Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 19:18     Subject: Cameras
I wonder why the nannies here are so defensive about the idea that their employers want nannycams. If you don't have anything to hide, you shouldn't care.
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 17:15     Subject: Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you don't trust who you're leaving your child with, shame on you. How can a mother take that kind of risk with her own child?? I just don't understand that kind of mentality.


I'm so tired of hearing this same thing, usually by women who choose to stay home with their children. If that is your choice I think that's great. But you have no right to judge what someone else does.

You obviously haven't read the previous posts all that well either. NO ONE has said they are choosing some random person off the street that they don't trust. Those of us using cameras are still doing all the background checks and leg work to make sure we are picking someone we think is trust worthy. But unless you have a magic crystal ball how does anyone know who they can trust completely? And how does it hurt in ANY way to have a little backup.

Even though this has been said a thousand times apparently some people aren't getting it. The point of the cameras is NOT because I don't trust my nannies to not abuse my kids. It's because I don't know them well enough to know if they are good with MY kids. They may have been great with someone else's kids but just don't click with mine. If the kids are too little to tell us how do we know? Most people are on their best behavior when their boss is around but who knows how they are when we aren't there.

I KNOW my kids were safe with every nanny we ever had but I'm not paying someone just to keep them safe. I want to know they are being well cared for and also having fun with someone who genuinely likes them and enjoys taking care of them.

I tell the nannies before they start working that we have cameras, I don't think it's fair to keep them a secret. I only really use them at the beginning to make sure they are good with my kids and then I stop looking at them. No nanny has ever had a problem with them and they usually tell me they've worked for lots of people with cameras before.

So now that you've read my post, give me one good reason why I shouldn't have cameras.
Let's see-how about because it is completely unethical to film someone without their knowledge? That good enough for you?


How about you read what I wrote before you answer. "I tell the nannies before they start working that we have cameras, I don't think it's fair to keep them a secret."
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 17:05     Subject: Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you don't trust who you're leaving your child with, shame on you. How can a mother take that kind of risk with her own child?? I just don't understand that kind of mentality.


I'm so tired of hearing this same thing, usually by women who choose to stay home with their children. If that is your choice I think that's great. But you have no right to judge what someone else does.

You obviously haven't read the previous posts all that well either. NO ONE has said they are choosing some random person off the street that they don't trust. Those of us using cameras are still doing all the background checks and leg work to make sure we are picking someone we think is trust worthy. But unless you have a magic crystal ball how does anyone know who they can trust completely? And how does it hurt in ANY way to have a little backup.

Even though this has been said a thousand times apparently some people aren't getting it. The point of the cameras is NOT because I don't trust my nannies to not abuse my kids. It's because I don't know them well enough to know if they are good with MY kids. They may have been great with someone else's kids but just don't click with mine. If the kids are too little to tell us how do we know? Most people are on their best behavior when their boss is around but who knows how they are when we aren't there.

I KNOW my kids were safe with every nanny we ever had but I'm not paying someone just to keep them safe. I want to know they are being well cared for and also having fun with someone who genuinely likes them and enjoys taking care of them.

I tell the nannies before they start working that we have cameras, I don't think it's fair to keep them a secret. I only really use them at the beginning to make sure they are good with my kids and then I stop looking at them. No nanny has ever had a problem with them and they usually tell me they've worked for lots of people with cameras before.

So now that you've read my post, give me one good reason why I shouldn't have cameras.
Let's see-how about because it is completely unethical to film someone without their knowledge? That good enough for you?
nannydebsays
Post 04/06/2013 15:32     Subject: Cameras
All employers have to say is, "We reserve the right to have and use cameras at any time during your employment."

At that point, nanny knows the possibility of being cammed exists, and she can choose whether or not to take the job.

Then that fact is put into the nanny work agreement, and signed by all parties.

And employers should never underestimate the power of a drop-in, of neighbors sharing their POV on nanny, or of taking a little time off and taking their child(ren) to their normal activities or of just checking in with teachers at school on occasion.

With the proliferation of horror stories about "nannies" who abuse, neglect, and maltreat their charges, anyone who knows they're around a nanny is liable to watch her very closely.

Of course, generally speaking, the best nannies are often assumed to be their charges moms, so parents shouldn't be freaked out if the response to their questions the first time they show up at kid activities is, "Why are you asking about little Maclaren? Who are YOU?"
Anonymous
Post 04/06/2013 02:00     Subject: Re:Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I'll quit on the spot if I find out my employers have one and didn't tell me about it. I'm not doing anything bad, but I don't want to be picking my nose on camera or anything. It's just respectful to be honest.


Don't worry - if I found out from my nanny cam that you were picking your nose, I'd fire you.


Hahahaha. Okay psycho.

I use a freaking tissue, come on people, but I still don't want to be doing that on camera! And yes, if I had a nanny myself I would also have a camera, but being upfront about it is the only right decision.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 22:40     Subject: Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you don't trust who you're leaving your child with, shame on you. How can a mother take that kind of risk with her own child?? I just don't understand that kind of mentality.


I'm so tired of hearing this same thing, usually by women who choose to stay home with their children. If that is your choice I think that's great. But you have no right to judge what someone else does.

You obviously haven't read the previous posts all that well either. NO ONE has said they are choosing some random person off the street that they don't trust. Those of us using cameras are still doing all the background checks and leg work to make sure we are picking someone we think is trust worthy. But unless you have a magic crystal ball how does anyone know who they can trust completely? And how does it hurt in ANY way to have a little backup.

Even though this has been said a thousand times apparently some people aren't getting it. The point of the cameras is NOT because I don't trust my nannies to not abuse my kids. It's because I don't know them well enough to know if they are good with MY kids. They may have been great with someone else's kids but just don't click with mine. If the kids are too little to tell us how do we know? Most people are on their best behavior when their boss is around but who knows how they are when we aren't there.

I KNOW my kids were safe with every nanny we ever had but I'm not paying someone just to keep them safe. I want to know they are being well cared for and also having fun with someone who genuinely likes them and enjoys taking care of them.

I tell the nannies before they start working that we have cameras, I don't think it's fair to keep them a secret. I only really use them at the beginning to make sure they are good with my kids and then I stop looking at them. No nanny has ever had a problem with them and they usually tell me they've worked for lots of people with cameras before.

So now that you've read my post, give me one good reason why I shouldn't have cameras.


How about the fact that you're so defensive over a comment made by an anonymous stranger, and it shows how deep down you're not truly comfortable with the real reason you use the cameras. I don't know what that reason is, but you do, and you aren't comfortable with it clearly.


No I'm actually just really tired of how judgemental people are on here and how quick they are to put down other people. I think it's because they can hide behind the anonymity of this forum. It's fine to have different opinions but the way they are expressed are often very unkind. It's not specific to this thread but often times someone innocently asks a question because they honestly want advice and some others will immediately jump on them and sometimes pretty viciously. I think most people on here have good intentions as parents so maybe we should all try to be a little more open minded about how others do things, even if it's different than the way we would.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 22:11     Subject: Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you don't trust who you're leaving your child with, shame on you. How can a mother take that kind of risk with her own child?? I just don't understand that kind of mentality.


I'm so tired of hearing this same thing, usually by women who choose to stay home with their children. If that is your choice I think that's great. But you have no right to judge what someone else does.

You obviously haven't read the previous posts all that well either. NO ONE has said they are choosing some random person off the street that they don't trust. Those of us using cameras are still doing all the background checks and leg work to make sure we are picking someone we think is trust worthy. But unless you have a magic crystal ball how does anyone know who they can trust completely? And how does it hurt in ANY way to have a little backup.

Even though this has been said a thousand times apparently some people aren't getting it. The point of the cameras is NOT because I don't trust my nannies to not abuse my kids. It's because I don't know them well enough to know if they are good with MY kids. They may have been great with someone else's kids but just don't click with mine. If the kids are too little to tell us how do we know? Most people are on their best behavior when their boss is around but who knows how they are when we aren't there.

I KNOW my kids were safe with every nanny we ever had but I'm not paying someone just to keep them safe. I want to know they are being well cared for and also having fun with someone who genuinely likes them and enjoys taking care of them.

I tell the nannies before they start working that we have cameras, I don't think it's fair to keep them a secret. I only really use them at the beginning to make sure they are good with my kids and then I stop looking at them. No nanny has ever had a problem with them and they usually tell me they've worked for lots of people with cameras before.

So now that you've read my post, give me one good reason why I shouldn't have cameras.


How about the fact that you're so defensive over a comment made by an anonymous stranger, and it shows how deep down you're not truly comfortable with the real reason you use the cameras. I don't know what that reason is, but you do, and you aren't comfortable with it clearly.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 22:02     Subject: Cameras
Anonymous wrote:If you don't trust who you're leaving your child with, shame on you. How can a mother take that kind of risk with her own child?? I just don't understand that kind of mentality.


I'm so tired of hearing this same thing, usually by women who choose to stay home with their children. If that is your choice I think that's great. But you have no right to judge what someone else does.

You obviously haven't read the previous posts all that well either. NO ONE has said they are choosing some random person off the street that they don't trust. Those of us using cameras are still doing all the background checks and leg work to make sure we are picking someone we think is trust worthy. But unless you have a magic crystal ball how does anyone know who they can trust completely? And how does it hurt in ANY way to have a little backup.

Even though this has been said a thousand times apparently some people aren't getting it. The point of the cameras is NOT because I don't trust my nannies to not abuse my kids. It's because I don't know them well enough to know if they are good with MY kids. They may have been great with someone else's kids but just don't click with mine. If the kids are too little to tell us how do we know? Most people are on their best behavior when their boss is around but who knows how they are when we aren't there.

I KNOW my kids were safe with every nanny we ever had but I'm not paying someone just to keep them safe. I want to know they are being well cared for and also having fun with someone who genuinely likes them and enjoys taking care of them.

I tell the nannies before they start working that we have cameras, I don't think it's fair to keep them a secret. I only really use them at the beginning to make sure they are good with my kids and then I stop looking at them. No nanny has ever had a problem with them and they usually tell me they've worked for lots of people with cameras before.

So now that you've read my post, give me one good reason why I shouldn't have cameras.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 20:25     Subject: Cameras
If you don't trust who you're leaving your child with, shame on you. How can a mother take that kind of risk with her own child?? I just don't understand that kind of mentality.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 16:43     Subject: Re:Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
I'll quit on the spot if I find out my employers have one and didn't tell me about it. I'm not doing anything bad, but I don't want to be picking my nose on camera or anything. It's just respectful to be honest.


This is just stupid and shows that you are someone who wants to be told about nanny cams so you can make a point to get out of the house to be on your phone but would be just as happy to stay home watching TV, chatting on your phone or surfing the web if you knew there wasn't a camera. If you are able to refrain from picking your nose instead of using a kleenex when you know a camera is there, you should be able to refrain when a camera isn't there.


Mmmm, well. I disagree.

I don't think it's stupid.

I don't make a point to get out of the house to be on my phone. What? I don't even talk on the phone to my friends, I hate the phone.

I never turn on the tv when I'm at work, even during nap time.

I've worked for years for parents who work at home, so there was never any need for a camera (and obviously they are satisfied with my performance), but I do expect to be told if I'm being recorded. It's human decency and shows the respect I expect from the people I work for; I repay their trust and respect by taking excellent care of their children.

FWIW, we are out of the house quite a lot, but MB has one day a week she is off work and stays home and she often takes her son to the same activities I take him to and, in our small neighborhood, meets other moms who've seen me out and about with him. Their reports are always glowing (of course, because I take my job seriously), but it should be reason enough for any nanny to be on their best behavior whether they're at home or out in the community - people talk and will report what they see, good or bad, if they have the chance.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 15:51     Subject: Cameras
Anonymous wrote:We have nanny cams. Our nanny does not know. There's one in the kitchen (that overlooks the kitchen and great room where DD often plays), one in the playroom and one in DD's bedroom.

I think you can be diligent in checking all the references, listening to instincts, doing background checks, etc. but everyone who abuses, abuses someone for the first time at some point. And yes, if we find abuse on the camera then the damage has already been done, but at least the damage was only done once, instead of however many times before we figure it out without the help of a camera.


If I found out I was being videotaped and my employers hadn't told me I would quit on the spot. Trust goes both ways in a nanny/employer relationship and being secretly videotaped violates that trust. A nanny should have the choice of whether or not to work in a home with cameras. I would be so uncomfortable with my employers watching my every move. My boss works from home so luckily this is a moot point. She'd obviously be aware if I was doing something wrong.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 15:14     Subject: Cameras
Question for MBs who have a camera but use it with your nanny's knowledge. What do you have the camera there for? And what gives you confidence that your nanny's behavior is the same when she is out of the house? I notice a lot of nannies are in favor of it but from an MB's perspective, what is the point?

- MB in favor of a hidden camera for the first few weeks, until trust is developed, and then no camera.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 14:02     Subject: Cameras
Cameras with nanny's full knowledge.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 13:27     Subject: Re:Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
I'll quit on the spot if I find out my employers have one and didn't tell me about it. I'm not doing anything bad, but I don't want to be picking my nose on camera or anything. It's just respectful to be honest.


Don't worry - if I found out from my nanny cam that you were picking your nose, I'd fire you.
Anonymous
Post 04/05/2013 11:37     Subject: Re:Cameras
Anonymous wrote:
I'll quit on the spot if I find out my employers have one and didn't tell me about it. I'm not doing anything bad, but I don't want to be picking my nose on camera or anything. It's just respectful to be honest.


This is just stupid and shows that you are someone who wants to be told about nanny cams so you can make a point to get out of the house to be on your phone but would be just as happy to stay home watching TV, chatting on your phone or surfing the web if you knew there wasn't a camera. If you are able to refrain from picking your nose instead of using a kleenex when you know a camera is there, you should be able to refrain when a camera isn't there.


I would quit on the spot as well if I found a hidden camera. It's sneaky and not the type of relationship I expect to have with my employers.