Nanny Cam

[Dandelionkid]

Seeing as a nanny has no supervision while she is in the child's home, shouldn't cameras be expected? Even daycares have cameras set-up. I would expect my nanny to be ok with this if I didn't know her prior to hiring but my friend disagrees. She thinks it would ruin the trust and cause awkwardness. If you have a nanny do you use a camera or two?

[MelW]

I don't think cameras should be expected. And I think that if you do decide to use cameras, that you should let your nanny know. I'd expect the same if my boss/supervisor had cameras on me at work.

I rely on my instincts about a caregiver, my ability to interpret my child's reactions and my older child's reports of a caregiver. And what I see on unscheduled visits (early pick-up, stopping by mid-day occasionally). If I have questions or concerns, I address them directly and gauge a caregiver's reaction.

I think that spying on a caregiver disrupts the trust with the parent, and to some degree also with the child. And I think that a nanny has a right to pick his/her nose occasionally without being caught

[handsandfeet]

I actually purchased a camera to use with our first nanny after I suspected she was doing CIO for naps even after I discussed that we don't use that method to get him to nap. Before I even got a chance to set it up she let me know she was teaching him to "self soothe," and that was her last day as our nanny. Our current nanny has never given me any reason to question her, thus I have felt no need to use a camera. I agree that it can cause trust issues with the nanny, so I think trusting your own instincts is the best. I knew something was wrong with our first, and didn't trust her completely, and I should have acted on that earlier rather than buying the $$ camera. Now that I know what it's like to have a nanny that I totally trust, Ihave no need to spy!

Oh, and I also have "unscheduled" visits every day -- I get home whenever I'm done with my work, sometimes after a 3 hr day, sometimes 8, so she never knows when to expect me. Plus DH is home a lot and gives me reports.

[Areia]

I said no, because I don't have a nanny...

but I did for a period of time hire dog walkers and had a camera (after there were some really sad stories on the news). This person was recommended by my vet and had good references, but after those reports, I wanted to be extra careful. I was totally up front about it though and would have understood if she decided not to take the job.

I would definitely tell the nanny and would be upset if I was unknowingly taped. Even when you do nothing wrong, we all have those moments when you sprawl on the floor with the kids and maybe your skirt hikes up or you need to adjust you slip, or something. It just seems intrusive if you don't tell her.

[hildare]

if i felt that someone was untrustworthy, he or she would not be working with my children.