The Baby Borrowers (American TV series)

Format

Each week a teenage couple aged 18–20 sets up a home and becomes parents, beginning with a baby, then a toddler, pre-teens, teenagers, and finally elderly adults over the course of one month. The couples attend pre-natal classes before the baby arrives, and every three days they advance to the next stage. Some couples may have an only child, while others may care for siblings. There are no eliminations or prizes, only the experience. Married couples volunteer to let the teenage couple borrow their child, delivering the child to the home, offering advice, and providing a manual with instructions. The parents stay across the street and monitor via surveillance video, able to step in if needed. A professional nanny shadows the couple to ensure child safety, intervening only in emergencies. When the age reaches teenagers, no parent or nanny monitoring occurs.

Season 1

The Baby Borrowers was first announced on March 12, 2007 as a mid-season replacement with a six-episode commitment. Originally scheduled for Monday nights at 8:00 PM ET/PT beginning February 18, 2008, it was pushed back and later announced on March 5, 2008 to air on Wednesday nights at 8:00 PM ET/PT starting June 25, 2008 as part of NBC's All-American Summer. The show also aired on the Women's Entertainment Channel on Thursdays at 9 pm central. The five couples were Austin & Kelly, Alicea & Cory, Kelsey & Sean, Jordan & Sasha, and Daton & Morgan.

On episode 5, Daton left the house, leaving Morgan a single mom. The season 1 finale aired on July 30, 2008 and provided updates: Austin & Kelly remained together; Alicea & Cory still saw each other; Kelsey & Sean went their separate ways; Jordan & Sasha were still together but questioned their relationship; Daton & Morgan gave their relationship another try. A replay on the WE Channel the next day gave different updates, including that Alicea and Cory got back together and Daton began calling Morgan.

All teens said none had plans to become parents soon. The finale was dedicated to the memory of Reggie, whose husband George participated in the elderly phase and was cared for by Sasha and Jordan.

Criticism

The Natural Child Project, a child advocacy group, expressed concern over the emotional health of the babies and young children involved, stating in a letter to NBC that babies losing their primary caregiver can go into mourning and emotional depression, with no way to know they will be returned. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry made a formal request on July 2, 2008 for NBC to pull the show, stating that separating babies and toddlers from parents for extended periods can cause distress, anxiety, and damage healthy attachment. AACAP president Dr. Robert Hendren said a child's sense of security should not be gambled with, suggesting a more constructive approach would have teenagers shadow a family. On July 7, NBC set up an online forum for parents who allowed their infants on the show to defend themselves against critics.