Just a few years ago, nanny cameras were an anomaly. When daycares first started offering secure websites where parents could log on and see their children in real-time through the day, many people predicted nanny cameras would die an early death. Very few people understood how popular nanny cams would become, or why.

When the first nanny cameras started appearing, many parents thought they might like to keep an eye on their sitters. Many more thought nanny cams were a toy for insecure rich people who didn’t know how to hire a good babysitter. When nanny cameras moved into daycare, again, many people thought them a waste of time and money.

Nanny cameras have survived because many parents feel they make their kids safer. No one ever asks if the kids feel safer or resent the intrusion, though older kids often hate knowing they’re on a nanny camera, whether it’s at home or in after-school care.

For parents who choose daycare centers with nanny cameras, safety may not be the biggest issue. Parents who have to leave very young children in daycare appreciate and enjoy logging onto a website during the day to see what their kids are doing. These nanny cameras keep moms and dads in touch with their children, and many parents feel the benefit of a nanny cam is worth paying extra for.

Home nanny cameras are usually more oriented toward safety and security. Some parents do install nanny cams so that they can watch their children’s activities during the day, just to see what they’ve been doing and feel more a part of their lives. This is particularly popular with parents who are away for much of the day. Watching the video from nanny cameras after the kids go to bed helps these parents stay in touch with what their kids are up to.

Still, most nanny cameras in homes are there to make sure the sitter, and the kids, are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Because these cameras can’t actually notify parents when something goes wrong (at least not yet), these nanny cameras serve their intended purpose only if parents watch the footage regularly. This can present a big challenge to busy parents, no matter how much they value their children’s well-being. Fortunately, most nanny cameras have a motion detector setting, so they only record when something is happening in their field of view.

Nanny cameras are now a common accessory for parents with young kids, and many daycares offer cameras to help parents stay on top of their kids’ activities and progress. Forty years ago, parents tended to think that kids would be kids, the sitter would take care of everything, and everything would be fine. Nanny cameras are definitely a product of an age in which we can monitor almost everything.

Should we monitor our kids on a regular basis, just because we can? Many parents are asking themselves this now that nanny cameras are becoming almost required. You may not believe that you need a nanny camera, or you may simply not want one. Fortunately, nanny cameras are only “almost” required. If the daycare you use has nanny cameras, you can choose to view the website or not.

Likewise, home nanny cameras are a choice, and you have the power to make that choice for your family. You can certainly set up a nanny cam and monitor your sitter and your kids if you choose, and you may be surprised how much you like your nanny cameras and how much they help you keep an eye on things.

But, remember that it’s always your choice.

Tags: cameras | daycare | nanny

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