The programme, which separates babies and toddlers from their parents and places them in the care of unfamiliar teenage couples for three days, has been condemned by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). The Academy said that it could cause the children stress and anxiety and make them distrust their primary caregiver.
‘The Baby Borrowers’ appeared on the NBC network in June and was an instant success, with the first episode attracting nearly eight million viewers.
The AACAP, which represents over 8,000 psychiatrists, also warned that the programme promotes 'baby borrowing' as an acceptable parenting practice and may be imitated by the public.
Anne Glowinski, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and AACAP member, said, 'Should this practice be emulated without the benefit of the observing camera, it is important to note that teenagers may be more likely than adult strangers to abuse or neglect infants and toddlers.'
The backlash follows similar criticism in the UK, where experts have condemned the makers of reality shows such as ‘Bringing Up Baby’ and ‘The Baby Borrowers’ for 'experimenting' on infants and children.