There are some definite pros to purchasing and using nanny cams in your home, especially if you’re leaving a young child with a new nanny for the first time. They can help you flag warning signs of impending abuse (sudden outbursts of anger, inappropriate behavior, etc.) or catch the nanny involved in something you don’t approve of.
However, the question remains, is it ethical to install hidden nanny cams in your home? There may actually be much better ways of keeping tabs on the nanny if you’re feeling particularly nervous. Until you know the nanny a little more, have a friend, relative, or neighbor make random short visits to the house. Excuses for the visits could include anything from stopping by to pick something up, drop something off, or visit the kids (i.e., the grandparents)
It won’t take long for the nanny to figure out what you’re up to. However, you can rest assured that you’ll get valuable feedback without having to violate someone’s privacy.
Now, there are people out there who are going to be screaming, “Who cares about privacy? I’ll do anything to protect my children.” Absolutely! But that should be why you conduct thorough reference checks and have all of the nanny background checks completed. If you have serious concerns about the nanny, address the issue right away, don’t wait for a camera to paint a picture.
