Did You Follow Baby Borrowers on NBC?

I love, scratch that, am addicted to reality TV. I’ve never missed a season of Big Brother. I jumped on board during the second seasons of Amazing Race and Survivor. Every season I say I’m not going to waste my time. Then its, “Well, I’ll just watch the first show to see what the twist is.” I don’t make any false statements at that point, I simply watch. It must be an illness yet I DO have a line and NBC has crossed it with Baby Borrowers.

Ok, so, I know I’m late to this slumber party but honestly, when I heard of Baby Borrowers a few months ago I was sure it would be cancelled before it aired. The premise was just too terrible. Apparently it’s been aired and is in fact nearing its conclusion.

Stephanie Brown: Stephanie Brown writes for About.comI started perusing the blogging world to see what people think and came across Stephanie's Babies & Toddlers Blog in which she stated that she thinks people are missing the bigger point. It seems that teenage pregnancy is a high priority to Stephanie as it should be to all of us. I’m not down playing the importance of our teenage pregnancy problem however I do not agree that the abuse of babies and toddlers is a good or appropriate way to get through to teenagers.

Let's look at teenagers for a moment here. I find it highly unlikely that teenagers around the nation have been rushing home to watch Baby Borrowers willingly allowing NBC to make a point. The risk to them is too great! They might have to walk away from the show and admit that adults do know something. How many teenagers do you personally know that have ever uttered the words, “You’re right”? They'd rather gag on poo!

NBC sees no problem with the show, only dollar signs through ratings. Would you really want to trust your children to be cared for by teenagers picked by a TV network presumably for entertainment? My understanding is that more tantrums came form the teenagers than the toddlers!

I know I'm overly attached to the issue. I find it personally disgusting and I'm simply appalled at the very existence of the show. I admit a lack of objectivity here so why don't you take a look at what the pros had to say.

"For the past 80 years, many studies have shown unequivocally that babies and toddlers suffer when they are exposed to this kind of prolonged separation from family and left with people that they do not know or love." This statement is from Zero To Three, a nonprofit organization devoted to the development and well being of babies and toddlers. They have been pursuing this goal for 30 years. This site was used as a frequent reference in a recent sociology of childhood course I took. I find their content valuable and trustworthy.

For those that would like a few more sources there is the APA, which issued this statement “The American Psychiatric Association deplores the use of babies and toddlers as props or experimental subjects for a television program. It is inappropriate and sometimes harmful to remove very young children from their families and familiar environments, and the level of harm may not be apparent on simple observation. Since the program is meant to reveal whether or not the ‘borrowers’ are competent to care for these children, at least some of the children will have been exposed to incompetent and confused caregivers, and to whatever problematic situations arose as the caregivers struggled with each other. We urge NBC never to repeat this misuse of children; not to allow reruns to air; and to use every means to discourage the use of episodes in parenting classes or other venues where they might well be shown.”

And a final word from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry who says, “Separating babies and toddlers from their parents for extended periods of time can lead children to feel distress and anxiety. After prolonged separation, a child can feel distrust for his or her primary caregiver. Separation can damage a healthy attachment and a child's sense of safety.”

Jamie felt I needed to see an episode to be objective but I’ve only been able to find episodes with the preteens and teens to replay online. The babies and toddlers are the ones in danger. I don’t disagree with Jamie but I’m thankful that I could not find an episode because it’s hard to see watching an episode as research rather than support. Jamie - The Voice of ReasonI don’t believe I need to watch an episode to know that the use of babies and toddlers in this series was reality TV at its cruelest yet. But you know what, they'll do it again and soon enough they'll do something worse because that's what the viewers want. I’m sad that the show went on but not surprised in the least.

So, tell me, did you watch the show? Do you know any teenagers that watched the show? Did you intentionally boycott the show? Did you even hear of the show? Tell me what you thought.