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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

Nanny Cams

43 replies

nannynoss · 22/05/2014 12:38

I'm just looking for employer and nanny views on nanny cams. Where do you stand with them? Inspired by an AIBU thread at the moment.

I'm really surprised how many people are happily secretly filming their nannies.

If I was told about a nanny cam in the house, that would be absolutely fine. I just really don't like the secrecy of an employer hiding cameras, then sitting watching replays of it in the evenings.
I am always upfront and honest about EVERYTHING with employers, but I would really hope for the same amount of honesty back.
If they are secretly filming me, what else are they secretly doing?

Not sure if it's just because I'm live-in that I feel uncomfortable with it.

OP posts:
AMI88 · 22/05/2014 13:06

I would be very happy for them to have a camera, but like you said, only if they told me first! Not that I have anything to hide, but it's a bit perverse filming someone and not telling them!!

I often wished parents do film me, because they don't always believe me when I say their children ate all their dinner, and slept for 90mins!

minipie · 22/05/2014 13:09

But if they told you about the nanny cam, presumably they'd have to tell you where it is, and then that would defeat the point - you could be lovely to the DC when in that room and not bother when out of the sight of the camera.

FWIW I wouldn't dream of using a nanny cam.

Original poster
nannynoss · 22/05/2014 13:09

Yes! And sometimes children say something really lovely or do something really clever spur of the moment, and it's never the same when you re-tell it to the parents later in the day.
I also feel like parents never get to see the true bond with nanny and child, as children often play up in front of parents if nanny is around too.
It just really sits uncomfortably with me if I'm being filmed secretly!
I did find out once, that I had been filmed for a year in a job. I was really embarrassed, but not really sure why!

OP posts:
Original poster
nannynoss · 22/05/2014 13:10

I wouldn't mind if I didn't know where it was. As long as they confirmed it wasn't in my bedroom or in bathrooms.

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NannyLA · 22/05/2014 13:31

Rather than some employers thinking they will ' catch us out' doing something that they are not happy with - let them see how much time and devotion some of give to our charges and how happy they are in our care.. So in that case bring on the nanny cam !

PixieofCatan · 22/05/2014 13:37

That thread had been pissing me off all day, yet another thread with a tonne of people who think nothing of a nannies employment or individual rights Angry

I wouldn't work for a family with them I don't think. I have embarrassing habits, like everyone, I play fight and roll around on the floor with the kids and many other things that could end up with me being embarrassed. And it just makes me uncomfortable. I may change my mind in it if I were put in that situation but I don't know.

However if I was watched without knowing I'd leave as soon as I found out.

DearGirl · 22/05/2014 13:40

If they told me they were filing just not where the camera was I'd be ok about it although like others embarrassed about me singing off key etc they would also have to look past things like my afternoon snooze on the couch while the baby is sleeping and I'm on my lunch (chores all done!!!)

NannyLouise29 · 22/05/2014 13:48

Agreed pixie I'm pretty sure you have to tell people if they're being filmed! which is why there are signs up in shops.

I'm quite sure there's a nanny cam where I work now but I don't care because I have nothing to hide. It does piss me off that they haven't explicitly told me though, like it's a completely normal thing to do!

LadyHarrietdeSpook · 22/05/2014 13:53

If you are so worried about a particular nanny that you feel the need to install a camera, common sense says it's the wrong nanny for you. Common courtsey says that you don't film people w/o their knowledge.

NannyLouise29 · 22/05/2014 14:01

I also think that many people just can't relinquish control. It's not that they don't trust the nanny, they don't trust anyone. I know this is the case of my current employers as it was a previous nanny who told me about the cams.

MillionPramMiles · 22/05/2014 14:07

How many people work in a job where the manager/supervisor has no visibility of how they are performing their role and where the customer is unable to articulate whether they are satisfied or not?

Its not about undervaluing nannies. It's just that most people have to perform their jobs under the scrutiny of bosses/peers and for a client who can voice any concerns. Most nannies don't. Seems perfectly reasonable then to install a camera. It wouldn't bother me a jot if I was secretly filmed at the office all day (assuming not in the loo...).

PixieofCatan · 22/05/2014 14:24

Am I right in thinking that you cannot install a nanny cam secretly anyway?

TitusFlavius · 22/05/2014 14:27

If I mistrusted a nanny enough to use a nanny cam, I would not employ that nanny. And if I was Ok with using a nanny cam, I should be fine with my own employer filming me without my knowledge. (I'm not.)

I feel this about all aspects of nanny employment: if the wages, benefits, conditions or treatments would be unacceptable in my job, then they would be unacceptable to inflict on a nanny.

NannyAnna · 22/05/2014 14:31

I am about 99% sure it is illegal to be filmed in the UK without being told you are being film. Parents should get Nanny's consent before filming them. I think they have nanny cams where I work part time at the moment and I can't relax, it's that horrible feeling of being watched.

I would never do anything to hurt the children or ever let anything happen to them willingly however just like any other person in any other job, nannys have bad days aswell as good and it's not fair to judge a nanny in this way. The best way to know if your children are safe is to see d the child likes the nanny, does he she want to play/ show her their toys etc.

If parents can't trust their nannies and feel they could do a better job then they should look after their own children!

Original poster
nannynoss · 22/05/2014 14:39

Like I said, I don't have an issue with being filmed, but I just want to know if I am. It's the lack of honesty that really winds me up.
Pixie, as I said in AIBU, when a previous employer who is an employment solicitor, found out I had been secretly filmed, she was really angry on my behalf. So yes, I think you are supposed to inform people if they are being filmed.
Like nannylouise said, that's why there are signs up everywhere about CCTV.

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Original poster
nannynoss · 22/05/2014 14:43

Also, I think things could be taken out of context. For example, if I have just told a child no and explained the reason for saying no, and they then start crying and tantrumming, I would wait until they had calmed down before continuing to try and reason with them. I usually find something to potter with as a child won't continue to tantrum if I'm not giving them attention for it.
However, if a parent decided to watch footage at the point where I turn away as they start screaming, without seeing the discussion before hand, that could look like I don't care that they're upset...?!

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 22/05/2014 15:26

Why do two of you think your employers have put in nanny cams where you are?

PixieofCatan · 22/05/2014 15:31

noss The context is partly why I'd have issue with being filmed.

Callaird · 22/05/2014 15:54

I feel the same as many others. I love looking after children and really enjoy my time with them but would feel so self-conscious playing with the children if I were being filmed. I can't hold a tune in a bucket so don't sing in front of parents, I wouldn't feel comfortable playing rough and tumble or chasing them round on my hands and knees or getting us all covered in paint, glitter, flour or even cake batter! No more acting like a four year old, which, let's face it, is the main reason we do this job!!

I also think it is (or hope it is) illegal to film people without their permission.

My ex-bosses had a video baby monitor that they could connect to from anywhere over the internet and I hated it. I felt I couldn't do silly voices when reading to her (which she loves) or blow raspberries on her tummy of sing silly made up songs to her which we were in her bedroom. I also had to check everyday that it was only trained on her cot. I feel that she lost out on a lot by having that monitor there.

PixieofCatan · 22/05/2014 16:09

"No more acting like a four year old, which, let's face it, is the main reason we do this job!!"

Grin Exactly!

Original poster
nannynoss · 22/05/2014 16:16

And another thing! What if we are making something for mummy or daddy as a surprise. It wouldn't be a surprise if we were spied doing it! Grin

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 22/05/2014 16:52

As a nanny employer I would have to have some very, very serious concerns before doing such a thing. I am fairly pragmatic about different parenting styles though and that from time to time, everyone has a bad day in the job and a single snapshot of a stroppy toddler and a terse nanny isn't going to give a balanced view.

That said, media stories about abusive people scare the living daylights out of parents who chose or have to work. There is so much trust involved and you always, always wonder what if especially with non-verbal children.

Any parent who would routinely record their nanny and children and watch it as a form of evening entertainment has truly lost the plot though and should just give it up as a bad job and find alternative forms of childcare.

OcadoSubstitutedMyHummus · 22/05/2014 17:09

It has never occurred to me to film my nanny, openly or covertly. However, like TreadSoftly, I had extremely serious concerns I might consider it. For example if I had good reason to suspect that a long term nanny could have taken to physically abusing a child but that the "evidence" could have other explanations.

Nannying is one of a small number of jobs that you've got one person caring for vulnerable individuals without other adults present where those in their care may not be able to flag abuse. There was a case the other week where a mother had concerns and found the baby was being thrown around and hit by the nanny.

AMI88 · 22/05/2014 17:32

It's a tremendously responsible job. I wouldn't decline working for a family if they told me they have nanny cams, because despite not being a parent myself yet, I respect the fact that these people have had to make the decisions to go to work, probably when they don't want too, and I am looking after their most treasured "possession".

It's an interesting conversation, and definitely a positive to hear parents say that they would never consider it, unless they had serious concerns. I suppose if they had serious concerns, it wouldn't get to the nanny cam stage anyway!

I think, and this is based on 9 years experience, working in childcare is one of the hardest jobs. It's not always the case for nannies, but a lot of us are underpaid and over worked, so maybe some kind of cameras wouldn't be a bad thing. We could do a day in the life of child with nanny/childminder and see actually we love and care for children, who aren't our own, and devote 10/12hours to them in loco parentis.

AMI88 · 22/05/2014 17:38

**when I say it's not always the case for nannies- I'm referring to the nannies on £1,000 a week working on cruise ships/Monaco/Dubai- they are not underpaid!!

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