Your babysitter: you should be able to trust her. But the nanny cam business is booming, so it seems like a lot of parents don't. But is setting up a camera to spy on your babysitter really a good idea? If you suspect that your nanny is harming your child, shouldn't you just fire him? And is it right to film a person without her knowledge even if it is in your home? Maggie Mason of Mighty Girl asks, "Would you ever spy on your babysitter?"

Have you ever used a nanny cam?  Would you?  Do you know anyone who has caught her babysitter doing something wrong?  Join the Momversation by commenting below.

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Showing the Latest of 24 Comments

chelsea.green.heard
1 month ago
Okay so fine you assume that you will have some suspicion that your nanny is abusive. If that's the case then by all means....fire them! No questions asked, no proof needed. The only problem with that is how many children tell their parents that they are being abused or sexually exploited? Not many. Most kids keep quiet until later in life. These types of people know how to fly under the radar and never draw your suspicions. Why take a chance and regret not knowing sooner? I am a stay at home mother but on occasion I do have to get a sitter and I trust that sitter, but I don't trust anyone explicitly with my child. They are not his mother. They will never love him as much as I do. I want to be aware if something happens so that I can make an informed decision immediately. Not a few years down the road. And to those moms who said you just were too lazy to look at all the hours of tape...seriously? Your child's safety is not worth you putting in a little extra effort. This stuff blows my mind. My son is my number one priority...not some random nanny's right to privacy....not my right to have free time (aka...pure laziness)...nothing comes before him. That's what a mom is supposed to do. Protect...and that means being informed about what happens in those hours that you are away from your precious little gift.
 
VIP09
1 years ago
Alice, I'm horrified that your former "caregiver" would hit your son! BIG HUGS! And I'm surprised that your next sentance was and she left with her last paycheck and a black eye! Actually if it were me in that situation a paycheck may not have been given, just the black eye. We hear it on the news how people have been arrested because of the the things that were on the nanny cams so for some it can be a good thing. Some people can come highly reccomended but who knows what they are doing while you are away. I wouldn't get a nanny cam. The teenagers that babysits for us is the son and daughter of a really good friend if mine and I trust them both completely! Plus my son is a tattle tale and he would tell me everything that happens when we are not around. I always get great reviews from my son. I do have to say that if I have a gut feeling that this person who is babysitting my son isn't going to be a good idea I don't go anywhere. And I have done it before. In the past before I had kids, I have ignored my gut feeling out of fear of insulting the other person but I can't ignore it when it comes to my kids.
 
MeMyselfandMommy
1 years ago
I wouldn't nanny cam anyone. It's not because I think everyone is perfectly trust worthy. It's because if my sitter gives me a vibe that a nanny cam is needed, or if my child is not happy to see the sitter, then clearly things are not adding up. Plus if I witness someone abusing my child on video or in person, I may not hold my composure, and may end up doing time for abusing the abusive sitter. I hope that the people I allow to watch my children have been through interviews, background checks, spent time with me and my children and so on. I hope that I do my job by finding people that are trustworthy and wonderful with children. I also hope that I promptly listen to my instincts and fire someone if I have a bad feeling instead of waiting for something bad to happen.
 
kristanhoffman
1 years ago
My mom has told me about a babysitter that she suspected of either harming me or not taking good care of me, and her response to it was to immediately terminate the relationship and find me a new nanny (WHO WE LOVED). So that's the model I grew up with and most likely the one I would follow. That said, I can understand why someone might want a nanny cam. Maybe one parent suspects and the other thinks they're being paranoid, so they need/want evidence. Maybe they are afraid of getting sued for wrongful termination (I know it's not as clear cut an employer/employee contract as some others, but hey, nowadays people will try to sue for anything). Or maybe it IS someone the parent thought they could trust (a family member, a good friend, etc.) and so they want to be 100% sure before they damage a personal as well as professional relationship. At the end of the day, I think a child's safety comes before any "ethical dilemmas" with nannies, so a parent should do what they feel best, nanny cam or not.
 
BeingSuper
1 years ago
I have been blessed with family members that live close by and other great babysitters, so I've never had to deal with this situation. However I don't think I would ever set up a nanny cam. I too am lazy, I don't want to watch a zillion hours of tape. But more than that, I firmly, FIRMLY believe in following my instincts. If something doesn't feel right...it's not right. Period. End of discussion. I don't have to explain myself. If others need a reason, then: Because I'm a hyper-protective, neurotic mother and that's my prerogative. Oh yeah, and because I said so. On the other side of this issue is knowing when it is right. I love that Rebecca said that she trusts her nanny. I bet that assured feeling carries over to her children and they feel safe and secure with her and know that she is a dependable adult.
 
Jojo
1 years ago
While I completely agree with Daphne and Alice, I am squeamish about the roll-your-eyes judgmental tone of this episode. Look, I wouldn't videotape my nanny either but can you really judge other women/men who do this? What about that nanny in the news a few months ago who was taking the kids to a seedy, little apartment that she had them call "the library" and just leaving them there in unsafe circumstances? She was caught totally by accident and everyone thought she was a perfect nanny. Unless it's a family member or close friend, how can you not be a little scared if you leave your baby or toddler when you know they can't tell you what is going on all day? I am largely a SAHM mom now and I see a LOT of careless nannies. I have no horrible stories but just mild to moderate neglect. A friend of mine had her nanny set up a Twitter account and she sends constant updates about what she is doing with her kids. I think this is a great idea. It sets her mind at ease and it gives the nanny the sense that she needs to check in all the time. It's not perfect but I think it's better than a nanny cam in many ways.
 
AZ Writer
1 years ago
I'm a jerk when it comes to my kid. Seriously, being a mom is the only area of my life that I totally have the balls, every time, to be a shoot-first kind of person. I would never nanny-cam anyone for the same reason the majority of you seem to share: if I felt the need to spy on anyone caring for my son, I wouldn't have (or would no longer have) them anywhere near him, much less when I'm not present. That said, I don't think it's immoral to set up a nanny cam. If someone signs on to care for your kid, you have a right to know every time they fart in his or her vicinity. Really, I'm selfish. I don't think anyone but me or very close family (and I mean very -- I'd agree about the mother-in-law cam) can do as good a job raising my kid as me. I'm super easygoing on the outside, and encourage my son to get to know the world in one big mushy embrace. But inside, I'm a paranoid, micromanaging, teeth-baring, overprotective mom.
 
Ally1979
1 years ago
I agree with the 2 posters who saw the reasons behind wanting to be vigilant for your kids' sake - and not giving a rats ass about the privacy of the babysitter...and i guess i am the 1st one who totally, totally, totally would install one. In fact I plan to get one as soon as my 2 year old starts getting watched by others. She's 2 - she can't tell me if her sitter had her boyfriend over, or drank alcohol, or LEFT. And I'm sorry, I am not buying the idea that it's black and white, trust or not trust when it comes to sitters - people lie on applicaitons, they are capable of furnishing false references, and people are great liars. I wouldnt necessarily watch every second of every video, but I'd get a feel for a sitter for sure, if they are new. Maybe I'm still young enough to remember that the WORST kids in high school - the coke addicts, the sluts, the reckless drivers and cheaters and liars - were also the valedictorians and student body presidents. Facades, people. It's why the "cam" is going up.
 
kellytirman
1 years ago
Some day care centers are wired with video camera in each room and they provide parents access so these can see live footage or what is happening during the day. Although this is not specifically a "nanny cam" I think this type of live video is great idea and would give me not only peace of mind but would allow me to quickly check in on my child between meetings while at work. Since I am presently on maternity leave and have yet to make a final decision on a day care center or hiring a nanny I am not positive how I will feel about this in a few months. However right now I would not use a hidden nanny cam - however if I had the means to wire my whole house for live video (and I could ensure only my husband and I had access) I would do it in a heart beat.
 
JustAnotherMommyBlog
1 years ago
I am with Kristin in that there are situations in which you may not have anything other than a "feeling". A situation where you may wonder at how your sister or father or neighbor acts when you're not around. You cannot sling accusations without evidence and having a "gut feeling" isn't always proof that something could be wrong. That said, you SHOULD listen to your heart. Tell those you're having watch your children how you feel. Perhaps there is a good explanation. Perhaps you are reading the situation incorrectly. Also? People lie. A lot. I was NOT always a "good" babysitter. I will admit to being lazy at times and very immature. But I WAS a teenager, and a good actress at that. I believe that nanny cams are ok, but that people who hire nannies should let them know that they may be possibly recorded at some time or another. If a nanny has an issue with it, then they shouldn't be your nanny.
 

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