Cameras?

[Anonymous]

Yes, you should tell her.

The idea is 1) to see your kids during the day and 2) to prevent harm from coming to your children.

Which would you prefer:

Scenario A: You don't tell the nanny about the cameras and discover she is unfit after a few weeks or months when you happen to tune in just as she's slapping the baby

Scenario B: You tell all your nanny candidates you have cameras in your home. Those nannies who are not comfortable with that, whether for privacy reasons or because they know they're likely to get caught doing something they shouldn't, withdraw themselves from the running. You end up hiring a trustworthy nanny comfortable with the arrangement.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely OP.

Full disclosure is the best option.

Because think about it, if she finds out later on that she was being filmed without her consent, you risk losing a great nanny over her inability to trust you ever again.

Deception is not the best foot to get started on.

While it is legal, I find it unethical to film another person without their explicit consent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you for your responses. Generally, seeing all those videos on the internet how some nannies are all the time on the phone, or not paying attention, etc. I've seen and heard lots of stories but I wanted another opinion. I don't know why is the problem to have a camera. If she loves her job and if she is good,she has nothing to be afraid of, right? You can never be sure what can happen and I want to avoid that. We can do background checks, we can call references, but we will never know until we see it.

I encourage cameras because I want my MB/DB to see how hard I work with my charge and all that I am teaching him. I also definitely encourage parents to show up at their child's daily outings to the park and library where most nannies are constantly on their phones.

However, the presence of the cameras was announced at my hire. I cannot imagine how betrayed and distrusted I would feel if I discovered that they had hidden cameras. Cameras are great when the intent is for the parents to see what their child is doing. Cameras are insulting and an statement of distrust when kept hidden and secret.

[Anonymous]

Cameras in the home are the reason that all the nannies are on their phones like crazy when they take their charges to the park, spray park, pool or library. I cannot imagine that this is a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Don't be naive, OP. Most people now expect cameras in the home and act accordingly. I would spend more time worrying about what your nanny is doing/not doing when she is out of the house with your baby.

[Anonymous]

I recommend cameras to potential employers. I have enough experience with first time parents freaking out over a bumped head or scraped knee that it's easier to log room and time and let the parents check the camera to know how minor accidents happened. Of course, it also provides evidence for me if I'm hurt on the job, not that I've needed it yet.

But the clause in the contract always reads that the family either has or does not have cameras, and if the family installs cameras in the future, they agree to disclose such. I don't want to know where they are or how many there are. Some rooms are obvious (nursery/kids' room, playroom, kitchen), and I check to make sure there aren't any in the bathrooms and my room(s). Other than that, I don't see an issue.

However, if I find a camera in a bathroom, my room(s) or when I have not been informed that there are cameras, yes, I quit on the spot. I took a toddler to DB's office and left her with the secretary (DB was in a meeting and the secretary volunteered to watch her rather than interrupting him) along with a very terse note about respect and trust when I discovered that he had installed 5 cameras without my knowledge, one of which pointed into my room from the hallway.

[Anonymous]

Most of the time what we find is not abuse or slapping.

Almost all nannies are animated and patient and 100% focused on the job while MB is present.

When the MB is gone, a good nanny is 80% of what she was when MB is around.

When the nanny is 20% of what she was when MB is around, it is problem. Of course abuse is a huge problem but I'm not looking for that by having a camera. I want to know that my nanny is doing halfway decent job.

DCUM nannies who hang out on this site during the workday is a problem. They are the 20% nannies and of course they do not want cameras around to be found out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the time what we find is not abuse or slapping.

Almost all nannies are animated and patient and 100% focused on the job while MB is present.

When the MB is gone, a good nanny is 80% of what she was when MB is around.

When the nanny is 20% of what she was when MB is around, it is problem. Of course abuse is a huge problem but I'm not looking for that by having a camera. I want to know that my nanny is doing halfway decent job.

DCUM nannies who hang out on this site during the workday is a problem. They are the 20% nannies and of course they do not want cameras around to be found out.

Nannies can work a variety of schedules, so the fact that some of us are online during the day means jack squat. I just got home after working since 5 am, and I will have lunch and go to class this afternoon. Please stop the assumptions, accusations, and the bigotry. DCUM nannies are not a monolith, and seeing as how this is an anonymous site, you cannot possibly make judgements about nannies that post here as a whole.

[Anonymous]

Some people just don't care to be under a microscope every second for a 10-12 hour day 5 days a week.

Another huge issue is you have no clue how it can be used.

There's nothing to prevent some disgruntled jackass vindictive former employer, from putting some embarrassing clips on youtube for sheer entertainment.

America's "Funniest" Videos, anyone?
Nannies acting like fools... doing whatever.
No, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are in my private space, not your private space, paid to be in charge of a helpless human being. Please only whine about privacy violations where it is your own space. You heard it now that you can be filmed so you should know better than to play so hard you end up flashing your underwear. If you do it after reading this then you are being stupid.

If you truly cared about this helpless human being that is your child then you would not outsource its care, would you? The absurd best and safest care for your child is you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are in my private space, not your private space, paid to be in charge of a helpless human being. Please only whine about privacy violations where it is your own space. You heard it now that you can be filmed so you should know better than to play so hard you end up flashing your underwear. If you do it after reading this then you are being stupid.

If you truly cared about this helpless human being that is your child then you would not outsource its care, would you? The absurd best and safest care for your child is you.

I do the next best thing which is to make money for him to get a college education, be able to support him to 22-23 years so that he/she doesn't become a minimum wage worker, like a nanny.

Then I get a nanny and get a camera to make sure she does her job.

Then I check boards like this to make sure I am doing all that I can, and what I should look out for. I learn that there are some nasty nannies out there that I need to avoid so I look at the camera feed even more to make sure I don't have one of those nannies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is not treating someone with disrespect when they film their own house and own kids and how they are being treated. Get over yourself and definitely find yourself a new job.

Perhaps you're the one who needs a new job, like taking care of your children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are in my private space, not your private space, paid to be in charge of a helpless human being. Please only whine about privacy violations where it is your own space. You heard it now that you can be filmed so you should know better than to play so hard you end up flashing your underwear. If you do it after reading this then you are being stupid.

If you truly cared about this helpless human being that is your child then you would not outsource its care, would you? The absurd best and safest care for your child is you.

I do the next best thing which is to make money for him to get a college education, be able to support him to 22-23 years so that he/she doesn't become a minimum wage worker, like a nanny.

Then I get a nanny and get a camera to make sure she does her job.

Then I check boards like this to make sure I am doing all that I can, and what I should look out for. I learn that there are some nasty nannies out there that I need to avoid so I look at the camera feed even more to make sure I don't have one of those nannies.

Nannies aren't minimum wage workers sweetheart, and many of us have or are in pursuit of an education. Try having some damn respect for the woman caring for your kid and maybe you could attract a nanny that doesn't require you to work a full time job AND watch her every move. That sounds sad and exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are in my private space, not your private space, paid to be in charge of a helpless human being. Please only whine about privacy violations where it is your own space. You heard it now that you can be filmed so you should know better than to play so hard you end up flashing your underwear. If you do it after reading this then you are being stupid.

If you truly cared about this helpless human being that is your child then you would not outsource its care, would you? The absurd best and safest care for your child is you.

I do the next best thing which is to make money for him to get a college education, be able to support him to 22-23 years so that he/she doesn't become a minimum wage worker, like a nanny.

Then I get a nanny and get a camera to make sure she does her job.

Then I check boards like this to make sure I am doing all that I can, and what I should look out for. I learn that there are some nasty nannies out there that I need to avoid so I look at the camera feed even more to make sure I don't have one of those nannies.

Oh sorry, I lumped the 7 dollar jobs and 20 dollar jobs together because they are all the same to me in light of my 800/hr rate I charge my clients.

And I do have an excellent nanny. She has not even heard the likes of DCUM, probably and does not share your attitude.

And lastly, I think you calling me sweetie is somehow trying to talk down to me but you are in an anonymous forum; you have no idea who you are talking to. It makes you sound immature. I am pretty sure I am older than you.

Nannies aren't minimum wage workers sweetheart, and many of us have or are in pursuit of an education. Try having some damn respect for the woman caring for your kid and maybe you could attract a nanny that doesn't require you to work a full time job AND watch her every move. That sounds sad and exhausting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are in my private space, not your private space, paid to be in charge of a helpless human being. Please only whine about privacy violations where it is your own space. You heard it now that you can be filmed so you should know better than to play so hard you end up flashing your underwear. If you do it after reading this then you are being stupid.

If you truly cared about this helpless human being that is your child then you would not outsource its care, would you? The absurd best and safest care for your child is you.

I do the next best thing which is to make money for him to get a college education, be able to support him to 22-23 years so that he/she doesn't become a minimum wage worker, like a nanny.

Then I get a nanny and get a camera to make sure she does her job.

Then I check boards like this to make sure I am doing all that I can, and what I should look out for. I learn that there are some nasty nannies out there that I need to avoid so I look at the camera feed even more to make sure I don't have one of those nannies.

Nannies aren't minimum wage workers sweetheart, and many of us have or are in pursuit of an education. Try having some damn respect for the woman caring for your kid and maybe you could attract a nanny that doesn't require you to work a full time job AND watch her every move. That sounds sad and exhausting.

Oh sorry, I lumped the 7 dollar jobs and 20 dollar jobs together because they are all the same to me in light of my 800/hr rate I charge my clients.

And I do have an excellent nanny. She has not even heard the likes of DCUM, probably and does not share your attitude.

And lastly, I think you calling me sweetie is somehow trying to talk down to me but you are in an anonymous forum; you have no idea who you are talking to. It makes you sound immature. I am pretty sure I am older than you. I definitely have a lot more people working for me than you.