Archive for July 10th, 2010

Views on Nanny Cams – Disclosure, Legality and Ethics

Author: admin

Jul 10



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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Hiring a Nanny – What to Expect From Your Nanny

Author: admin

Jul 10



Every aspect of hiring a nanny involves outlining what you require. For instance, they should: Respect family decisions and provide services for them. Promote the development of the child in all aspects emotionally, physically, intellectually and socially. Hold true to high standards of professional conduct with the children and families. Continue their education to provide the latest resources and skills for the child.

The role of a nanny is multi-faceted, including being an educator, a nutritionist, an activity coordinator, a researcher, a friend, and much more. They do more than any babysitter could provide as their job is not to keep the child out of trouble for a few hours.

When looking for a nanny, keep in mind that there is no official seal of approval for hiring a nanny. It is recommended that you check on the experience and educational backgrounds of prospective nannies. Many colleges offer specialized child care education and there are a number of institutes as well.

Ask yourself these questions: What makes the prospective nanny qualified to raise your child? What skills do they possess that make them capable of handling this huge responsibility? Do you have relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. that employ a nanny?

If you know of anyone currently employing a nanny, be sure to inquire with them as to how they found them. For instance, was it through an agency or by word-of-mouth? Meet with prospective nannies and monitor their behavior with your child and your child’s behavior with the nanny. And remember – a background check is essential.

By: Hilary Basile

About the Author:
Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com at http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find parenting tips and resources at http://becomingaparent.myguidesusa.com



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Background Check Your Child’s Nanny

Author: admin

Jul 10



Choosing who will be helping you take care of your child is indeed a very important decision. You must be ensured that your child is on safe hands. By doing some research, you could find out whether your child’s nanny-to-be is safe to deal with. Of course, as a parent, it is your priority to always protect your child. Therefore, the choice on who will be your child’s caregiver would be should really not be lightly taken. It should be properly decided.

Different people from different backgrounds are applying to become nannies. There are those who are experienced but there are also those who are inexperienced. It would be good if you hire someone who has a job experience. After all, you would never let a stranger take care of your child. This is not about being suspicious. This is just about feeling safe and secured about the welfare of your child. As such, it is very good if you could derive some simple information about your child’s future nanny before they start on their job. You could start with trying to know the applicant’s employment history. Also, know what is their full name and their current address. Knowing this simple information already help you in doing your background check.

Nowadays, it is now relatively easy to do a background check on your nanny online. There are websites that offer the service for free while there are also services that charges very minimal fees. But even if you have to pay something, for sure it is worth it for the safety of your child. After all, it is better safe than sorry.

People who are usually hiring nannies are those who are the single parents. While they want to take care of their child by themselves, they find it hard to manage their time between work and personally providing and attending to the needs of their children. As such, there comes some point in their lives that they have to hire a nanny and perform some background checks on that person to whom they will entrust their kid. They hire nannies for the sake of convenience. There are also those who acquire day care services.

By doing background checks, you will know who are the persons whom you have your children entrusted. Picking the most trustworthy nanny for your child will be best because you are assured that your child receive a good care while you are working. It is recommended that you make your applicants submit other important details about themselves like their social security number.

When you are already doing the background checks, you must take note about the record of your applicants. If you already have the details of their records, you will find it easier to decide on whom to hire. Some of the records that you must take note are their criminal records, court records, driving history, and their former employers. With background checks, you will then know who has a nice and clean track record.

By: Barry Snyder

About the Author:
Easybackgroundchecks.com is a leading provider of background check reports for consumers.



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Shaken Baby Deaths and Injury – Can a Nanny Cam Prove Guilt or Innocence?

Author: admin

Jul 10



Depending on which report you believe, there are from 1400 – 3000 cases of shaken baby syndrome diagnosed each year, however, it is believed that about 30% of these cases are initially missed. Also, there is no nationwide database to capture all reported cases.

What is shaken baby syndrome? It is a term used to describe injuries resulting from a particular form of abuse. The most common serious injuries sustained as a result of shaken baby syndrome are subdural and/or subarachnoid hematomas, as well as retinal hemorrhages. These injuries occur when an infant, usually under the age of two, is severely shaken back and forth. Infants two or under have not fully developed neck muscles so what occurs is a violent whiplash. The brain bounces back and forth inside the skull and actually turns. The bruising and tearing of veins on the brain cause the hematomas and bleeding in the brain. Sometimes these innocents receive broken ribs because of the way in which they were held during the act. Fractured skulls also occur when the infants head strikes an object during the shaking.

About 1 out of 4 infants die as a result of shaken baby syndrome. Those that survive will suffer a lifetime of some sort of retardation and/or other major impairments.

What are the symptoms of shaken baby syndrome? They can range from mild cases of vomiting, lethargy, poor appetite, and irritability to much more serious symptoms such as seizures, breathing difficulty or coma. Of course the most severe cases result in death. If a child displays any of these symptoms they should receive immediate medical attention. The frightening part of this is that even in the most serious cases a proper diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome is missed in many instances. If the child continues to display the above symptoms, parents or caregivers must insist on tests that will rule out shaken baby syndrome.

A huge percentage of caregivers and parents are not aware that shaking a baby can cause serious injury and even death.

This places the importance of an in depth interview with potential caregivers or nannies. Uncontrollable crying by a child due to colic appears to be the number one cause of shaken baby syndrome. Next is lack of toilet training, temper tantrums or refusing to eat. Although this is not infallible, nannies who have children of their own, may be more apt to take colic and dirty diapers in stride. Pointed questions regarding these situations need to be asked and reactions and answers should be seriously evaluated.

A shaken baby death case recently prosecuted in the county in which I live ended in a hung jury. The case will be retried but parties on both sides are adamant about who is or is not guilty. Naturally, the parents are outraged that the nanny was not convicted and the nanny, of course, proclaims her innocence.

Research into the so called “shaken baby syndrome” reveals massive conflict between “experts” in all aspects of this tragic and all too common occurrence. Experts cannot agree on the time frame of when the injury to the child occurred. Some experts claim injuries can occur in minutes while others believe it can take hours for the infants brain to swell. Because of this conflict, it can be very difficult to determine who was responsible for the injury. The injury could have occurred while the child was in the care of parents but discovered or manifested during the time when the child was being cared for by a nanny or other caregiver, placing suspicion on a possible innocent party. There is even disagreement on what is or is not shaken baby syndrome.

Can a nanny cam prove the guilt or innocence of an individual or individuals?

A nanny cam or hidden camera could be the deciding factor in the tragic event of a shaken baby case. It could provide evidence that the act occurred and by whom or show that it did not occur during a particular time frame. Thus, the focus of the investigation could be directed at other possible suspects.

If I employed a caregiver or nanny I would definitely have a hidden camera. And, If I was a nanny or caregiver I would welcome the presence of a hidden camera for my protection from false accusations. Whatever course one takes, the protection of your precious child must be the ultimate goal.

By: Rosalie Kimberlin

About the Author:
Rosalie Kimberlin, the author, spent almost 30 years on a large metropolitan police department, most of it as a sex crime investigator and is now the owner of RK Enterprises. In a continuing effort to protect the “good guys” she now offers self defense and surveillance products through [http://peppersprayetc.com/] and [http://nannycamsetc.com/]



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