Ever wondered what its like to be a parent? Then you might want to tune in to the new NBC reality series,
The Baby Borrowers. Based on a hit British program of the same name,
The Baby Borrowers takes five teenage couples – ages 18 to 20 – and places them on the fast track to parenthood. The couples will be immediately transformed to mothers and fathers by being first being a baby, then a toddler, a pre-teen and, ultimately, grandparents, all of whom they'll have to take care of in the course of three weeks.
The five young couples begin their unique journey by setting up a home in a suburban neighborhood and attending pre-natal classes. The ladies are given simulated “empathy” bellies to wear in preparation for the arrival of their “baby.”
The situation gets even more challenging quickly as five real mothers entrust five real babies in the care of the couples, and for the next three days, they must be able to follow rigid routines, handle feeding chores, change diapers and endure seemingly endless crying bouts. All of this is done under the supervision of the parents, who come in from time to time to make sure the teens are handling their new responsibility properly.
After the baby comes the toddler, and the teen couples will have to learn how to cope with what's known as the “Terrible Twos,” a stage characterized by frequent – and noisy – tantrums. When that stage of the show ends, the couples are tasked to parent pre-teens, their siblings and pets, and later, actual teens who have a penchant for trouble and mischief.
Last, but certainly not the least, are the grandparents, who represent what might be in store for the couples in the distant future.
"This series promises to be a rollercoaster of emotions, laughs and empathy for people of all ages," Craig Plestis, NBC's Executive Vice President of Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, said. "Those who have survived the child-raising experience and those younger viewers who wonder what awaits them can all identify with what these overwhelmed kids are going to endure over the years, all presented in a telescopic amount of time."
The Baby Borrowers is a production of Love Productions. Serving as executive-producer is Richard McKerrow.
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: NBC
(Image Courtesy of NBC)