Baby Security

When my daughter was first born, it was like life from another dimension kicked in.

No more sleeping all night uninterrupted, no more blissful naps, not to mention my entire body hurt in places I'd never dreamed could hurt that badly!
But, as we settled into a routine, I became the attentive, worry-wart, typical first time mother. I boiled the pacifier, I ate when I wasn't hungry just to make enough milk. I folded every burp rag after washing them in hot water.
And when I wasn't running in 50 different directions trying to take care of a newborn as well as my other typical chores, there was this little creature sleeping in the next room. I wore more holes in the carpet because I had one of those audio baby monitors. Every gurgle, sigh, or rustle, and I was in that room making sure my baby was still breathing and her airways weren't blocked. Since she was a very light sleeper who had her days and nights mixed up, I did everything I could to verify her breathing...short of touching her. This involved much squatting to see her chest at eye level and make sure it was moving. Sometimes she was in such a deep sleep I would have to try to feel the air coming out of her mouth or nose...this wasn't quite as easy as it sounds! She could get in the darndest positions with her face turned away from me, so at times I was nearly standing on my head leaning inside her crib to get a better look in the dark. Laugh all you want...you know you did the same thing with your first! And you newly-weds and moms-to-be...just wait!

What I would have given for a video baby monitor! Of course, I probably wouldn't have lost that weight quite as quickly if I hadn't been running to the nursery every 10 minutes!

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More on spying

You know, I'm not usually a cynical person, but in this day and age where everyone is out for themselves, a proactive step towards protecting your loved ones and property seems called for.
Do you really think a prospective nanny would put a bad reference on her resume'?
Could some of these "glowing" references be her friends she's asking to lie for her?

What is she really doing all day with your child? You'd like to picture someone reading stories to your child, playing on the floor, and lovingly caring for him/her, right?
What if, in reality, something far different is happening?
Now, I'm not trying to scare you, just pointing out that our greatest investment is our children! They are the greatest gift we will ever be given. Don't you think it would be a good idea to know what is happening to them while you're away before it's too late?

What about Nannies?

So what about your house? Should you have a hidden camera in your home?
There is a great deal of controversy over this subject. Is it an invasion of privacy, is it legal, is audio allowed?
For some it may be different than others. If you are a new mother leaving your newborn with a nanny for the first time, I say more power to you! As much as I would miss that baby, it would make my day so much easier to be able to "see" him/her and make sure he/she's happy throughout the day. And maybe you do need to check in on that new nanny! So that nanny has glowing references and seems great with the kids while you're there. What about when you're away? Does she talk on the phone constantly or watch TV while neglecting your child? These are not minor things, in my opinion and should be addressed. What if there are questionable people stopping by your house to see her? What do they do in front of your baby, toddler, preschooler? Of course, you should use your own good judgement on this one, but can you really afford to have someone watching your child that doesn't have their best interests at heart?
More on the legal side....