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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Virtual Baby - my teen has got one for the weekend

92 replies

lawstudentmum · 07/04/2011 23:59

My daughter is being given the virtual baby from the school at the weekend. so sleepless nights for us.
If anyone is interested in how it goes I think we are going to film the best bits and post up.

Hopefully this will give other parents an insight if they are thinking of doing the same - I will keep you all updated over the weekend on how it is going.

Has anyone else had the virtual baby?

OP posts:

Valpollicella · 08/04/2011 00:03

Nope (DS nowhere near old enough!) But I'd be really interested in hearing how your DD gets on.

How old is she?

BitOfFun · 08/04/2011 00:05

Sleepless nights for "us"? You are missing then point there

BitOfFun · 08/04/2011 00:06

The, sorry

Original poster

lawstudentmum · 08/04/2011 00:10

She is 16 - yes your right - she has to be the one to get up and do the looking after in the night. I've already done it!!

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 08/04/2011 00:11

I'd put earplugs in and leave her to it.

BitOfFun · 08/04/2011 00:12

Oh, be brutal. Even if you hear it. The learning is lost otherwise.

expatinscotland · 08/04/2011 00:14

Exactly, BOF.

Get earplugs and put a fan on next to your bed.

Don't get up! Screw that. It's not a real baby.

Maryz · 08/04/2011 00:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Valpollicella · 08/04/2011 00:28

Agree with Expat.

Make sure you do NOTHING to help.

Other than offer advice like...'It's obviously hungry and not getting enough from the milk. Have you tried putting baby rice in its bottle?'

Original poster

lawstudentmum · 08/04/2011 08:22

Hey, Thanks guys - I will let you know how it is going, will post this evening as baby is coming back at about 1pm ready for the first weekend of the Easter Hols.

OP posts:

Maryz · 08/04/2011 08:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

upahill · 08/04/2011 08:43

Virtual babies is a small part of my job. We normally take a group of young people (both male and female) away on a residential to do this project.

There are a useful tool and we can programme how often the baby cries and we can detect if the baby has been shaken.

There is a lot of prep and de briefing work done with the group and we only take on young people that will treat the project seriously.

It is a fantastic learning expierence for all involved.

Original poster

lawstudentmum · 08/04/2011 08:52

I know that it will be good for dd and you are right upahill she has been to a group at school to learn about what is involved - and I hope that it just encourages her to think about how it would be if she did get pregnant at 16.

I just know that when she starts moaning about it crying that I will find it hard not to end up taking over. But I must let her do it and find out how it feels to be responsible for another person.

And the fact that if she gets fed up or bored with it that she can not just put it down and leave it.

Anyway time for a coffee and walk the dogs ! Thanks for support guys and I will post later this evening and let you know how it is going...

OP posts:

expatinscotland · 08/04/2011 10:26

They ought to be given a virtual toddler instead. Babies are a piece of piss by comparison, IMO, especially when they're immobile.

Maryz · 08/04/2011 10:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cyrilsneer · 08/04/2011 10:32

I'm sorry to say that my first though, reading this, was that I'm so glad that my DD17 isn't bringing one of these home because I know it would end up being a tedious bunch of work for me. How awful. I just know that she would cajole and bully and end up dragging me into it and that after a number of loud arguments, I would end up helping her for a quiet life. When did I become so pathetic?

I also have a 15 year old who, like Maryz's daughter, would probably take to it like a duck to water and make an exemplary mother to the bloody thing! Another good reason not to have one in the house at all!

Completely agree with everyone that YOU, Lawstudentmum, however, must stay strong and let her do absolutely everything. Clearly, if it was a real baby, you would step in and not let it suffer but it's only a plastic doll. Doesn't matter what happens to it. In fact, the more stressed the "baby" gets, and the more hideous the experience is for your DD, the better, really, if this is to act as a fantastic deterrent to teenage pregnancy.

Keep us in the loop - would be really, really fascinated to hear all about the experience.

Maryz · 08/04/2011 10:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cyrilsneer · 08/04/2011 10:39

Hilarious, Maryz!

Original poster

lawstudentmum · 08/04/2011 16:54

Well, dd returned with aforementioned virtual baby - she has named the new addition Teddy! It came with full size pram - a suitcase full of clothes, a charger ( you have to plug Teddy in at night! ) a bottle, nappies and a instruction manual.

DD was so happy, baby in arms, feeding it and showing our next door neighbour - who had nearly had a heart attack as she thought my 16 yr old had just had a baby.

10 mins in...hear her say " why won't it stop crying - have I broken its neck!" This, I feel is going to be a long weekend - by the way it really sounds like a newborn baby.

She has now gone out with her new baby in pram ( after she had managed to get it out the front door ) with friends to have noodles at Waggas - last words I overheard her saying to her friend as they walked down the road was "...so do I look like a yummy mummy or what! " I need a

OP posts:

BitOfFun · 08/04/2011 16:55

TobyLerone · 08/04/2011 16:56

I remember my younger sister getting one of these. My mum walked into my sister's room to see her crying and saying "it won't shut up!"

She must have been 16 at the time. My mum was convinced she'd be the one of the 4 of us to be pregnant at 16. She's 23 now and still doesn't have a baby

Original poster

lawstudentmum · 08/04/2011 16:58

That sounds promising then, maybe it will put her off - we will see what happens tonight when she can't get no sleep.

OP posts:

nickschick · 08/04/2011 16:59

When this was mentioned at a local teen youth group at least 4 teens offered me money and favours to have the baby if they got chosen .

Original poster

lawstudentmum · 08/04/2011 17:02

I know loads of them wanted the baby from school, they had to fill in a form to get chosen.

I think that it is a bit of a fashion thing - which IS NOT the point to it, I'm sure.

Why would they want to get a baby that will get them up in the night 4-5 times crying? beyond me...

OP posts:

SingingSands · 08/04/2011 17:09

I bet she feels less of a "yummy mummy" in the morning!

Keep us posted as to how she gets on, I'm really interested.

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