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There are many tell tale signs that your nanny is doing her job and doing it well. It may be the reaction your child has when the nanny first arrives. Is the child happy to see them or does the child shy away? This, of course, depends on your child’s personality to begin with and may not be a great example to determine the nanny’s capabilities. I have heard from several parents how they love that their nanny will give them good details of the events done during the day with the children. If your children are old enough to talk, a good indicator of how your nanny is doing would be what your children say about them or how they talk about them in general. Good nannies will also alert you if they feel there are issues with your children and ask for advice. This shows how seriously they take their position and also that they truly care about your children’s well being.  

As there are signs of good nannies, there are also signs of unfit nannies. A nanny that is frequently late is giving off the impression that they do not respect your time and schedule. This also indicates a lack of structure and dependability. If there seem to be frequent accidents, this could also be a sign of a poor nanny. Children do get hurt and accidents do happen, but when they start to become frequent and a pattern emerges, then you should start to look further into the situation. It could be that they are not being attentive with your children or the worse alternative; they are actually hurting your children. Do not overestimate your intuition. If you feel that something it just not quite right, then you owe it to yourself and your children to investigate further into the situation.

There are a few options to try when you want to determine the ability and trustworthiness of your nanny. You can ask a neighbor or friend to randomly stop by your house to check in on the nanny. You could come home early without notifying the nanny first. Another option if you want to be absolutely sure of what is going on with no outside forces involved is a hidden camera; also know as a nanny cam. Nanny cams come in many forms and vary in cost. Some of the more common nanny cams are in the form of teddy bears, books, fake plants, wall clocks, and mantle clocks. They are also available in clock radios, mp3 player docks, DVD players, motion lights, lamps, and even calculators. Prices for these items range from around $100 to $600. Having a nanny cam that also has the true functionality of the item aside from the camera can cost you more but will it be more realistic and thus better hidden.

Nanny cams have become increasingly popular but this popularity has also caused some to question the proper use of these devices. While it is a small price to pay for peace of mind and your child’s safety, there would be an obvious loss of trust if the nanny cam was found. Many prefer to inform a potential nanny during the hiring process that they use cameras. They feel that if the nanny is informed they are being watched then the nanny will always be doing their job to their best ability and there is no chance for trust issues later if the camera was found. It is more of a preventative measure against bad behavior rather than trying to catch the nanny engaging in bad behavior. Others feel that this defeats the purpose of having a nanny cam altogether.

Another concern is the legality of nanny cams. Currently all 50 states consider it legal to have hidden cameras. However, it is illegal to record speech without a person’s consent in 15 states. 13 states have laws that prohibit the unauthorized installation or use of cameras in private places. A private place is defined as one where a person may reasonably expect to be safe from unauthorized surveillance, such as the bathroom or bedroom if the nanny lives with you. Check with your states wiretapping and eavesdropping laws to see what applies to you.

The increasing popularity of nanny cams has caused some disagreement as to the proper use of them and if you should inform someone that they are being recorded. Nevertheless, nanny cams are readily available, come in many forms and have a wide cost range to fit your budget. If you feel concerned about the safety of your child or the integrity of your caregiver while you are away, a nanny cam may be the right solution for you. Check out AbsoluteSpygear.com which has a wide variety of nanny cams at all price levels.