Due to the many incidences of child abuse perpetrated by the nanny, it is important to set up steps to ensure that your child is safe. Some of these steps include;
- Establish a good relationship with your neighbours; they will be more open to sharing with you if they have a concern.
- Drop by unexpectedly and check-in.
- Check and see if your TV is warm especially if your instructions are for it to be kept off.
- If you see something suspicious or are curious about something, question your nanny and discuss your concerns together.
- Set up a nanny cam – This is a hidden video camera that has been secretly installed within a common household object and is usually used to secretly monitor and record the activities of home caregivers, such as nannies, hence the name. However, there are several factors to consider, these are:
- Cost – Buy a good quality one that will record and relay information where necessary e.g. via internet
- Decide if you will inform the nanny that there is a nanny cam, this might act as a deterrent to the bad behaviour but do not disclose the position of the nanny cam.
- You can keep it secret from her and only use the recorded clips as evidence of your concerns
- If your child can speak, ask him/her direct questions about how the day was, if your child appears fearful or wary about being questioned then you can know that something is amiss.
- Have specific instructions with the other security people e.g. security guards where you live for example not allowing the child out of the compound unless by your specific instructions.
Signs of child abuse
Indicators of child abuse may include:
- A baby constantly ‘looking’ like they have been crying for a long time, heaving etc
- The child does not want to be left with the caregiver and becomes unusually clingy
- Your child may have injuries for which there is no explanation, or the explanation does not fit with the injuries, or the story keeps changing
- Injuries that look like they may have been caused by an object (e.g. hand, stick, slippers)
- Any injury to an infant who is not yet mobile, especially head/facial injuries
- Has bruising in unusual places such as ears, trunk, neck or buttocks
- Sudden onset of unusual aggression, rages or tantrums
- Your baby starts flinching when touched
- If your toddler has acquired new vocabularies like “chapa” meaning I will beat you or ‘jinga’ meaning stupid etc
- Any bleeding or unusual discharge in the genital or anal area
- If your toddler starts engaging in age-inappropriate sexual play or exhibits age-inappropriate sexual knowledge through play or talking.
- Starts to insert objects into vagina or rectum
- Has unexplained developmental setbacks (e.g. was toilet trained but reverts back)
- Suddenly starts bedwetting and/or frequent diarrhoea, and frequent psychosomatic complaints, headaches, nausea, abdominal pain
- He becomes reluctant to play or fearful when something or an area becomes dirty
- Seems to fear consequences of actions, often leading to lying
- Is overly compliant with the nanny but is their usual self with you
- Has extreme attention-seeking behaviour when you are around
- Sustains injuries resulting from a lack of supervision
