Archive for January 5th, 2010

Views on Nanny Cams – Disclosure, Legality and Ethics

Author: admin

Jan 5



Nanny cams have become so much a part of our culture. It will not come as a surprise to you if almost every parent you know who has a nanny, or who have hired nannies in the past 2 years, have installed nanny cams. Before you purchase and install your own hidden cameras (another term for nanny cameras), educate yourself on the disclosure issues, legality and ethics regarding the use of these spy gears.

Disclosure Decisions

There are no hard and fast rules on disclosures of the presence of nanny cams. You can choose to either keep mum about them or you can inform your prospective nanny about them.

However, it is highly recommended that you inform your prospective nanny about plans for installing hidden cameras around the house. A professional discussion about your reasons for the spy cameras – burglar security, special needs child, and peace of mind – can pave the way for understanding and empathy.

Your disclosure can even help you decide on the choice of nanny. Often, the refusal of a prospective nanny towards having the house monitored is a clear warning signal for hidden agenda. However, in the interest of fairness, you still have to ask the prospective nanny her reasons for refusal of nanny cams. You can weigh them against your need for surveillance.

If the nanny agrees to nanny cameras and you decide to hire her, then a written and signed agreement regarding videotapes must be drawn up. This will help to avoid sticky situations in the future.

Legality Issues

There are also no common laws for the use of hidden cameras to spy on your nanny. You have to consult your lawyer about the legality of using surveillance equipment around the house, especially when other people are videotaped.

However, one general rule does apply. You can videotape your nanny without running into legal trouble for as long as there is no audio involved. There is a federal law banning the taping of conversations without the knowledge and consent of the person being taped.

There is also a Supreme Court decision stating that videotaping the nanny in your own home, even without her knowledge, does not constitute invasion of privacy. However, be very sure that you keep off private bedrooms (especially her bedroom for a live-in nanny) and bathrooms.

Also remember that video footages from nanny cams are admissible evidence in litigation for child abuse. However, you need to diligently guard against your child being subjected to abuse or neglect; if you suspect that the nanny is abusing your child, then immediately terminate her services. The hassles of hiring a new nanny will be peanuts compared to seeing your child suffer at the hands of the old nanny should you fail to act as soon as possible.

Ethics Concerns

No argument about it, hidden cameras pose ethical questions. Even with spy gears in place, a bad nanny will only behave for a while, after which she can revert to her abusive and negligent ways. Surveillance cameras are not deterrent to criminal behavior and might even inspire criminal exhibitionists!

There is also the concern of living in a Big Brother type of environment. Would you really like to live in a house full of mistrust for the individual you entrust your precious child with?

Ultimately, your diligence in carefully choosing your nanny – from seeking only reputable agencies, checking references, background checks, and interviews – can help you avoid the thorny issues of nanny cams.

By: Nahshon Roberts

About the Author:
For further information on issues about spy equipment like wireless nanny cams and where to buy a nanny spy camera visit Video-Surveillance-Guide now! Nanny cams have never looked better with them!



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Wireless Nanny Cams

Author: admin

Jan 5



So you might be asking: Just what is a wireless nanny cam? Well, while the “wireless” part is more or less self explanatory, nanny cam deserves an explanation. Basically, these are surveillance cameras. Ah yes, you say, that explains the cam, but why nanny cams, specifically? There are two reasons – one being that these sorts of surveillance cameras are sometimes used to check up on what children are doing while their parents are at work or otherwise away from home (thus “nannying” the children in a way), the second reason being that some who are worried that housekeepers, nannies and other domestic staff will pilfer from their home will employ these cameras in an attempt to watch over the staff – thus “nanny cam”. It’s all simpler than it sounds.

Obviously, these cameras have far more uses than simply keeping a watchful eye on children or employees. These sorts of small surveillance cameras are often employed as security cameras. Their small size and wireless communication capacities lend themselves well to this function. The cameras can be easily concealed and placed almost anywhere that they are desired – of course, many would argue that a hidden camera has less deterrent value than one which is obvious. This being as it may, these cameras can be useful as part of a security system for the home or workplace.

What are my options for viewing footage from a wireless nanny cam?

Given that these cameras are wireless, there is no need to be limited by the length of cables readily available in your local electronics store. The output of the camera can even be streamed over the web and viewed via a secure website with a username and password required to log on and see the video. The video can also be sent to your cell phone if it supports this functionality and also can be configured to send video when motion is detected or at specified times.

Besides streaming video, a wireless nanny cam can also record via a traditional VCR with a wireless adapter for the video input or directly on to the hard drive of a computer on your wireless network. This gives the owner of a wireless nanny cam plenty of options for how and when they can view the video captured by this very versatile security and surveillance solution.

Whether you are considering purchasing wireless nanny cams to keep an eye on your latchkey children between when they get home from school and you get home from work, to check up on an employee you have some suspicions about, to act as a part of your security to either deter burglaries or catch the culprits in the act, even just find out just what the dog and cat do all day while you’re gone, these cameras can get it done for you. With so many options for capturing and viewing video, placement and the ease of wireless digital technologies, these are certainly versatile little gadgets which can find an application in any home.

By: Staggerlee Phillips

About the Author:
Do you know who’s really watching your child? Wireless Nanny Cams [http://wirelessnannycams.cool-wallpaper-site.info] may be the best investment you can make in assuring yourself of the safety and well-being of your child. Don’t be in the dark about Nanny Cams [http://nannycam.cool-wallpaper-site.info].



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Background Check – Avoid Hiring a Convicted Killer As Your Child’s Nanny

Author: admin

Jan 5



A background check is the only way to avoid hiring a felon in Manhattan. Without a nanny check you may already be ahead of the curve and have unknowingly hired a felon to oversee your children like another mother did.

In the all too real scenario for the mother, the candidate was warm and pleasant. She came through a nanny agency that the mother had used before, one that said it conducted background checks. She hired the nanny, but luckily decided to check her out further and uncovered a nightmare. Not only was the nanny using a fake name, but a subsequent police check showed she had been convicted of a killing 12 years earlier in Switzerland and escaped from jail there.

Take Matters Into Your Own Hands

Only about 50% to 75% of Manhattan and nationwide nanny agencies conduct background checks on applicants, based on estimates from several nanny agencies and security agencies that were surveyed. Making it clear that you need to go out on your own and have a background check performed on your nanny from a firm that is familiar with providing Manhattan Nanny Checks.

Make Sure It’s Done Right

You need to know what the pros know. A good Manhattan Nanny check should include a check of the applicant’s Social Security number, to verify name and any past addresses. Ensuring that first and foremost, the person really is who they claim to be. Your NYC private investigator

An experienced investigator will guide you in recognizing the signs to look for, particularly if the applicants has not always lived in Manhattan. While they are reviewing past addresses, it is important to check the court records including felonies, civil proceedings and sex offender listings, in the places the applicant has lived and not just in their NYC residence. Past employment should be verified, driving records checked and references interviewed.

Check for Credibility and Proof

If possible, while looking for your nanny, seek out a Manhattan nanny agency that belongs to the Alliance of Professional Nanny Agencies. Some Manhattan agencies do little more than pass on candidates names. To avoid this, always ask the agency for written results of a Manhattan background check. As the case with the mother in the beginning, her former agency assured her that a background check had been done, however, it could offer no written proof.

Let her experience be a lesson to us all. There is no substitute for doing things right, and absolutely no excuse for not doing everything possible to ensure the safety of our young ones.

By: Leonard Golino

About the Author:
Learn more about Manhattan Background Checks. Gold Shield Elite is one experienced NYC private investigator you can use to ensure that your children are safe in Manhattan. At Gold Shield Elite Investigations, we offer nationwide comprehensive background checks. When our background check is completed, you will receive a fully detailed written report on our findings. For peace of mind, call us toll free at 1-888-213-8881 before you trust your loved ones to a nanny who may not be who she says she is.



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I Am Using Ben 10 As A Babysitter

Author: admin

Jan 5



I admit it. I’m turning into a Stepford Mom. The genuinely loving smile when I meet the Kid at the school gate now only seems to survive for an hour or two before blasted into extinction and replaced by a plastic, robotic grimace as the motorbike revving and screeching tyre noises begin seriously to grate on my already fragile tolerance threshold. And then I do it. Following the feeding frenzy and the battle of wills that is fought to get the homework done, I need 10 minutes of peace and quiet (which, as if by magic, suddenly and quite unintentionally can turn into an hour). So I put the TV on to the Cartoon Network and, God love her, Lady Luck must be showering me with rose petals if Ben 10 Ultimate Alien is on. I can disappear quite happily to do the laundry, sit down to check my emails while being molested by the kitten, really whatever takes my happy little fancy, in the blissful knowledge that the Kid is safely ensconced on the sofa (or maybe raiding the biscuit tin but, hey, I’ve fought enough battles for one day) with his best mates, Ben and Humungosaur, to keep him company.

Before anyone starts the lecturing, I know I should not do it and, yes, I sincerely do treasure the time I do spend with the Kid, but I defy any Mom, especially a single Mom with little or no support, to deny that a couple of hours off occasionally is the only slim thread that keeps their sanity attached. I fully admit that when I read any article with a mother reportedly saying “Oh yes I play on the floor with little Jimmy for 12 hours a day”, I think she’s fibbing. Yes, a big fat fibber. She may well have done that for the first two weeks after giving birth to little Jimmy but probably due to the fact that it hurt too much to get back up off the floor once she’d slid down there.

I would love to want to spend all day every day by the Kid’s side inventing new games, pretending to be a ramp for his motorbike, chasing him round the park like an Olympic athlete, but that’s the crux of it: I don’t want to do that 24/7. I would be cheating him if I pretended I did because, even at such a young age, he knows when Mommy’s not having fun any more and the “quality” element of our quality time together would be lost. My own personal belief is that a daily dose of 2 or 3 hours of pure commitment to each other, just talking or reading or playing with no distractions, can be more rewarding than 12 hours spent simply feigning interest in whatever little Jimmy’s doing. One additional thing I have noticed is that the Kid has his own little independent streak. As long as he knows Mom is somewhere within yelling distance, he is more than happy watching the TV, or going off to do his own thing or playing outside with his friends, and no longer relies on me to be his sole source of entertainment.

So this is to give my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to (a) those teachers and other carers who have the stamina and patience to look after our little Jimmys and (b) Ben 10 and his fantastic little alien forms for entertaining the Kid so I can enjoy a little bit of Me time once in a while.

By: Valerie Skinner

About the Author:
Valerie Skinner is a freelance Native English proofreader, writer and transcriber working online with clients both home based in Malta and internationally. For further details please visit: http://www.maltascript.webs.com/



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Keep An Eye On Mary Poppins With A Nanny Cam

Author: admin

Jan 5



Saying goodbye everyday to your baby cradled and turning him over to the nanny can give you a nervous twinge, but you and your husband have no choice. You’ve got to work, but how do you put your mind at ease? A nanny cam is your answer.

When you are a working mom

When a job spells security for the family, moms have to work alongside with dads. In this day and age, every penny is essential, and your extra pay brings home extra bacon. You will have to leave the baby at home with a nanny. A nanny referred by an agency or a friend may be a brilliant solution to your problem. Still, you are getting that nagging feeling. Is the nanny reliable?

News of children abused by their nannies is on the rise and no parent would want their children exposed to any form of ill treatment. Moms and dads have hailed the coming of the nanny cam, which greatly reduces their stress levels. Note this, the sales of the nanny cam has risen. Isn’t that telling?

With a discreet nanny cam, you can watch how the nanny looks after your baby, even when you are miles away from home. Hundreds of moms are relying on the electric spy to check on the nannies at their homes. This technology better be called the Mommy Electric Eye too, for the purpose it is used.

How to use your home video surveillance effectively

An electronic nanny cam will require the placement of hidden cameras in strategic places all over the house. The nanny is sure to go around with the baby in tow. The first place of course is the nursery. Set a nanny cam overhead the crib and another next to the changing table. Other places are the kitchen, dining room, and the living room. Don’t forget to place a nanny cam near the door. You will be able to monitor if the nanny is receiving forbidden guests.

Choose a digital receiver for your nanny cam. The images are recorded in real time and the movements are quicker and realistic. A surveillance system with audio transmitters is ideal with a baby around. You can check if the nanny is attending to the baby or if the baby is in pain. You can also hear the nanny talking, shouting, singing, and laughing.

Make sure that the nanny cam you are using can provide you remote access any time, has an internal web server, and a hard drive with vast storage to boot. If you are using a digital video recorder server, you can use up to 16 nanny cams. This type of server can mix with different types of camera too.

You can use a fake camera too

As part of the espionage, you can place fake nanny cams in obvious places where the nanny can expect. Unknown to her you have hidden cameras in other same areas. This will spice up your surveillance and spying efforts. However, in deference to her rights and her privacy, you shouldn’t place one in the bathroom. After all, you use it too and it could backfire at you.

With the uncertainty of these trying times, there’s no room to make mistakes. You never just know. Just play it right. If the baby’s safety is your top concern, a nanny cam can make it happen.

By: Nahshon Roberts

About the Author:
Is your child priority one? Invest in a nanny cam. Visit video-surveillance-guide.com and find information all about wireless video security and get a wireless surveillance camera or two.



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Looking Out For Signs of a Bad Nanny

Author: admin

Jan 5



Baby cries uncontrollably when you are about to leave; When baby is about four months old they start discerning between family members and strangers and some suffer anxiety towards people they do not know. They also suffer anxiety when the parent is about to leave but this settles down as they grow older or get used to the stranger. Since you can decode your the cry of your child, you can tell if they are crying out of fear or if it is just a normal cry. Make a point of returning home unexpectedly and see what goes on after you have gone.

No bonding yet; If baby and nanny have not bonded yet even after a prolonged period of time and baby dislikes the nanny and gets upset by the simple sight of her, it is a sign of trouble. It is important for baby and nanny to have the right chemistry to make it work.

If it is impossible for you and your help to work as a team; Your relationship with your help is very important since you can tell how efficient she is. Beware of a nanny who does not talk; she might be keeping ill feelings towards you which will in turn affect the way she treats your child. For instance, if she chooses not want to follow your instructions especially on hygiene issues or being critical of how you raise your child, although you should welcome constructive suggestions, is not a good sign.

When your help invites people to your place; Your place is her work place and should be handled with etiquette just like another official place. The problem of bringing people to your house when you are away especially fellow nannies and boyfriends is that she will neglect the work that is supposed to be done. In addition, she should respect your privacy.

If your help does not keep schedules; If she does not live in your house, then she should be able to arrive a few minutes before her call time. A good caregiver should also keep time with feeding, sleeping and bathing times and if this is not the case then she is unreliable.

By: Belsheba Nyabwa

About the Author:
Belsheba shares her experience in personal growth that will definitely add value to your life. Website: Personal Development Tips



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Wireless Clock Radio – A Discreet Form of Spy Cam For the Safety of Your Child

Author: admin

Jan 5



Have a look around in the world today, and every one you know has full time professions, jobs and a hectic schedule to provide the best for their family. And when you are busy out working you will want someone who can take care of your toddler in the mean time. The prime option that comes to mind is a child minder or a nanny. This is considered a superior alternative to the day cares available in your town area.

Nannies are affordable, they are readily available when you flip the directory and will work in the environment that the baby is used to. But the bigger question you need to ask as parents is that can you really entrust the apple of your eye to a stranger? Even if you have the ground work done will she be the right choice and not misuse your trust in any kind. This is where the nanny cams will come to your refuge putting you over an edge above with you having control.

For those who are still not familiar with the concept of a nanny cam, it is a secret camera which will keep a vigilant watch on a nanny even in your absence. We are living in a world that is highly susceptible to violence and abuse and this spy cams are giving you control as a parent. As a provider for the family you want your child to be safe and protected at all times.

Times have changed and if your idea of a security camera are those bulkier models and cost a fortune then you have to wake up. The major two models are the wireless and the wired counterparts, however the wireless is easier to handle and light weight. The wireless spy camera is so light weight and handy that it would very easily fit in your purse or even your shirt pocket. They come in a complete package, easy to use and simple to install.

The wireless cameras are available in many variants and even a plain looking clock radio can have a secret camera to capture your every move. In real life when you know you are on video and being watched you will act differently; that’s the reason why hidden cameras are so discreet. This pinhole camera will keep an eye on all the actions of the nanny in your absence.

Having the normal functionality of a clock radio and allowing you to display time and capture video at the same time. The video can be then seen in the adjacent room with a crisp picture video quality and will let you to keep tabs on your nanny or employees for that matter. Do not undermine the product by its size, like the norm that big things come in small packages is so true in this case. This small handy product will be worth every penny you spend when it comes to protecting your precious little one. It is going to be one of the possessions that every home with a toddler will have in the near future.

By: Manuel Manolo

About the Author:
For further information on the various models of hidden cameras visit http://www.my-spycam.com; you will find all nanny cams and wireless spy cams at an unbeatable price.



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Using Security Cameras to Protect Your Child From Babysitter Abuse

Author: admin

Jan 5



It’s the worst nightmare that parents can ever have: that sweet and efficient nanny who’s been watching their kids while they were at work has actually been physically and verbally abusing them behind their backs. Sadly, the news reminds us that nobody is beyond suspicion. There are cases of children being abused by neighbours, relatives, even parents of friends.

However, very few parents can afford to stay at home all the time. More and more women are deciding to go back to work, and even a full-time mom needs to have ‘me” time away from the kids–even if it’s a day off with friends, or an afternoon to do the groceries without a toddler throwing a tantrum in the middle of the candy aisle.

The best way that parents can protect their children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and still have a life is to install security cameras as part of their security systems. While they won’t be able to tell you when a potential babysitter is actually a psychopath in disguise, it can alert you as soon as anything out of the ordinary occurs.

Remember, children can’t defend themselves. They may not have the verbal skills to tell you if they’ve been hurt, and even older kids can be frightened into silence. Abusers will tell them that “it’s a secret, and that bad things happen to kids who break secrets” or the deep sense of shame will stop them from opening up. The security cameras, in this case, acts as their guardian and their voice.

The security cameras also provide parents with important evidence to take the abuser to court. Unfortunately, the legal system will favour an abuser in the sense that it is the victim’s burden to prove that something happened. Children are not, by court standards, reliable witnesses. But actual video tapes are irrefutable and will put an abuser behind bars.

Home security cameras won’t just catch the worst possible acts of child violence and abuse, but also irresponsible babysitters who may not be cruel but are far too careless to be given the responsibility of watching your child. You can also catch them if they break rules–like inviting friends over, or using your computer and other personal items–or if they steal money or jewellery the moment you leave the house.

Today’s home security technology allows parents to set up very small cameras in very unobtrusive areas. It’s possible to have a camera imbedded in a smoke detector, a bathroom light fixture, or even an air conditioning vent. Children won’t be able to point them out, and even adults won’t notice that they’re there.

There are many types of security cameras: black and white versus colored, hard-wired versus wireless, not to mention the full spectrum of brands and added features that can radically affect a product’s price range. This means that you’ll always be able to find something that suits your lifestyle, preference or budget– and remember, any security camera (even the most basic) is better than no security camera at all.

By: Philip Nicosia

About the Author:
Philip Nicosia is the webmaster of Resources.eu.com an online resource centre covering many topics including security systems.



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