It is generally legal to install a video camera in your home to monitor a babysitter or nanny, and does not require the consent of the babysitter or nanny. But it is generally illegal to place such a camera in private places such as bathrooms or a live-in nanny’s bedroom. And in some states that require both parties to consent to the recording of a conversation, it is illegal to place a camera or other device in your home that records audio without the consent (preferably in writing) of your babysitter or nanny. These states that require two-way consent to record conversations (your consent and the babysitter or nanny’s consent) include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

In Minnesota, it is generally legal to install a video camera in your home for the purposes of monitoring a babysitter or nanny. This can be done without the consent of the person being recorded, as long as the camera is placed in common areas and not in private spaces where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms or a live-in nanny's bedroom. However, Minnesota is a one-party consent state when it comes to audio recordings, which means that you can legally record a conversation if you are a party to the conversation. If the camera also records audio, you must be part of the conversation being recorded or have the consent of at least one person involved in the conversation. It is illegal to record audio secretly without the consent of at least one party involved in the conversation. Therefore, if the camera records audio and you are not present or a participant in the conversation, you would need the consent of the babysitter or nanny to comply with Minnesota law.