As a parent, your child’s well-being and safety are your top priorities, which is why a nanny cam is a useful tool to have at home to monitor your child and your nanny. But how much is a nanny cam that fits your needs, and what features do you need to consider?
How Much Is a Nanny Cam?
Since recording devices are becoming more accurate, more discreet, and more affordable each year, there is no shortage of nanny cams. How much is a nanny cam? You can have a nanny cam for as little as $30 up to the top-of-the-line models. While budget is one of the things that you consider when choosing the right nanny cam, you should also consider other factors such as the features, the complexity of the system, and even laws covering nanny cam use in your area!
If you’re stressing over how much does a nanny cam cost, you can make a DIY nanny cam by using an old smartphone and installing a video calling application such as Skype in both your phone and the old smartphone. However, keep in mind that using a Skype connection is not always secure, and the video and audio quality might not be up to par. What’s more, you’ll only monitor your child if the nanny answers your call.
Low-Budget Nanny Cams
Low-budget nanny cams roughly cost between $30 to $80. While $80 nanny cams offer better quality when it comes to audio and video than $30, they are still considered as “low-budget” because they won’t have the same features that high-end ones have.
Low-budget nanny cams are generally big and non-discrete, although you can find models that look like picture frames or stuffed animals. They have a fixed lens, which means that they will only be able to record one spot in your child’s bedroom or playroom. They also have a limited battery life.
Another significant disadvantage of using low-budget nanny cams is that many of them can’t record audio. Even models that can record audio will have choppy or garbled output.
Finally, many low-budget nanny cams cannot connect to the Wi-Fi and will only record the day’s events. You’ll need to buy a separate SD card to record video then use an SD card reader to check the recorded video.
High-End Nanny Cams
If you’re looking to invest in a high-end nanny cam, these can cost hundreds of dollars. However, most high-end nanny cams offer wireless connectivity, which allows you to monitor your home anytime remotely. Some models even feature cloud storage!
High-end nanny cams have significantly better audio and video, and most of them have moving lenses that allow you to adjust the lens’s focus. Some models even offer night vision so you can see what’s happening even in low-light environments. In terms of audio, high-end nanny cams record better audio, but they also offer two-way communication in case you need to talk with your nanny.
Some baby nanny cams offer motion detection and sound sensors that send alerts to your phone for those who want to invest in the safety and security of their child. What’s more, these cams are so small and discrete. You can hide them in books, toys, or other areas in your child’s room. These high-end nanny cams make monitoring both your child and your nanny easy and convenient.
Factors that Affect a Nanny Cam’s Price
Here are some of the factors that will affect how much is a nanny cam:
- The more well-known and reputable the brand of your nanny cam, the higher the price.
- Video quality – higher pixel resolutions mean a higher price tag.
- Wireless or self-recording – if the nanny cam has wireless recording capabilities, it will be more expensive.
- Size and discreteness – smaller cameras that are easy to hide are more expensive.
- Sound quality – as with video recording, nanny cams that can record clear and loud audio are more expensive.
- Storage capacities – nanny cams that can connect to cloud storage are more expensive than nanny cams that rely on external sd cards.
Are Nanny Cams Legal?
Before you buy a nanny cam, you need to consider the hidden camera laws in your state because states can have different laws. In all 50 states, you can legally set up video-only footage in your home using a hidden camera as long as it is not set up in a private space. This means that you will not be able to put a hidden camera in your nanny’s bedroom or bathrooms. However, 11 states require two-party consent for both video and audio footage in public and private spaces. This means that if you’re living in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Washington, or Hawaii, you need to consent to your nanny before setting up a nanny cam.
Even if you don’t live in any of these 11 states, you should consent to your nanny before setting up any nanny cam in your home. Get their consent both in audio and in writing so that you are legally protected. If you don’t get their consent and set up a nanny cam, you could be sued in court to violate your nanny’s privacy. Know more about Nanny Cams.
Conclusion
When it comes to getting the right nanny cam for you, it’s not only how much is a nanny cam. You need to find a nanny cam that fits your budget, but you also need to make sure that all the features you need to keep your child and your home safe are available in the nanny cam. Since you’re using it to protect your family and give you peace of mind, it might not be a bad idea to save a bit more money to buy a high-end nanny cam.