Legal Advise - Nanny Cam

I'm so glad you posted this, as I was considering the same thing. I too wanted to check out the legalities of this. I can reason with all of the posts, but I have to say, if your trying to keep your child safe, I can't blame you for considering this. I have also thought of a small tape recorder, so I could at least hear what was going on. Anyways, I commend you for taking the steps to protect your child/children and I myself am contacting the local police dept. to see what they have to say. Thanks for posting this!

I do not think it is illegal to tape them, but I think it is illegal to tape a nanny if you can hear what they are saying. Someone had once told me that it is illegal to tape someone's speech without them knowing. Call the poice (non-emergency) they will know.

I believe there is a difference between recording for entrapment or recording for security surveillance. In this case, I’m pretty sure you do not need to tell her because it’s for security. The best source is your local police department. Call the non-emergency line, ask for an officer (don’t just talk to the person who answers unless they are an officer) and they will be able to tell you for sure. By the way, I commend you for doing something like this. We have had our issues with sitters so I think what you’re doing is certainly just for the protection of your family and not for any other reason. And don’t let anyone try to tell you different.

I agree with Anne -- If you're suspicious and don't trust your nanny, why wait until you get something on tape to prove it? I'd find another nanny now. Good luck.

It's not always a matter of whether or not you trust your nanny. It might be that you wonder if she is gabbing on the phone all day, showing patience and love towards your child, and basically being a good nanny.

I am pretty sure you don't need to tell your nanny you are getting a camera.

On a related note, it is critical to do a background check on your nanny prior to offering her/him the job. Please see www.mynannycheck.com for information on how to do this.

I think if someone was going to videotape me at work, I'd want to be informed. And it's hard for me to imagine the scenario where you wouldn't just mention it - "for the safety of our family, we may sometimes use a camera." If you're trying to "catch" her at something because you don't trust her if she knows there's a camera - well, that speaks for itself, doesn't it?

A lot of my friends worked as nannies for a couple of years after college. I can't tell you how creeped-out I am by the idea of some father watching videotape of them adjusting their underwear! I don't know the legality, but ethically I think it's pretty awful.

I'm a nanny and to tell you the truth, it would creep me out a little if I found out that someone was watching me all day, but at the same time I'm also a mother and if I thought something was going on that shouldn't be, I would like to find out.