Nanny Cams - Looking for experiences from nannies

[Anonymous]

I was recently offered a nanny position and was told they have nanny cams. While I fully understand why they have them, and imagine if I had my own children and hired a nanny that I would want them, I've never had experience working under the eye of a camera in my 8+ years as a nanny.

I'm just looking for advice or experience from nannies - any ideas to make it easier for me? I'm a fairly shy person in front of adults, and while the position is wonderful in every other regard, the whole camera thing is making me hesitate.

I've heard from some people that I would eventually forget they were there, but I really don't know if I would.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

You never forget they're there.
I understand why parents want them, really I do.
In the beginning, it's an important tool for parents to use in establishing a trustful relationship with their child's nanny.
I worked for one family with a camera. I was told it was there and I was fine with it. After a year, it was still there. I began to feel as though they didn't trust me and my job happiness took a nosedive.

[Anonymous]

I don't have any advice, because I would never work for a family with nanny cams. If they can't implicitly trust you, and rely on things like coming home early or checking in throughout the day during the "getting to know you"/trial period, you don't want to work for them. Yikes.

[Anonymous]

You'll never know if the father is laughing it up with his buddies at the office while you're bending over and showing too much.

[Anonymous]

MB here: we never told our nanny we have nanny cams. We've NEVER reviewed with friends, and certainly never laughed at anything we've seen.

When we see our nanny being silly or dancing around the living room with the babies, we're not smirking at the goofiness, we're just happy she's making our kids happy. The times we've seen her flop onto the couch, we're relieved to see she has time to take a break.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely do not mind nanny cams, I actually like them to an extent. I also feel safe knowing if anything were to happen, NF could look at the nanny cam and be assured about the day.

However, I would be very upset if I found out I was being filmed without my knowing. If a family is sneaking a camera at me all day I do feel violated. I don't have to know where they are (as long as they aren't in the bathroom). I just want a family to say, "Are you ok with the possibility of us using a nanny cam". I will oblige and move on.

I feel like if a family has to be super sneaky about it they aren't ever going to trust me. I can't work like that.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny, I always assume there are hidden nanny cams whether the parents tell me about them or not. In my current position, I was told they got live internet cameras and I'm perfectly fine with it. I don't change how I care for my charges whether I think someone is watching or not - I silly sing (terribly), dance around and act silly. You'll get used to nanny cams - they really aren't a big deal and more and more families are getting them now so I certainly wouldn't pass up a job because of the presence of cameras. At least this family had the decency to tell you about them!

[Anonymous]

I always assume they are there, BUT if I found them and had not been informed of their presence, I'd quit. It dishonest and shady to secretly tape someone and I couldn't have the open honest relationship that I need to have with parents if I knew they did that to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always assume they are there, BUT if I found them and had not been informed of their presence, I'd quit. It dishonest and shady to secretly tape someone and I couldn't have the open honest relationship that I need to have with parents if I knew they did that to me.

Also wanted to add that there are camera detectors that you can purchase. I think its important to protect yourself. If a family doesn't forewarn you that they have a camera and what its used for, you have no idea what they are taping, what kind of taping they are doing, and if the cameras are in inappropriate locations. Some families think its okay to have cameras in the kids bathrooms. You probably want to know they are there. You probably also want to know if they have a live stream and what they do to protect it. And if they have recorded footage, you have no idea that, like another poster mentioned, they aren't sharing it. The whole idea of secret taping gives me the skeeves. There are sickos out there.

[Anonymous]

I babysat for a family that had live feed cameras around the house. I was fine because it wasn't a full time position and I played with the children like I normally would. However, the moment they texted me to tell me to put the empty bottle in the sink was when I decided never to babysit for them again. I understand checking on the kids but telling me to do things before even giving me a chance to do it myself is uncalled for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I babysat for a family that had live feed cameras around the house. I was fine because it wasn't a full time position and I played with the children like I normally would. However, the moment they texted me to tell me to put the empty bottle in the sink was when I decided never to babysit for them again. I understand checking on the kids but telling me to do things before even giving me a chance to do it myself is uncalled for.

Perfect example of sickos. You just never know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I babysat for a family that had live feed cameras around the house. I was fine because it wasn't a full time position and I played with the children like I normally would. However, the moment they texted me to tell me to put the empty bottle in the sink was when I decided never to babysit for them again. I understand checking on the kids but telling me to do things before even giving me a chance to do it myself is uncalled for.

Perfect example of sickos. You just never know.

That's annoying, of course, but not what I meant by sickos. I meant that if you're being recorded without your knowledge, there very well could be cameras in places they shouldn't be. What if you're a live-in? Are there cameras in your bedroom? You also have no what unsavory things they could be doing with the footage. They could be showing it to their friends and laughing at you. The camera could be placed in such a manner that there are constant views of your chest and behind. Not saying that most parents would do this, but what's to stop them? If I find out you are secretly recording me, I can no longer trust you.

[Anonymous]

Isn't it illegal to record a care provider without their knowledge?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it illegal to record a care provider without their knowledge?

Nope.

[Anonymous]

We have nanny cams. Live feed, no recording. I trust my nanny completely. Sometimes I just like to see what my kid is doing.