Posts Tagged ‘Child Safety’

Placing the Clock Radio Nanny Camera in the Right Places

A clock radio nanny camera can allow you to watch what your nanny is doing. Position it in a corner, on a stable surface, and out of anyone’s easy reach.

clock radio nanny cameraHaving a nanny to take care of your child can be a great way for you to not only relax, but to get yourself time to do other things. It can be stressful to care for a child while doing other things at the same time, so you could hire a good nanny to help you out, even with the other things that you are doing. The problem with this strategy is that you may end up hiring a substandard nanny, or one that appears professional on the outside but is actually your worst nightmare when your back is turned.

To help you watch over your nanny, you can install hidden cameras in your house. You can do this by buying small cameras that you can hook up to your computer for recording, or that can feed footage to an outside source. You may also do this by buying equipment that has hidden cameras installed in them so that you can unobtrusively monitor your nanny without her knowing about what you are doing. One such camera can be bought along with a clock radio, and you can keep this device in the room that you are watching your nanny in.

One good way to position it is to put it in a corner. This gives you a wider angle view of the room, and it will allow you to monitor all sides of the room. The disadvantage to placing the camera on one side of the room is that you may lose a lot of possible footage and space that could be important in how well you monitor the nanny. Another disadvantage is that anything on the sides of a room can be easily knocked over if they are not positioned well. Your nanny could wreck your camera if she tips the clock radio over!

This brings us to the second position. You should position this device at a height so that your nanny cannot easily nudge, move, or reach it. The clock radio should not be too high to make the clock radio itself useless. A clock radio too far from seeing will make the fact that it contains a hidden camera all the more obvious! The clock radio should not be too low so that you capture only people’s feet and have the camera nudged and moved around too often.

Third, and last, put your clock radio on a stable surface. You might want a gadget that has an adjustable camera inside, so that the camera can be moved while the clock radio remains in a stable position. If you can, glue the radio to the surface. Keep the clock radio with a hidden camera lodged between heavy articles such as books, so that your nanny will not be tempted to move it.

These are only a few suggestions that you can use as you install your clock radio hidden camera to monitor your nanny. You cannot trust your child to anyone, so make sure that the person you have at home with you is the most trustworthy one that you can find.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - September 21, 2009 at 8:45 am

Categories: Child Safety, Home Security   Tags: , , , ,

The Best Uses for Your Air Purifier Nanny Camera

A nanny camera installed in an air purifier can help you monitor your nanny’s activities. You can use it best by cleaning the air purifier constantly, getting a camera with good audio, and buying an adjustable camera.

air purifier hidden cameraHow well can you trust your child to a nanny? You might not have enough trust in a nanny who comes to your door dressed poorly, has little or no reaction to anything that you say, or refuses to listen to you when you scold her. All the same, you cannot simply trust a nanny who comes to your door well dressed and is attentive to you, simply because people can put up a front that can fool you no matter how smart or rich you are.

One way for you to monitor your nanny is to use a hidden camera. One such hidden camera can come with an air purifier attached. This is a place that is not too obvious, and at the same time not likely to be touched by your nanny. This is especially true if you will follow the top 3 best uses below, which should guide you in best using an air purifier nanny camera and capturing the real nanny behind the front shown to you.

First, keep the air purifier clean and always remind your nanny that you have already cleaned out the decontaminating agent. First, if the air purifier is obviously clean, your nanny will not voluntarily try to clean it and therefore uncover the hidden camera. Second, if you have told your nanny that the air purification system has already been cleaned, then your nanny is less liable to touch it and disrupt the camera. Third, you will be less likely to ruin the camera because of a dirty air purifier. Remember, even if a hidden camera is built to withstand dirt and grime, this gives you no excuse to actually place it in the middle of dirt and grime and ruin the electric circuits that allow it to run.

Second, get an air purifier hidden camera with good audio. If the audio is not good enough, it can pick up even the noise of the air purifier and ruin your camera feed. You may also want to get a camera that can operate noiselessly so that you do not end up alerting your nanny to the presence of a hidden camera.

Third, get a hidden camera that can be adjusted. Your air purifier can block out certain angles that may not allow you to monitor your nanny most effectively. By getting an adjustable camera, you might be able to monitor different areas of the room at once. For best results, you might need to get more than one nanny camera so that you can monitor multiple areas of your room at once.

These are only three of the best ways that you can monitor your nanny using an air purifier hidden camera. For more information, talk to your security retailer. Get a good camera that does not force you to blow your budget. This way, you can have your camera last for a far longer time.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - September 19, 2009 at 9:12 pm

Categories: Child Safety, Home Security   Tags: , , , ,

The Most Effective Uses for a Child Guard Monitor

A child guard monitor can allow you to keep watch on your child. Always adjust for smaller distances, listen closely for the beeping, and constantly check that batteries are fully charged.

child guard monitorHave you ever been at the park with your child, and then worried because your child suddenly wandered off when you were looking away for only a few seconds? Have you ever hiked and then called the police or searched frantically for your child only because you weren’t able to watch your child for just one moment? These are usual scenarios that many parents face and that even more parents dread. You may need to use a child guard monitor that will help you track your child.

A child guard monitor is a child safety device that you will place on your child for your child to wear. The child guard monitor emits a signal to a receiver, which you will hold. This constantly transmitted signal is designed to allow you to keep track of your child even when you are not looking. You can also adjust the signal. For some models, you can keep track of your child from a distance of as short as three feet; and as far away as over twenty feet. If your child goes beyond the set distance that you are keeping track of your child, the receiver will start beeping, letting you know that your child is out of distance and should therefore be searched for. A good way is to keep the distance low so that you don’t have too wide a radius to search.

Second, if there is more than one adult using the child guard monitor within the same area, the transmitted signal will be adjusted accordingly so that no cross-signaling occurs. This will allow you to monitor your child even in heavily crowded areas. In this case, keep your receiver close by, since the noise may drown out beeping that will alert you on your child’s location.

The child guard monitor is not immediately obvious: it will often be designed to look like a harmless toy, which you can clip to your child, conceal under your child’s sweater or shirt, or even attach to a stroller. Many of the models now available will also have adjustable distances so that you can keep a very close watch on your child, or allow your child a wider berth for enjoying his or her surroundings.

Third, and last, if you do decide to buy a child guard monitor, make sure that you constantly check that the batteries are fully charged. These are only a few features of child guard monitors that are now available on the market. For more information, talk to your security experts and retailers.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - September 16, 2009 at 2:00 pm

Categories: Child Safety, Cool Gadgets   Tags: ,

4 of the Best Ways to Use Your Wireless Nanny Cams

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:

Professional_Dummy_CameraMonitor 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.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - August 8, 2009 at 3:11 pm

Categories: Child Safety, Home Security   Tags: , , , , ,

The President Did It: How a Nanny Cam Caught a School Board Head Stealing

Wall Clock Nanny CameraWhen Pam Bombien installed a nanny cam in the kitchen, all she wanted was to catch a thief — and confirm her suspicions.  Bombien, a resident of Franklin, had lost money on several occasions before under mysterious circumstances but did not really take it seriously until she lost $60 in April and $50 the next month.

What made Bombien suspicious was that an old friend, former school board president of Franklin Roseann Lewandowski, was always with her each time money disappeared.  To make sure she wasn’t just placing her suspicions on an innocent person, Bombien began using a nanny cam.

The nanny cam provided Bombien the evidence she needed.  When Lewandowski came to visit, the cam recorded the woman leafing through Bombien’s purse.

However, it was not until the nanny cam caught Lewandowski stealing the funds supposed to be used for the local Little League that Bombien decided enough was enough.  Lewandowski made off with $880 from Bombien’s purse and again, she was caught on the nanny cam doing it.  Bombien asked for assistance from the police, who promptly arrested Lewandowski.

The nanny cam knows
It has been said that cameras are unforgiving — they will show what we sometimes do not wish or expect to see.  This is probably the best move that one person did to finally stop the sneaky ways of a former school board president, catching her performing the act without placing any doubts as to the authenticity of the evidence.

As the Franklin case shows, the correct placement and use of the nanny cam was instrumental in helping a woman to finally find out the truth about her missing money.  Bombien was smart enough to consider the circumstances that proved to be the common denominator each time she lost money — that is, the location and the person she suspected was involved.  By placing her nanny cam in the kitchen, she finally proved her suspicions right.

Using the nanny cam
Something that works as an all-seeing eye such as the nanny cam is most effective if its advantages are optimized and its limitations minimized.  Nanny cams or any hidden camera used legally for reasonable surveillance rely on unobstructed vision in order to monitor and record any activity that may be of interest or prove to be illegal.

A good first move when using nanny cams would be to start with areas that are most likely to be where an activity could occur.  In Bombien’s case, it was the kitchen, the same area where she frequently left her purse and entertained guests, one of whom happened to be the guilty party.

Since there are legal restrictions to the use of hidden surveillance devices such as the nanny cam, take note that proper placement also requires that they are only installed at publicly accessible places, such as the living room, family den, dining area and kitchen.  Nanny cams are not allowed in private areas such as the bedroom or the bathroom.

The view from the nanny cam should also be clear of any obstacles such as plants, walls, dividers or curtains.  The angle of viewing should also be carefully considered.  While most nanny cams are positioned at a slightly higher angle to overlook an area, setting a camera at eye level or even slightly below might also be effective, depending on what the user needs to monitor and on the availability of space.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - at 4:52 am

Categories: Home Security   Tags: , , , , ,

Top Reasons Why Your Nanny Cam Cannot Have Audio

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.

nanny cameraLegal 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.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - August 5, 2009 at 8:26 pm

Categories: Child Safety, Home Security   Tags: , , , ,

Hidden Cameras Should Be Used to Protect and Not to Abuse

Hidden cameras are generally considered as ideal gadgets for surveillance — they’re unobtrusive, easy to carry and install and can be quite effective for monitoring and recording activities.  They have been used to catch a variety of law breakers, ranging from thieves and shoplifters to drug dealers and philandering spouses.  Unfortunately, these very characteristics also make hidden cams prone to misuse.  Due to their availability, many people forget that hidden cams are meant to be used to protect and not to abuse.

Legal implications of hidden cam abuse
Before deciding to use hidden cameras, there are certain restrictions you have to keep in mind.  Hidden cameras are considered legal provided they are:

- used to monitor and record activities that may be detrimental to general health and safety of persons concerned
- used with permission from a legal authority
- used to monitor and record activities performed in publicly accessible areas, if the hidden cam is to be used in a home or establishment

If used to monitor the nanny, cleaning lady or the mailman, for example, the hidden cam may only be installed in an area where no privacy issues may be raised.  They cannot be used in areas such as the bathroom, locker room, toilet, hotel room or even the bedroom of the concerned party.  These rooms are areas of the house where people will require personal privacy, so unless express consent is given, no hidden cam should be placed there.  Without the other party’s permission, installing a hidden cam where it could violate privacy rights will be considered abuse.

There are also laws that require the consent of at least one party to use the hidden camera, something that most states require.  There are also states that require consent of all parties, so you might have to inform people that cameras are in place.  You may not choose to inform them where these gadgets are located.

Need audio?  Check if it’s legal
There is also the concern of using hidden cams that record audio.  There are laws at the state and federal levels that protect against illegal wiretapping and eavesdropping.  Should you decide to include an audio function with your hidden camera, make sure you do not violate anyone else’s rights.

The bottomline: hidden cams are supposed to be used to deter, prevent or at least provide evidence of illegal activity in order to protect.  They should not be used as an abusive form of surveillance, such as when they become instruments of malicious spying or blackmail.

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - at 9:33 am

Categories: General   Tags: , , , ,

Should You Use a Nanny Cam? How to Trust your Gut Feel

If you have children and a nanny, then you have every right to be worried. You may have heard news reports of nannies kidnapping their wards, children being left alone by irresponsible nannies, or nannies being the key that opens your door to all the world’s strangers. Although this can be paranoid, you will still need to exercise a lot of caution when determining who to hire. At one point, if you are busy and need help with taking care of your children, and you have a nanny that you are trying to trust, then perhaps you have thought of using your nanny cam.

The advantage of having a nanny cam is that you can watch your nanny and keep a close eye on your children and how they are treated. This can also be offset by the disadvantage of concentrating too much on your nanny cam that you can leave your work behind. You might as well stay home and watch your children if all your time at the office is spent monitoring your nanny cam!

Should you use a nanny cam? You can start thinking of this when you interview your nanny. Gut feel will easily tell you if your nanny is an amateur or has never worked with children. Your instincts should also tell you if something is amiss, such as if your nanny has a boyfriend with whom she has little contact, or if your nanny is over-indulgent and thus appears suspicious. There should be many warning signs that can tell you different things: can your nanny bring in her boyfriend and leave your children behind? Might your nanny just be showing her good side because she is being interviewed?

Continue weighing your options when you finally hire your nanny. You may want to interview your children when you arrive home and ask them how their day has been. Did they enjoy being with the nanny? Was the nanny doing anything inappropriate, talking too much on the phone, hurting the children? If you have more than one child, assign your elder child as your lookout. When your elder child starts voicing concerns, then you can use a nanny cam to confirm or refute your child’s claims.

There isn’t anything wrong with being paranoid, as long as you’re reasonable about your views. Always ask your nanny for referrals, and if you can, ask for certificates of good conduct or check on your nanny’s police record. A good way to test your nanny is to ask for the police records. A good nanny will have nothing to hide.

If you do need to use a nanny cam, make it discreet and start by not telling your nanny that he or she is being watched. This might make your nanny flustered; accidents can happen with careless or nannies who are conscious that they are being monitored. A disadvantage to this is that it can be a devious move that your nanny can sue you for. A good workaround is for you to tell your nanny that you have a nanny cam, and that you will be monitoring him or her at varying times. This way, your nanny cannot predict when he or she is being watched or from where. This can be a good test of nanny mettle, so make sure that you know how to use your gut feel.

calculator hidden camera image

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - February 9, 2009 at 4:55 pm

Categories: Cool Gadgets   Tags: , , ,

5 Child Security Gadgets that Should Be on Your List

security child gadgetChildren are very vulnerable beings, not only because they lack the experience and skills to recognize danger and protect themselves accordingly but also because they are naturally guileless and trusting. Each new thing they see, hear and feel is an experience worth exploring, regardless of its potential danger. Need to child-proof your home or simply ensure the protection and safety of your child? Here are 5 child security gadgets you might want to consider buying:

Baby monitor
It’s lightweight, inconspicuous and it lets you monitor a very young child from another location in the house. Baby monitors are one of the most popular child security gadgets for new parents. They function as ‘always on’ intercom system, allowing you to hear your child and any activities that may occur in his/her room even when you’re in the kitchen, living room, bedroom or garage.

Wireless leash
The wireless leash lets you keep your child within a specific area of the house or the yard. Simply attach this security gadget on your child’s wrist and the sensor will transmit a warning alarm to you in case he wanders away.

Security cam
Also known as a surveillance cam or a nanny cam, security cameras are excellent choices as child security gadgets. They allow you to monitor the child in his room and to determine if he’s in imminent danger or not. This will require some setup but it will come in handy in case you need to keep an eye out for a child but cannot be physically present with them.

A simpler but similar gadget is the wireless monitoring kit. You could install the camera in the room where the child is and then monitor their activities from a handheld receiver that you can bring to another location in the house.

Pool Alarm
If you have a pool in your home, consider installing this child security gadget. This alarm is installed in the pool and will electronically sense if your child wanders too near the water or actually falls into the pool. This is an excellent gadget to use if you have a pool or jacuzzi that is frequently unsupervised or uncovered.

Mobile handsets with GPS
In Japan, many parents are using mobile handsets with built-in GPS (global positioning systems) to keep track of their youngsters. Since most children walk to school or frequently use public transportation even at very young ages, parents feel that their children are safer if they know where they are exactly at a particular moment.

If you want to keep tabs on your child’s location from time to time, consider buying a child security gadget that has a built-in GPS. In case you suspect a problem, you could immediately give your child a call or get in touch with the authorities to check on his location.

electronic child leash image

air ionizer nanny camera image

mantle clock nanny camera image

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - November 6, 2008 at 8:00 am

Categories: Child Safety, Cool Gadgets   Tags: , ,

Shopping Tips for Child Guard Monitors

Children are every parent’s pride and joy. It would be devastating to lose your child and you can prevent this from happening with child guard monitors.child monitor

What Are Child Guard Monitors?
These electronic devices are safe for children to use and have with them all the time. They contain transmitters that lets the receiver knows when its user is near to straying past specified distance boundaries.

How to Choose the Right Child Guard Monitor

Design and Materials
This is the most important factor. Child guard monitors come in various guises but mostly, they’re designed to look like toys. Of course, not any toy would do for your child so it’s important for you to choose one he’d be willing to have with him at all times.

Check for resilience and durability as well. Children are naturally clumsy and it’s not unusual for them to accidentally drop or step on their toys. For maximum protection, look for a child guard monitor with a long-lasting or hard-wearing shell.

Size
The best child guard monitors are those small enough that your child can keep in his pocket but big enough for him to immediately notice if it’s lost or misplaced. Smaller child guard monitors are also acceptable but only they can double as bracelets or necklaces that children can wear.

Frequency and Range
Look for child guard monitors you can use both indoors and outdoors. Furthermore, look for monitors capable of offering the greatest amount of coverage. This will help you track your child more easily if he ends up lost.

Adjustability
The best child guard monitors allow users to specify configurations. As such, you can adjust the coverage for the transmitter, depending on your needs and preferences. For some models, the volume of alarm can also be adjusted.baby

User-Friendliness
Child guard monitors shouldn’t be complicated, especially as you may be dealing with serious crisis anytime. Controls for distance or volume adjustments should be just as easy as turning the transmitter on or off. This is especially important if you wish for other companions of your child to make use of the device as well.

Power
Different types of batteries are used to power up child guard monitors. Models using long-lasting batteries are naturally preferable. Consider charging time if batteries used are rechargeable.

Reliability
The safety of your child will be compromised if your child guard monitor is faulty and unreliable. As such, consider buying only child guard monitors manufactured by reputable companies. The Better Business Bureau can help you find ideal manufacturers for these devices.

child monitor image

image credits to dhammza

Be the first to comment - What do you think?  Posted by Self Defense Blogger - September 11, 2008 at 8:39 am

Categories: Child Safety   Tags: , , ,