Trax Play: Live GPS Tracking Device For Children With Nannies

​Hiring a nanny or babysitter to care for and protect your children while you are away can be unnerving for any parent whether you have an infant or school aged child. While there are many steps you can take to ensure you hire a quality caregiver, parents often wish there were more ways to monitor their child’s well being throughout the day.  Is your nanny doing what she says she is? While outside are they going where she says they are? Is your child’s best interest at the forefront of their caregiver’s mind?

While the end goal is to trust your nanny- trust is something that should not be given freely but rather is something that grows over time, with relationship and a history of reliable behavior.  Nanny cameras are a great tool to check in on your child while in the home but how can parents know what is happening once they leave the house?

​This is why I recommend Trax Play! Trax Play is live tracking device that allows parents to follow their children on their smart phone using a personal GPS system. This small GPS locates your child while outdoors and can pin points where they are on the map. It can be placed in your diaper bag, stroller, back pack or attached to your child’s belt loop using the included water resistant clips. Using the free app on your smart phone, you can follow the path of the device in real time or you can see the history of where your tracker has been.  This technology is affordable at just $99 plus the small cost of a data package that works in 33 countries. You can share the app with multiple users- mom, dad, grandparents, nanny- and have multiple tracking devices paired to the same account. 

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​The user can set multiple geographic fences that will send an alert if your child leaves the perimeters. It also comes with the option to set a schedule to monitor specific areas on certain days. 

​You also have the ability to set a speed alert so you can receive notifications if the device goes over the mph limit that you have set. The speed alert is a great safe guard if you have clearly stated to your nanny that the only mode of transportation should be walking or if you have a nanny that needs to drive to ensure she is not doing so at excessive speeds with your children in the vehicle.

 Another great feature is the augmented reality that allows you to use your phone’s camera to search around the area. When pointed in the direction of device, the distance tracker will pop up on the screen and tell you how far away you are from your child. This feature can come in handy in a crowded area such as Disney World or if you simply want to pop in occasionally to surprise your nanny while they are out at the playground to ensure you are comfortable with her level of attentiveness. 

When I first began testing the Trax Play, I was concerned about the accuracy of the GPS in the NYC metro area with large buildings and subways. However I have tracked my own steps/path for almost 2 months in Manhattan, Hoboken, NJ, driving throughout the Tri-state as well as in rural areas of Pennsylvania and it has proven to be very reliable.

I was also afraid that I would be annoyed with another device to charge each day but found the battery life to last more than a day as long as I was not constantly on the go. The website suggests 7-8hours of battery life while constantly moving but I find that most days I am home for a few hours at a time for naps, meals, and in home play similar to what a nanny would or should be doing with a child most days. The app will tell you by percentage how much battery life you have left and send you a notification when the battery gets critically low. 

All in all, I highly recommend purchasing the Trax Play when hiring a new nanny! It is such a smart and easy to use gadget!  My 9 month old baby boy is currently outside with his babysitter whom I have a trusted relationship with but yet I still love tracking them to see what park they are at and imagining what they are up to in between the pictures she sends! Call me neurotic but I also like knowing his exact location just in case!  He is currently .77 miles away from me and I know I can run there is just a few minutes if the babysitter or he ever had a problem! Trax Play gives me peace of mind! 

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