The online babysitting service Sittercity is now offering a video monitoring system you can use to covertly check on your babysitter or nanny from your computer or video-enabled phone. "See when they eat, how long they watch TV, how often the sitter checks in on sleeping children and everything in between," the ad says.

Sounds like that'll make for a relaxing evening out. "Sorry, honey, we won't be able to order the vanilla bean creme brulee with gooseberry sauce after all. I see Suzie has bamboozled Holly into letting her watch a second hour of Hannah Montana." (Although you can record the video to watch later, and have your creme brulee too.)

It reminds me of the days when my daughter was much smaller and attended Tide Point Day Care, which offered video monitoring. At first I was thrilled with this idea, and checked in constantly. Then it occurred to me that if I missed her that much, I should just bite the bullet and go get her. Or, I should get back to work.

Do you use video monitoring to check up on caregivers? Would you if you could?