I recently watched a video on Momversations about ‘nanny cams’ and was very intrigued, and decided to post about my thoughts on this topic, being a nanny/babysitter myself. Out of curiosity, I did a little research online and was surprised by what I found. There are numerous options out there if you feel the urge to spy on your nanny, including cameras disguised as household items like alarm clocks, lamps, stuffed toys, and tissue boxes. Honestly speaking, I was pretty creeped out and wondered “who would buy these?” According to this About.com article, “Counter Spy Shops, an international retail chain, reports a 25 percent increase in sales of these devices – often called “nanny cams,” – over the past five years.”
On the other hand, I understand when leaving your child with a stranger, “one can never be TOO careful”. Not to ignore the fact that it does allow some working parents to feel more involved and connected when they can see the going-ons of the house throughout the day. If you do decide on setting up a surveillance system, the big question is: Do we monitor? Or do we spy? – In other words, are we going to let the nanny know that he/she will be videotaped?
Honestly, as a nanny/babysitter, I would rather not be videotaped at all. The thought of someone watching my every move makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up a little. But if I were interviewing with a family and they tell me upfront that they would like to be able to monitor the household, I might still consider taking the job, especially if they are honest and clear with why they have decided to do it. My only concern would be if they are using the cam not just to ensure the safety of their child, but to nit-pick and scrutinize my every move, so if that turns out not to be the case, I don’t see any reason for it to be a deal-breaker.
Now moving on to the spying option, where the Bond gadgets come in. I’m sure it’s no surprise that my advice for that is: Don’t do it. Bottom line is, if you want to ensure the well-being of your child through surveillance, you will achieve the same goal being honest about it. The only reason I can think of wanting to secretly spy on someone is to ‘catch’ them doing something bad. However, if you have reason to suspect negligence or abuse…why would you continue working with the same babysitter? And what if your babysitter accidentally knocks down that lamp with the hidden camera and finds out? How mortifying would that be for everyone involved? And what would it do to the relationship he/she has already established with your family, that you might be very happy with?
Every family is different, as is their approach to child care, but I think everyone should be comfortable with the situation, including the babysitter. If I were working with a family that did not feel completely comfortable leaving their children with me, I probably wouldn’t take it personally, but I would definitely not work with them again. When looking for a great babysitter for your family, it boils down to honesty, communication, and trust from everyone to make it a positive relationship. So if you are considering the ‘nanny cam’ for whatever reason, don’t forget to consider how it might affect these important elements for everyone involved.
By: Ko Chun Yang About the Author:
Ko Chun Yang
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Raising Boys World is a parent-directed community portal developed to embrace the triumphs and obstacles of raising boys. The website provides an interesting overview of feature articles, activity ideas, product reviews, travel advice, and more. We strive to provide guidance to help parents raise their sons to be responsible, respectful, and confident men.