Babysitters do much less harm to children than what urban legends might have us believe.
Babysitters only commit 4.2% of criminal offenses against children. While that statistic might be relieving to hear, it can still be unnerving for parents to think about. What if your child falls into that 4.2%?
Eventually, you’re going to need to go to work or on a much-needed date night with your spouse. It’s scary to think about leaving your child with someone you don’t know. But that’s where nanny cams come in handy.
These cameras can act as your eyes and ears when you’re not able to be home. But with so many on the market, how can you choose the best for your particular needs?
Keep reading for the pros and cons and reviews of the Best Nanny Cams to Buy in 2019
Pros and Cons of Nanny Cams
Before we dive into the best nanny cams, we should discuss the pros and cons of investing in one.
These cameras can provide peace of mind for parents nervous about leaving their children. It’s your right as a parent to have access to in-home surveillance when you’re away.
Your young children may not be able to tell you what’s going on when you’re away from home. As they get older, they can tell you if their nanny is distracted during her visits or breaks your family rules.
Until your child can speak for themselves, a babysitter cam is your best defense. They give you eyes on your home when you can’t be there.
5 Best Nanny Cams to Buy in 2019
While there are plenty of pros to using nanny cameras, there are some drawbacks as well. Your nanny may feel their trust has been violated if they find a hidden camera in your home. They may feel hurt that you don’t trust them and doubt their abilities, even if that’s not the case.
Babysitter cameras often don’t provide the whole picture. You may see and hear your infant crying on the screen. But what you don’t see is the nanny in the kitchen preparing a bottle to soothe them.
Now that you know the pros and cons, you can decide if investing in a nanny cam is right for your family. Let’s see what cams you should consider.
1) Wyze Cam Pan
The Wyze Nanny Cam provides 1080p HD video, night vision, and 360 degrees of horizontal range. If something’s happening in your home, you need to see it in real-time. That’s why this camera allows for 360-degree coverage in under three seconds.
The six infrared LED lights in the Wyze provides an unprecedented night vision in a cam at this price point.
If you need to speak with your child or nanny, you can do so through this camera. The microphone design provides high-quality audio on both ends.
Price point: $37.49 for one camera.
Who it’s for: Parents who want eyes on an entire room, regardless of the time of day.
2) Nest Security Camera
Nest Security has made quite a name for themselves in the world of smart home accessories. This nanny camera is no exception.
You’ll want to download the compatible Nest App. Through the app, you’ll receive a notification whenever the device detects movements. This feature makes the Nest not only useful as a nanny cam but as a security camera too.
The built-in speaker and microphone will allow you to hear what’s going on at home.
Its compact design makes installing (or hiding) it simple. It has a built-in magnet so you can even stick it somewhere magnetic—no installation required.
Are you going somewhere at night? That’s okay, the Nest camera has night vision too.
Price point: $176.98 for one camera or $395.00 for three.
Who it’s for: Parents who want something that can double as a security camera when the whole family is away.
3) Arlo Q
The Arlo Q allows users to stream live video anytime they want. You can also watch past recordings in 1080p, so you definitely won’t miss anything that’s happening.
There are no expensive recurring subscription fees required. The Arlo Q provides free cloud storage for all consumers. View, download and even share recordings from the past week with no contracts to sign.
Like the Nest, this device provides instant alerts if it detects movements or sounds. This feature makes it useful as a security camera to use, even when the nanny isn’t around.
Price point: $133.05 for one camera or $292.71 for two.
Who it’s for: Parents who want the option to keep an eye on their home at all times.
4) Panoraxy
While you may not recognize this brand name as with the previous three, don’t discount it. The Panoraxy is a little different because it’s a hidden camera.
This nanny cam is disguised as a clock & music box and looks like another piece of home decor. Even its infrared lenses are invisible at night. Your nanny will have no idea that you’re watching them.
The Panoraxy has an SD card slot, meaning it’ll record what it captures right onto the card. It’s also set up to work over Wi-Fi.
However, it doesn’t have audio recording capabilities.
Price point: $149.00 for one camera.
Who it’s for: Parents who don’t want their nanny to know they’re watching them.
5) Yi
Rounding out our top five list is this option from Yi.
This product provides two smart home cameras at a very low price point. They offer many of the same benefits as the devices listed above.
Parents can expect an impressive 1080p high-definition resolution and two-way audio. The cameras also have night vision and movement and sound detection.
You can schedule times of the day that you want your camera to turn on and off.
A unique feature is the optional 24/7 emergency response service. This feature does mean additional fees ($4.99 per month), but it can prove priceless in the event of an emergency. The live camera feeds can dispatch emergency responders if the need should arise.
Price point: $44.99 for two cameras.
Who it’s for: Parents who want crystal clear video and human/sound detection when they’re not home.
Best Nanny Cams to Buy to Protect Your Home & Family
Nanny cams provide peace of mind for parents and homeowners alike. If you want to keep an eye on the nanny when you’re at work, the cam can do that. Or if you’re going away on vacation, you can always check in to make sure everything’s okay.
Before you invest in a nanny cam, make sure you check the laws in your state, though. In some states, you can’t lawfully record someone without their consent.
Check out our recent posts for more parent-friendly tips and tricks.
