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Even when you can't be physically near your children, you can look in on them whenever you want with the help of modern internet-enabled cameras that allow you to see and hear your baby on a desktop computer, tablet, or phone. A few strategically placed cameras allow you to keep an eye on your baby's nursery, playroom, or other sensitive locations when you're not at home, to know if your baby's sleeping, playing, eating, and otherwise happy and well.
Many parents find comfort in the ability to check in with their kids visually whenever they like, but if you do, it's best practice to inform any caregivers that cameras are on and transmitting. Elizabeth Mason, Executive Director of the US Nanny Association says "Families may have cameras and recording devices in the home, however, cameras cannot be placed in areas that have an expectation of privacy. Laws vary by state and some states have laws requiring consent prior to audio recordings."
So while the name "nanny camera" carries some negative connotations, you should consider any audiovisual setups in your house to be baby monitors instead that you are using to simply keep an eye on things, as well as for reassurance and bonding with your children. Disclosing the monitors' presence is part of the open communication and two-way trust you should have with any caregiver.
How we chose the best nanny cameras
Since these cameras are essentially a piece of safety equipment, it's important that they be secure, easy to set up, and easy to use. Cameras should offer a crystal-clear view that shows small details such as a baby's eyes being open or closed, and audio should be faithful. Setups that offer two-way communication can be useful, so parents can calm their children from afar; cameras that detect motion can be configured to send alerts to parents.
It's a big job, so when we began looking for the best nanny cams, we started our search in BabyCenter's Community, searching through thousands of posts from real moms and dads to find out what cameras and monitors they rely on at home. Then we gave their picks to our team of expert editors for research and vetting. They winnowed down the list to models that offer good value for the money, and are easy for most parents to use.
Keep reading to find the best mini nanny camera, the best wireless nanny camera, and more.
The simplicity of this camera, the quality of its feed, and the features are hard to beat for the price. The camera is super simple to set up; you just plug it in and download the Google Home app to your phone and you're ready to go. We love that you can go back and review footage if needed, and that the cam's algorithm can tell the difference between a pet, a person, and a vehicle, so you can set the movement alerts for only what you want (or choose no alerts at all).
The night vision is solid, so you can see your baby blinking or their little chest rising and falling in a dark nursery, and the two-way talk feature is handy when you need to get the attention of someone in your home immediately. You can buy the cameras singly, or in sets of two or four to monitor multiple home areas, controlling them all seamlessly from the Home app, and each camera is powered with rechargeable batteries for wireless indoor/outdoor operation. The Nest system is so useful, in fact, that you can press this camera into service long after you need to keep a careful eye on your little ones.
Heads up
You can review clips of video footage for the last three hours, but if you want clips for up to 60 days, you'll need a Nest Aware subscription at $6 a month or $60 a year. For up to 10 days of 24/7 video, you'll need a Nest Aware Plus subscription, $12 a month or $120 yearly.
Parents say
"We have Nest cameras and Google Home and love both."
Specs
- Camera dimensions: 3.27 x 3.27 inches
- Camera weight: 14.04 ounces
- Camera has 1/2.8-inch, 2-megapixel sensor, 130° diagonal field of view, and 6x digital zoom
- Single motion sensor for up to 25 feet
- Night vision up to 20 feet
- Power source: Built-in rechargeable 6 Ah 3.65V lithium-ion battery (3.3 ft indoor rated charging cable and 7.5W USB-A power adapter included)
- Mounting: Mounts to wall with 2 screws (included) or sticks magnetically to a metallic surface
- Purchase includes Nest Cam camera, magnetic plate, wall plate, 2 wall anchors, 2 wall screws, charging cable and power adapter for rechargeable battery, quick start guide, and safety & warranty document
- Requires a Wi-Fi network, a working broadband internet connection with at least 2 megabits per second upload speed per camera for optimal performance (DSL may not qualify), a compatible mobile device, the free Home app, and a Google Account
- Warranty and service: 1-year limited warranty and service included
This nanny camera is tiny and won't take up a ton of space on your counter, in your living room, or in the nursery. It is two-way talk compatible and has both day and night vision. To set up, just download the app, plug the camera in, and you're off! If you already have an Alexa device, the camera can connect so you can control or disarm it with your voice ("Alexa! Show me the nursery camera!").
The price is awesome and is easier on the wallet if you want to purchase multiple cameras for different rooms in your home. Parents love the customizable motion zones, too: define an area, and you can get a detection alert if your child strays out of her room or into a forbidden zone.
Heads up
There is no option for continuous watching. You need to click the "continue" button after 30 seconds to keep viewing. With the add-on Blink Sync Module 2 and a USB drive (not included) you can store video clips and pictures from your monitor locally, or save/share unlimited videos for 60 days with a Blink Subscription Plan, which starts at $3 a month or $30 a year. This camera plugs in, so you don't have to worry about charging a battery, but you do have to install the camera in a place near a plug (and where your baby can't get near the cord, see "safety" section in buying guide).
Specs
- Camera dimensions: 2 x 1.9 x 1.4 inches
- Camera weight: 1.7 ounces
- Camera has 110° diagonal field of view
- Power source: Plug-in
- Mounting: Mounts to wall with 2 screws (included) or stands alone (stand included)
- Purchase includes Blink Mini camera, 1 stand (attached), 2 mounting screws, USB cable, power adapter
- Requires devices running iOS 12.5, Android 5.0, or Fire OS 5.1 or later and high-speed 2.4 Ghz 802.11g/n connection with a minimum of 2 megabytes per second upload speed
- Warranty and service: 1-year limited warranty and service included.
For about double the price of the Blink Mini, the Blink Indoor adds in two very nice features: first, it comes complete with two AA lithium batteries, and the camera system can run for up to two years on these batteries (and when they poop out you can easily replace them with non-proprietary batteries). So you can install the camera anywhere, no need to worry about a convenient plug.
Second, the Blink Indoor comes with the Blink Sync Module 2, which lets you save cute photos and video snips to a USB drive (not included), no subscription necessary. As with the Blink Mini, the Blink is Alexa-compatible, with customizable motion alerts, two-way audio communication, and powerful infrared night vision.
Heads up
Like the Blink Mini, Blink Indoor allows you to save/share unlimited videos for 60 days with a Blink Subscription Plan, which starts at $3 a month or $30 a year.
Specs
- Camera dimensions: 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.2 inches
- Camera weight: 1.7 ounces
- Camera has 110° diagonal field of view
- Power source: 2 AA 1.5V lithium metal (non-rechargeable) batteries
- Mounting: Mounts to wall with 2 screws (included)
- Purchase includes Blink Indoor camera, Sync Module 2, 2 1.5V non-rechargeable AA lithium metal batteries (per camera), mounting kit (per camera), USB cable, and power adapter.
- Requires devices running iOS 12.5, Android 5.0, or Fire OS 5.1 or later and high-speed 2.4 Ghz 802.11g/n connection with a minimum of 2 megabytes per second upload speed
- Warranty and service: 1-year limited warranty and service included.
If you are looking for a quality camera that won't break the bank, the Wyze Cam is it. One of the best features of this camera are the magnetic mounting brackets that allows you to mount it anywhere in your home without having to put holes in your wall. Cam v3 delivers a clear, live stream video directly to your smartphone via the Wyze app as well as alerts anytime the camera detects motion in areas that you define by clicking and dragging a box on the app.
Through the app you can manage multiple cameras, and images and video clips of up to 12 seconds are stored on the cloud for up to 14 days. For longer videos over a longer period of time, as well as more high-tech features like pet/vehicle/package detection, a subscription to Wyze's Cam Plus is $1.25 a month. But parents say the real marquee feature of this camera is the stellar night vision, which makes small details visible even in dark nurseries.
Parents say
"We have a Wyze cam and love it!"
"We have a Wyze cam for when the sitter comes."
Heads up
This camera is not battery-powered, so it has to be mounted in a place where it can plug in, which limits installation options. The camera is rated for outdoor use, but if you want to use it there, you'll have to buy an outdoor power adapter so you can safely plug it in outdoors.
Specs
- Camera dimensions: 2 x 2 x 2.3 inches
- Camera weight: 3.5 ounces
- Power source: Indoor 5v/1a power adapter (included), 6-foot USB cable (included). Outdoor power adapter sold separately.
- Mounting: Mounts to wall with screws (included) or sticks to magnetic wall mount plate
- Purchase includes Wyze Cam v3, wall mount plate, wall mount plate tape, screw kit, 6-foot outdoor-rated USB cable, indoor USB power adapter, quick start guide
- Requires 2.4 gigahertz wifi connection, devices running iOS 9.0 or Android 5.0, and Wyze app
- Warranty and service: 1-year warranty included
The Ring Stick Up cam allows you to talk and listen through the device, which we love when we want to tell our kids to stop picking on each other. Suited for indoor or outdoor use, the Ring Stick Up has the best audio features out there, allowing you to see, hear, and speak with people in your house through your phone, tablet, or computer.
Combine it with an Alexa device (you can buy the camera bundled with the Echo Show 5 for an extra $85) for voice-control and other cool features: if someone triggers Ring's motion zones, your Echo device will illuminate and announce the trigger; if you have Echo Show or Echo Spot, you can see the person on camera, and hold a conversation with them, which can come in awfully handy when someone's dropping things off at your house. Parents also like the Ring's versatile installation: It sits independently, mounts onto any flat surface that you can put screws into, and there's even an add-on mount kit you can buy for an additional $20 to put it on the ceiling.
Heads up
You can buy this camera in either plug-in or battery-powered versions for the same price; make sure you know which one you want and are buying. The camera as-is offers no capability to record or share photos or videos; subscriptions to Ring Protect start at $3 a month or $30 a year.
Specs
- Camera dimensions: 2.36 x 2.36 x 3.82 inches
- Camera has: 1080p HD, Live View, night vision, 130° diagonal field of view
- Audio: Two-way talk with noise cancellation
- Requires high speed internet 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connection @ 2.4 GHz
- Power source: Ring Stick Up Cam battery or indoor/outdoor power adapter (each included with relevant version of camera)
- Mounting base: Integrated mounting base/stand with adjustable angle. Can sit freestanding or mount to a wall.
- Purchase includes: Stick Up Cam battery or indoor/outdoor power adapter, quick release battery pack (battery-powered camera version), micro USB charging cable (battery-powered camera version), user manual, security sticker, screws and wall anchors
- Warranty and service: 1-year limited warranty and service included
A nanny camera is a surveillance camera that allows you to see what is happening in your home with your children while you are not around. Whether you are trying out a new babysitter or working with a full-time caregiver, many parents opt to use a nanny camera as an extra security measure. Working parents also often like to be able to reassure themselves throughout the day that their children are happy and well.
How can I use a nanny camera ethically?
Is it legal to record inside your home? Yes. Is it ethical to record your caretaker without telling them about the camera upfront? Decidedly not.
Amanda Kapci, Founder and CEO of The Nanny Concierge states, "Everyone has them; there are cameras everywhere in today's world. It really shouldn't change how you function in the workplace. The greater majority of nannies are comfortable working around cameras, but out of respect, we ask families to disclose if cameras are in use and where they are placed. We do ask our families to be sure that there is a place in their home where there isn't a camera so nannies can have at least one place to take a private phone call, etc."
While cameras are helpful in allowing you to understand the dynamic between the caretaker and your child, recording without knowledge or consent is not ethical, leading to a breach of trust and subsequently a challenging relationship.
Kapci also says that "Cameras also act as a great safety net for both families and nannies, documenting things that happen throughout the day in case there is ever a discrepancy that needs to be cleared up."
Where do I put a nanny camera?
When using a nanny camera, be sure to place it in rooms where there's not an expectation of privacy. Think along the lines of living areas, playrooms, nurseries, kitchens, common household areas, rather than private rooms or bathrooms. And since parents should always inform caretakers that cameras are in the home, there isn't a need to hide them.
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