"Uppie! Uppie!" These words ring through the house as the four wheels turn furiously along the tiled floor. Suddenly, a toddler, nestled in a baby walker, appears around the corner. He shouts out a few high-pitched yelps, and then goes into a loop of shouting "Uppie! Uppie!" and yelping again. Wacky lights and sounds on the walker go off as the baby presses colorful buttons on its "control panel." And the tap tap of his feet continue as he continues sprinting awkwardly along the kitchen floor. Then, the baby's destination becomes clear: the stairway at the far left corner of the kitchen! A safety gate usually blocks the baby's access to the stairs, but someone in the house forgot to close it. The baby and his walker move closer,,,and closer...to the stairs. Then as the walker's front wheels roll off the kitchen floor, the baby rises into the air, safe in the hands of his Momma. Luckily, a tiny nanny camera in the kitchen had captured the baby's joyride, and his nanny's failure to close the safety gate!



Not Just for Nannies

A nanny camera or "nanny cam" is a tiny hidden video camera that has been installed in secret. Typically, the purpose of the camera is to record the actions of caregivers in one's home. However, it can secretly record any action. It is possible for a nanny camera to be linked to a DVR or VCR. This requires a wireless receiver at the DVR or DVR recording tool, and wireless transmitter or cable in the nanny camera. Recently, this camera type has been used on several occasions to prove a caregiver's guilt or innocence in child abuse cases.

Nanny Check

Installing a nanny camera can certainly help to monitor a caregiver within the home. But, as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. When hiring a nanny, it is important to be methodical, in order to screen out any potential problem employees.

1. Before you begin looking for a nanny, know what type of person you want.

2. Develop a list of questions that you will ask every applicant.

3. The first interview should never include the children.

4. The second interview should include the whole family. The applicant must provide character references and basic personal information.

5. Use a nanny agency to help screen the candidate.

Watching the Watch

After hiring a nanny, installing a nanny camera will help ensure that your child or children are constantly healthy, safe, and happy. Keep in mind that even when a nanny has been screened carefully, she will always be somewhat of an outsider, since she is not technically a family member. Using a nanny camera will help to give you peace of mind when your child is at home with a caregiver. Make sure that the nanny is feeding the baby on time, changing the diapers on time, and most importantly-not physically harming your precious child! Child abuse is a serious issue that can affect not only a child's body, but also his mental and social wellbeing. What makes nanny cameras so wonderful is that they're small enough to put in everyday objects around the house, monitoring where your nanny spends the majority of her time.

Today, the number of child abuse cases involving nannies is on the rise. Placing nanny cameras around the house will help to ensure that your child is always in good hands, even when they are not yours.