No one has ever said that television has been a beacon for good parenting. Just look at The Simpsons, Married With Children, or Arrested Development.
Most bad examples of parenting on television are written that way--after all, dysfunctional families are much more interesting--but NBC's new reality show The Baby Borrowers is simply bad parenting and must be stopped, according to one watchdog group.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)--which focuses on exactly what you think it does--is calling for the show's cancellation. According to the group, the show can damage the frail psyche of children and encourage others to accidentally do the same.
Considering The Baby Borrowers' eyebrow-raising premise, it's surprising that it took this long for public outcry (the relatively tame Kid Nation, on the other hand, had a bull's-eye on its back before it even aired). The show--or as NBC likes to call it, "social experiment"--sees teenage couples taking care of children in various stages of development, including babies, toddlers, teens, and just for good measure, the elderly. These "babies" are donated by willing parents who for some reason don't mind letting a pair of kids take care of their spawn for a few days.
Last week, the AACAP issued a press release accusing The Baby Borrowers of endangering the welfare of those involved.
"A child's sense of security should not be gambled with," said AACAP president Robert Hendren. "A more constructive approach would have had the teenagers shadow a family of a toddler or baby, keeping parents close."
The group explains that separating children from primary caregivers and putting them in the hands of strangers, even for short periods of time, can be psychologically damaging to the young ones. The AACAP also fears that the "baby borrowing" could be imitated by viewers without supervision, resulting in children with heightened separation anxiety, which could lead to mental illness.
In NBC's defense, the network has assured that the children's safety was a top concern of the production. NBC has also stated that the purpose of the show is to educate teenagers on all of the responsibilities that go into raising a child.
Requests for comment from NBC were not answered as of press time.
Won't someone think of the children?!
Ok first of all im appauled that anyone would think of canceling this show. Baby Borrowers AND Kid Nation were my favorite shows to watch. I would look forward to watch it every week. i really think that its ridiculous because if they want to cancel shows, why dont they concel some of the real crap that is on tv these days(hannah montana. hink hink). i personaly we be upset that this show would be cancelled
This is absolutely ridiculous! This show is incredible! If we can prevent a few unwanted pregnancies by showing teens they are not ready for parenthood I say go for it. They parents are nearby. It's not that they are out on vacation while the children are away. Get a grip. If they are worried about the psychological aspects of children why don't they focus on some of the t.v. shows that are on during prime time showing violence, sex and fowl language!
I'm __ That's Because I watch this show.But the show stopping at Season 1 Episode 6
they just need to find someone else to bother i am a teenage mother i graduated from high school married and going to college and age DOES NOT define how good a parent you are because i no alot of people older than me doing a way worse job than me. maybe if i would have went on the show i wouldnt have my daughter but then again i would change it for the world. to be honest most the girls i graduated with had or are having kids now so.......
I agree with most of the posts. The children were probably better supervised while filming the show than they are in there own homes. The teens, while not always capable, were consistently attempting to calm the children and were interacting with them on a constant basis. You don't get that when you leave them with a sitter! If they cry, the sitter may just put them in their bed and walk away and you would never know. These teens at least made an attempt to comfort the child or to find out the problem and seek a solution. The parents were on the spot and could intervene at any time, and did when necessary. I love the show and hope people realize the children were in good hands with capable nannies, parents, cast and crew available for any little hiccup!moreless
The way i think of it is that its like taking ur child to day care or what ever. And it makes no since at all to take it off the air if it has already been shot they mine as well show it. Besides i like it and want to see the rest of it!!!!
so... where's Paris:P??? *women's "feeding" baby*
Paris: That's hot.
Oh come on i don't think there is a show that someone doesn't complain about...My wife and I watch the show and we love it and we have a 11month old daughter...plus the kids aren't even with them enough to any damage and there watched by not only the parents but trained nannies so i think tha AACAP needs to get there heads outta there asses and worry about parents and kids that actually need help
I work with children who are classified as severely emotionally disturbed, and do not entirely see why the AACAP is so against this show. Firstly, the episodes have been created already, so the so-called social experiment has been completed. The other side of that is that the children were in no way harmed because NBC took every precaution for these children. At any time the parents (who were able to watch 24/7) were allowed to walk across the street and intervene. In fact many of them do without any hesitation. Additionally, there is a professional nanny shadowing the couples which ensures immediate safety. I don't believe that a child is going to be damaged based on 3 days with someone else. In fact, it is good for children to be comfortable without their parents, as long as they can understand that their parent(s) will, in fact, return. If a child is only raised by a parent, the parents will never be able to leave. Everyone deserves a break, and in this case the break came packaged with some life experience for the younger generation.moreless
Woo! Free babysitters!
Just when I thought that made every possible Reality show in the universe...SMH
i watched this how and it looked o.k. i mean yeah some of the stuff looks pretty harsh, but it teaches a lot! if the parents on that show submitted to giving their child up, well that was their decision! the show would of never happened if the parents didn't say yes! and besides the parents were watching their every move and if something didn't feel right or they were doing xomething wrong, the parents stepped in and took charge and told them what's wrong and how to do it! it is a little weird, but watev i was watching it and it looked pretty funny at times becuase they had to deal with toddlers, then teens! i mean come on that is a little funny! idk i really don't caremoreless
I watch this show except it's in Britain since I live there. No one in Britain has so far complained about it. I think it's a tad little bit stupid to be complaining about teenagers watching babies considering people are paying teenagers to watch their children anyway almost everyday. I thought the Idea of the show was to put teenagers off having children and growing up to quick and that's what I get out of it everytime I watch it. Well the American version may be different but I don't see how.
i don't think teenagers would watch the show anyway
Wow this is about the stupidest, most illogical complaint I have ever seen. The babies were being filmed the whole time, with a huge crew present, and as others have said, professional nannies, etc. This is the most...for crying out loud, parents go away sometimes, and they have to leave their kids with sitters. How is this *any* different? I left my daughter with my mother and grandmother for four days when I attended a wedding and she's perfectly fine. Heck, just two weeks after she was born I was away from her for longer than that because I had to have my gall bladder out. And no camera crew was shadowing the people watching my child.It's not good enough for the kids to simply shadow a family with small children. You actually have to live it. The problem with this show, if anything, is that it's still not a realistic enough taste of life with a baby. At the end, you *know* you get to go home. With a real child, you don't get that option. It was still playing house. I admit I missed the beginning of the show, but did they even cover the responsibilities of the financial means required to adequately raise a child? It's not just about being able to provide physical care and love. So that, in a way, is why I feel this was a rather pointless show. It gives at best a 1/2 accurate picture of what having a baby is like.moreless
Another low for the people on this planet... how far will we go?
Apart from watching MTV's The Real World in the early '90's, I had not tuned into any other reality television since it really became popular about 5 years ago. The Baby Borrowers is the FIRST show of its kind that I have watched, and I actually like it. The children that the teens take care of are shadowed by a professional nanny and medical staff, and parents have 24/7 access to what's going on via video feed, several houses down. The parents are also able to go over and intervene at any time they feel appropriate. Despite the AACAP's concerns, I hardly believe that 3 days away from their parents are going to cause psychological damage to the children. I think this is a show that parents and teens should watch together, as it is an excellent demonstration of the everyday challenges that young parents have to face. The viewing experience may cause some otherwise-would-be teen parents to make better decisions about sexual responsibility and family planning.moreless
Who came up with this idea???? And why?
Because the ones that SHOULD be watching this won't because it's not on BET, MTV or VH1.
And they using teens? Sorry America if you really wanted to send a message use 12 year olds. Since so many school districts are now dealing with kids that young with babies and while you are at go get the couples that are overaged. You know the 12 year old girl with the 30 year old boyfriend that nobody has issues with.
Okay whats so horrible about this show? Honestly children are more resilient then people think. What do you think the odds are that a child would be severely damaged by spending three days away from there parents? My parents did it to me and I can think of several of my friends who had it happen to them too. Kids aren't made out of glass, why doesn't the AACAP spend its time helping kids who need it rather than attacking a show that shows teenagers what its actually like to have a baby? And as far as the people who say "watch your parents" that only works if your parents have another kid when your over say ten or so. Otherwise how would the kid know what it's like to take care of one?moreless
First of all i love reality shows and second of all i really like this one. I mean the rate of teenagers that get pregnant because they think they are ready for children is extremely high and if this show is on maybe, just maybe, they will realize maybe they are not quite ready for adulthood yet.
I don't watch reality shows! and I am horrified with the concept of this show. It should be cancelled immediately and replaced with a good Drama or SciFi show... But, on the other hand, I have entrusted my spawn to sitters and I am pretty sure they were all here, safe and sound, when I came home.
LOL!
Messing with kids that young, however supervised they be, is messed up.
From the show on the BBC it didn't look like the kids were in danger but attachment theory says otherwise
I've never seen the show, but I'm betting there were more eyes on those kids at all times then there ever was with just the parents... No way the insurance companies and lawyers would allow something truly bad to happen unsupervised. As for the serparation thing.... People work! People go on vacation! Babysitters, nanies, daycare, grandparents, etc... I was left with people other than my parents a lot and I only kill 3-5 people a week! lol
AACAP needs to find something else to do. Help some children in real need. The parents are down the street watching the children all day. They can visit when they want and there's a nanny there to make sure the child isn't in any immediate danger. These teenagers really needed this reality check. I really don't see the harm.
i agrre what is the difference between a babysitter or daycare and this show how dumb can they be
Just because this show may have borrowed the idea from a british show doesn't make the idea any better. The whole thing is horrible as far as I'm concerned, and whoever gave this show a green light should have known better. It sends the wrong message. If kids want to know all aspects of child care, let them watch their own parents and see how much they've had to put up with. This show and that wife swap one are both absolutely horrible ideas that never should have been allowed to be turned into shows.
How stupid can these people be???? Hasnt any of them ever gotten a babysitter or daycare? Damage to the well being ya right stupid stupid stupid. Does anyone really believe the TV station would allow that to happen and risk having their pants sued off? And I havent even watched the show dont care to but all this hype is ridiculous unless of course its purely for ratings.
While I think the parents who let their babies take part in this social experiment are CRAZY, I don't think the children are in any danger. I kind of like this show. It's a good concept.
The premise is good, the delivery needs to be worked on. In light of all the teenage pregnancies lately, at least this is getting them to be responsible and see what having a child is like.
yip another rip off of a british show. I loved it in fact this girl on the baby borrowers on holiday was in my college :P it was really good and they didn't kill the babies did they so they are in no danger
ya i saw the british version of this show and it was pretty terrible but the kids are in no danger. Children are left with nannys and in day care all the time and that doesnt lead to "heightened separation anxiety which could lead to mental illness."!
Ordinarily I think stuff like this is overreacting, but this show seems like a terrible, terrible idea anyway, and might actually be endangering the children.
This is yet another rip off of a British show. :|