Monday, July 20, 2009

Nanny Cams: Offering Children Safety and Parents Peace of Mind

By Bella Holly

If you have seen the movie The Nanny Diaries, you will have seen the use of digital nanny cams in action. A nanny cam is actually a home video surveillance system that can be used for any type of home security.

The movie gives an example of the most popular type of nanny cam, which is the teddy bear nanny cam. It's a type of hidden camera in which a small wireless camera is placed inside a teddy bear, but this type of hidden surveillance is not limited to stuffed animals. With this hidden camera, you will be able to collect true footage of the treatment of your child.

Many of us feel that the security of our child is the number one concern, and while we wish we could protect them all of the time, we do unfortunately have appointments, work, and other engagements which keep us from our children. It is during these times in which we feel justified in using the only weapon in our arsenal-surveillance. That raises another important question: Do hidden cameras infringe in the babysitter's right to privacy?

This can be tricky. Many people feel that they can safeguard their home any way they feel necessary, however this is not always lawful in some cases. The best way to make sure that you remain within the law is to tell your babysitter beforehand that the house is under surveillance and that they should be aware that they are being filmed at all times. Many feel this defeats the point of surveillance-but you'd be surprised. You don't have to actually tell the babysitter where you've fitted the cameras.

Letting your nanny know in advance that she will be filmed is the best way to prevent any inappropriate behavior on her part. In all honesty, it isn't fair to film someone in a private setting without their knowledge and consent. If your sitter refuses to be recorded, then, unfortunately, you have to make the choice of turning the cameras off and preserving the babysitter's privacy (and putting your child in potential danger), or choosing another babysitter who will consent to the surveillance.

If you're wondering how you can purchase your own nanny cam(s), you can usually find cameras at any retailer who sells home surveillance. You can also easily find cheap nanny cams online, as online retailers usually offer great discounts.

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