No disrespect Mr. Brokaw (and collegues) but we have a few few thoughts for you involving your, let's say selective vocabulary.

What would happen if the media started to call Nanny Cameras by there rightful name...IP Network Cameras? The answer is quite simple. They would not sell the same amount of newspapers and they certainly would not be able to sell the same amount of ad space on all our major news outlets. It's an interesting thought though isn't it? Would people be purchasing more. Would the general public and consumers get it. Currently there is certainly a disconnect between 'nanny cam' and IP Network Camera and with their being such a disconnect one has to wonder if The Johnson family went to their local Home Depot and looked for a nanny cam on the end of the aisle guides what would they find? Nothing. Because the 'nanny cam' is a media hook...which is a good thing because it gets people interested and if people are not interested of course they are not going to buy. It's great right? I mean it works but I just wish they (media) could preface every instance of the word nanny cam with IP Network Camera? Just a thought actually not thoughts sorry guys.

IP Cameras protect your children

Ip camera or ip cameras can and will protect your children from over aggressive nannies and any kind of danger in general. Remember that security and surveillance are not always scary words, because i know a lot of you are afraid of these of these two terms but don't be.If you’re not familiar with a nanny camera, you’d be surprised to know that it is pretty much like any other security camera on the market. It records and relays moving images to a T.V. screen or computer so that you are able monitor the broadcasts in real time or save them for a later time. The major difference between an average security camera and a nanny camera is that nanny cameras are designed to be concealed. For this reason they are much smaller than normal security cameras. This means that you can easily mount a tiny nanny security camera behind a clock, in a child’s doll, behind furniture or just about in any location that you could imagine. The need for secrecy is necessary so that you can catch your nanny doing some appalling act against your children when you are away from the house.

A nanny camera is not limited to nanny surveillance either. You can always hide the camera to broadcast images to the outside of your home. For example, if you have a vandalism problem in your neighborhood and you don’t want to mount an unattractive surveillance camera on your home, you should consider a nanny security camera instead, as its tiny size will not ruin the façade of your home.

If you feel a little intimidated to go out and buy a nanny camera don’t be alarmed. In response to a rising demand there is a surprisingly wide selection of nanny cameras to choose from. In fact, choosing the right nanny camera is probably easier than finding the right nanny!

The Nanny Salary?

There are many variables that need to be considered when deciding a nanny's salary. Experience, Responsibilities, Number of children in the Family, Live in or Live out arrangements, area in which you live (cost of living for your nanny) and any benefits that you're offering your Nanny.

Experience is the most important aspect to consider. Bottom line, this is what you are paying for. The salary that you're considering should reflect the amount of experience the nanny has.

Your child(ren) are the #1 Responsibility of any Nanny you are considering to join your Family, but there may be other tasks that you may ask of the nanny. Grocery shopping, errands, laundry, housekeeping or cooking are just a few things it takes to run a household smoothly. The house and its everyday/week routines takes time, energy and organization and should be compensated. Also, does the nanny have experience in performing the tasks at hand and how well? That question can only be answered by talking to their references.

Number of children in the family also needs to be a factor. The Nanny's responsibility level is raised with the amount of children that she must look after and take care of.

Living arrangements for your nanny need to be addressed. Live out Nannies are generally paid more because you are not offering room, board, food and car as a benefit. Live in Nannies are paid less because you are offering them room/board and possibly a car.

Area in which you live plays a part. Just as in any other job the cost of living in the area reflects your salary.

Benefits that should be considered in the nanny's salary are health, vacation time, sick days, overtime, traveling and the use of a car.

Au Pair vs. Nanny?

Are you weighing au pairs vs. nannies to hire? It’s a good idea to get informed about both your options before you make your choice. Both types of childcare have pros and cons and it’s important to weigh your decision carefully to figure out what option works best for your family. Here are a few things to consider when you’re weighing an au pair vs. nanny.

What is a Au Pair? What is a Nanny?

• An au pair is a foreign young person who comes to the United States to work in exchange for housing under a prescribed set of guidelines and weekly stipend.
  
• A nanny is a broader term to refer to anyone a family employs to look after a child or children in the household.
  
• Nannies are typically residents of the United States.
  
• Nannies can be live-in or live-out, while all au pairs must be live-in childcare providers.
  
• Au pairs may or may not have prior childcare experience, so it’s important to check with the agency if a candidate has worked with children before.
  
• Nannies can provide full-time or part-time childcare for your family, depending on your needs.
  
• Au pairs typically provide up to 45 hours of childcare a week.
  
• Both au pairs and nannies can provide household upkeep services. If you’re working with an au pair agency, it’s important to find out exactly what services an au pair will provide. If you’re screening a nanny, you can discuss individual job duties with an applicant.
  
• If you’re looking for an au pair, you must find one through one of the approved U.S. Department of State agencies.
  
• If you’re hiring a nanny, you have a range of options. An online database, such as Nannies4Hire.com, word of mouth, nanny agencies, and job boards are all places you can find a nanny.
  
• Au pairs may speak little English causing a language barrier.
  
  

Nanny Cam catches 60 yr old beating up 5 month old

This just in from the YouTube posting.

"This is Cheryl White of Murrells Inlet from South Carolina. CNN said so far the baby seems OK. You know long term damage could be there. She KNEW what she was doing. And it's unforgivable. I hope they throw the book at her. You should never shake a baby, NEVER! And this LAZY, IGNORANT, HURTFUL, EVIL woman does it over and over again. Nobody forced her to babysit. Please if your going to lose your patience with kids any age...take a break, walk outside; never hurt a baby. Get help, call a friend."

For whatever reason this 60 year old thought it would be a good idea to beat up and shake around a 5 month old. It just ceases to amaze me how callus and ignorant people can actually be!.

1. Don't shake babies...they can and will break.

2. Don't shake a baby if the babies especially if the parents are attorneys.

3. Don't shake babies it will not make them 'be quiet.'

4. Shaking babies is bad for your health and the baby might not make it through it.





Coping with crying

By the fourth month of life, all babies, including colicky babies, cry a lot less. Long bouts of crying and crying that can't be soothed are rare by the time an infant is five months of age. In the meantime, here are some ideas about what you can do to soothe a baby: Changing Baby

Make baby as comfortable as possible, e.g., check temperature and diaper.

Provide gentle motion.

Provide soft music or other relaxing sounds, like a vacuum cleaner.

Feed baby slowly and burp often.

Things to keep in mind about infant crying:

Different ways of soothing may work at different times. A comforted baby doesn't always mean a quiet baby. Even if your attempts to soothe your baby don't stop your baby from crying, your baby is still benefiting from your attention. You are building your baby's trust in you. Keep in mind that sometimes a baby just has to cry—crying doesn't always mean that something is wrong.

When you have done everything you can to meet your baby's needs and your baby keeps crying, you may feel tired, alone, or frustrated. You might feel that you are not doing a good enough job or that your baby is purposely making things hard. It is normal to have strong feelings in response to inconsolable crying; however, you must never shake or otherwise harm a baby.

If at anytime you start feeling tense, frustrated or angry, remember:

* It is more important to stay calm than to stop the crying
* It's OK to ask for help
* Take a break, don't shake


It is more important to stay calm than to stop the crying

When you can't soothe your baby, remember that it is more important for you to stay calm than to stop the crying. Knowing how, and practicing ways, to keep yourself calm will help you through the challenging times now and in the future as your child or children grow up.

Different self-calming strategies work for different people. Here are some ideas that might work for you:

close your eyes and imagine you are somewhere relaxing and pleasant like a warm beach

read

listen to music

take a shower or bath

take a deep breath and slowly count to 10 or more. Don't think about the problem, just concentrate on your breathing, count and take the time to calm down.

do something that makes you laugh and/or smile

yell into a pillow

hit a punching bag or weight bag


It's OK to ask for help, in fact sometimes it is the best thing to do.

All parents and caregivers need help, and it is important for you to have a IT's OK To Ask for Helpsupport system in place. Have the phone numbers of people who can help when the crying is too much, such as:

* a neighbour, relative, or friend that can come over right away and help
* the baby's doctor or public health nurse

Take a break, don't shake

"Take a break, don't shake" is a strategy to help you and other caregivers cope with crying. When the crying is too much:

* Put the baby in a safe place, like the crib.
* Shut the door and take a 15 minute break in another area of your home. Use a timer to help you keep track of the time. Letting your baby cry for a few minutes will not hurt your baby.
* When you are feeling calm, you can try again to soothe your baby. If you don't feel like you can handle things, ask for help. Call someone.

The most common reason given by perpetrators for shaking a baby is that the baby wouldn't stop crying or fussing.

For more information about the dangers of shaking and Shaken Baby Syndrome, click here.
Parents, know you can trust your baby's other caregivers

Not only can crying be frustrating for parents, crying can be frustrating for the other people who look after your baby as well. So be sure your baby's caregiver knows:

* Babies cry for many reasons.
* Tips for soothing your baby.
* It is NEVER OK to shake a baby.

Ask other caregivers what they will do when the baby can't stop crying. Ask what they will do if they get frustrated or upset with the baby. Tell them that if something happens that they can't handle, it is OK to place the baby in the crib, leave the room and take a break.

Let them know who they can call for help, such as:

* the names of close-by neighbours
* the number where you can be reached - assure them that you will return immediately if they feel they are unable to calmly care for the child
* Health Link Alberta

Talk about crying and the dangers of shaking to every person who will look after your children. It can be hard to ask people if they might get frustrated with your baby, try using the When your BABY can't stop CRYING brochure and the Crying Plan as conversation starters. These will help you talk about infant crying and the importance of never shaking a baby with the other people who live with and/or look after your baby.

Try to remember that the period of increased crying will come to an end!
As a baby grows he or she becomes more settled. By the fourth month of life, all babies, including colicky babies, cry a lot less.