Claire Verity (bringing Up Baby) has no qualifications

TV bosses wash their hands of nanny with fake qualifications

Patrick Foster, The Times, 19th January 2008

A controversial television nanny whose "outdated and potentially harmful" childcare methods brought complaints from hundreds of viewers fabricated her qualifications, it was confirmed yesterday.

The Times disclosed in October that Claire Verity, who appeared in Bringing up Baby, a programme that explored various methods of infant care, claimed to hold numerous childcare diplomas from organisations that denied knowledge of her.

The NSPCC said that the nanny’s methods, which included leaving babies to cry and limiting cuddling to ten minutes a day, were "outdated and potentially harmful". The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said that her recommendation that babies should sleep alone in a separate room contradicted guidance from the Department of Health on reducing the risk of cot death.

Channel 4 announced that it would hold an investigation into Verity's qualifications after it circulated publicity material detailing the awards that she claimed to hold, and described her on its website as having a “string of nannying qualifications”.

Yesterday, 12 weeks after The Times reported the story, the broadcaster said that it had concluded its inquiry. In a short statement it said: "At Channel 4’s request, Silver River [the production company] has asked Claire Verity for documentary evidence to support the qualifications listed in a document her agent supplied and, thus far, none has been forthcoming."

The channel said that it had no further plans to work with Verity and had planned only one series of Bringing up Baby.

A source at the channel defended the length of time that it had taken to provide a response. The source said: "We had to give her a bit of time to produce proof of the qualifications that she said she had. It’s nearly three months later and she hasn't done that. I’m sure you can draw your own conclusions."

Ofcom received 752 complaints from viewers, some of whom accused Verity of child cruelty. The industry regulator said in December that Channel 4 had been wrong to describe her as a maternity nurse, adding: "Where there is the potential for harm, broadcasters should be careful when using terms which may imply participants have medical qualifications or other professional status."

In October The Times asked Chloe Cunningham and Simon Fairclough, Verity's agents, to confirm her professional qualifications. The list supplied by Cunningham Management, which described Verity as highly qualified, differed from the qualifications that Channel 4 claimed she held.

Verity, who has no children, claimed to hold diplomas in child daycare and preschool practice from the national awarding body ASET. But a spokeswoman said: "There is no trace whatsoever of this lady on our database." She said that ASET did not offer a diploma in preschool practice.

Maternity Nurse Training, from which Verity said that she had qualifications in maternity practice, sleep training and paediatrics, said that she did not hold any of its awards. A spokeswoman said: "This person never enrolled on any of our courses and as such has never been trained by us. We would like to make it quite clear that we do not in any way endorse the methods employed by Ms Verity in her work."

Goal, from which Verity claimed to hold a diploma in childcare, said that it had no record of her and had never offered the diploma.

In addition, Ms Cunningham admitted that Verity had not yet taken the postnatal depression or care of multiple baby qualifications that Channel 4 claimed she held.

The awarding bodies also searched their systems for Verity under the name Houseman, the name of her former husband, and Bradley, under which she is listed on the electoral roll.

In an interview with The Times, Verity claimed to hold a degree in business studies from the University of York, but a spokesman said that it had no record of her and did not offer a business studies degree.

Verity could not be contacted yesterday. Both Ms Cunningham and Mr Fairclough put the phone down and did not reply to e-mails, but Cunningham Management did remove from its website a profile of Verity containing claims about her qualifications.

The Times understands that she has enrolled on childcare courses since October

Letter from The Children's Project to the England Children's Commissioner

Professor A Aynsley Green
Children’s Commissioner
11 MILLION
1 London Bridge
LONDON
SE1 9BG

26th October 2007

Dear Professor Aynsley Green

PROTECTION OF INFANTS NOT APPEARING AS ACTORS ON TELEVISION

The screening of Bringing Up Baby by Channel 4 has raised some fundamental issues about how we as a society set about protecting infants from harm, and indeed, our willingness to be participants in the process.

Some years ago I attended a meeting at Portcullis House at which Peter Clarke the new Welsh Children’s Commissioner spoke. At the time the consensus in Government was that a Children’s Commissioner for England was unnecessary as there already existed a department and a Minister for Children. It is interesting to note one argument at the time - that the appointment of a Children's Commissioner for England would simply add an additional layer of bureaucracy without any real power.

How ironic that the welfare of infants - those most vulnerable in our society, yet too young to be called children - would appear to be outside the jurisdiction of the very person appointed to protect them. I can think of no more urgent issue to be placed at the top of (what must be) an already busy agenda than that of dangerously misguided practices being promoted as both safe and desirable in a television programme. And in complete contradiction of all current government guidelines and those of others such as Unicef, United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child and WHO.

Along with my colleagues who are concerned with the emotional wellbeing of infants, and therefore the future wellbeing of our society, I am astonished at the lack of any response from yourself about this fundamentally important issue – that of protecting infants. One that we all assumed you had been appointed to oversee and enable.

I would like to draw your attention to the statement about your appointment on the Every Child Matters website, from which I quote... "As part of his broad remit and function, the Commissioner works within the framework of the five Every Child Matters outcomes. These outcomes complement the rights under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the Commissioner must have regard. As the Commissioner is independent of government, he will decide what issues he will focus on as he discharges his duties." I suspect that within the last sentence lies the key. I do urge you to think about the importance of good beginnings for infants and the impact of this on future outcomes.

It is one thing to offer an ear to children suffering as a result of bad experiences when they are able to communicate this, but what of the youngest children for whom speech remains in the future, yet have the same emotions? Do they not deserve special protection from harm when it is highlighted and brought to your attention by those who understand?

We are happy to assist in any way we can.

With best wishes
Yours sincerely

Clive Dorman
Director and Co-founder
The Children’s Project Ltd

Sign the petition at 10 Downing Street here
Statements and information here
Encl. Statement for The Children’s Project re: Bringing Up Baby here

Notes from part 3 of Bringing Up Baby

Bringing Up Baby Week 3

Topic, crying and colic
This week portrayed scenes of an abusive and neglectful nature that were difficult to view. There is so much wrong with this series it is almost pointless highlighting specifics. The overwhelming message coming from the poor babies this week was one of dangerously heightened stress levels. Babies being force fed, babies vomiting, babies showing very red skin tone, back arching, and turning away when being held - avoidant behaviour. Babies close to collapse being roughly fed as part of a regime to be followed. Shocking scenes of babies becoming quiet... There are genuine child protection issues here.

The time-frame here is 2 - 6 weeks

Spock family, having 'their time' snuggled on sofa in the evening.
Dad: This is what we used to do (baby is 2 weeks old)
Mum: I feel physically sick when he cries - I don't know if you suffer from that.
...I gotta go.

----
Mentors Claire Verity CV, Claire Scott CS (Continuum)

CV Babies cry for no reason at all
CS They have such an anticipation about being held.
CV It isn't about being held, there isn't a reason why they cry all the time, sometimes they just cry for absolutely no reason at all. Very clever little things - they know exactly what's going on.
CS (gasp) You think they're manipulative don't you?
CV They are - very much, very much they are, course they are.

----
Voice over (VO) Colic isn't harmful. Doctors advise babies are not left to cry for more than 15 mins

This scene was very difficult to view

Truby King family with twins struggled with evening crying and had previously brought the twins down. CV suggests cutting the afternoon feed 'so it will feed better at 7.00 and sleep'. The feed is 1 1/2 oz.

Mum: It doesn't seem like that much Claire, does it?
CV It isn't is it? I know, it's hardly anything at all. Right, that's good.
Right little (name), you're in for a bit of a shock hunny bunny. Make the most of it.
- It's quite a shock to the baby's system to do this, but it's just a one-off, or maybe tomorrow as well just to get them back into this routine of sleeping at 7 o clock because they're very much out of it by the sound of it and I'm not sure what's gone wrong. Something else has gone wrong somewhere else down the line, and we need to take this drastic action to get them back in otherwise they're going to keep doing this for a long time.
- There. What d'you think to that young man?
Mum (distressed, baby mouthing) Oh look, he's looking for food. I don't want to see him hungry.
CV He's going to be hungry, but it's up to you if you want to stop it right now and feed another 2 oz and be up and down stairs all night.
Mum: OK
CV I know you can do it.

CV Rocking twins in buggy, to camera...
I think she thinks she's starving them and they're going to be really upset and they're going to hate her for it. I mean, they're only babies, they don't even know and at the end of the day, when it comes to bath time they'll be starving and that means they're going to take 4 oz which is a good night's sleep. You can't expect to be tied to a baby literally 24 hrs a day. You have to have time on your own, you need to have time out and that's between 7 and 11 when these babies are in bed.

-----
VO To make sure they sleep in the evening she wakes the babies from their afternoon nap one hour earlier.

What follows was a damming piece of broadcasting showing the abusive and brutal treatment of infants, which was almost impossible to watch.

Babies screaming in distress
Mum (distressed): I hate it when she's crying.
CV It is all about at the end of the day keeping them awake during this hour just to keep them going so they're absolutely shattered and really hungry.

The twins are so tired they can hardly feed - but they have stopped crying. They are being fed roughly to force them to take the milk, when they are exhausted.

CV Come on madam.
Give it 100 per cent with this routine. No grey areas, black and white, all or nothing.

Later, sat on settee, dad with a beer
CV This is what it's all about, you need to toughen up, really.
Mum: But it's so difficult Claire
CV No it isn't. Be firm at the end of the day you're the one that needs this time together.
Dad: I'll drink to that.
Mum appears defeated

----
The breastfeeding in public discussion was very poor. Two of the mentors were shocked at the prospect and found it disgusting.

----
CV Dad: Don't stick your tongue out at me. (See Social Baby book. This is early communication, and something to be celebrated. It is hugely empowering for dads if they know what is happening)

----
CV's child minder mum (back to work after 6 weeks) feeding the baby quickly, twice. Baby sick.
CV It's all about how much you can get inside. It's like a car, the more you put in the further it goes. Just the same with a baby.

Baby wakes at 2.45am

VO After several traumatic nights (name)'s no longer waking. Are these the first parents to get an unbroken night? And just 6 weeks after giving birth (mum) is back at work as a childminder.

From a Truby King Survivor

Claire Verity should read this, as should anyone who considers her methods have any sort of merit. I get more and more angry and upset about this entire episode.

From our own discussion group...

This is very sad re the long term effects of TK's regimes
http://www.openwriting.com/archives/2007/01/a_dangerous_ind_1.php

NMC response to Channel 4 series, Bringing up Baby

The Nursing and Midwifery Council, the UK regulator for nearly 700,000 nurses and midwives has been receiving numerous complaints about the Channel 4 series, Bringing up Baby. One of the contributors to the programme is described on Channel Four’s website as a "maternity nurse", a title which is not recognised by the NMC. We are in contact with both Channel 4 and Silver River Productions, the company that produced the series. The NMC today issued the following statement:

"The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the regulatory body for the nursing and midwifery professions in the UK. The NMC exists to protect the public and we do this by maintaining a register of nearly 700,000 nurses, midwives and specialist community public health nurses. The register is only open to those who have achieved the strict standards of training, education and qualifications required by the NMC. The only people who are permitted to call themselves a registered nurse, midwife or specialist community public health nurse are those who are on the register.

"Nursing and midwifery are highly respected professions and anyone receiving care by someone called ‘nurse’ or ‘midwife’ expects them to be registered and therefore hold the required skills and competencies that go with that title. Made-up titles like ‘maternity nurse’ are deceptive as they imply the person has earned qualifications that they do not have. This only serves to confuse the public and could prove damaging to the high level of trust that people have for genuine nurses and midwives."

Notes from part 2 of Bringing Up Baby

Bringing Up Baby Week 2

This week Hamish Mykura (C4) and Daisy Goodwin (Silver River) made public statements reassuring viewers that safeguards were in place, and we were advised we would feel better after the second show, when the science is referred to.

I witnessed Claire Verity handling a new baby very roughly, with disrespect and no concern for the state of the infant, who was clearly shocked and distressed.

Bear in mind we are seeing babies during the first 2 weeks of life.
Here is some of what was said. Claire Verity is CV...

CV: I think people who pick up babies are stupid - absolutely stupid. There's absolutely no reason to pick up a baby - leave it alone, don't touch it.
---
CV: She's looking at you. No eye contact please.
Mum: No eye contact at all whenwe're feeding?
CV: No. Once he gets eye contact he knows that he's in charge - and he's not. You're in charge and your feeding him. It's all about getting this milk down him.
---
Voice Over: Getting enough milk into a baby to last 4 hours is a lot easier with a bottle than a breast.
(on formula) Manufacturers promoted it as being better for babies than breast milk, but then this was at the same time as cigarettes were being promoted as a health product.
---
Distressed mum talking to CV...
Mum: I can't physically do it..
CV: But you're not being mean to her.
Mum: I feel like it though (baby left outside). I just spend all my time stood at back door which is defeating the object of her having a 4-hour sleep.
CV: It is really. You've got to rise above it, understand that she's playing you up, this baby, she knows exactly what she's doing, she's looking for attention, even at this age, all the time. So don't bow down to her, don't give in, you're in charge, keep going with the routine.
---
The other couple with twins. Mum sobbing at having them outside for 3 1/2 hours...
Twins screaming in distress.
Mum: Where's Claire? I can't leave them out there, they're crying their eyes out. I can't.
CV: Sit down a minute - I'll deal with them - trust me.
Mum (sobbing): I don't want them out there (name).
Dad: If it doesn't work today we'll change it tomorrow.
CV (outside with babies): Sometimes babies do cry - it's a fact of life. Nothing to worry about. I'm not worried - (smiling) do I look worried?
Later,
Mum: The other thing that was concerning me is molly-coddling them too much, and I don't want to - you could easily do that.
CV: I can see you going down that road rapidly - but I'm not going to let you.
---
How much time do you hold a baby?
CV: The baby's not held - unless they're feeding, bathing or changing a nappy.
(Spock mentor): So for 20 hours it's left? Where's the security in that?
CV: The security is obviously it's swaddled at night in it's own cot.
Security from a swaddle?
CV: The security is in its own pram or buggy or when the parents are around. You don't actually have to hold a baby physically to make it feel secure.

(Continuum mentor): No-one really knows the detrimental effect of really leaving a baby to cry, until these resurface in later life when they're in relationships, they suffer from low self-esteem, they don't trust. When babies cry they cry for a reason, They need to be held they need to be picked up - they need to feel they can trust their parents.
CV: No they don't need to be held or picked up. Babies cry for no absolutely reason at all, it's the only way they communicate.
---
7 year old sibling on baby crying whilst they are trying to eat tea: She's just doing it to get some attention.
Mum: Exactly, (name), well done.

Channel 4 uses respectable organisations to add credence to Bringing Up Baby

I'm concerned that Channel Four are intentionally misleading the public by offering the information in this link FIND OUT MORE where they have Organisations, Websites and Books.

We are listed under websites (with a dead link, which may be sinister) and The Social Baby is in the books section along with others. I am not happy about being associated with the site or the programme, as I am sure the other organisations would be if they were aware.

A job for Monday...

Guns, Gangs, Bringing up Baby and Claire Verity

Amongst all the outrage over Claire Verity's obsessively literal interpretation of Truby King's discredited theories (who by the way only had the idea, based on observing calves, no science), there is a much darker and sinister issue.

The same media who promote harsh parenting practices, also demand action to end gang culture, and get the yobs off our streets. If they looked into the reasons why teenagers and (increasingly) young children behave like they do they would most likely find these teens to not come from caring or loving families. There would be marked similarities between their experience and those of Claire Verity's charges. The main difference is that the remoteness CV advocates in infancy continues throughout childhood with these troubled teens. They grow without a sense of belonging, of being cared for and loved.

Children are incredible survivors - from South American Street kids, to survivors of violence and abuse, to neglected kids on housing estates, all children crave living and being loved. When care and love doesn't come from an adult, the child is unable to develop a secure attachment and has to become self reliant in order to survive. In Truby King's time (a hundred years ago), millions of people were dying in war, and it was essential to raise children in ways that would make them never question authority, and willingly volunteer to be good soldiers (and die).

Gangs are groups of children who do not have a secure attachment figure. The pain and anger this causes young children as they struggle to find someone who will care for, and guide them is unimaginable. Their behaviour becomes more extreme as they vie for attention in what becomes an increasingly alien place for them. Their behaviour gets them flagged up as trouble-makers in school, and the response from under-resourced and poorly trained schools is exclusion. It is no surprise that on meeting someone in the same situation - socially excluded and disliked - they are likely to form a bond in their pain. It is also not surprising that the frustration and anger from years of neglect manifests itself in violence. Seemingly mindless to the rest of society, this excluded group simply vent their feelings in ways that make no sense to the rest of us. And to be fair, neither to the perpetrators.

Claire Verity's methods do work. An infant's brain is at its most vulnerable and most active following birth. All experience is wiring the brain to understand what to expect out of life. In the case of her babies, abandonment, neglect, remoteness - emotionally crippled and without attachment. Most importantly though, a quiet baby that sleeps and makes no demands of its parents.

Clive Dorman, The Children's Project

Complaint to Ofcom re Bringing Up Baby

The following was sent to Ofcom via their website on Wed 26th September.

Some babies in this programme are being subjected to harsh parenting regimes that if allowed to continue, will put the infants at high risk of sustaining brain damage, emotional trauma, and social and emotional difficulties throughout life. I had major concerns about the welfare of the infants in this programme, and whether or not the parents were given enough information to make an informed decision. But the show was far worse than I could have imagined. It was the most shocking and horrifying abuse and neglect of babies I have seen broadcast in the name of entertainment.

We were approached by the production company, Silver River at the earliest stages of the programme as they were looking for a supporter of Truby King's work. I explained at length the concerns in following Truby King's methods to the letter. We sent them a copy of our book The SocialBaby, and the DVD of the same name, to support my argument. Produced in partnership with NSPCC, the DVD supports parents in understanding infant cues, and stresses the importance of positive contact and interactions for the future well-being of the developing child.

My concern is the flippant, arrogant and patronising way both Hamish Mykura (Head of History, Science & Religion at Channel Four) and Daisy Goodwin at Silver River have refused to acknowledge my concerns, or to answer my questions about safeguards to protect the interest of babies in the programme.

New babies whose needs are not met will not form secure attachments, and if left to cry produce high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. This is highly corrosive to a developing brain, and left unchecked, can result in permanent damage to the parts of the brain that control the emotions. The orphans of Romania are extreme examples of this, where scans have shown parts of the brain are completely undeveloped.

The show contravenes the Unicef Convention on the Rights of the Child, and is in complete contradiction with every Government initiative in the UK. There must be regulations in place to prevent child neglect and abuse being broadcast as entertainment. There are some who will believe this is accurate information, and in putting it into practice will be harming their own babies.

The troubles of the UK's youth have its roots firmly set in early childhood experience and this show undermines every piece of current thinking on infant development.

I can break down specific detail of the programme if you wish, and I have copies of my correspondence with Channel Four and Silver River, both of whom have been deliberately misleading and deceitful in their treatment of my concerns.

Clive Dorman, Director and Co-founder, The Children's Project

Appeal to celebreties who've employed Claire Verity

According to the publicity for Bringing up Baby, and media exposure about Claire Verity, she has been a Nanny to the babies of Mick Jagger/Jerry Hall, Mark Knopfler, and Sting.

If this is the case, and they have followed her regimes it would be very interesting to hear about how their children are doing.

It's very clear from this blog that I worry about Claire Verity, as I believe she is selling child abuse and neglect at £1000 per day to celebrities who, with punishing schedules and sufficient funds, are likely to lap up the prospect of a regime that appears to shut up a baby.

I would like to hear from anyone who has been a client of CV and to get feedback about the experience.

Claire Verity in conversation

Claire Scott - CS (Continuum Concept Mentor)
Claire Verity - CV (Truby King Mentor)
Dreena Hamilton - DH (Dr Spock Mentor)

CS: It's an anthropological study. They look to their parents for love - to be held, to be bonded with their parents, because that's what they're born to expect.

CV: What, at 2 or 3 weeks old?

CS: At birth...

CV: (shakes her head) Disagree

CS: ...babies want parents to respond to them and when they don't, they realise thier communication doesn't work and they give up.

CV: Maybe at 2 or 3 years old they do, but not at 2 and 3 weeks they don't.

Another.

DH: But if you're going to have a baby and then you're going to shut it out of your life for half of its day, what's the point of having it?

CV People pay me (£1000 a day) to put a baby into a routine - that's what I get paid to do. That's what I firmly believe in.

Claire Verity from tonight's 'Bringing Up baby'

The biggest mistake a parent can make is allow a baby to dictate to them. A baby should fit into your way of life, not you into its.

No Touching

How can you let someone so tiny rule your life.

Put it outside in the garden.

I don't understand why anybody needs to touch or pick up a baby.

A baby doesn't want to be cuddled all the time, all they want to do is to be left alone to grow.

People pay me to put baby into a routine - that's what I get paid to do - that's what I firmly believe in.

Claire Verity reveals her true colours

So... Claire Verity burst onto our screens tonight, triumphantly and exclusively expounding her chronically misguided advice to new parents which amount to how to brain damage infants into early compliance. Believe me, brain damage is exactly what she promotes.

It is outstanding that here in the UK with a government that is pouring millions of pounds into early intervention, that the media is sufficiently unregulated that it is possible for Daisy Goodwin (Silver River) to produce a programme for Channel Four (commissioned by Hamish Mykura - Head of History, Science and Religion) that, after the first show (of four) promotes the contrived neglect of infants.

From the time I was first approached by Silver River, I have been seriously concerned about the implications of broadcasting parenting practices that are outdated. Let's put this in context. Coca-Cola was created by John Pemberton in the 1880's (more here) It contained cocaine and an aphrodisiac stimulant from the kola nut. Versions of this drink continued until 1914 when it became illegal as part of the Harrison Narcotic Act 1914. Truby King graduated in 1888. Full story here. See also my blog on the man.

Very simply, would we suggest our children drink the Coke of the late 1800's in the interests of a television experiment? Why did the pregnant mum not drink and smoke during pregnancy as was the norm at the time?

Who is consulted to protect these babies and their poor uninformed parents from the child abuse Claire Verity is exposing them to?

Channel Four loves controversy. Bringing Up Baby will never gain the sort of exposure that Big Brother gets, and Ofcom was slow in its response to the public outrage at racist statements by Jade Goody towards Shilpa Shetty.

There are very serious issues here.

Letters to Channel Four/ Siver River re Claire Verity/Bringing Up Baby

I wrote to Channel Four requesting detailed information about the upcoming Silver River Production, Bringing Up Baby. I have emailed previously and had a feeble response from Hamish Mykura, Head of History, Science & Religion at Channel Four, who is responsible for the programme. I have added Silver Rivers responses, which are equally unaceptable.
Links to the correspondence are here

Letter from Clive Dorman at The Children's Project to Channel Four 17.05.2007
Reply from Channel Four 23.05.2007

Letter from Clive Dorman at The Children's Project to Silver River Productions 17.05.2007
Reply from Silver River 31.05.2007

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this correspondence you can contact

The Children's Project using the links above by email, phone or post.

Channel Four (who commissioned the programme)
Channel Four Television
124 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2TX
Switchboard 020 7396 4444 (outside UK +4420 7369 4444)

Our reply is from David Glover
Deputy Commissioning Editor
Specialist Factual

Silver River (who are producing the programme)
Silver River Productions
4th Floor, Brook House
2-16 Torrington Place
London
WC1E 7HN
T 020 7307 2720 (outside UK +4420 7307 2720)
E info@silverriver.tv

Our reply is from Tanya Shaw
Executive Producer

Reply to Clive Dorman from Channel Four

Clive Dorman
The Children's Project
PO Box 2
Richmond
TW10 7FL

23rd May 2007

Dear Clive

Thank you for your letter to Hamish Mykura of the 17th May 2007.

I would like to reassure you once again that we take the welfare of children in this series, as with all programmes, very seriously.

Bringing Up Baby is a thoughtful and responsible observation of different methods of childcare. There have been conflicting and different views in this area for many years and it is, without doubt, a valid area for exploration in a television programme.

The series is not setting out to promote any particular method of childcare, but rather to explore and to contrast them.

I appreciate your interest in this series and hope that when you have seen it, your fears will be allayed.

Yours sincerely

David Glover
Deputy Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual

Channel Four
124 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2TX

020 7396 4444

Letter from Clive Dorman to Channel 4 about Bringing Up Baby

I have this elsewhere on the site as an original letter in pdf form. This is the text of that letter...

Hamish Mykura
Head of History, Science & Religion
Channel Four Television
124 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2TX

17th May 2007

Dear Hamish
BRINGING UP BABY / CLAIRE VERITY
You may recall our having email correspondence about the above show (22.11.06), and sending me reassurances that safeguards are in place to protect both babies and the families of those involved.

In view of Corinne Abrams feature in May 12’s Sun Newspaper, and reports that Claire Verity is involved with the show, I must formally ask for further reassurances.

I do need something more detailed than you have so far offered. We and our colleagues count amongst some of the world’s most widely respected researchers and experts in child development and welfare. I don’t believe it can be acceptable for you to dismiss us simply because you have either not heard about, or do not agree with, the concerns being expressed. Would you, for example, commission a show in which a group of teenagers were offered a range of drugs to try, from coffee and cola through to heroin and crack cocaine? The research on attachment, brain development, and the importance of early emotional health are universally conclusive. There can few other research areas that in their hundreds, produce such conclusive evidence.

There is an endemic problem in this country which is; many people believe that somehow all babies are born inherently evil and that unless they are controlled from the beginning they will grow to become awful children. The roots of this belief are set in the work of King, Ferber, Ezzo, and are now being perpetuated by Claire Verity (and certain other notables), non of whom base their practice on evidence or research. The work of King and others has been universally discredited for decades. As society progresses, many things that were once deemed acceptable, cease to be. Sadly, this fails to be the case for parenting TV shows, and so-called parenting Gurus. Almost without exception they are based on outdated ideas that share nothing with current research, practice or government policy. I find it sad that a forward-looking company such as Channel Four can subscribe to such discredited ideas, when you could be commissioning people such as ourselves to create highly worthy, and far more shocking series on the same subject that accurately reflects modern thinking. That would certainly start a controversy!

Did you know that babies left as you plan to show in Bringing up Baby don’t stop crying because they learn, they simply give up? A permanent emotional wound that effects their entire life. Please be serious about this.

With best wishes
Clive Dorman
Director and Co-founder
The Children’s Project Ltd
A copy of this letter is being sent to Tanya Shaw, Silver River and may be published elsewhere.

Reply from Silver River about Bringing Up Baby

31st May 2007

Dear Clive

Thank you for your letter to myself and Daisy Goodwin of the 17th May 2007.

I'm sorry that our previous correspondence has not been enough to reassure you that we take the responsibility towards the care of the children in our programmes very seriously.

Bringing Up Baby is a thoroughly researched and thoughtful observation of different ways, different people choose to bring up their babies. There have been conflicting views in this area for many years and for this reason, it as (sic) valid topic of debate for a television programme.

I appreciate your concerns but hope that when you see the series, you will be satisfied that your fears were unfounded.

Yours sincerely

Tanya Shaw
Executive Producer
Silver River Productions
4th Floor, Brook House
2-16 Torrington Place
London WC1E 7HN

020 7307 2720
info@silverriver.tv

Letter from Clive Dorman to Silver River about Bring Up Baby

This is the text of a pdf elsewhere, that I wrote to Silver River...

Tanya Shaw
Joint Head, Factual and Features
SILVER RIVER
Brook House
4th Floor
2-16 Torrington Place
London WC1E 7EH

17th May 2007

Dear Tanya
BRINGING UP BABY / CLAIRE VERITY
You may recall our having email correspondence about the above show, and sending me reassurances that safeguards are in place to protect both babies and the families of those involved.

In view of Corinne Abrams feature in May 12’s Sun Newspaper, and reports that Claire Verity is involved with the show, I must formally ask for further reassurances. The following is the basis of an email I sent Hamish Mykura at C4, to which I have not received a satisfactory response, and to whom I am also writing:

Quite simply, babies exposed to anything approaching Truby King’s methods and routines are worryingly likely to suffer neglect and emotional damage that was unknown in his time.

There is a good deal of concern being expressed about this programme and I need an urgent and specific response so that I can come to a balanced and informed conclusion as to whether the show is in fact abusing infants in the name of entertainment.

Specifically:

1.Who are, or which bodies make up, the medical advice and support teams (independent experts) I have been told are advising the programme?

2.Are the parents involved to be informed that Truby King has been internationally discredited for his methods and practices, in order that that they can make an informed choice? I take exception to the comments from Silver River that parents would choose to follow these styles in any case. Some parents also smoke, take heroin and choose to neglect their children, but this does not make, as Daisy suggested, “in our view, a justifiable experiment”.

3.How do Channel Four and Silver River aim to comply with Unicef Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states:

The Convention sets out these rights in 54 articles and two Optional Protocols. It spells out the basic human rights that children everywhere have: the right to survival; to develop to the fullest; to protection from harmful influences, abuse and exploitation; and to participate fully in family, cultural and social life. The four core principles of the Convention are non-discrimination; devotion to the best interests of the child; the right to life, survival and development; and respect for the views of the child. Every right spelled out in the Convention is inherent to the human dignity and harmonious development of every child. The Convention protects children’s rights by setting standards
in health care; education; and legal, civil and social services.

http://www.unicef.org/crc/index.htm

4. Do you (both) conform to the guidelines set out by the government – Sure Start Birth to Three Matters? http://www.surestart.gov.uk/resources/childcareworkers/birthtothreematters/ and are you aware of the recommendations in Every Child Matters – http://www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/napp/

I am sure that C4 and Silver River have good intentions, but it is not acceptable to claim you have no knowledge of the dangers I am alerting you to in order to persist with a programme that should not be aired in the form it is being promoted.

I look forward to an early and full response.
With best wishes
Clive Dorman
Director and Co-founder
The Children’s Project Ltd