The Baby Borrowers On BBC Heavily Criticised By Kidscape
The BBC’s newest reality Tv show, The Baby Borrowers has been heavily criticised by child protection charity Kidscape as taking reality TV a step too far.
The eight part series puts teenagers on the spot by allowing them to take full responsibility for the welfare of a child. It is reported that one child was left without food for a full day, while another had to be removed from its teenage carers.
Dr Michele Elliot, founder and director of Kidscape, said: “It’s sick to think that the BBC would commission such a show. Is this really what they should be spending licence payers’ money on?
“I’m also appalled that the parents let their children be used in this way. Someone’s got to make a stand and say this is a reality show too far.”
A BBC spokesman responded to the criticism, saying: “The safety of children is of paramount importance. Hence, extraordinary steps were taken, including psychological screening, criminal record checks, the use of 24/7 CCTV cameras and employing only trained childcare professionals.”
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Baby Borrowers- What a fantastic Idea. As a 40 something grandfather I would have loved to have shown my daughter what her life was going to be with a baby at 17. Whatever I told her- “old head on young shoulders would not work” so how great is it that she could have seen her peers in the situation she now has. If this programme would have been on a year ago I would have glued her onto a chair to watch it.
As far as I understand the teenagers had antenatal classes, trained childminders and healthcare help, and the consent of the “real” parents- what more could the BBC do!
I really think the BBC should be congratulated for their foresight in tackling this massive problem that we seem to lead the world on. I agree, if this programme makes one teenager think about the roads they face, then great. Dirty nappies and sleepless nights are not all they are cracked up to be!
Well put Bob. I had my first child when I was 25 and married and even then it was a huge shock to me. I can only imagine how hard it must be for a teenager. If handled right I think schemes like this are a good idea in theory. Time will tell how the BBC handled it, we will see when the show airs.
I’m 18 and agree with this programme totally!
My cousin had a baby at 17 and has found out the hard way what it is like to have sleepless nights, no social life, and no money to spend on herself.
If only she had seen something like baby borrowers beforehand, she may be in a totally different situation now.
I know what I was like with the electronic baby which I was sent home from school with at age 16 – I love children but it made me realise that I am in no way ready for one now!
Seeing the first episode, it is obvious that the babies are in no immediate risk, as the parents can retrieve their babies at any time, and there are nannies watching in the houses all the time.
Well done to the BBC for thinking of something so entertaining and hopeful will be very useful.
the idea of the show is great my cousin had her first child when she was just 15 herself it may be that after watching the show more younger people will realise that having a child is a responsibility and not a fad just because their friends have one. i totally agree with the show i am 22 years of age and me and my partener were going to try for a baby but for now we have each other hope you do a second series would like to try before jumping in the deep end good luck with the show x x x x
What shocks me most about this programme is that although the parents agreed to it, the babies had no choice!
The parent’s anxieties at the separation were managed by 24 hour video stream and a nanny on site, but what about the babies’ anxieties. At 6 months to 1 year, children are very attached to their main caregivers and separation from them could cause great distress and confusion.
I understand that there needs to be a drive to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies, but this is not the right way.
And for those of you who say I’m not qualified to make these comments, I am a consultant clinical psychologist specialising in early attachment!
i think that baby borrowers are fantastic and i want to go on it, but i dont no how to apply for it, if any1 knows can you help me.
The problem with this programme is that borrowing from someone is simply not your own.
There are generations of young girls who get pregnant at a young age whose mum did the same thing.
I have old school friends who were grandparents in their early thirties,as their own mums were. So even when they as Kids saw how hard it was for their mums or parents at a young age, they still followed suit.
Most people in this world will not listen to anyone and want to make their own mistakes, they dont want to listen to anyone else.
This concept of borrowing babies comes from a lot of USA chat shows and the USA has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the western world .
I think the psychologist on sally jessel stated that 80% of USA teen girls will have a baby in 5 years time.
Britain has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in western europe. Borrowing babies false or real is not going to help any teens planning to get pregnant as they know if they do, they will be able to cope somehow (mum will intervene, social services help etc), like the thousands and thousands of teenage girls who have done before them.
There are generations of families I know that were never raised by their mums, cos they were too young to cope and these children were raised by their grandparents, who didnt want to see their grandchild to suffer and the cycle has gone on.
The real problem is not borrowing babies it is convincing teens that their own child will not have a great start to life if they are growing up as the same time as their parents.
I have seen so many times young parents saying to their disgruntled and confused children years later.
” I didnt know how to bring you up as I was only a child myself”.
So perhaps the focus should be on the quality of life for these babies teens want to have as opposed to saying to them “you cant go out and party and you will be kept up at night”.
Frankly grandparents, aunties and friends can always baby sit, so that approach is not a deterent.
Children of teen parents being caught in an endless poverty trap might be a bigger incentive for them not to have kids until they can establish themselves as responsible adults.
Why not take teens to a poor estate with crap housing , crap schools, drugs and prostitution all around, get them filling out forms for income support and make them look at housing waiting lists. Tell them this is what is on offer to you and your kids. Take potential teen parents to children homes and foster homes and get them to speak to kids of their own age whose parents couldnt cope with them cos they were too young and messed up. Give Them a REAL REALITY. Borrowing babies is ridiculous for the baby and teen and is not a harsh enough reality.
However if the teen is rich none of that would apply.
hi i really like watching the baby borrowers and i would love the chance to be on it. i see lots a teen programmes being advirtised but i dnt see a way to apply for them i was just wondering how i could get to know about up and comming shows so that i could apply. if anyone can give me some suggestions i would be greatful
Hi,
Im 23 years of age and I have a nephew, I look after him as often as I can but being that he is the only baby in our family, everybody wants to be with him and that tends to lessen the burden when babysitting. I saw this show on BBC3 an must admit. A long list of people I know that should have seen that show years ago.
I think what the BBC have done with this show is absolutely FANTASTIC! The shock is what gets people interested and that alone will keep some poeple watching long enough to learn something. If you ask me, they should have done this show years ago. Life is hard and relationships are tough, but having a child is a gift. It should be taken seriously.
And that is my take on it! Go BBC!!!
Hi, im 16 and i loved dat program! i think its very educational for teenagers planning to have children. I would love to go on it and show them how its done but i dont know how 2 apply for it. help me…
[...] moves comes in response to a huge amount of complaints about shows such as the BBC’s Baby Borrowers, in which babies were left in the care of inexperienced [...]
I think the show is great and i want to apply for the next series. I dont want them yet but i wana prove that not all teenagers/young adults are unable to look after babies, toddlers etc
How stupid can some of you be !!! I love the program and yeah if it does deter just one of thoes couples from having a baby so early then do it !!!! They maybe only teens but age does not matter its wether they can cope. At just turnt 18 myself, alot of you whom wrote bad comments about the show i hope you are willing to give up your job when you have a baby as i am a qualified level nursery nurse who is responsible for 3 (ratio) babies everyday from 8-6, and im 18. I think alot of you need to remember that nearrly all these babies are put into a nursery from birth and some are there 10 hours a day ! So before sharing you opinion you should think about who is going to look after your baby as there aren’t many nurseries with staff over 23 !!
How stupid can some of you be !!! I love the program and yeah if it does deter just one of thoes couples from having a baby so early then do it !!!! They maybe only teens but age does not matter its wether they can cope. At just turnt 18 myself, alot of you whom wrote bad comments about the show i hope you are willing to give up your job when you have a baby as i am a qualified level 3 (highest you can achieve on 1 course) nursery nurse who is responsible for 3 (ratio) babies everyday from 8-6, and im 18. I think alot of you need to remember that nearrly all these babies are put into a nursery from birth and some are there 10 hours a day ! So before sharing you opinion you should think about who is going to look after your baby as there aren’t many nurseries with staff over 23 !!
hi there .. could you please send me an application for this program…
me and my girlfriend think it is an amazing opportunity to see what it woudl be like coping with a child as we know we could do well we think …
we also think that we really would be able to achive the challenge, and make our parents prod and for them to be able to trust us in the future as this is what they are lacking .
we are not thinking of having children but if we decide to adopt we would like to know whether we could gugive the child a loving home. please gte back to me … asap =]]
hi there .. could you please send me an application for this program…
me and my girlfriend think it is an amazing opportunity to see what it woudl be like coping with a child as we know we could do well we think …
we also think that we really would be able to achive the challenge, and make our parents prod and for them to be able to trust us in the future as this is what they are lacking .
we are not thinking of having children but if we decide to adopt we would like to know whether we could gugive the child a loving home. please gte back to me … asap =]]
please do not be put off my our realtionship as we are both women but we have been together for a few years and we are happy.
I am loving the show! I’m a nanny and watched kids from 8 months of age to 13m i think i could handle it! My bf and I have been together over a year. Kids are easy.. and i want the application! anyone know how to get it?
I’m 17 and my boyfriend of two years and I love the show! I was wondering if there was going to be a second season, and if so how could I recieve an application.
baby borrowers is a good idea, how ever i agree that the baby’s shouldnt be left unfed and things, but their is a nanny that is around to look after the immediate safty of the child, so if the child is at a risk, then its the nannys responsibility to step in and tell the teenagers that the child does need to be fed. and give them pointers, as its probbly their first time looking after the baby’s. so maybee the nanny should be a bit more involved, than what she/he is.
is there going to be a baby borrowers series 2, i think it a good idea and want to apply does n e one know where to apply?
does anyone know how to apply??
Is there any way to apply for a new series? (UK Series prefferred) I would love to go on the programme for a veriety of reasons. Please get back to me.