A mother told Mumsnet she discovered a video from a nursery carol service showing her 14-month-old that had been posted online without consent. She said the nursery enforces a no-filming policy and that her message to the parent who posted the clip on Instagram appeared unread. The nursery can reportedly only request the clip be removed; forum users recommended raising a safeguarding complaint and reporting the post to the platform, while others warned the same risk could occur at a different setting.
Mother Considers Withdrawing 14-Month-Old After Nursery Carol Service Video Is Shared Online
GettyStock image of mother and child
A mother has told a parenting forum she is considering removing her 14-month-old daughter from nursery after discovering a video of a recent carol service that shows her child was recorded and posted online without the family's consent.
The mother posted on Mumsnet that her daughter, who began nursery in September, has been "thriving" there. She said she missed some of the nursery's Christmas events because of work and was stunned to find a clip of the carol service on social media in which her toddler was clearly visible.
GettyMother and child at the holidays (Stock image)
The family does not share photographs or the name of their child online, the poster added, and she said the nursery enforces a strict no-filming policy that staff reiterate before events.
After spotting the clip, the mother said she messaged the parent who posted it on Instagram asking for the video to be removed, but the message appeared unread. The nursery told her there is little they can do beyond asking the other parent to remove the footage the next time both children attend.
GettyKids at a Christmas event (stock photo)
"We do not share photos of my daughter online, we don’t even share her name online," the mother wrote. "I am absolutely livid that my child has been shared online without my consent… and now feel like the nursery cannot keep her safe."
Responses and Concerns
Replies on the forum were largely sympathetic but divided. Many users advised the mother to treat the incident as a potential safeguarding issue and to press the nursery for a formal response. Several suggested reporting the post to the social platform and asking for its removal, especially if the video could identify or endanger the child.
Others cautioned that the same privacy risks could arise at different nurseries or in other public settings. Commenters warned that removing the child might not eliminate the possibility of images or footage being taken elsewhere, and some criticised the mother's reaction as disproportionate.
Practical Steps Parents Can Consider
While decisions about childcare are personal, parents in similar situations often take steps such as:
- Raising a formal safeguarding complaint with the nursery and asking for written confirmation of actions taken.
- Requesting that the nursery remind families of the no-filming policy and enforce it more visibly at events.
- Contacting the social media platform to request the video be removed, citing privacy or safeguarding concerns.
- Discussing possible adjustments with nursery leaders, such as seating arrangements or a private area for children whose parents opt out of photos.
The episode highlights growing parental anxiety about online privacy and the limits of what childcare providers can control when other families attend public events.
