TV show 'like child abuse'
Catherine Gaunt
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
More than 1,200 people have signed a petition on the 10 Downing Street website calling for a halt to television programmes that promote 'outdated or discredited' parenting theories.
Started by Clive Dorman of the Children's Project, the petition put upon Thursday was sparked by outrage at last week's Channel 4 programme'Bringing Up Baby'.
Families taking part in the series follow different childcare methodswith three mentors for their babies' first three months. The expertsinclude maternity nurse Claire Verity, who advocates a 'strict' methodshe devised based on Dr Truby King's 1950s routine.
This technique recommends shutting a newborn baby in a room at 7pm andleaving them to cry.
Mr Dorman accused the programme makers of putting ratings ahead ofchildren's welfare.
'This programme showed seriously distressed infants and sobbing parentsbeing told to neglect their new baby as part of a routine. It felt closeto viewing child abuse,' he said.
Cot death charity the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths alsocondemned Channel 4 for broadcasting advice which it said put babieslives at risk.
Both the FSID and the Department of Health recommend the safest placefor a baby to sleep in the first six months is in a cot in a room withtheir parents and not their own room.
FSID said it was inundated with calls from health visitors. TheCommunity Practitioner and Health Visitors Association also wrote to theprogramme's producers with their concerns.
Further information: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/parentingshows.
