All parents need a break from being Moms and Dads once in a while - which is why babysitters, nannies, and professional child caregivers are such a popular lot. More often than not, children get along well with their sitters, but every once in a while, there seems to be a problem. Parents come home to children "acting out," or other inappropriate behavior. This is when nanny cams - hidden cameras - come in as aids to record the actions of professional child caregivers, so that any wrongdoings can be addressed, or, in serious cases, turned over to authorities.

There are three distinct benefits to using special hidden cameras in your home to watch your child's caregiver:

• Easy concealment: Among the many choices of nanny cams, several models can be concealed easily in everyday household items, such as clocks, stereos, kitchen appliances, and books. These hidden cameras can show you what your professional caregivers are doing when you're not around to supervise.

• Remote viewing: If you use a new, digital camera with internet capabilities, you will be able to watch the camera from any computer or Smartphone. This means you can check the camera while you're out to dinner, at work, or any remote location with access.

• Email and Mobile alerts: Some models of nanny cams are capable of sending out email and text alerts to you when someone enters the room (motion detectors in the camera allow for this). That means you don't have to monitor it yourself and "guess" when the caregivers and children will be in a particular room.

While there are benefits to installing nanny cams in your home, there are two risks to consider:

• Privacy laws: Some states do not allow for recording of someone without their consent. It is important to find out what laws apply to you insofar as recording your sitters. Avoid a potential liability issue by consulting with an attorney or doing research on local laws pertaining to recording with or without consent.

• Impairment to recording: Due to concealment of nanny cams, those books, clocks, and other appliances can get knocked around or fall on the floor by accident, causing damage to the camera, or gaps in recording or quality of recording. It's important to place them in inconspicuous spots that will be out of harm's way.

There are several questions to ask and points to consider when setting up your hidden cameras:

• Where do the caregivers spend the most time with the children? If they move from room to room, it might be better to set up two or three cameras, whereas if they are mostly stationary, a single hidden nanny cam will do the job.

• What kinds of activities are you hoping to catch with nanny cams? The type of suspicions you have will affect where the cameras should go.

• What kind of camera will be best concealed in a room? A teddy bear nanny cam will not do well in a dining area, but is perfect for the child's bedroom. Choose a camera that is appropriate to the surroundings. A blender nanny cam doesn't belong in the living room - but it does just fine in the kitchen.

• Does your caregiver use your computer? If so, make sure that all related software to your nanny cams are in hidden folders labeled innocuously, and require a password to open.

Nanny cams are a good way to ensure your child's safety - just ensure you comply with local laws and set up appropriately.