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Baby Think It Over® parenting simulation

“Some decisions last a lifetime.”—Preventing Child Abuse & Neglect through Parenting Education and Pregnancy Prevention

What is Baby Think It Over®?

Baby Think It Over® is a life-like, computerized manikin that offers young adults the most realistic parenting education experience available.

Baby Think It Over® was designed to be an educational tool for middle and high school teachers, medical care providers, social workers and any other professionals who work with young adults.

This baby is programmed to cry at unanticipated intervals.  To stop the crying, the caregiver must insert and hold a key in the baby for a length of time it would take to feed, change or diaper and tend to a real baby.

When the baby has been returned, the program coordinator will be able to tell if the baby has been mistreated.  The baby’s internal computer records if baby has been subjected to any of the following types of abuse:

• Allowed to cry excessively
• Shaking
• Striking
• Dropping
• Neglect

Who can borrow a  Baby Think It Over^® baby & how does the program work?

Any Hancock County middle or high school educator, parent support groups, child protective workers, counselors, hospitals and other professionals whose program goals are consistent with Hancock County Children’s Council.  Also any concerned parents who would like their child to experience life with a baby may ask to participate in the project on a one-on-one basis, depending upon availability.

After appropriate preparation, and with the approval by the parent or guardian of each participant, the young adult caregiver takes his or her infant home for a 24-48 hour (or longer) parenting period.

A curriculum accompanies the BTIO baby helping the supervising adult to discuss the parenting skills needed to care for a newborn infant.

Hancock County Children’s Council views Baby Think It Over® as a unique early parenting prevention resource and would like as many young people as possible to experience this program.

These babies are available on loan to Hancock County professionals who work with young adults.  There is no fee, though borrowers must provide a certificate of insurance for the materials.  Borrowers need only supply batteries and students must participate in an anonymous pre– and post-survey.  Borrowers are liable for any loss or damage to materials.

Program Mission

Our goals for the Baby Think It Over® program are: 

• To offer adolescents and adults the opportunity to experience the 24-hour commitment and demands required by a baby.
• To provide curriculum support that will help future parents understand that parenting skills can and must be learned and practiced.
• To build community awareness of  parent education and support, as well as resources available to parents.
• To generate awareness of Hancock County Children’s Council and our efforts to prevent child abuse through support of healthy parent / child relationships right from the start.

How Do I Participate?

We are sure that you will be as excited as we are with the results of the Baby Think It Over® Program. We will be happy to provide you with a demonstration and / or copy of the curriculum, as well as answer any questions. If you are an educator, a concerned parent, or a professional working with young adults, please call Hancock County Children’s Council for additional information and to reserve materials for your students.

Also available are fetal alcohol syndrome and drug-affected demonstration manikins with curriculums for supplemental use in your Baby Think It Over®  program.

Reservations are required, and are on a first-come basis with signed agreement.

Contact the Hancock County Children’s Council Family Resource Center in Ellsworth, Maine at (207)667-5304 ext. 261. Or email: children@downeasthealth.org.

Major funding for this program provided by: United Way of Eastern Maine & Maine Children’s Trust Inc.