Camera in home RSS feed

Anonymous
MB here. I am going back to work from maternity leave soon and am having a hard time with the thought of missing my kids. I want to put a camera I. The house that allows me to watch them from my iPhone. If you are a nanny, how would you react to this? We have one now and I am wondering how best to broach it with her. We don't want to check up on her - I just want to be able to see my babes for a few minutes during the day.
Anonymous
Just be honest from the start. Most nannies won't be upset if you tell them before you install them.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Just be honest from the start. Most nannies won't be upset if you tell them before you install them.


+1
Anonymous
Agree with PP, but since she already works for you, you should make it clear that the cameras aren't going in for anything she's done and that you trust her as much as you always have, but just miss your kids. I'd be worried as a nanny that's been with a family for some time if they felt the sudden need for cameras.

I'll be honest, cameras make me uneasy. I get why parents want them, i just dont like them. It would take a lot of control to not check it constantly or not use it to micromanage, and I simply couldn't be myself with the kids. I'd always be in professional mode.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I'll be honest, cameras make me uneasy. I get why parents want them, i just dont like them. It would take a lot of control to not check it constantly or not use it to micromanage, and I simply couldn't be myself with the kids. I'd always be in professional mode.


+1

I totally understand your intentions OP, but I would be uncomfortable if I was your nanny too. However, I would be totally fine with any of these options:
texting/emailing the parent photos/video clips throughout the day
facilitating facetiming/skyping once or twice a day between parents and kids (and obviously letting mom see the baby and what the kids are playing with etc)
phoning and checking in with parent once or twice a day
Anonymous
MB here who has cameras in the house so I understand how you feel but it may be a little awkward for your nanny if you put cameras in after she has been working for you. We put them in before the nanny started working for us. We told her in the interview that they were there and she was fine with them. She's great and I trust her completely so now I really only use the cameras because, like you, I miss the children when I'm at work and I like to see them on the cameras. We recently turned our basement into a playroom but we don't have a camera there. I'd love to be able to see them when they are playing there but I know it would be weird for the nanny if I did that so I'm not putting one there.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP, but since she already works for you, you should make it clear that the cameras aren't going in for anything she's done and that you trust her as much as you always have, but just miss your kids. I'd be worried as a nanny that's been with a family for some time if they felt the sudden need for cameras.

I'll be honest, cameras make me uneasy. I get why parents want them, i just dont like them. It would take a lot of control to not check it constantly or not use it to micromanage, and I simply couldn't be myself with the kids. I'd always be in professional mode.

+1
Anonymous
Once I had a job where a documentary was being filmed. I had several "passing" clips, and knew how hard it was to ignore it and relax. Once there's a video camera in my face, it's simply not the authentic me. Sorry.

That being said, if I suddenly found out that someone was taping me without my consent, they'd be getting an instant resignation.
Anonymous
OP, if you just want to see them for a few minutes each day, why not skype or facetime with them at lunch time, or something along those lines?
Anonymous
How old are your children, OP?
Anonymous
As a nanny I would be upset about cameras not because I am doing anything wrong, but I do not like being on camera. Also, it seems that nanny cams are a slippery slope to being completely micromanaged by MB.
Anonymous
They shouldn't be leaving their children with questionable strangers.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:How old are your children, OP?


I have a newborn and a toddler. Maybe I will just swap out their bedroom monitors -- then the nanny doesn't have to be on cam, I can just check in on them while they sleep.
Anonymous
I second the skype or FaceTime. I don't mind cameras if I know about them but I also am more timid and don't act silly sing or dance as much as I do when there are no cameras. Same with when the parents are home I still play with the children but I'm more self conscious
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:I second the skype or FaceTime. I don't mind cameras if I know about them but I also am more timid and don't act silly sing or dance as much as I do when there are no cameras. Same with when the parents are home I still play with the children but I'm more self conscious

Very well-said. Take note, parents.
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