What is a nanny camera?
A nanny camera (often called a nanny cam) is a small indoor camera, usually disguised as an everyday object. Parents use them to check that children are safe and settled, see how the day is going while they're at work, and keep an eye on the house when it's empty. The disguise is practical as well as discreet. A camera that looks like a clock or a charger suits your décor, and it's less likely to be knocked over by a toddler or spotted by a burglar. Hidden doesn't have to mean secret. You can still tell your nanny the camera is there.
Choosing a nanny cam by room
Nursery or child's bedroom: a night vision clock camera or the 4K night light camera sits naturally on a shelf or chest of drawers and lets you check on sleep in the dark. A smoke detector camera on the ceiling gives a wide view of the room and is well out of small hands' reach.
Living room or playroom: a USB charger camera, Bluetooth speaker or wireless charger stand blends in near sockets and on side tables. For the widest view of a busy room, the Micro Wi-Fi camera has a 170° lens and the wireless charger camera has a 250° rotating lens.
Hallway: a picture frame, wall clock or coat hook camera covers comings and goings at the front door.
A camera in a bedroom should only ever be in your own room or your child's nursery. It should never be in a room where someone else sleeps or gets changed, such as a live-in nanny's room or a guest room.
Wi-Fi or No Wi-Fi?
Wi-Fi nanny cameras connect to your home network, so you can watch live, get motion alerts and play back clips from your phone wherever you are. Check each product page for the Wi-Fi band it needs, as many use 2.4GHz. No Wi-Fi cameras record straight to a micro SD card and you watch the footage afterwards. They suit homes with patchy Wi-Fi, or people who'd rather keep footage off the internet.
Features that matter
- Night vision: look for "Night Vision" in the product name if you want to check a sleeping baby or a dark room.
- Motion detection: records only when something moves, so you can find the moments that matter quickly and your card lasts longer.
- Loop recording: overwrites the oldest footage when the card is full, so recording never stops.
- Audio: some models record sound or offer two-way audio, letting you speak through the camera. Sound is more intrusive than video, so only use it if you need it (see below).
Using a nanny camera responsibly in the UK
Owning a nanny camera is legal, and you can use one to look after your own home and children. If someone works in your home, though, there are rules about how you use it.
- Tell your nanny. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has said that regularly recording a nanny is likely to be covered by UK data protection law. That means telling them about the camera, why it's there, and that they can ask to see footage of themselves. Putting this in the nanny's contract or agreement keeps things clear for everyone.
- Keep covert recording for serious concerns. Recording someone without telling them should only ever be a last resort, used for a specific, serious worry about your child's safety and for as short a time as possible.
- Never record private spaces. Don't put cameras in bathrooms or anywhere people undress. Secretly recording someone in a private place can be a criminal offence.
- Think twice about sound. Recording conversations is more intrusive than video. Switch audio off if the camera and app allow it, unless you have a good reason to keep it on.
- Keep footage secure. Set a strong app password, keep what you need and delete the rest.
This is general information, not legal advice. For the detail, read our UK covert recording law guide.
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