TV Documentary Series for the Discovery Channel

[Claudia]

Outline Productions are looking for parents with children aged 0 - 20 (ish) months to take part in a documentary.

We are looking for parents that have babies who are currently having tantrums, or frustrated babies who express themselves by smacking, hitting, biting etc.

We are also looking for parents who are finding it hard getting their babies off milk and onto solids.

If any parent feels they would like expert advice on how to handle this type of behaviour, and also happy to take part in the programme please contact Claudia on 0207 659 2714, or email [email protected]

Claudia,
Don't any of the production staff have kids? Why not use yourselves as guinea pigs instead of publically humiliating parents who are trying to deal with difficult situations in the best way they can?

Surely someone at Outline Productions must have kids who are horrible/have tantrums/are frustrated/bite/smack/hit/won't eat etc. etc. etc.

Strange huh?

LOL!!

Ooooh oxocube, you really don't like these tv companies do you? I've got to admit that the DIY programmes often leave a real bodge job behind and the counselling type programmes usually make the subject look pathetic or stupid (your money or your life/ house doctor to name but two). I could do with help for my home, my family and our finances but I certainly wouldn't wish to do it in front of x million viewers with no say over the final screening.

It's that smugness too, that viewers watch these poor harrassed mothers with, thinking that at least their kids don't act like that! Everyone likes to think that everyone else's kids are worse than theirs, and these tv shows just pander to that. Look at the poor mother who can't cope with her kids, look at the little monsters she's raised, aren't we such a good family that we aren't like that!

Good on you Oxocube!

I agree with Oxocube, these programmes have a set agenda and aren't interested in including anything which veers away from that, which leads to very boring, formulaic & patronising programmes

I agree with you all, please see all the other threads where volunteers have been sought.

You'd think the tv people would learn not to ask for help from a forum like this wouldn't you? I wonder if they have followed the thread.

I've got to say that I'd like to be on Better Homes and have a fanstastic transformation done on my house, then if I was lucky, I might win the holiday too - some people just have it all. I don't think you could fit a film crew in my house though, one of the makeover programmes advertised for houses in my area a while ago but you had to have rooms of a certain size to be considered.

I think you may be a little harsh. I really love a lot of real life shows and have found some of them really helpful in understanding baby behaviour. Did anyone see Baby It's You ages ago on C4? It was fantastically interesting and I didn't even have kids then. Also I watched a show on parenting classes a while back which was fascinating and I didn't feel anything negative about the families involved. Sometimes I think they help ordinary families to understand ways in which they could improve their parent/child interaction and have a happier family life. I've certainly noted a few things along the way. Also, I think the Discovery Channel is usually reputable. And no, I don't work in TV!

Aloha, I am a bit of a hypocrit because I do like to watch these programmes but also laugh at some of the poor fools that have taken part in them. A lot of the shows do give useful advice but I'm glad it isn't me on the other side of the screen. I'll stick to learning by other peoples' mistakes thank you.

My friend's sister and her neice were on Baby It's You and really loved the experience and got some great footage of the baby to keep forever. However, this was more of an observational series about how babies develop & learn rather than a 'makoever' one that reveals where you go wrong, so maybe that was different.

Okay, maybe I was a bit negative But I honestly believe that these 'fly on the wall' docs. are NOT in the business of helping people. They are in the business of MAKING MONEY! If the acclaimed 'Baby Whisperer' (can't remember her name) wants to help people, then fine, but in the privacy of their own homes.

I think it was Rhubarb who said that basically, people watch these programmes and think "oh, my little would never do that", or "I wouldn't stand for my speaking to me in that way" etc. IMO it is voyerism at its worst, and although I haven't seen any of these programmes inthe last few years, the only people who seem to come out of this looking good are the so-called 'experts'.

There is always an angle/set agenda and I do think they appeal to the worst side in all of us. Being a parent is not always a bed of roses as we all know and I feel that a forum like Mumsnet is much more useful in letting people bloww off steam, ask for help and gain good, practical advice than a t.v. show where ratings matter more than individuals.

There, rant over

OK - it's fess up time. I used to work in tv and, before that, magazines. I did a lot of fashion makeovers at one point - but always tried to make them specific to a viewer's particular clothing problems. I never had to scour for "victims" because so many people wrote in to me. The most useful ones as far as the viewing public went, were the more general ones EG: body shape, special occasion wear, style on a budget, etc etc. But the most fulfilling ones where the real "one offs" - one young woman wrote in who had a kidney complaint which meant she was very small for her age, but hated dressing in children's clothing. I helped her find clothes to suit and we all had a lovely day filming on location. The one that I will always remember though was when two friends who were recovering from anorexia and bulimia wrote in. They were still getting to terms with their true body shapes - they were gorgeous but still weren't too sure about it. We spent a day with them and at the end of it they were delighted with how they looked and for the first time in ages felt really good about themselves. I still have a photo of us all together - and letters that they wrote to me saying how much it had helped them. They had even suggested to the hospital that they had been in that they should utilise some of the aspects of our day together to help other sufferers see the good in themselves. I am aware that this might come across as rather crass - getting people obsessed with their body image to concentrate on their appearance - but by treading very gently and not manipulating them in to anything they didn't want to do something rather good happened that day.
That's not to say that everyone in the business is an angel - yes, people do have set agendas and yes you do have to be very wary of agreeing to take part in anything - but sometimes it does work out to the participants advantage.
Having said that there's no way I'd let Carol Smillie or anyone from the Changing Rooms/Real Rooms teams in my house!

I suppose it's impossible for TV companies to show participants a nearly finished version of a progamme before it is put on air, just to get their feedback and final agreement? Mind you, I can see the pitfalls as I write this.

I believe most do something like this. Maybe the tv researcher would like to say whether this is true of this series. I think most people who agree to do this sort of thing really rather enjoy the finished result. It's not for everyone, admittedly (me, for one) but some of the people who go on What Not To Wear (for example) are tearful in their gratitude after their transformation.

I seem to spend my entire life responding to Mumsnet comments about The Baby Whisperer. I can't address all the comments, but would like to thank Aloha for positive feedback and wonder how Oxo Cube has managed to formulate such a strong opinion, while clearly not a viewer of these programmes.

Please let me reassure you that the Discovery Channel is a factual and ethical broadcaster, we are not trying to exploit anyone or make them look foolish. This is not Trisha or Kilroy, merely a realistic look at modern parenting. I am quite happy to answer any other queries. Please contact [email protected] or 020 7 569 2723

Emma C
Series Producer, The Baby Whisperer

Emmac, you clearly don't spend your entire life on mumsnet but we do. And I think you'll find that the discussions have moved on, big time, since you posted your original message. I've been here some time and I've rarely seen the baby whisperer discussed so I think you've got him or her confused, maybe with Gina Ford?

Must admit I don't recall this baby whisperer thing either.

Oooh Batters - lol - a saucer of milk for my friend!