Channel 4 Bringing up baby

[minniemitch]

I have never felt so strongly about any tv programme as I do about C4's Bringing Up Baby that has just finished. Three regimes of early childcare are being tested - rigid 50's Truby King, 60's relatively balanced Spock and a relaxed tribal-style 70's approach - forgotten the 'guru' followed on this one.

The 50's approach had me crying - the babies are on a four hourly regime, left outside in the garden between feeds, no eye contact, no cuddles, baby held away from body, left to cry whilst still only ONE DAY OLD. The damage that may be being done to these babies is terrible. I've read a little about attachment theory and I am worried about the effect this regime will have on the babies in the programme. They are on the regime for their first three months of life - the most important time. If these babies are still on the regime I feel they must be taken off. I've never demonstrated for anything but this is wrong! Wrong!

I was brought up in this way myself - 1972. My mum was trained to do this by my paternal grandfather who was an advocate of Truby King. He held her down in the bed as I cried at 2 days old to be fed and did not let her go to me. I wasn't fed till 3 hours later.

Anyone else desperate to stop these babies being put through this. Want to go down to channel 4 now! Jesus, I'm livid.

That was quite garbled and sentences ragged but really, I feel the urge to go and rescue the babies!!!

There's another thread on this minnie- you are not alone, believe me.

thanks tamum - where? Have to purge!!!!

Here you go- nearly 700 posts, so get a cup of tea!

Thanks Tamum - think I'm preaching to the seriously converted!

I agree - my husband and i were absolutely horrified at the 50s method. Can't believe that anyone would surrender their newborns to this approach for the purposes of a TV programme. Quite simply, they are being trained to accept neglect. As you say, it goes against all modern understanding of parenting - and indeed government advice in terms of the sleeping alone. And 3 months down the line when they evaluate which method is deemed to have been a "success" it will be too late to undo the damage - never mind get back all those precious new born intimate moments. Horrible. Think we should start a petition?

Also another one here
and a complaints one here

Hopefully this complaining will get somewhere!! I have a email reply from one gov body ...

-

Dear Mr xxxxxx,

Thank you for your correspondence regarding the Channel 4 programme Bringing Up Baby. Just to notify you that we have passed on your comments to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for them to provide an response to your correspondence.

Regards

Shula Wilkinson
Public Communications Unit
department for children, schools and families

---

Though Channel 4 last told me there was nothing further they had to say ..

Dear xxxxxxx

Thank you for your further email regarding BRINGING UP BABY.

We were sorry to read that you are unhappy with our previous response to your comments concerning the programme. We do feel that we have clearly stated Channel 4's position regarding the concerns you have raised regarding the parenting methods featured on the programme, and that we have done our best to assist you. Therefore, we regret that we are unable to enter into any further correspondence on this subject.

If you would like to discuss issues and concerns raised on the programme further, you can do so via the BRINGING UP BABY forum on the Channel 4
website:

www.channel4.com/health/microsites/B/bringing_up_baby/

Again, we do thank you for taking the time to write to us.

Regards,

Sally Smith
Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries

For information about Channel 4 have a look at our FAQ section at www.channel4.com/help

-

I followed the channel 4 standard reply with : --------

1. "exploration in a television programme" - Channel4 has indeed encouraged the exploration but the persons which were selected for this type of abuse to their own child were seen crying and becoming emotional. They were vulnerable individuals who were not sturdy enough to carry out the experiment. The baby itself which was suffered the following - 1- left screaming and crying in a shut room from 7pm to 7 am, 2- no physical contact between 4 hourly feeds, 3- no eye contact when feeding and only feeding with a bottle. 4- put outside in the garden for three hours a day on it's own. 4- Siblings also being distressed by the adults actions on the baby is not the sort of Exploration I believe Channel4 should be sponsoring. This is more of an investigative reporting issue suited to BBC Panorama which should seek how a person such as Clare Verity has managed to con the world given the fact she has no children of her own.

2. " thoughtful and responsible observation of different methods of childcare" - There is nothing thoughtful or responsible in encouraging a baby to undergo the following - 1- left screaming and crying in a shut room from 7pm to 7 am, 2- no physical contact between 4 hourly feeds, 3- no eye contact when feeding and only feeding with a bottle. 4- put outside in the garden for three hours a day on it's own. 4- Siblings also being distressed by the adults actions on the baby

3. "All the parents involved were asked what style of child rearing interested them" - The selection of suitable families to conduct the programme makers experiments was clearly not made to find ones who would not be emotionally disturbed themselves by the actions they were being encouraged to act and efforts should had been directed at finding sterner individuals who would had normally conducted a childs upbringing in this manner rather than those who would normally offer the 1- 12 week old baby emotional and loving support. Channel 4 have sponsored a given direction for the upbringing of a child who would otherwise be given love and affection. A sickening programme to experiment with Clare Verity tactics when she clearly lets her own life run a different course. Whatever the outcome of a 12 week experiment , Channel 4 have sponsored a psychological experiment which could take tens of years to truly understand any impact on the children involved.

4. "to explore and contrast them " - Channel 4 exploration at the detriment of others and in particular a 1 - 12 week old infant is barbaric and comparable to experiments made by Pablov. Are Channel 4 saying they would also sanction such experiments regardless of impact which could take tens of years to truly understand for the children involved.

5. " Each family reported that they were happy with the childcare method they chose and are still continuing with it " - one can not 'continue when damage has already been done. A baby is a growing entity and not open to second chance or repeat options. The Families which opted to use the tactics of - 1- left screaming and crying in a shut room from 7pm to 7 am, 2- no physical contact between 4 hourly feeds, 3- no eye contact when feeding and only feeding with a bottle. 4- put outside in the garden for three hours a day on it's own. 4- Siblings also being distressed by the adults actions on the baby. The families can not fully answer the 'are they happy' question until any latent damages evolve which could happen many many years into the future. The families chosen were WEAK and not individuals who would had been capable of harsh treatment to their babies had they 1 - Not been part of a television programme and 2- able to have ordered or interested in following the manual on their own without the involvement of the programme makers.
   The fact the first child of one family was upset herself also demonstrated that they had not previously taken the 'Hard Line' of Clare Verity nor had been previously encouraged to do so for the first childs upbringing. The method in which the Parents were screened relies firmly on their TV appearance and Drama caused from their own regrets and emotional ties. It is truly Channel 4 Experimenting with the power of desire to be a TV celebrity and an abuse of position as a national programme maker and broadcaster.

6. " Various medical experts including a GP and consultant paediatrician were consulted and the babies received the usual regular health visitor checks " - Where can I find and publicise a list of the professionals involved on this programme and obtain their direct quotes? What references do Channel 4 take to confirm the professionalism of the consulted medical bodies?

---

-Original Message-
From: Channel4 VE Support [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: 26 September 2007 11:36
To: xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Maybe spam] Viewer Enquiry Contact Us Submission
(KMM1004531I19660L0KM)

Dear xxxxxxx

Thank you for contacting Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries regarding BRINGING UP BABY.

BRINGING UP BABY is a thoughtful and responsible observation of different methods of childcare. There have been conflicting and different views in this area for many years and it is, without doubt, a valid area for exploration in a television programme. The series is not setting out to promote any particular method of childcare, but rather to explore and contrast them.

All the parents involved were asked what style of child rearing interested them, the methods were then described in general terms, highlighting the guiding principals, each family then chose the method which most closely related to their instinctual choice. Each family reported that they were happy with the childcare method they chose and are still continuing with it.

We can assure you, that we take the welfare of the children in this series, as with all programmes, very seriously. Various medical experts including a GP and consultant paediatrician were consulted and the babies received the usual regular health visitor checks.

Please be assured your complaint has been noted and logged. The log is distributed throughout Channel 4.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact us. We appreciate all feedback from our viewers; complimentary or otherwise.

Regards,
Sally Smith
Channel 4 Viewer Enquiries

For information about Channel 4 have a look at our FAQ section at www.channel4.com/help

Original Message Follows:
--------

Type=Email
Category=VE
I would like to complaint concerning programme

Programme: Other
if other(Bringing Up Baby)

Channel: channel4

Technical error type: notselected
Reception Type: notselected

Affecting neighbours: No
Affecting all channels: No
Technical Problem area: notselected

Issue Time Period:

Signal Type: notselected
if other()

Set-Top Box#:
Cable Operator:

Enquiry Details: Channel 4 has demonstrated yet again that it is interested and sponsors programme makers who can manipulate weak minded individuals. On this occassion it has also exceeded the boundaries of good taste and must be held responsible for promoting distress to individuals included in it's programming and those distressed by the easy manipulationof others who have clearly been 'sold out' to appear in a television production. Channel 4 has appointed a show where individuals are carefully controlled by programm designers who are seeking only to glorify their production at any cost. Channel 4 are sponsoring such programmes and are diminishing themselves of future damages caused to individuals in the production of the programme. In this case young babies are conducted to psychological experiment. SICK!

FAQ Search: No

Resolution Steps: I hope to make a complaints to all appropriate channels.

Additional Comments: The selection of suitable families to conduct the programme makers experiments was not fair and should had been directed at sterner individuals who would had normally conducted a childs upbringing in this manner. Channel 4 have sponsored a given direction for the upbringing of a child who would otherwise be given love and affection.
A sickening programme to experiment with Clare Verity tactics when she clearly lets her own life run a different course.

Session
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0000000038589 435,K=8335,Sxi=8

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I've just watched 2nd oct episode of Bringing up Baby and have never been so angered by a tv prgramme.Clare Verity's views and behaviour are shocking and why those parents allowed their children to be subjected to this neglect for a tv programme beggars belief.As a nurse myself I think she is a disgrace to the nursing profession.My beautiful little 11 month old grandaughter was breast fed on demand and nurtured and loved my her parents and grandparents and to say she was manipulative and demanding is utterly ridiculous.She is a very content and settled baby and has been sleeping through the night since she was 6 weeks old.To leave a defenceless baby in another room and ignore their crying is utterly cruel and heartless.I would not leave my dog in the care of this vile woman.I suppose on thing we should all be thankful for is the fact that she doesn't actually have any children of her own that have had to endure such an upbringing.Sadly there will be impressionable parents watching who will think it's worth trying.All the more reason to pull the plug on this awful series before it goes any further !

is claire verity the old witch complaining about breastfeeding ("inflicting your breasts....") in the taster for the next episode?
i caught that bit and it made me v angry
she looks like she sucked lemons - not tahtahs - in her infancy.

Just reading about this makes me want to cry I really don't understand how this makes good tv or how they can justify experimenting on babies in this way. It's just wrong!

If i was one of the parents on the show, there would be no way i would be willing to inflict Claire's techniques on my child! How on earth does she get away with this

I didn't/haven't watched Bringing up Baby because I knew Claire Verity would be one of the so called experts. She is damaging beyonfd belief in my opinion, I mean Jeez, Ms Gina herself is bad enough in my book, by Claire is the Stalin of so called "baby care experts". It shows how low C4 will go, allowing this woman on our screens and why the heck did the parents allow their children to be subjected to it. I have never heard so much nonsense in my life, only cuddle your child for 10 mins and leave them to cry. It borders on child cruelty as far as I am concerned.

I am mum to two boys, both of whom have been brought up with love, cuddles and laughter and neither of them appear to be anything other than happy, well adjusted little tikes!

Sorry, bad first post I know but I just wanted to get it off my chest. I am so glad I am not the only one that would like to see this woman strung up and villified for her so called expertise. From what I know, she doesn't even have children herself, so does not understand just what emotions mothers go through.

I am so tired of these so called childcare "experts", telling us how to rear our children.

I am the childcare expert when it comes to my child. If I need advice, I will turn to my family, friends, other parents or healthcare professionals.

We should all have more confidence in ourselves - we are the mummy's after all

I just found this, I'm sure it's posted elsewhere but I've been away for two weeks and all this explosion is new to me.

Not just that, but the nice ladies at Mumsnet have swung into action against Ms Verity; one wants to ?throw the contents of nappies at her?, another ?scratch her eyes out?, a third condemns her ?childless and loveless life?, a fourth ?would go so far as to be armed with a rifle so I could take pot shots at the silly cow?. So much for mother mild.

lol

Verity strikes me as someone who is pathologically afraid of intimacy. As a multi-cat ' mum ' as well as a ' human ' mum myself it makes me a little uneasy to think she ( according to the times has a house full of animals ) is in charge of cats ( and dogs ) 24/7. I wonder what happens when the cats become old or incontinent or otherwise ' uncontrollable '. What happens to them then. However, at least the poor blighters could run away from her bizarre ' parenting ' unlike the newborns whose parents are intelligence challenged enough to employ her.
Good on those posters who have taken action. I intend to write to my MP about the programme, as he sells himself as being a staunch religious family man.

Hi TheTVshow. I am afraid I have reported your post as there is a special section for Media requests if you would like to make one. I think there is a fee though to keep our fabulous site going . Hope you understand.

Actually I do mind the post, the TV show.

There is a media requests section of this website where you can ask for our participation - to post randomly on the rest of the board is unwelcome

Hi,

I've come to this discussion late, and hope no-one minds me opening it up again. I just wondered how peoples' complaints progressed?

Ofcom decided in favour of channel 4

But (and correct me if I am wrong) wouldn't it be considered unethical for, say, a psychologist to conduct research that might harm the participants? Yet it is OK for a TV programme to do this?