Coping with nanny cams

[Anonymous]

For nannies who work in a home with nanny came, how are you coping?

My NF has extensive camera coverage- living room, dining room, kitchen, stairways and hallways, all bedrooms, the office, front porch, and the back yard. They also monitor internet usage on their wifi network.

In theory, I think nanny cams are reasonable. In my interview they mentioned they have a camera in the nursery which I agreed was fine. After I started working though, I learned that the entire home was wired. At first I rationalized it - I am doing nothing wrong so let them watch. Or, maybe their is a nanny out there in the Internet porn business. Hey,big we can imagine it then it has to be plausible, right?

Over time it's become more difficult to make peace with the surveillance. For example, they have made comments about things I said in private phone calls I made while the kids are napping. They comment on what I watch on tv, again when the kids are asleep. One day I almost fell trying to pull the double stroller up the rent steps. They made jokes about it.

I feel hyper aware all the time, like they are monitoring everything I do rather then simply ensuring the safety of their children. Sometimes I turn on the washing machine and make my calls in the laundry room. Some days I stay out all day at the museums or zoo because the cameras make me uncomfortable. It's a feeling like there's a spider creeping up the back of your neck. The worst is when I am having a great time with the kids playing around then I remember they are watching, that I am on stage and the cameras are rolling. I completely shut down. Suddenly my movements feel awkward and unnatural.

For nannies who work in a home with nanny cams, even if the cameras make sense on a rational level, how has it affected you on a personal level? How do you cope?

[Anonymous]

I'm not a nanny, I'm an MB. But I just wanted to say I'm sorry. The way they are clearly watching everything you do and commenting on things that have nothing to do with childcare sounds obnoxious, rude, offensive and completely out of line.

[Anonymous]

I just got used to it and don't think about it anymore. I just do what I do. I never make personal calls from their house. Why not make your calls in the bathroom - you cannot he recorded in there?

[Anonymous]

I would find another job. This is ridiculous. They are voyeurs and probably have a hidden camera in the bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Voyeurism is sick. You have no idea how they're using all that footage of you, or how they (or their friends) may use it in the future.

Based on what Op has reported, they likely have cameras in the bathroom. If they don't pay you enough to buy a hidden camera detector to check the bathroom, be prepared for the worst. They cost just about $100.

Are you live-in? I hope not. I knew a live-in nanny who found cameras in her bedroom. She reported them to the police department, thank goodness.

They're clearly very sick. You need to get out of there ASAP.

[Anonymous]

As soon as you get a new job, you give them a reason for leaving that has nothing to do with them.

They can blackmail you with the bathroom footage.
Sick.
Sick.
Sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For nannies who work in a home with nanny came, how are you coping?

My NF has extensive camera coverage- living room, dining room, kitchen, stairways and hallways, all bedrooms, the office, front porch, and the back yard. They also monitor internet usage on their wifi network.

In theory, I think nanny cams are reasonable. In my interview they mentioned they have a camera in the nursery which I agreed was fine. After I started working though, I learned that the entire home was wired. At first I rationalized it - I am doing nothing wrong so let them watch. Or, maybe their is a nanny out there in the Internet porn business. Hey,big we can imagine it then it has to be plausible, right?

Over time it's become more difficult to make peace with the surveillance. For example, they have made comments about things I said in private phone calls I made while the kids are napping. They comment on what I watch on tv, again when the kids are asleep. One day I almost fell trying to pull the double stroller up the rent steps. They made jokes about it.

I feel hyper aware all the time, like they are monitoring everything I do rather then simply ensuring the safety of their children. Sometimes I turn on the washing machine and make my calls in the laundry room. Some days I stay out all day at the museums or zoo because the cameras make me uncomfortable. It's a feeling like there's a spider creeping up the back of your neck. The worst is when I am having a great time with the kids playing around then I remember they are watching, that I am on stage and the cameras are rolling. I completely shut down. Suddenly my movements feel awkward and unnatural.

For nannies who work in a home with nanny cams, even if the cameras make sense on a rational level, how has it affected you on a personal level? How do you cope?

As a MB, I wonder why they are watching you on the camera all the time too. It takes time to monitor so much and catch everything and why don't they just watch their own kids if they have time to do that? Do you work for a SAHM?

[Anonymous]

MB here. We got nanny cams - one for the baby's room, and one for the open common areas. Firstly, I believe it's illegal to record voice - you may want to check into that. Our cameras just click on based on motion detection. Secondly, it's completely unprofessional of them to be commenting on things they see on camera. Thirdly, it's cruel of them to make fun of you for almost falling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not a nanny, I'm an MB. But I just wanted to say I'm sorry. The way they are clearly watching everything you do and commenting on things that have nothing to do with childcare sounds obnoxious, rude, offensive and completely out of line.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For nannies who work in a home with nanny came, how are you coping?

My NF has extensive camera coverage- living room, dining room, kitchen, stairways and hallways, all bedrooms, the office, front porch, and the back yard. They also monitor internet usage on their wifi network.

In theory, I think nanny cams are reasonable. In my interview they mentioned they have a camera in the nursery which I agreed was fine. After I started working though, I learned that the entire home was wired. At first I rationalized it - I am doing nothing wrong so let them watch. Or, maybe their is a nanny out there in the Internet porn business. Hey,big we can imagine it then it has to be plausible, right?

Over time it's become more difficult to make peace with the surveillance. For example, they have made comments about things I said in private phone calls I made while the kids are napping. They comment on what I watch on tv, again when the kids are asleep. One day I almost fell trying to pull the double stroller up the rent steps. They made jokes about it.

I feel hyper aware all the time, like they are monitoring everything I do rather then simply ensuring the safety of their children. Sometimes I turn on the washing machine and make my calls in the laundry room. Some days I stay out all day at the museums or zoo because the cameras make me uncomfortable. It's a feeling like there's a spider creeping up the back of your neck. The worst is when I am having a great time with the kids playing around then I remember they are watching, that I am on stage and the cameras are rolling. I completely shut down. Suddenly my movements feel awkward and unnatural.

For nannies who work in a home with nanny cams, even if the cameras make sense on a rational level, how has it affected you on a personal level? How do you cope?

Good post + 1

[Anonymous]

You should not be trying to cope with this. You should move on to a job that allows you to feel comfortable. I'm sure I will get blasted for saying this, but I wouldn't knowingly work in a home with cameras. I understand the desire to have them, but I am a shy introvert and the idea of being watched, especially secretly watched, would have me so uncomfortable that I couldn't do my job. You'd get no singing or dancing from me with those things in your house!

My suggestion would be to find a new job, invest in a camera detector, and maybe even ask about camera use in your interviews. I don't ask about them because it can be like asking about money, you don't want to seem hyper focussed on it. But I do schedule a working interview or trial day before the job starts and I check for cameras then.

[Anonymous]

You can download free App for your phone to track the hidden camera.

Try it. Its cool and super easy!

[Anonymous]

13:12 poster here.

I think, after thinking about it, I think you must've started a new job and they are watching you all the time so that they can learn to trust you.

I think once they trust you, they really should not have the time to monitor so closely. Otherwise, why don't they watch their own kids!

I think you should console in the fact that it will get better. Also, they seem to like if you they "make jokes" about it rather than telling you to do things differently based on what they saw on the camera. It is a nice way to say "We are aware, be careful next time," without being so direct.

I think their mentioning things is actually a warning, indirectly saying that they are aware that you are on the phone having private conversations and such.

Are you having private conversations on the phone and watching TV the entire time the baby is napping? Occasional is fine, entire time is too much. You should have laundry and things to do, to keep busy. Why do you have so many private conversations? They may have mentioned it as a way of saying "We're aware of what you do during nap time." and secondly, to warn not to badmouth them.

I suspect that they weren't being mean or not minding their own business, but sending a message.

I think you can deal with it by being on private conversations less and watching TV less during work time.

My nanny, when by kids were infants did things like wipe down toys, organize toys, prepare homemade food, laundry for the kids. It kept them busy and did not have much time for personal calls and they never got any TV time at all.

[Anonymous]

I work part-time with this one family. Her husband work from home (hiding in the office most of the time). MB is someone high in computer company. She going back to work soon.

She will leave me with the baby to do her grocery shopping, doctor appointment etc. She never told me they got cameras in the house. I work as usual play silly dancing singing clean up here and there. One day she told me "she not crying much with you" " you noticed how she try to crawl when you put her toys on the table?" and many more things that I didn't told her.

I'm like "huh? how she know this"

Now I know the camera is there. I'm not worry because I only work 2 hours a day with them. If 8 hours a day I will going crazy!

[Anonymous]

Now 13:32 is a crazy person. Get a grip, would you please?