You need to be someplace else but there’s no nanny available to babysit your kids. It might seem like you’re caught between a rock and a hard place, but it doesn’t have to be so when you install a motion detector dialer at home.

How to Install a Motion Detector Dialer
Installing this device can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. First, you need to provide the required battery – this will serve as its backup power in case electricity shuts down for whatever reason. Plug in its AC adapter next and lastly, connect the phone line.

Where you install it is incredibly important as it will determine how effective your motion detector dialer can be. Consider potential entrance points of burglars, intruders, and other criminals. Installing the motion detector dialer directly on top of these areas will ensure that you’re informed of any break-in attempt immediately.

How Motion Detector Dialers Work
When motion is detected at any of the monitored areas, the motion detector dialer shall dial a preset number. Upon answering the call, the recipient will be able to listen to sounds coming from the other line. After a specified period of time, the call will be disconnected. By this time, it’s the recipient’s prerogative whether or not to call the police.

Meanwhile, the motion detector dialer will again work at monitoring the area. If motion is detected, the cycle shall be repeated.

Important Features to Look for
When shopping for motion detector dialers, look for a model possessing the features listed below.

Multiple Preset Numbers
A single preset number isn’t adequate. What if the number you’ve provided is busy, out of order, or unavailable for other reasons?

Range
Look for motion detector dialers that offer the greatest range because this will also provide the best possible protection for your children at home.

Microphone Capabilities
Be sure to check the sound quality of the device’s built-in microphone. You want to make sure that when it finds a need to dial your number, it will be able to transmit sound loud and clear.

Other Alarms
Besides dialing preset numbers, some motion detector dialers may also be programmed to send out an alarm when it’s triggered. Others will also send out an alarm if they’re running low on battery.

Security
Lastly, motion detector dialers that are protected by security codes prevent unauthorized use or programming even if their presence or location has been uncovered.

Being a parent is tough. You constantly need to balance your decisions and ensure that you’re tough when you need to be and soft-hearted when required. One such example is when you have the unenviable task of monitoring your children’s activities online.

Children generally dislike being told what or what not to do and are likely to act rebellious if they believe you’re treating them unfairly.

Using a keystroke recorder will ensure that you only interfere with your child’s activities when it’s absolutely called for as well as confronting them with sufficient and reliable proof to prevent misunderstandings.

How to Install Keystroke Recorders
Keystroke recorders may be a hardware device or a software program. You will have to check with its specifications to determine which operating systems they’re compatible with.

A keystroke recorder hardware device has to be plugged to your keyboard. Some keyboards even have a built-in keystroke recorder. Hardware keystroke recorders, however, will not work with built-in keyboards for laptops. The amount of keystroke data stored will also depend on the memory of the device. For computers in one network, you will need one keystroke recorder plugged per computer.

Hardware keystroke recorders are not without benefits though. They cannot be remotely disabled. One would have to physically unplug the device in order to deactivate its program. Installation is easy as well. Even if the computer is password-protected, switched off, hibernating, or locked, none of these would matter. Just plug it in and it’s sure to work.

Keystroke recorder software has its share of pros and cons, too. Firstly, it can work not only with desktops but laptops, too. Installation can be done remotely and via network. Storage space made available by the accessed computer will be the same one used for storing keystroke logging data.

Although keystroke recorder software is designed to be ‘invisible’, there are instances when ‘binary-signature’ image-scanning software may be capable of detecting its presence.

How Keystroke Recorders Work
Once you have the keystroke recorder properly installed, here’s how you can privately monitor your children’s online activities.

Type of Keystroke Logged Data Stored
Everything that your child types, from passwords to URLs of the pages he visits – all of these will show up in the program’s log book.

Remote Monitoring
You can continue monitoring your child’s activities away from home. Simply enable the program to email you the data it has managed to obtain.

Keep It Confidential
Lastly, keystroke recorders generally offer password protection. That way, no unauthorized person – not even your own child – may access its recorded data and find out what you’ve been doing.

Statistic reports show that there are as many as 200,000 bathroom accidents per year, and this figure is equivalent to approximately 70% of all home accidents. A simple tumble might not be something to worry about in most cases, but it could lead to serious injury when children and the elderly are involved. Even healthy individuals in their peak can suffer serious harm with a simple slip if they end up hitting their head against the wall.

Why wait for any of these to come true when you can take preventive measures right now? With bathtub safety grips, you’ll be at ease knowing that you’ve given everyone a simple and thoroughly safe way to get in and out of the tub.

How to Take Maximum Advantage of Bathtub Safety Grips
As bathtub safety grips come in different sizes and forms, the tips below will help you find the perfect model for your home.

Quick and Easy Installation and Removal
This is a must for all users, whether you intend to use bathtub safety grips temporarily or permanently.

Look for bathroom safety grips that come with lockable and lever-controlled suction cups for installation. To set them up, all you need to do is find a smooth, even, and non-porous surface to attach them. They can be installed on horizontal and vertical surfaces so tiled walls of your bathroom or the sides of your bathtub are both adequate.

Pushing the lever down will attach them securely to the surface while releasing the lever will immediately disengage them. Because of their quick and easy installation, they can be brought wherever you go and installed wherever you’re staying.

Avoid purchasing shower or bathtub safety grips that require you to screw them into position. Such grips won’t be good for traveling since you risk damaging rented or leased property.

Effective and Durable Use
Consider the dimensions of bathroom safety grips. Will they easily and snugly fit the hands of your children and other people at home? Consider the maximum weight it can bear as well. The sturdiest models are built for medical use and able to handle a maximum of 250lbs.

For improved safety, look for bathroom safety grips that have raised bumps on the surface. Their uneven surface provides users with a more secure grip as they push themselves up and get out of the tub.

Last but not the least, consider using a pair of bathtub safety grips and install one on each side of the bathtub. Since it’s the safety of your loved ones at stake, it’s best to go all the way for their protection.

Wireless nanny cams have proven their worth time and again.  But there are actually many uses to this device other than for observing and recording whether or not your child’s nanny is performing their duties properly.  With a little tweak and creativity, you could actually optimize the functions of the nanny cam.  Here are some of its best uses:

Monitor your child’s activities remotely
You’re probably more familiar with a nanny cam that uses a recording device.  While quite useful, it is only limited to showing you activities that occurred in the past.  You might appreciate that there are models of nanny cams that may be connected to a device or a third party service provider that will allow you to receive live feed.

This can be very useful for parents or guardians who are frequently away from their loved ones for long periods of time.  With a wireless nanny cam, they can still view and monitor the activities at home even from a remote location such as the office.

Catch perpetrators in the act
A wireless nanny cam is essentially a hidden camera.  Small, easy to hide and rather effortless to install, it can be used to help record evidence of a crime or a potential violation.  Where to use?  The possibilities are endless: the warehouse or supplies office to monitor any pilferage, the entrance hallway to observe who goes in and out of a building, the kitchen to find out if anybody is playing with the pie ingredients, the backyard to find out who or what rummages through the trash at night, or as in the case of a Franklin woman who lost money to theft several times, catch an unlikely suspect in the act of stealing.

Observe and record elusive wildlife
If you have a wireless nanny cam, don’t just limit it to activities in the house.  It can also be used to observe animals from a distance in the absence of more appropriate equipment.  The only drawback is that wireless nanny cams are not exactly designed for outdoors use, so a few modifications may be required.  But given the specs that come in a regular nanny cam, though, it should suffice for this type of function.

And yes, your basic nanny cam will work nicely to find out what your pets are up to behind your back.

Monitor employee behavior or activities
The use of surveillance equipment at the office has been known to lower employee motivation but it works to the benefit of the employer or business establishment.  Wireless nanny cams can be utilized in certain locations at the office, plant or warehouse to check on people’s activities and record their productivity.

For small shops or home-based businesses, the wireless nanny cam can also be a cheaper alternative to fully-equipped security equipment.  They are also easy to install and generally do not require a significant amount of maintenance.

Many households with small children or elderly parents rely on the nanny cam to monitor and record activities in the absence of the parent or a responsible adult.  Over the past few years, nanny cams have helped detect dangerous behavior or unhealthy practices that could prove detrimental to the health and wellbeing of a child or an adult requiring care.  But while the general use of nanny cams under reasonable circumstances may be legal, there are certain restrictions regarding its use to record sound.  Find out why nanny cams cannot have audio so you can protect yourself from a possible civil lawsuit.

Legal use of nanny cams
In general, hidden cameras such as nanny cams are deemed legal if they are installed in places considered for general public access.  In the home, these include the living room, family den, backyard, frontyard, kitchen and even the ward’s bedroom.  Since these are areas of the house frequented by most of the occupants (including the nanny or caregiver), there is no danger that the camera may be recording private behavior.

Nanny cams are considered illegal when used to monitor areas where the nanny or caregiver may require some privacy.  These areas include the bathroom, toilet, dressing room, closet, locker room, hotel room or the nanny’s own bedroom in case of live-in arrangements.  As to using a nanny cam to record audio, there are also laws governing this type of activity that you have to be aware about.

Why audio may not be allowed with nanny cams
The top reason why nanny cams cannot have audio is that every individual is protected by certain state and federal laws about eavesdropping and wiretapping.  Check local resources for the Electronic Communications Privacy Act that covers wiretapping.  Although each state will have a different statute regarding the act of recording conversations, you will find that most areas will require you to have the express consent of at least one party.

If your state allows the consent of just one party, you could provide consent on behalf of your child who is a minor and record audio.  However, make sure that the area where the audio is being recorded is not a private location.

There are also states (12 as of last count) that require the consent of all parties concerned, including California, Florida, Maryland, Washington, New Hampshire and Montana, among others.  To be on the safe side, always consult your local authorities regarding this matter, particularly if you’re planning on recording audio with your nanny cam.  This will ensure that you respect the rights of your nanny or caregiver and that you avoid any circumstance that could lead to legal action against you.

Much as we would like to be there personally for our children, circumstances don’t always allow for it.  There are chores that need to be performed, tasks that need to be completed, a job that needs to be finished and clients that need our attention.  Thank goodness for the nanny cam, a hidden camera that records onto itself.  It’s an independent security device that watches over the kids even when parents are not around.

Nanny cams and your child’s security
Nanny cams are so-called because they were primarily used to monitor the activities of a nanny with their wards.  They were also used to take the place of a parent or guardian to watch over the children from a remote location.  A nanny cam, for example, may be used to monitor the kids playing in the backyard while the parent is in the kitchen preparing meals.  It may also be used to watch over kids young enough to be left at home while the parent is at work.

A hidden self-recording security tool
The nanny cam is generally a hidden device – usually a tiny camera that monitors and records onto itself from a remote location.  It often comes with a recording device, usually a DVR that automatically records activities to be viewed later.

Nanny cams come with the advantage of being automatic and independent of human intervention.  Some may be set up to record activities within a specific time period or to automatically record only when motion is detected.  The images are then stored in a digital storage device, usually a disc or an SD card.

Choosing the right nanny cam
There are several features you need to consider in a hidden camera that records onto itself like the nanny cam.  Here are some of them:

Resolution – this refers to the ability of the camera to record images of high quality.  Low quality images look grainy and blurred and will not be of much help in case there is a need to identify the persons or objects in the video.  Higher resolution nanny cams can assure you of excellent imaging.

Memory – this refers to the capacity of the nanny cam to store a large number of images, particularly video.  A robust memory capacity is a good feature to look for.  Depending on your needs, consider getting a self-recording nanny cam that has at least 4 Gb or even 8 Gb or higher.

A higher memory capacity will give you many hours of recording time, which can be an advantage if you will be away from the child for at least 8 hours a day or if you will be leaving your child in someone else’s care for several days.

Connectivity – the nanny cam you purchase should be compatible with what systems you already have.  Depending on its functions, a hidden nanny cam may be connected to a TV, a computer or even a mobile phone.  Connection may either be wired or remote, which allows you to view images from a distant location.  The playback function is also important so you can view images immediately.

Blowguns are one of the few primitive types of weaponry that have made it to this century.  Efficient, simple and effective, blowguns are still used in many parts of the world as tools for hunting and self-defense.  But as simple as blowguns may look, they are, for all intents and purposes, still weapons.  No child should be playing with them, even if an adult is around to supervise.   Blowguns may look like fun toys to have but they are definitely not designed for kids.

Understanding the blowgun
A blowgun consists of two parts: a long, hollow tube and a projectile.  The hole in the tube is narrow enough so as to allow some sort of projectile or dart to be inserted and for air to be blown through.  The blowgun may be made with materials such as wood, bamboo, plastic or steel.  The projectile or dart may be made with the same materials or any combination of these.

Why kids and blowguns don’t mix
There are several reasons why blowguns are not for kids.  Here are just a few of them:

Younger children could hurt themselves or others
A blowgun is narrow and elongated while darts are sharp.  Kids, especially younger ones, are not really concerned for their safety or are just too trusting of themselves to actually consider a blowgun dangerous.  To them, it’s simply just a toy.  Children could easily harm themselves if they accidentally trip on the device or hit someone with it.

Projectiles could be swallowed
Darts come in a variety of sizes, majority of which are small enough for a young child to swallow accidentally.  A child could also hurt himself by attempting to fire the blowgun by inhaling with the other end of the blowgun still in his mouth and reversing the direction of the dart.

Furthermore, some dart varieties come with small parts that could be detached, chewed on and swallowed.  These parts could also cause choking.

The more accurate the blowgun, the more dangerous it is
Kids learn fast and it shouldn’t take them long to figure out the subtle adjustments they need to make in order to be able to fire accurately at a target.  In general, shorter blowguns are much more dangerous than longer blowguns because they are designed to be more accurate.

Shorter versions also do not require a lot of air to blow, so any child with enough air in his lungs could force it out and fire the projectile easily.  There could be some problematic consequences if it hits a person, an animal or another child.

It is illegal for a person younger than 18 to use or own a blowgun
Thinking of giving a child a blowgun as a gift?  Think again.  Your state does not allow it and in some parts, it’s illegal for even grownups to use, particularly if you live in Texas, Ohio, Florida, California and Massachusetts.  There is also an age requirement for its ownership and usage in states where it is allowed.

Rising costs of living and increasing demands in your career can make it near impossible for you to stay at home and keep your children under your personal supervision. Thus, you find yourself in need of engaging nanny services, but this of course doesn’t keep your worries fully at bay. Thankfully, there are various gadgets you can use today to monitor your nanny at home. These devices can help you determine if your nanny is deserving of trust and capable of caring for your children.

Types of Nanny-Monitoring Gadgets
Although there is a considerable selection of nanny-monitoring gadgets for you to choose from, you need not use more than one or two in order to successfully assess your nanny’s performance. As many of them can also be quite expensive, it’s best to purchase only those able to fully meet your needs or, better yet, rent them only when you’ve employed a new nanny.

Spy Cameras
Spy cameras probably give the best kind of evidence because you will not only hear but you can see for yourself as well how your nanny treats your children at home.

As they come in all shapes and sizes and with varying features, it’s best to determine your needs first. Wired cameras are cheaper but the audio and visual quality of their footage is generally superior to those of wireless cameras.  Wired cameras, however, are limited to a single location. Last but not the least, location is extremely important with wired cameras: you need to find a location that would give you the best and most complete view of the room without drawing alerting your nanny to its presence.

When shopping for a spy camera, be sure to ask about its storage and recording capabilities as well.

Telephone and Mobile Phone Bugs
Such devices or gadgets are usually implanted “secretly” in phones and allow you to listen in to the conversation of people using it.  Although certain phone conversations can give you a substantial and accurate assessment of your nanny, be aware that using such gadgets could be a direct violation of US laws in some situations.

If you are interested in using mobile phone bugs, there are two kinds for you to choose from. One works the usual way and functions only when it’s implanted in the targeted mobile phone. The other, however, works like a phone scanner, exploring air waves until it finds the conversation you wish to listen to.

cube clock radio camera image

Having a baby monitor can help you keep track of your little one without having to stand close to the baby at all times. This can be convenient if your baby’s room is far away from where you are working or where you need to be, or if your house has more than one floor and you need to be on another floor. However, a baby monitor is not fool-proof. Because it works like a walkie-talkie, you can only go so far before you lose the signal, and you will need to keep it charged all the time lest you end up with a non-working monitor that can’t pick up signals because it is too poorly charged.

There are also other safety tips that will allow you and your baby to reap the benefits of the baby monitor. Here are some safety tips that you should keep in mind when using your baby monitor.

First, your baby monitor will have all sorts of adapters, transmitters, transformers, and cords attached to it. You need to keep all these out of your baby’s reach, or your baby can be entangled in them. You also run the risk of choking your baby or having your baby electrocuted because of the cords. Moreover, you can trip over them or get electrocuted yourself! Buy wires or cord organizers to keep your cords together.

Always have a fresh set of batteries for your baby monitor, if it operates on external batteries; or keep the baby monitors recharged constantly so that you do not run the risk of having it low on batteries in emergencies. Moreover, don’t rely on the baby monitor alone to keep your child safe. Not all baby monitors can pick up the smallest noises that your baby makes, and often, it is these small noises that can be telling. So you will still need to check on your baby once in a while, and you will need to take time out to look out for your baby physically.

On that note, do not leave your baby unattended for a long time. You will need to take a few peeks into your baby’s room every now and then. Don’t stop at the door – move to the crib, examine your baby closely, and make sure that everything is all right. Not all silence is good, so make sure that your baby is breathing properly before and after you leave the room.

As for your monitor, make sure that you keep it in areas away from water, such as near your kitchen sink, in your bathroom, or even on your porch, where the weather may smash it to pieces. Take care that no water gets into your monitor, whether it’s the one you’re holding, or the one that’s picking up sounds from your baby.

These are only a few baby monitor safety tips that you should follow as you start using your baby monitor for your little one. Remember, you are handling an electronic device, and you should take care of it in the same way that you take care of your other electronic devices. Keep it charged, keep it handy, and have spare batteries or even a spare monitor just in case things go away.

Leaving your child home alone, no matter how long, doesn’t have to end in disaster of Macaulay Culkin proportions. Use the tips below to ensure the safety, security, and comfort of your child while he’s home alone.

Know Your Child
This is probably the best thing you can do and the best way to determine the rightness of leaving your child home alone. Consider his age. Can he be mature enough to understand the need for following your rules? Consider his personality. Precocious is nice and all, but it can lead to all sorts of trouble.

Establish Rules
Your kid is less likely to disobey your house rules if you’ve enforced them early on and they know what to expect when they do end up disobeying them. The rules must be clear and valid; they will make it easier for your kid to understand, appreciate, and obey them.

Punishments for disobeying these rules must be reasonable, constructive, and dealt consistently. If not, they might only provoke rebelliousness in your kids.

Be sure that your house rules cover everything that could put your child in danger while he’s staying home alone. Review and evaluate regularly.

Practice Makes Perfect
If leaving your kid alone at home is a new experience for you and your kid then you better start practicing immediately. Such practices are essential especially when an emergency occurs. You want your kid to be prepared for any eventuality and capable of saving himself.

For your practice sessions, play make-believe with your kid then guide him step by step in determining the appropriate responses for the different emergencies he could encounter. Teach him how to call 911 but don’t stop there. Let him know that during those times, he could be suffering from panic and anxiety but stress to him the importance of giving the right details.

Keeping Contact
Leaving your child home alone doesn’t require you to severe contact with him completely. You can give your child the responsibility of having his own temporary mobile phone. Teach him how to send you SMS and make calls. Stress the importance of contacting you regularly so that you’ll be constantly updated of his status.

Avoid Too Much Responsibility
Your kid can only be responsible so much. Be reasonable with your expectations. It’s still best to ask help from a neighbor or friend and have him check your child once in a while. Install a security system to provide additional protection for your child.

wireless home security system image

image credit to greyarea