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 South Dakota, it is generally legal to install video cameras in your own home for the purposes of monitoring a babysitter or nanny. This does not require the consent of the person being recorded, as long as the recording is video only and does not capture audio. However, it is illegal to place cameras in private areas such as bathrooms or a live-in nanny's bedroom, where there is an expectation of privacy. South Dakota is not a two-party consent state for audio recordings, which means that audio recording devices can legally be used without the consent of all parties being recorded. However, it is always recommended to inform any babysitter or nanny of the presence of recording devices, both video and audio, to avoid any potential legal issues or violations of privacy.