.gif)
The Baby Borrowers (U.S. TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Baby Borrowers is an American version of the The Baby Borrowers reality television show based on the British television series of the same name
originally aired in 2007. The show features five couples aged between 18 and 20 who either believe that being parents is easy, or are divided upon the issue. They start off attempting to look after a baby for three days, before moving onto toddlers, pre-teens, teenagers and finally an elderly person.
The show is produced by Love Productions, the same company that produces the original British version.
On March 13, 2009, it was confirmed that the series had been canceled and would not be returning for a second season.
aged 18-20 will set up a home
and become parents beginning with a baby, then a toddler, pre-teens, teenagers, and finally elderly adults over the course of one month. The couples will participate in pre-natal classes prior to the arrival of the baby, every three days the couples will advance to the next stage. Some couples may have an only child while some may have the responsibility
of taking care of siblings.
There are no eliminations or prizes (with the exception
of experience).
Married couples volunteered to participate in the experiment by letting the teenage couple "borrow" their child. They would deliver the child to their home, offer advice about how to respond in certain situations and gave a manual with instructions (i.e. child likes/dislikes, favorite food or toys, when to feed them, etc.) The couples cared for the child (or children) away from their parents for 3 days. The parents stayed across the street in a home and were able to monitor their child and the couple on surveillance video that was set up all around the home. If at any time they felt they were needed or wanted to help, they were able to step in. A professional nanny also stayed with the couple and their child and monitored them. The nanny was only allowed to "shadow" to ensure the safety of the child and could only come forth in the event of an emergency. Once the age turned to the teenagers, there was no more parent or nanny monitoring.
*On episode 5, Daton left the house; leaving Morgan a "single mom".
The day after the show aired, it replayed on the WE Channel and had different information during the credits about the status of some of the couples.
The update also indicated both times that all the teens said none of them have plans to become parents any time soon.
group, expressed concern regarding the premise of the television show. In a letter sent by The Natural Child Project to NBC, the group expresses concern mainly over the emotional health of the babies and young children involved in the show. The letter goes on to mention that babies that lose their primary caregiver can go into mourning, emotional depression and have no way to know that they will be returned to their natural family. The letter also refers to the criticism over the original British version
.
Additionally, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
made a formal request on July 2, 2008 to NBC to pull the show. The AACAP stated that "Separating babies and toddlers from their parents for extended periods of time can lead children to feel distress and anxiety. After prolonged separation, a child can feel distrust for his or her primary caregiver. Separation can damage a healthy attachment and a child's sense of safety." The president of the AACAP, Dr. Robert Hendren, stated "A child's sense of security should not be gambled with... a more constructive approach would have had the teenagers shadow a family of a toddler or baby, keeping parents close."
On July 7, NBC took the unusual step of setting up an online forum where parents who allowed their infants to be on the show could defend themselves against critics.
The Baby Borrowers
The Baby Borrowers is a British reality television series produced by Love Productions for BBC Three. The series premiered January 8, 2007. The show features five couples aged between 16 and 19...
originally aired in 2007. The show features five couples aged between 18 and 20 who either believe that being parents is easy, or are divided upon the issue. They start off attempting to look after a baby for three days, before moving onto toddlers, pre-teens, teenagers and finally an elderly person.
The show is produced by Love Productions, the same company that produces the original British version.
On March 13, 2009, it was confirmed that the series had been canceled and would not be returning for a second season.
Format
Each week a teenage coupleCouple
Couple may refer to:*Two items of a type.**Two members of an intimate relationship*Couple , a system of forces with a resultant moment but no resultant force*Thermocouple, a type of temperature sensor...
aged 18-20 will set up a home
Home
A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either...
and become parents beginning with a baby, then a toddler, pre-teens, teenagers, and finally elderly adults over the course of one month. The couples will participate in pre-natal classes prior to the arrival of the baby, every three days the couples will advance to the next stage. Some couples may have an only child while some may have the responsibility
Moral responsibility
Moral responsibility usually refers to the idea that a person has moral obligations in certain situations. Disobeying moral obligations, then, becomes grounds for justified punishment. Deciding what justifies punishment, if anything, is a principle concern of ethics.People who have moral...
of taking care of siblings.
There are no eliminations or prizes (with the exception
Exception
Exception may refer to:* An action that is not part of ordinary operations or standards* Exception handling, in programming languages** or a programming interrupt itself of which exception handling is meant to deal with....
of experience).
Married couples volunteered to participate in the experiment by letting the teenage couple "borrow" their child. They would deliver the child to their home, offer advice about how to respond in certain situations and gave a manual with instructions (i.e. child likes/dislikes, favorite food or toys, when to feed them, etc.) The couples cared for the child (or children) away from their parents for 3 days. The parents stayed across the street in a home and were able to monitor their child and the couple on surveillance video that was set up all around the home. If at any time they felt they were needed or wanted to help, they were able to step in. A professional nanny also stayed with the couple and their child and monitored them. The nanny was only allowed to "shadow" to ensure the safety of the child and could only come forth in the event of an emergency. Once the age turned to the teenagers, there was no more parent or nanny monitoring.
Season 1
The Baby Borrowers was first announced on March 12, 2007 as a mid-season replacement with a six episode commitment. Originally the show was scheduled to air on Monday nights at 8:00 PM ET/PT beginning February 18, 2008 but on January 28, 2008 NBC announced The Baby Borrowers would be pushed back and aired at a later date. On March 5, 2008 NBC announced The Baby Borrowers would air on Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM ET/PT beginning June 25, 2008 as part of the network's All-American Summer. The Show also airs on Women's Entertainment Channel on Thursdays at 9 pm central.Substitute Parents
Parents, their hometown, and their age at time of filming:| Boy/Girl | Age | Girl/Boy | Age | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Hometown | Name | Hometown | ||
| Jordan Cameron | Katy, Texas Katy, Texas Katy is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area... |
18 | Sasha Anderson | Easton, Texas Easton, Texas Easton is a city in Gregg and Rusk Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 524 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Easton is located at , mostly in Gregg County.... |
18 |
| Daton Morris | San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
19 | Morgan Mitchell* | San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
18 |
| Austin Trizzino | Dunwoody, Georgia Dunwoody, Georgia Dunwoody is a city located in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. Dunwoody became incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008... |
18 | Kelly Young | Dunwoody, Georgia Dunwoody, Georgia Dunwoody is a city located in DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. It is a northern suburb of Atlanta. Dunwoody became incorporated as a city on December 1, 2008... |
18 |
| Alicea Davis | Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ... |
18 | Cory Davila | Houston, Texas Houston, Texas Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ... |
20 |
| Kelsey Lampman | Kensington, New Hampshire Kensington, New Hampshire Kensington is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,124 at the 2010 census.-History:Once a parish of Hampton, Kensington was incorporated in 1737 by Massachusetts Governor Jonathan Belcher, when New Hampshire was still part of that colonial province... |
18 | Sean Graham | Seabrook, New Hampshire Seabrook, New Hampshire Seabrook is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 8,693 at the 2010 census. Located at the southern end of the coast of New Hampshire on the border with Massachusetts, Seabrook is noted as the location of the Seabrook Nuclear Power Station, the third-most... |
18 |
*On episode 5, Daton left the house; leaving Morgan a "single mom".
After the Show
The season 1 finale aired on July 30, 2008 and at the end of the show gave an update to the status and whereabouts of each teen couple.- Austin & Kelly - "Kelly is now a junior at Auburn University in Alabama. Austin is a sophomore at the same university. They are not together but they remain friends."
- Alicea & Cory - "Alicea is attending Cy-Fair College in Cypress, TX. She wants to become a make-up artist. Cory is majoring in Business at Texas State University. Cory and Alicea still see each other but also just as friends."
- Kelsey & Sean - "Kelsey and Sean have decided to go their separate ways."
- Jordan & Sasha - "Sasha is studying to become a pharmacist. Jordan is studying to become an airline pilot. Despite becoming closer during the experiment, they have since questioned their relationship and broken up."
- Daton & Morgan - "After the experiment, Daton and Morgan gave their relationship another try. But in the end, they decided to just be sex partners, and nothing more.
The day after the show aired, it replayed on the WE Channel and had different information during the credits about the status of some of the couples.
- Austin & Kelly - "Kelly is now a sophomore at Auburn University in Alabama. Austin is a freshman at the same university. Despite their problems they are still together."
- Alicea & Cory - "Alicea and Cory are trying to make their relationship work and got back together."
- Daton & Morgan - "After walking out on Morgan during the experiment, Daton began calling Morgan. They are determined to make their relationship work."
The update also indicated both times that all the teens said none of them have plans to become parents any time soon.
Production Note
The season 1 finale was dedicated to the memory of Reggie. Her husband, George, participated in the show during the "elderly phase" and was looked after by Sasha and Jordan. She died after the filming of the program.Criticism
The Natural Child Project, a child advocacyChild advocacy
Child advocacy refers to a range of individuals, professionals and advocacy organizations who promote the optimal development of children. An individual or organization engaging in advocacy typically seeks to protect children's rights which may be abridged or abused in a number of areas.- Rights...
group, expressed concern regarding the premise of the television show. In a letter sent by The Natural Child Project to NBC, the group expresses concern mainly over the emotional health of the babies and young children involved in the show. The letter goes on to mention that babies that lose their primary caregiver can go into mourning, emotional depression and have no way to know that they will be returned to their natural family. The letter also refers to the criticism over the original British version
The Baby Borrowers
The Baby Borrowers is a British reality television series produced by Love Productions for BBC Three. The series premiered January 8, 2007. The show features five couples aged between 16 and 19...
.
Additionally, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is a 501 non-profit professional association in the United States dedicated to facilitating psychiatric care for children and adolescents. Established in 1953, the Academy is headquartered in Washington, D.C...
made a formal request on July 2, 2008 to NBC to pull the show. The AACAP stated that "Separating babies and toddlers from their parents for extended periods of time can lead children to feel distress and anxiety. After prolonged separation, a child can feel distrust for his or her primary caregiver. Separation can damage a healthy attachment and a child's sense of safety." The president of the AACAP, Dr. Robert Hendren, stated "A child's sense of security should not be gambled with... a more constructive approach would have had the teenagers shadow a family of a toddler or baby, keeping parents close."
On July 7, NBC took the unusual step of setting up an online forum where parents who allowed their infants to be on the show could defend themselves against critics.