Using a Nanny Cam

The parents' advantage

The nanny cam is a promising, common sense solution to the problem of trust and unavoidable concern that accompanies leaving your child with any sitter. Even when the sitter is known, parents are justified in their desire for immediate surveillance.

The rules

It is recommended, though, that you let the nanny know that you are installing cameras. A chance discovery by an uninformed sitter will likely result in hurt feelings and could leave you without child care. Plus, it's just common courtesy. Make time to explain to your new sitter that the nanny cam is simply a precaution and that you trust them.

Your options when considering nanny cams are essentially two. First, you can opt for an exposed camera that can be easily found in an electronics store. Option two would be a hidden camera designed to fit in a stuffed animal or something similar. These are particularly nice because they can be moved. This option is really only useful if you need to monitor a nanny without permission.