Too busy with work? Can’t focus on your career?
Let’s be honest, keeping your kids safe and sound while you’re away or at work has never been easier. But having a babysitter at all times can be very expensive, and you can’t keep them in kindergarten forever. They grow up so fast.
We’ll jump right into it - ever thought about monitoring your children with hidden cameras while you’re away or at work?
Hidden cameras can help you solve a lot of problems - from burglary to annoying neighbors. A properly installed hidden camera on your property could save you the trouble of dealing with the issue and wasting time with lawsuits and it can be of help if you need to keep an eye on the kids too!
Read on about the legal issues about purchasing and using hidden cameras here. You can never be too careful.
A Perfectly Placed Hidden Camera to Watch Over the Kids
There’s no doubt about it. An installed home surveillance system with real-time monitoring compliments your schedule and keeps a close eye on your kids. At SpyGuy, we have a whole squadron of hidden real-time cameras which can prove useful if you want to add an extra security detail.
What’s more, if you DO have a nanny who watches over your kids and you’re suspicious of her babysitting methods, or you simply want to see how she takes care of your little ones, a hidden camera can help you clear up any doubts. Remember that it’s advisable to inform her of the monitoring act. For more on that, please read our Babysitter’s guide.
In the meantime, here’s the why, what, and how of using hidden cameras for children’s surveillance in your home.
Why Use Hidden Cameras to Monitor Your Children?
It may sound overprotective to some, but keeping your children safe is the highest priority for an overworked parent.
Keeping an extra eye on your kids via real-time monitoring is important and gives schedule-ridden parents peace of mind.
Various reasons justify surveillance cameras for children. They are, above all, children, and depending on their age, they are not always able to act on their own accord and responsibility.
Here are some questions you need to ask yourself to see whether or not you’ll need security surveillance cameras to safeguard them.
Are They Too Old?
To be frank, some of us need a temporary solution, and taking advantage of today’s accessible tech and gadgets will surely help us keep an eye on the kids and save valuable time.
We at SpyGuy believe that age-appropriate freedom and our children’s sense of privacy is a crucial point in their upbringing. It’s imperative for us to help them grow into responsible adults in a healthy environment. However, before they reach their teen years, monitoring your kids at home is sometimes the only solution to keep them safe.
There’s always a reason why you simply can’t be at home at all times. A hard-working parent can’t handle everything while their children are at the critical toddler’s age to the more ‘responsible’, preschool-age. You can’t help but think that around this age, they’re at their peak mischief.
It’s totally legal for parents to install security cameras and hidden surveillance systems, but only if their children are under the age of 18. However, we believe that when they enter their preteen years, monitoring your kids stops being somewhat ethical due to breach of privacy. Just remember what it was like when you were that age and you’ll see what we mean.
Maintaining a Balance Between Your Children’s Privacy and Your Children’s Safety
There are important issues to keep in mind when you consider placing security cameras to watch over your children. First comes safety, but we need to point out that your children’s privacy concerns are something not to be taken lightly.
Like we mentioned above, it's legal for parents to install security cameras in the house to watch over their children, but under certain circumstances. Feel free to check out our legal issues guide[d] on installing security cameras and privacy/consent laws.
Let’s look at these specific key points:
- If the children being monitored are under the age of 18.
- This goes the same for using baby monitors on infants under the age of 4 in their bedrooms and other rooms.
- Nanny cams and other such cameras are legal.
- Bear in mind that audio recording laws have strict rules and monitoring via audio is not allowed without consent from the recorded nanny.
- If a child is mentally or physically handicapped or ill, it’s legal to install a camera in their bedroom to keep them safe.
- It's illegal for a parent to place security cameras in the bathroom or changing room. It's considered an invasion of privacy and a felony.
The Importance of Having Hidden Cameras Disguised as Everyday Objects Keeping Your Children Safe
We at SpyGuy strongly believe that for this specific surveillance problem, having a covert hidden camera at your disposal is probably the most cost-effective way to have that much-needed extra ‘pair’ of eyes.
By invisible, we mean a quality surveillance camera disguised as an everyday object and placed either in the living room, kitchen, or any other room for that matter.
Growing up, we all remember the amazing set of superpowers our mothers had. Eyes at the back of their heads, apparently. It seemed that you couldn’t get away with anything (though, that depends on your resourcefulness as a child).
Well, now you can bet for sure you have those same powers at your disposal, all in favor of your family’s well-being and safety. Your children don’t have to know that they’re being monitored, and they don’t have to know how this is possible.
What matters is that with surveillance cameras, you’ll know your children will arrive home from school safe and sound.
What’s more, you’ll know exactly what goes on in your house and keep an eye on their daily chores and homework. You’ll act in an instant all thanks to the real-time monitoring feature of our SpyGuy cameras.
Surveillance and Monitoring in Your House
Whether you’re at work or you’re abroad, going out of the house for groceries or on a morning run, having a hidden camera surveillance system will help you monitor your children while you’re away. Let’s take a look at some of our best hidden cameras that’ll help you do that.
The DVD Player Hidden Camera
First stop - the living room. Securing the living room with a high-tech nanny cam is the primary objective, and we recommend the DVD Player Hidden Camera.
This little gadget with a hidden camera planted inside is made to look like an ordinary household object. What’s more, the DVD player works, and we know everyone loves Disney cartoons.
One of the more important characteristics of our SpyGuy nanny cams is the Wi-Fi Internet connection. The DVD Player can record live video, and you can monitor it straight from your cell phone or PC, with a working network connection, of course. Keep in mind that it does not record audio.
The real-time monitoring feature is very practical when you want to keep a close eye on the children while you’re away. You’ll be fully aware of what’s going on, and you can check-in from anywhere at all times.
The DVD player is perfect for living rooms and you can just place it close to the TV, set it up, connect it to the internet, and that’s all there is to it. It records a crisp, clear, date & time-stamped video at 1280x720 resolution. It comes with a memory card with 32 gigs of space, and you can view the footage on your PC whenever you want.
You won’t have to worry about space or unnecessary blank footage. The motion-activated video only records when it senses movement. It starts a new recording every time it detects movement, which means you can save a lot of space while it records.
Once you’re done recording, simply remove the memory card from the trap door and connect it to your PC to view the footage. It comes with a complimentary iPhone and Android app.
The Smoke Detector Hidden Camera
Similar to the DVD Player, the Smoke Detector camera offers you motion-captured, real-time surveillance at 1280x720 resolution - the essential spy cam features.
But the reason why this covert cam stands out from the rest is its night-vision feature. It’s exactly what you think it is - the camera can proceed with surveillance in total darkness and may even capture thieves snooping around.
Plus, if you think it would be a good idea to place it in the garage, go for it. We’re sure nobody would notice a smoke alarm there. The Smoke Detector has a standby battery that can last up to 90 days, with 16 hours of continuous recording, a 32GB memory card, and an AC power adapter.
The camera has a 75-degree angle, and it works best when you put it near the corners of the kitchen. It covers 90% vision and it doesn’t capture motion directly on the sides of the cam. So, positioning is very important.
The Rectangle Clock
The Rectangle Clock Hidden Camera has a superb recording quality and is built to blend into any room. It can record real-time, motion-capture videos with a quality resolution.
Similar to the other products, its recording span goes up to 90 days of continuous surveillance, all thanks to the motion-capture feature, and usually, the clock’s placement is directly at the source of most occurrences.
The AC Adapter can also be used in bedrooms and living rooms if you believe you have conveniently placed sockets. It’s a tiny 1280x720 resolution motion-capture camera, cleverly disguised as an adapter.
It records up to 8 days and comes with a 32GB memory card, which is less than the other covert cams, but still gets the job done.
Our Top-Shelf Recommendation
The Weather and Thermostat Hidden Camera is definitely one of our more versatile and flexible cameras. It works in every room, as nobody would suspect a clock and thermostat.
Positioning is no problem, and it comes with a removable adhesive. You can stick it on the wall, near your garden patio, on a support beam, you name it. Its effectiveness relies on the sheer space for opportunity and placement, and you can record any angle you choose.
You can use the Thermostat to monitor your children’s activities while you’re away at work, and they won’t suspect anything at all.
The Thermostat records a motion-capture HD video with a 1280x720 resolution with up to 9 days of battery life, and you really don’t need to worry about the recording. Usually, it just requires that much time to capture everything, but it really depends on how long you’re away.
We have seen examples of proper usage in people’s homes, as many try to monitor their elders with Alzheimer’s, and some use it to capture burglars. For more on this, please refer to our cameras for the elderly guide.
The Thermostat is, without a doubt, an essential spy camera which we highly suggest.
Final Thoughts
The safety and well-being of our children should be the number one priority for taking these extra security measures. We’re here to help you out with all your video and audio surveillance needs, video recording cams included.
There’s no need for you to waste time browsing away for costly equipment. A guide like this can help you choose a video camera to your liking. We boast an array of devices that are cost-effective and can resolve any issues you might have.
Our service comes with free tech support, a 90-day warranty, and free ground shipping. Feel free to drop us a line at any time!
