When we think of nannies, we remember Marry Poppins who glided down stairs and skies with her umbrella. We think of Nanny McPhee who, with a tap of her magic cane and a haughty raise of busy eyebrows, solved the problems of Cedric Brown and his seven naughty children. So the whole idea of using nanny cams might seem surreal or even absurd. Why would anyone need nanny cams? Nannies are caring, loving creatures. What harm could they possibly do to children?

Nannies Are Nice, Aren't They?
Yes, what harm could nanny do to the kids? The answer to this question shows how vastly different from reality movies can be. Several news stories have revealed there are nannies who physically abuse children. Abuse is not the only danger your child is vulnerable to, however. There's neglect. There have been many incidents of children figuring in accidents while their nannies leave them unattended.

What Is a Nanny Cam?
A nanny cam is a video camera cleverly disguised as an everyday object. Nanny cams could be in the guise of tissue boxes, wall clocks, teddy bears, or clock radios. Technically, nanny cams are capable of filming anything that happens in a particular area of a home. It is typically used, however, to watch and capture home caregivers' actions. Wireless transmitters or cables in the nanny cam and a receiver in the DVR or VCR recording mechanism are used as connectors. They connect the nanny cam to a DVR or VCR. The recording devices are typically located in a different room of the home.

Why Get a Nanny Cam?
Before buying a nanny cam, you should consider the pros and cons. The biggest advantage of nanny cams is that they boost parents' confidence in childcare and give them peace of mind. Also, several types of nanny cams can be purchased, which match various spending limits. Basic cameras cost around $100. On the other hand, high-end digital models that can transmit live videos to mobile phones or computers have a heftier price tag of about $500. Perhaps the most tempting thing about these specialized cameras is that they can be hidden in almost any object in a home, and lack any messy wires.

Why a Nanny Cam May Not Always Be the Answer
Like any other product, nanny cams have some drawbacks. According to polls, most nannies find nanny cams acceptable. What they find abhorrent, however, is being tricked or misled. They insist they've the right to be warned of the presence of nanny cams in the premises. Your nanny's reaction to these cameras is the first drawback. It's possibly the nanny who's been with you for years would leave in a huff once you bring home a nanny cam.

Another drawback of nanny cams is that they make your home vulnerable. The nanny cam is built to transmit a video signal to a close base station, where a TV or computer is used to view it. The problem is that an inexpensive receiver located over one-fourth of a mile away can easily intercept the signal. Even worse, the receiver costs less than $250, and can be bought off-the-shelf in several electronics stores. So, it's possible your nanny cam relays information not only to you but to would-be burglars as well.

Most nannies are very loving people who would never intentionally harm the little people they are responsible for. Unfortunately, not all nannies are alike. We do not live in Marry Poppins' world where chimney cleaners sing and dance, and uncles get airborne when they start laughing uncontrollably. Ultimately, the question of whether we need nanny cams or not boil down to how vigilant we want to be in guarding our children.