Childcare experts speak out against Bringing up Baby

[Elizabetth]

Letter in the Telegraph which also got a mention on Channel 4 news:

"Bad for baby

Sir ? We are alarmed, as academics and professionals, that Channel 4 is broadcasting such an exploitative parenting series as Bringing Up Baby, the last part of which is to be shown tonight.

Many techniques in these programmes fly in the face of scientific knowledge about brain development in very young babies. That anyone should be billed as an expert and allowed to promote ideas such as not making eye contact with babies and not comforting them in distress is at best irresponsible and at worst dangerous.

To see these theories being put into practice with real babies in the name of entertainment is worrying.

Last year, the Family and Parenting Institute surveyed parents about television parenting programmes, and 83 per cent said they found a technique in these programmes helpful. So with such an influence on parents, it is shocking that broadcasters do not exercise more responsibility.

We call on all production companies to stop making programmes that give irresponsible advice and turn the suffering of tiny babies into adult entertainment.

Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive, Family and Parenting Institute, London NW5

Penny Mansfield, Director, One Plus One

Dorit Braun, Chief Executive, Parentline Plus

Dr Shirley Gracias, Chair, Association for Infant Mental Health UK

Dr Cheryll Adams, Acting Lead Professional Officer, Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association

Christine Bidmead, Chair, Health Visiting Forum

Stephen Scott, Professor of Child Health and Behaviour, King's College, London"

www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?menuId=1588&menuItemId=-1&view=DISPLAYCONTE NT&grid=A1&targetRule=0#head5

[constancereader]

That's brilliant, I'm so glad they did this.

[Marina]

Excellent, some good names on that list!

[Emzy5]

i can't watch it. it makes me feel sad for those little bubs. esp ones left to cry. well done those people for speaking out.

[Lazarou]

I haven't watched any of it until last night when I tuned in out of curiosity and there were toddlers using knives!
Then the loony, sorry expert, said 'they know not to stab themselves'. That's ok then!