Nanny Cameras
How to choose a nanny camera
Live viewing is the feature that matters
Recording to a card tells you what happened yesterday; a WiFi model tells you what is happening right now, and sends an alert the moment it detects movement. For a parent checking on a child, a family checking on an older relative, or a home with a carer coming and going, that is the whole reason for buying one. Mains power is worth prioritising, since it runs every day.
Where it should go, and where it should not
A clock or charger sits naturally on a shelf at the right height for a living room; a smoke detector camera covers the widest area from the ceiling. Living areas, the kitchen, the hallway, a play space. Not bathrooms, not bedrooms a carer might use, and with a carer in the house, switch audio off while you are out: recording private conversations you are not part of is generally not allowed.
Compare the objects
 Desk clock |  Charging dock |  Smoke detector |  Plush toy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Mains | Mains | Mains or battery | Battery or USB |
| Sits where | Shelf, side table | Bench, desk | Ceiling | A playroom or play area |
| View | Living room from table height | Room from bench height | Whole room from above | Play area at floor height |
| Live view | WiFi | WiFi | WiFi | WiFi |
Buying guides
Hidden Camera Buying Guide AustraliaThe object decides everything
WiFi Security Camera Buying Guide AustraliaWhether your signal reaches
Counter-Surveillance Buying Guide AustraliaHow to find hidden cameras, bugs and trackers
Related
Hidden Cameras WiFi Security Cameras Mini Spy Cameras Spy Cameras Alarm Systems
Common questions
Do I need WiFi at the house?
For live viewing and alerts, yes. Without WiFi the camera still records to a memory card for later review.
Can more than one person watch?
Most WiFi camera apps let you add a second phone, so a partner or another family member gets the same alerts. The listing says which app the camera uses.
Will it record at night?
Models with infrared see a dark room without lighting it up. The listing gives the range.
Is it legal to use a nanny camera in Australia? Australian law
In your own home, to keep an eye on your children and your property, yes, with limits. Surveillance devices laws differ by state and territory: filming people where they expect privacy, such as a bathroom or a room a carer changes in, is not allowed, and recording private conversations you are not part of is generally not allowed either, so switch the microphone off while you are out. A nanny or carer is an employee, so tell them cameras are in use; workplace surveillance rules in some states and territories require it.