Have you seen this (insane? brilliant?) reality show "The Baby Borrowers"? In order to give teenagers a simulation of life as a young parent, they are set up in a house with jobs and a real, live baby, borrowed from another family, for three days. Then they get children of progressively older ages for three days each too. The real parents watch from across the street on monitors and only intervene if they get really, really mad, as when the teen "dad" suggests letting the six-month old cry it out.
You can watch whole episodes and two-minute replays here. And read an interview with one of the teenage "mothers" and one of the real-life moms here. It's hard to imagine a couple handing their kid over to teenage strangers for three days, but the mom in this interview makes a pretty strong case:
I was a teenage mom on purpose . . . It didn't turn out so well. I wasn't emotionally prepared at all. My older son is now thirteen and he got the brunt of the deal. He heard us arguing constantly and yelling at each other, and neither one of us was ready to be a parent. So I thought it would be a good opportunity to help other girls not go down the same road.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Lending one's kid to a teenager does seem like a pretty dumb thing to do.
Bob at 12:12PM on Jul 28th 2008
2. It strangely seems like the right thing to do.
Mokele Mbembe at 12:31PM on Jul 28th 2008
3. If the baby cries a lot is that considered a part with lines and are they compensated accordingly?
I tried to think of a stupider question but that was the best I could do on short notice.
I'll hang up and wait for my answer.
bob at 12:51PM on Jul 28th 2008
4.
Considering that my daughter wasn't even left with a family member until she was nearly 3, I'd have to say... Hell no.
Doofus at 12:54PM on Jul 28th 2008
5. it seems like a great idea. the children are in a partially controlled environment considering the parents do get to monitor and step in if they feel uncomfortable. its a great oppertunity to learn what raising a child is really about. in high school they give the girls those "realistic" dolls that cry and etc but it is NOTHING like having a real screaming crying pooping baby. hopefully this will help deter the 10-20 year old bracket from wanting kids before they have a good job and education and the patience to deal with them.
shann at 1:00PM on Jul 28th 2008
6. I totally disagree with this show, or its concept. I think it is cruel to do this to any child, the younger the child; the worst. I refuse to watch this show.
DD at 1:47PM on Jul 28th 2008
7. I watched the show and in my opinion it is brilliant. The children are not in harms way at all and in addition to the parents watching across the street they have extra chaperones watching and intervening as well. If this show can change the mind of one young teen then it was all well worth it.
nitza417 at 2:32PM on Jul 28th 2008
8. Really, how different is this from hiring a babysitter when you go on a long trip, other than that you don't have to pay the sitter, you are still nearby, and there is video monitoring the sitter? it is a bit ostentatious to air the whole thing on television, but I hardly think it's "dangerous".
Star500 at 4:04PM on Jul 28th 2008
9. To be honest I enjoy this show. I am a Grandmother of three boys. To be honest there is no way I would have wanted my daughter to allow my grandsons to be part of the show. But, the children are carefully watched. It seems like the teenagers are really seeing what life is about going through this. Hopefully, it will also stop others watching the show to get married young and to use birth control.
AJ at 4:48PM on Jul 28th 2008
10. "Considering that my daughter wasn't even left with a family member until she was nearly 3, I'd have to say... Hell no."
Wow. You and your spouse sound like complete nut jobs who have hit on a perfect formula for raising screwed up kids.
Robeson at 5:09PM on Jul 28th 2008
11.
My mother used to lend us out to teen-agers quite frequently....she called them 'baby-sitters'.
mac at 5:30PM on Jul 28th 2008
12. If you knew that we only have 3 family members within 500 miles, two of whom work full time +overtime and one of whom is elderly and in
poor health, and none of whom have the experience to care for an infant / very small child would that make you less of a dick?
Actually, never mind. I already know the answer.
Doofus at 6:19PM on Jul 28th 2008
13. While I usually detest reality shows, I guess I cannot argue too much with the premise of this one. Teaching young people to be responsible about sex and avoiding pregnancy is a good thing. A real baby makes sense over those dolls they use to give them. And as Mac points out in comment #11, teen-agers babysitting once upon a time was not unusual - in fact it was the norm. Some parents today seem appalled at leaving their kids with anyone.
David S. at 6:37PM on Jul 28th 2008
14. My child is 9 months old. I love it! ONLY 21, But I've been married for three years.
But I wish my brother could of been on a show like this. He is only 18. Very young at heart and in his mind. ALONG with his wife....... They married due to pregnacey. Now they will be having their own little family in Oct.
He can bearly handle to watch my daughter while i run to the bath room and my mother is worried sick because now she gets to be a full - time mom again!
I couldn't watch someone else care for my baby like that. But I think it will really help changes a few minds.. for those few youngs ones that do want babys.
christina at 8:59PM on Jul 28th 2008