Babysitter surveillance is becoming more and more popular
these days. Many families use babysitters and nannies because it is often more
affordable than day care. It also allows children to stay in the comfort of
their own home where they can play with their own toys and sleep in their own
beds. Although many parents go through an intense interview and selection
process for the best babysitter or nanny they still have an uneasy feel about
entrusting their children's lives with this individual. This is why the nanny
cam or babysitter hidden camera comes in to play.
These cameras offer
parents the peace of mind that they need when it comes to leaving their children
with strangers. Parents set up wireless web cameras throughout the house and are
able to simply login with a username and password from any Internet computer.
So, if you have an office job you can simply login on your office computer and
watch your child play, eat lunch and take a nap. If you are a full-time student
you can login on your laptop or the library computer between classes to check in
on your child during the day. This allows parents to see that their children are
safe and being treated appropriately.
Some babysitters and nannies are
even offering the babysitter or nanny cam as a part of their service. They
provide parents with the camera, turn it on themselves and parents are able to
check in whenever they wish. This is a great selling point for the nanny or
babysitter and it allows the parent to have some control.
Cameras can
either be concealed or prominently mounted. Those babysitters who provide the
camera themselves generally opt for the camera that they can sit in the kitchen
and give the parents a view of the kitchen and the living room where the child
will be playing. Other parents may wish to conceal the cameras themselves and
not alert the babysitter or nanny at all to the fact that they are being
watched. It is completely up to the parents as to how they wish to set the
hidden cameras up. Cameras come in a wide variety of normal, everyday objects
such as clock radios, wall clocks, books, plants and more. They cameras are
about the size of a quarter or even a pinpoint. They are easy to setup and are
no harder to operate than your DVD player.
One of the most popular hidden
cameras are the clock radios. These can be set up next to the child's bed, in
the playroom or even in the kitchen. The camera plugs into the wall like a
normal clock and a wireless receiver is attached to the VCR. Families are able
to tape up to 9 hours of nanny video time via their VCR. They can also work in
conjunction with your DVR, or digital video recorder. These systems are able to
hold several more hours of video and work with a simple software program or
wireless web cam. They are also able to send live images to a cell phone or work
computer making these very useful for working parents.
The interest in
nanny cams rose around 2004. According to a Parks Associates researcher in
Dallas, about 39% of US households with at least one child were expressing
interest in incorporating a nanny cam into their home. The interest has sparked,
as more and more parents are concerned about caregivers neglecting children or
even abusing them. Parents want to be certain that their children are taken care
of properly because they are paying good money for a nanny or babysitter to do
so.
Some parents have the cameras just in case they feel something is
not quite right with their babysitter. They don't want to videotape the sitter,
but if they are wondering what is really going on while they are away from home
they can turn the camera on. Parents can then watch the video or check in
regularly and if everything seems fine then they are put at ease. Nanny cams
help parents adjust to leaving their child with a stranger and allow them to get
to know the babysitter better. They are able to see their daily routines and
ensure that their child is receiving the attention they require.
If you
are interested in a nanny cam or babysitter hidden cameras then it is wise to
look at your options. These systems are not as expensive as they once were and
are all wireless. This allows you the flexibility to set up the cameras wherever
you feel you need to and they are simple to use. These cameras give you a sense
of security and control, as you are able to see what your child is doing on a
daily basis and ensure that your nanny or babysitter is doing their job
right.