I was really appalled to watch the way the families following the 1950's regime on 'Bringing up Baby' were told to ignore their children's cries 'for attention'. In my view if a baby is asking for attention it is a parent's responsibility to attend to the need being expressed. The Mum of the twins was clearly left doubting her own desire to give her children the attention they needed!
In my view this is neglect in a most punishing form....has anyone seen the NSPCC advert with the boy in the crib which says 'Miles no longer cries because he knows no-one will come whether he does or not'? Channel Four is, I believe, guilty of filming neglect for the sake of entertainment.
The effects of touch on infant's development has been well researched and proven to be extremely important in the emotional and physical well-being of the individual as a child and through adulthood. What damage may have been done to the children and their lifelong relationships with their parents by this programme will only become apparent later.The Tv channel, the 'expert' involved and the parents should be ashamed of themselves.
Perhaps, at very least, the programme should be paused while the people who made it do some THOROUGH reasearch into the effects of this 1950's regime on children....I can highly recommend that they read 'Why Love Matters: How Affection Shapes a Baby's Brain' by Sue Gerhardt. This book is based solidly in science and well-respected research in the field of neuro-psychology. It explains how the 'hard-wiring' in our brains develops in response to being held and looked at lovingly etc as babies. Also, how neglect and a lack of contact as babies produces a brain which is (put simply)physically depleted. This development as babies effects us for the rest of our lives as it is hard-wired so to speak.
Read it please, if anyone from channel 4 reads this email. And don't show anymore of the series until you more fully understand the damage you, the 'expert' and the parents may have done.
