Spying on your baby-sitter

Why not? Daycares do it. I see no harm in it. It may be a good idea if you find out she is mistreating your child or so.

why would you do that? dont you trust your babysitter? have she done something that made you thought of spying on her? if i will be the babysitter and i will know that you will be spying on me, i would be furious. i know you have the right to do that to ensure your kids safety but why would you hire me, in the first place, if you think i cant be trusted nor im not capable of taking care of your kids well?

I didn't do this when our kids were little. I was so careful to choose babysitters that were either neighbors or their parents were our friends. Felt more comfortable and also knew the kids who were babysitting very well. In today's world, I would probably install a video system if the sitter came from an agency or if the sitter was a total stranger.

I guess, for a parent's peace of mind it is ok to put on camera and see to it that your children are safe. It is not just the amount of money you pay but the assurance that your kids are safe matters most.

Hello agrant10! If the babysitter is new, I would probably put a camcorder during his/her first week of work. We should not immediately trust someone especially if we just know them.

I am a babysitter for some wonderful children and I completly understand why a parent would want to monitor the person who is providing care for their children. Personally, I would have no problem with being taped while providing care, but I think some would disagree with me. Many consider this to be an infringement on their privacy. I also believe that it is illegal in many states to record anyone without their written permission. I have heard many horror stories and can understand why a parent would want to monitor their sitter, but I think it is also very important to find someone that you trust. Highly qualified sitter with several references and background checks are a better option.

If I had a suspision she was hurting my kids then yes I would in a heart beat. My kids are more important than any babysitter.

If I still had small children, absolutely! Your children are too precious to be taking any chances, especially these days. It seems more and more you hear about children being abused in some form or another. So, YES I would definitely set up a camcorder!

I think spying on my babysitter may be illegal. I never did it in the past. However, if I were a babysitter and found out my employer had been spying on me, I think I might understand. People have a right to be worried about their children and their households. I watched a "real crime" story on television the other day where a babysitter hired with glowing references turned out to be a multiple child abuser and murderer with munchausen's syndrome. Certainly I think it might be justified to set up some sort of surveylance when you first hire a babysitter and want to be sure your child is safe. Also, if you think your child is being mistreated, but you are unsure and don't want to accuse your sitter of something until you have proof, it might also be a valid course of action. It's your house, you can tape it if you want, right? I'd suggest firing the sitter with another excuse if you see something you want to fire them for, in case they can sue you or charge you for invasion of privacy. I suggest, "We've just decided to go another way with this", or "Thank you for your services, but it just isn't working out. I don't think we're a good match for you."