects when you review recorded video everything confirms you made the right decision in hiring her but these infractions naturally annoy you.  If you've never divulged the fact you have a surveillance system you now have to delicately try to address issues you want to talk about.  You may say "Mary, you haven't been eating in the living room have you? Bob mentioned he found some crumbs on the floor". 

Mary's response: "No I always eat in the kitchen just as you told me" or "NO, I always change the diapers in the change room".  Mary has just lied to you.  A white lie and certainly not grounds for you to fire her but nevertheless this annoys you that she has just lied to you.  Now you have a dilemma.  Do you confront Mary by telling her you have a surveillance system recording her and you know she's lying to you?  Think about her response…. She is caught lying.  She is mortified and your great relationship is now kaput! If she has any self respect she will quit and you are without your nanny or babysitter you thought you were so lucky to find.  If she doesn't quit your relationship is still ruined.  She'll feel betrayed and wonder if Bob has a camera watching her….mmmm

Alternatively to avoid these inevitable scenarios when hiring the nanny or babysitter you simply tell her you have a surveillance system in your home.

You can always say "oh by the way, my husband is a gadget freak and installed a surveillance system in our home.  I want you to know we didn't install it to monitor you, it's been here for some time".  In this way you've told her and beyond this there is no need to point out the cameras or explain the operation.  Her reaction should be "oh I don't care that's fine".  If she objects then you don't have to hire her and she can also decide not to work for you. 

The revelation that you have a surveillance system is usually of no concern to her. You can if you like point out the cameras or she may in time discover the cameras herself but there are no surprises or disappointments because you mentioned it on day one.

With this upfront approach you are now always free to discuss anything you've seen with your surveillance cameras.  Remember no matter how great she is, how much your kids love her and how lucky you feel to have found her nobody is going to care or treat your kids exactly like you. As a result it will be inevitable you'll want to talk about something you've seen.

To play "devil's advocate" or challenge my opinion of divulging your surveillance system, some may ask; "if she knows we have a surveillance system than she'll monitor her behavior or try to avoid the cameras".   I always like to use the example of reality T.V.  These idiots on these shows know there are cameras yet once they are absorbed into the situation anything goes and they quickly forget about the cameras. Instantaneous responses and actions take over.

When your babysitter or Nanny crosses your threshold in the morning they can not change who they are or how they act spontaneously.  Think about driving down a street. Suddenly a ball rolls in front of your car or a cat runs across the street.  If you're paying attention and you have quick reflexes your foot hits the brake in a nano second. You don't say to yourself……oh there is a ball …. Maybe a child will run out……….I think I should take my foot off the gas and hit the brake.

Similarly when your small child "Billy" comes running into the room and spills his Jell-O all over the floor, if your babysitter has a volatile or quick angry temper she'll snap at him or react in way that you definitely don't agree with.  This is her personality.   Her brain does not send a message; "wait….don't react with your normal anger……..there are surveillance cameras". 

Your surveillance system will record the true personality of your babysitter or nanny. It will be impossible to turn on and off instantaneous behavior.

The Logitech Alert system in my opinion is the best system on the market today.  The inside cameras are very discreet and atheistically blend in very easily in any living or business office environment.

Let me ad this:  If you are adamant that you still want a surveillance camera that your nanny or babysitter can not discover because you suspect she is abusing, neglecting or mistreating your kids then you don't need a surveillance camera! You NEED to fire your babysitter immediately. My mother didn't have the luxury of this technology nor did generations before her.  Moms all over the world went with their gut feelings.  GET RID OF THIS BABYSITTER!

If the scenario does not involve children or their safety but rather you want proof somebody is stealing from you we have some all-in-one covert cameras that can record this crime without their knowledge. Check them out on the home page.

P.S.

To view your babysitter or nanny while you're away it is NOT necessary to have the computer on at the camera location. If you only have a laptop you can take that with you. Wherever you have access to the internet you can log on and watch all your cameras in live time INCLUDING the OPTION OF LISTENING IN. This feature is something you may want to consult with an attorney before doing. Even though it is your home it may be considered a "work place" for your baby sitter or nanny and recording laws vary state to state. Generally just viewing the video is all you need. Listening to her talk to her boyfriend on her cell phone might be conversation you don't need to hear.