Archive for July 26th, 2010



Every parent’s first priority is safeguarding their children against the many dangers of the world. Unfortunately for many parents they have no choice but to leave their children in the care of others for portions of the day which makes it hard to determine if their children are being well cared for. No matter how well you interview a nanny or caregiver, you can never really be sure that your child is safe in their care unless you turn to a nanny camera for peace of mind. A nanny cam allows you to see exactly what is going on in your home with your child while you are not home and ensures that your child is safe and cared for in a way that you approve of.

If you are one of the many parents that turn to a nanny to care for their children, chances are you have though about a nanny cam but may have dismissed the thought because they seem like an expensive undertaking. The truth is that a nanny cam that will allow you to see exactly how your child is being cared for and will provide you with priceless peace of mind can cost as little as one hundred dollars. Installation is also easy and most people can even install nanny cameras entirely by themselves from picking the location to setting up the transmitter and monitoring device.

If you are considering a nanny camera to protect your child, there are a few factors to consider before making your purchase. You do not have to spend a fortune or have your nanny camera professionally installed, but there are still many features that you may or may not need. Before you purchase your nanny camera think about if you want your nanny cam hidden, how you want to watch the video feed, where you want to place your nanny cam, and how many cameras you will need.

Many parents use nanny cameras that are hidden because then they get to see what a nanny is like when they think no one is watching. There are many types of nanny cams that are designed to be hidden and come in a variety of appearances such as radios, clocks, smoke detectors, plants and even toys. Small cameras can also easily be concealed even without being embedded in other objects.

When you buy a nanny camera you must also think about how you want to watch the video feed. Most cameras allow you to use a recording device that allows you to transmit the video to a recorded for later viewing as well as transmitting to a computer or TV so that you can view the video in real time. Whichever method you prefer make sure the nanny camera you choose is compatible with your preferred viewing method.

You will also want to decide if you want a wired or wireless camera. A wireless camera can be put in a variety of different places and is more discreet. Wired cameras will also work with a regular electrical outlet but a wireless camera relies on batteries that must be changed or recharged periodically.

Can Hidden/Nanny Cams be legally used in your home?

Currently, it is legal in all states to make a video-only recording of anything happening in your home, at any time, without informing anyone. Because the camera is hidden has no effect on this concept. As long as your camera is video only (no sound is being recorded), then you can do whatever you want with it, in your own home.

It is illegal to record someone’s voice without their permission in California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington State. If you live in any of these states, be sure the hidden camera/nanny camera DOES NOT record sound before buying one.

Can Hidden/Nanny Cams be legally used in the workplace?

This depends on your employer’s intentions. The main issues are where the employer wants to put the cameras and why. Employers must have a reasonable, legitimate business reason for wanting to monitor employees by camera, such as for security reasons or to prevent theft. Some states have made certain areas of the workplace off-limits to cameras, such as restrooms.

A very important thing to know about cameras in your workplace is that your employer is required to let you know that they are there.

NOTE: Since laws change from state to state at any time, it is advisable to check your state laws before purchasing a nanny cam.

By: Theresa Troolines

About the Author:
Self Defense Products Florida sells a wide variety of Self Defense products and Home Security Protection in addition to free informative and useful articles and links. If you would like to know more about different methods to avoid crime- visit: http://www.selfdefenseproductsflorida.com/nanny-cameras-for-spying-nanny.html

Theresa M. Troolines is the owner of Self Defense Products Florida





When it comes to home security or office protection, there aren’t too many security options that can match the price or reliability that spy cameras and nanny cams deliver on a regular basis. Wireless spy nanny cams can be a great way to minimize theft, damage and loss while at the same time giving you comfort and peace of mind in knowing that there’s a technical watchdog protecting the things and places that matter the most to you. However, what that doesn’t mean is that, once you have actually bought and installed your micro spy nanny cam, that you just sit back, relax, and let the camera do all the work for you. On the contrary, your part to play has only just begun.

That’s because, while spy cams can help maximize the surveillance that your property is subjected to, that doesn’t mean that they simply repel any potential burglars and thieves. Remember, body worn spy cams and other types of small nanny cameras are designed to hide in plain sight – which means that they’re going to go unnoticed. Now, while you don’t want to attract any extra or unwanted attention to your spy cam, that doesn’t mean that you want to have your home or office appear enticing to criminals either.

Purchasing and having an easy-to-use and reliable spy camera is an important step in your quest to protect your home, family or office as best as you can. But, while it is a vital step, it isn’t the only step that you should take. There are many different things that you can do to help maximize the safety and security of whatever or wherever it is that you want to protect. These security ideals don’t necessarily deal directly with your spy camera. Rather, they work in conjunction with the nanny cam that you may already have in place.

(1) Look Like Your Home

If you aren’t home for the night, don’t make your house appear that it’s empty – and open for “business.” Leave some lights on, or purchase a timing system that can turn lights on and off at set intervals to create the illusion that someone is home. If you have more than one vehicle, park it in the driveway as well. Plus, there are many different kinds of spy cams that are designed to mimic movement and activity.

(2) Take Care Of Your Property

Nanny cams can keep close watch on the outside, but they can’t make your home look cared for and attended to. Trim your bushes, don’t let any plants or trees get overgrown. In addition to being unsightly, a poorly maintained garden can interfere with the operations or the line of sight of any wireless spy cam that you may intend to use.

(3) Keep A List

Anything and everything that’s important or valuable in your home or office should be documented. As well, if you do have any locations in your house that are more valuable or expensive than other, then it makes sense to strategically place a spy cam in those areas to ensure maximum protection and surveillance.

(4) Door And Window Safety

More often than not, criminals and thugs break and enter into homes through windows and doors. These entry points are quite vulnerable, and, as such, should be given extra care and protection. Window bars and deadbolt locks are two simple ideas that you can implement to protect your home or office. Another strong idea is to ensure that you have a reliable and effective wireless spy cam strategically located and focusing on doors and windows.

(5) Use Common Sense

Just be aware of everything that’s going on around you. Pay close attention to your neighborhood and become familiar with, well, the familiar!

By: Manny J Manuel

About the Author:
Manny J. Manuel is an expert on spy cameras and he wants to share his knowledge and passion with you! He believes that all families should have access to affordable, reliable wireless nanny cameras which can keep families, homes and businesses safe from harm, violence and crime.

Living in Canada, Manny J. Manuel understands that there isn’t anything more important than the safety of your family. That’s why he wants to spread the word and inform people about self contained spy cams that families can afford and which offer reliable protection and security. He also believes that spy cameras shouldn’t be too complicated to families to actually set up and use.



Choosing an Austin Daycare



Choosing a daycare or nanny for the little ones in your family is a very important decision to make. There are many things to research and think about when deciding, and it can be especially overwhelming if you’re new to the Austin community. With more than 50 centers to choose from throughout the city and surrounding area, be sure to start looking early – many have limited openings or even a wait list.

Daycares give children the opportunity to learn a variety of skills through playing with others and doing a wide range of activities like singing, storytelling, and art projects. They’ll also get to play and learn with other children on a daily basis. That’s why it’s important to be completely comfortable with the Austin daycare you choose – and ensure they’ll provide your child with a great experience. Here are a few things you should consider:

Location

First and foremost, decide how far you want to travel from your home to drop off your child. Are you looking for something close to home or work, or are you comfortable with a longer commute? Just be sure you’re not making your decision based entirely on what’s closest – it’s likely there are plenty of quality daycare centers within the area you’re looking to travel. You’ll also find that some of Austin’s larger daycares, like the Children’s Courtyard and the Children’s Center of Austin, offer more than one location throughout the city.

Ask for references

You’re looking for someone you can trust to take care of your child on a daily basis, so it’s important to find someone you’re 100% comfortable with. Ask your friends and family if they have recommendations for a good daycare center, and start with those. You can also look online – the Savvy Source (http://www.savvysource.com) is a great website where you can see honest reviews given by parents and a five-star rating based on things like safety, teacher quality, and facilities. Yelp.com is also a great place to search for reviews from Austin parents.

Interview

Many times an initial phone call will give you a sense of if you’ll fit well with the daycare center. There are several questions you should ask to help you narrow down your search:

Is the center licensed? This means they met the standards when inspected for fire, sanitation, proper care giving, and more. Is the center accredited by a national organization? Two of the primary ones are the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) What are their fees per child? Are they flexible with your work schedule? What activities will children take part in during the day? What size of a group will your child be placed in? The smaller the group size, the more one-on-one attention they’ll get. Are the care providers experienced? How many children are paired with each teacher? These and many more are questions to give you a good “look” into what the daycare center can offer.

For more information visit Daycare.com’s Texas State Requirements website for a look into what’s required to be licensed as a daycare in the state.

Plan a visit

Once you’ve narrowed down your list, set up a visit to your top choices for you and your child. A personal visit will give you the opportunity to meet one-on-one with the staff and check out the features the center can offer your child. While visiting, you’ll also have the chance to ask more in-depth questions about the center and its policies.

Consider each of these as you’re searching for an Austin, Texas, childcare provider. It will save you much time and energy in the long run and will help ensure you and your family feel completely comfortable with your choice. To start your search in Austin, here’s a comprehensive list of daycares available throughout the city.

By: Brian Talley

About the Author:
This article was provided by Brian Talley on behalf of Regent Property Group, Austin Real Estate specialist’s and top Austin Realtors helping professionals secure Austin Office Space and helping client’s purchase Austin homes for sale, and helping client’s sell Austin Texas real estate and homes.





Do you know who’s taking care of your kids? We all put lots of faith and trust in our caregivers, but you never know. It’s sad but true; in this day and age, you can never have too much protection for your children.

Many folks are now using a security surveillance camera to watch who’s watching our kids. Is it paranoia? Do we really believe that they might be abusing our children? Not exactly. People are using “nanny cams” more than ever because…

- It’s just an added safety measure. IF something were to happen (and we all hope and pray it doesn’t), we can know exactly when and where it occurred.

- Security surveillance cameras have become so cheap and easy to use, it doesn’t have to be a big deal. Even if you don’t suspect anything, you can install a simple consumer model security surveillance camera just to be on the safe side.

- When it comes to protecting your precious little ones, no measure is too extreme.

These are the reasons for the boom in nanny cams. Electronics shops are full of simple, user-friendly surveillance systems designed just for keeping tabs on them.

Should You Tell The Nanny?

You have two choices – Either tell the nanny up front that you will be recording them, or hide the camera and let it roll unnoticed.

Lots of companies make tiny nanny cams that fit in stuffed animals, alarm clocks and other everyday items. This way, you can spy on the nanny without them knowing it. It is perfectly legal in 50 states to do this.

Of course the ethical and nice thing to do is simply tell them up front. Most parents use nanny cams these days, so an experienced sitter will understand. Some like being filmed, knowing that the parents who are off at work would love to be there too, and want to see the interaction with their kids.

Hidden Nanny Cams

Nanny cams come in all shapes and sizes. Some fit in alarm clocks, air purifiers, toys… and some are simple cameras mounted on a wall or shelf. Some nannies even prefer the hidden ones so they don’t feel like they’re being watched all the time.

Most of these cameras are DVR’s, or Digital Video Recorders. These are small and easy for even the lowest tech parents to use. DVR’s record straight to MP3, which can then be dumped directly into a personal computer and watched instantly. The device records the time and date, and most of them are voice or motion activated.

Some cameras will also transmit images to a PC or mobile device. This way, you can access the footage while at work or on the run. This is good for security purposes, but also nice if you want to take a break at work and see how the little one is doing!

The nanny cam may be an extreme measure, but all of us have seen those videos on the Internet of nannies abusing kids while the parents are away. Since the price has come down, using a security surveillance camera is easier than ever, so why not install one just to be safe? At least you can know your child is in good hands.

By: Andrew Stratton

About the Author:
No measure is too extreme when it comes to ensuring your children’s safety. Buying a security surveillance camera is cheaper than ever. Visit http://www.surveillancetechnology.com to learn about affordable home security systems for your family.