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Original poster

If you had a nanny would you have a camera?

29 replies

FanofLeaves · 03/12/2025 11:40

Or cameras.

If so, why? If not, why not?

I’m just interested really. I’m a nanny and I’m currently between permanent jobs so I’m temping as back-up care through an agency in the meantime. Been doing it for around six weeks now so been to lots of different bookings, and I’d say around 70% have had cameras up in the room/s I’m working in. Beyond a Ring doorbell or a fancy baby monitor I’ve never to my knowledge been monitored via camera in any of my other nanny jobs to date.

The families are also supposed to disclose whether they have cameras up when I accept the booking but they never do. I usually know within seconds of greeting them at the start of the booking if they’re the type to have cameras installed, and I don’t think I’ve been wrong yet.

I do understand in a way as they don’t know me but I hate the feeling I’m being watched and am always a bit self conscious about it incase the parents are ‘tuning in’ when I’ve taken a second to check my phone or drink my coffee or sit for a minute if the child is engaged in something else.

Ive obviously been totally vetted by my agency in the way of background checks etc and have 15 years of experience with nannying. I have a child of my own too but if I hired a professional to care for him I don’t think I would feel the need to put a camera on them.

Just keen to hear perspectives really.

OP posts:
Wowzel · 03/12/2025 11:41

I don't think it would occur to me to get one

OhDear111 · 03/12/2025 11:41

No. Spying on an employee just feels wrong to me. Erodes trust. Would you be ok with your employer spying on you?

ToadRage · 03/12/2025 11:45

I probably wouldn't have one initially but if I had reason to believe something wrong (not saying you would do wrong) was going on, either by unexplained injuries, things going missing or something my child said then I may consider it, just to find out what was going on or put my mind at rest.

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Childcare & nursery Families
Hellodarknessyouoldprick · 03/12/2025 11:48

Yes. I had one for my father when he had dementia too and was in a care home (and thank fuck I did).

I wouldn’t fully trust anyone to care for my loved ones as much as I do.

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 03/12/2025 11:49

I think in the UK though you really do have to declare it- although I’m not sure if you have to verbally do so if the cameras aren’t hidden if you see what I mean?

I would actually think very hard and probably not take a permanent nanny job if being able to watch me and the child/ren with cameras was a dealbreaker for the family.

OP posts:
minipie · 03/12/2025 11:51

I was going to say no, as I would only employ a nanny I trust after speaking to all referees.

However then I saw you are doing temp cover. In that situation I wouldn’t have been able to check references (I know the agency does but it’s not the same). So it would be tempting to have a camera. I would of course ask you.

I wouldn’t give a damn if you were having a coffee though, nannies work hard and deserve a coffee! The camera would be there for the very unlikely possibility that you were unpleasant or seriously neglectful to my child in some way. I grew up with nannies and au pairs and most were fine, some were wonderful but one or two really shouldn’t have been nannies.

I still probably wouldn’t use a camera as in an emergency cover situation I doubt I’d have had the time to set one up 😆

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 03/12/2025 11:56

minipie · 03/12/2025 11:51

I was going to say no, as I would only employ a nanny I trust after speaking to all referees.

However then I saw you are doing temp cover. In that situation I wouldn’t have been able to check references (I know the agency does but it’s not the same). So it would be tempting to have a camera. I would of course ask you.

I wouldn’t give a damn if you were having a coffee though, nannies work hard and deserve a coffee! The camera would be there for the very unlikely possibility that you were unpleasant or seriously neglectful to my child in some way. I grew up with nannies and au pairs and most were fine, some were wonderful but one or two really shouldn’t have been nannies.

I still probably wouldn’t use a camera as in an emergency cover situation I doubt I’d have had the time to set one up 😆

This is an interesting perspective thank you. In nearly all the situations where I’ve noticed cameras they’ve been quite obviously placed, so I wonder if they have them up all the time to observe their actual nanny who is off sick/on holiday, or they’re not used to having Nannies at all as the child is usually at nursery or looked after by a grandparent or whatever and they’ve just hastily put a one up when they know I’m coming 😅

OP posts:
LoveSandbanks · 03/12/2025 11:57

I've never had a nanny but if I did I would want to be able to trust them enough not to need a camera. I feel that you should attempt to build a 2 way relationship with someone you are entrusting to care for your offspring and an atmosphere of distrust doesn't foster that. If you feel that you need a camera to monitor their actions, perhaps you haven't got the right nanny. The right people don't work their best when they're being watched.

I've met a few HNW people who felt that everyone was out to get them and they absolutely would put cameras to watch the nanny. I'd hate to live like that, frankly.

Periperi2025 · 03/12/2025 12:02

FanofLeaves · 03/12/2025 11:49

I think in the UK though you really do have to declare it- although I’m not sure if you have to verbally do so if the cameras aren’t hidden if you see what I mean?

I would actually think very hard and probably not take a permanent nanny job if being able to watch me and the child/ren with cameras was a dealbreaker for the family.

Edited

I totally get were you're coming from, I'm a paramedic and all our ambulances have cameras in them, BUT to access the footage there needs to be a reason (assault against staff, or complaint from patient), only certain managers can access footage and every access is recorded in line with data protection so nobody can stalk a member of staff.

With data protection in place it is a great thing, without it is a tool to bully, harass and potentially stalk an employee, which is never okay.

Even my dog sitter has a question about cameras in here contract paperwork.

mindutopia · 03/12/2025 12:08

No, because if I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my child in someone’s sole care, I simply wouldn’t.

I’m not 100% comfortable with someone I don’t know well even being in my house, let alone looking after my children alone. So I used a nursery, which had multiple staff in the room and safeguarding policies in place and implemented by someone who had safeguarding training (not me).

minipie · 03/12/2025 12:36

The paramedic PP makes a good point, a camera could potentially protect you if a young child says something that sounds off and the parents need to understand what happened

You know, like child says “the nanny wouldn’t let me eat today” - sounds bad but what really happened was “sorry you can’t have a snack as we are having lunch soon”

MidnightPatrol · 03/12/2025 12:40

No.

If I didn’t trust them, I wouldn’t have them working for me.

Periperi2025 · 03/12/2025 12:49

minipie · 03/12/2025 12:36

The paramedic PP makes a good point, a camera could potentially protect you if a young child says something that sounds off and the parents need to understand what happened

You know, like child says “the nanny wouldn’t let me eat today” - sounds bad but what really happened was “sorry you can’t have a snack as we are having lunch soon”

Only if data protection is in place. Nanny cams linked back to the agency, accessed on request and access logged, fine, family hidden camera which they can snoop on as they please, even viewing live footage, with no governance, not okay.

Switcher · 03/12/2025 12:52

I had a nanny for many years and wouldn't dream of having cameras. I don't like the idea of invading privacy and it's disrespectful to her and would damage mutual trust. Maybe they're all different with permanent nannies, I hope so.

youalright · 03/12/2025 12:58

100% I also would for a carer looking after an elderly person who had dementia basically anyone who lacked capacity. I wouldn't use it to spy as such I'm not interested in waatching someones day to day just to check that no abuse was happening. To many awful people working in caring roles.

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 03/12/2025 13:01

youalright · 03/12/2025 12:58

100% I also would for a carer looking after an elderly person who had dementia basically anyone who lacked capacity. I wouldn't use it to spy as such I'm not interested in waatching someones day to day just to check that no abuse was happening. To many awful people working in caring roles.

But you’d have to suspect abuse first presumably, unless you randomly happen to catch it. Or spend a lot of time re watching retrospectively. I think if you’re already at the point of suspicion then the employer/employee relationship is broken down.

OP posts:
youalright · 03/12/2025 13:37

FanofLeaves · 03/12/2025 13:01

But you’d have to suspect abuse first presumably, unless you randomly happen to catch it. Or spend a lot of time re watching retrospectively. I think if you’re already at the point of suspicion then the employer/employee relationship is broken down.

Edited
Show quote history

I would fast forward through the recording. Trusting someone 100% with your vulnerable relative is naive, i would imagine everyone who has had a carer/nanny abuse their relative all thought they could trust them.

scaredfriend · 03/12/2025 13:40

No. If you can’t 100% trust the person looking after your child, you’ve employed the wrong person.

youalright · 03/12/2025 13:44

scaredfriend · 03/12/2025 13:40

No. If you can’t 100% trust the person looking after your child, you’ve employed the wrong person.

You can't 100% trust anyone. Do you think all these people who's small children and elderly relatives have been abused by carers, nanny's, nursery staff just left their kid with someone they didn't trust. No they where people like you who 100% trusted the person.

Hellodarknessyouoldprick · 03/12/2025 14:11

youalright · 03/12/2025 13:44

You can't 100% trust anyone. Do you think all these people who's small children and elderly relatives have been abused by carers, nanny's, nursery staff just left their kid with someone they didn't trust. No they where people like you who 100% trusted the person.

Show quote history

Exactly this. Theres no one on this Earth that I can honestly say I trust 100% with the people I love the most.

JustGoClickLikeALightSwitch · 03/12/2025 14:38

I'm sure it's illegal unless declared and agreed in the UK?

I wouldn't work somewhere where I was being filmed/potentially watched, and I wouldn't do it to someone else unless I had concerns. I actually had a similar situation in a workplace (theft though, rather than abuse) and after a lot of handwringing settled on a camera in a place the employee shouldn't have been - which allowed me to catch the theft.

capybaraforlife · 03/12/2025 14:56

We've had the same nanny for the last 12 years. I trust her with my life. We all adore her. She's a wonderful person and the backbone of our family. I would never install a camera.

Original poster
FanofLeaves · 03/12/2025 15:00

Audio recording is illegal outright I think, it’s a bit more lax on the simple camera front. They do have to be declared and only in communal areas. But I’ve been plenty of places where nothing has been declared and I just think oh look there’s a camera. Sometimes they have a cat or dog so I wonder if they’re intended as pet cams. But it would still be nice to know!

And some parents stay in the same room trying to work while I’m trying to do my job and care for their children- that is a bloody nightmare for all involved quite frankly.

OP posts:
isthesolution · 03/12/2025 15:26

Definitely

Salvadoridory · 03/12/2025 15:44

I do and I have. Its not hidden cameras though, its more like CCTV in downstairs rooms and upstairs corridor and front and back of house. Not used to spy although I do sometimes just watch everyone when im working away..comforting seeing life going along. I live abroad, it came with the house. I also use it to retrace my steps and work out where I put things.