The programme, which separates babies from their parents and places themin the care of unfamiliar teenage couples for three days, has beencondemned by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry(AACAP). The Academy said that it could cause the children stress andanxiety and make them distrust their primary caregiver.
The AACAP, which represents over 8,000 psychiatrists, also warned thatthe programme promotes 'baby borrowing' as an acceptable parentingpractice and may be imitated by the public.
Member Anne Glowinski, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, said,'Should this practice be emulated without the benefit of the observingcamera, it is important to note that teenagers may be more likely thanadult strangers to abuse or neglect infants and toddlers.'
The backlash follows similar criticism of reality programmes in the UKfor 'experimenting' on children.