HowsMyNanny.com: Honest Solution to a Tough Problem

Any mother (or father) who has ever had to hire a babysitter or nanny and head out the door knows how hard it is to be comfortable with what's happening while you're gone. It can be a heart wrenching experience.

In the past some of the high tech solutions like nanny-cams have felt (and truly are) tantamount to spying. In contrast, HowsMyNanny.com takes a much more "it takes a village" tack.

The idea is pretty simple. You register your stroller with the HowsMyNanny web site ($50 a year). You get a uniquely numbered license plate to hang on the stroller. Then, when the nanny is out and about, good Samaritans everywhere will be able to report on the nanny's behavior.

Unlike other sites that share these reports (sometimes unfounded and sometimes malicious) with the world at large, HowsMyNanny.com shares the report with the parent only. Then it's up to the parent to decide what to do with that information.

HowsMyNanny.com was founded by a mom, Jill Starishevsky, who happens to be an attorney with a background in prosecuting sex crimes and child abuse. Although based in New York, she says the service is worldwide and they have an affiliate in London. Starishevsky also made a point of telling me that she hopes the service publicizes the great things nannies are seen doing, along with the troubles.

Something about the name "HowsMyNanny" feels a bit aggressive and hostile to me. In theory, the service extends to anyone pushing the stroller, so why pick on nannies? Despite the name (hey, it got me to write about it), the program has the makings of one of the fairest solutions I've heard on how get some feedback on the quality of your childcare while you're gone.