by Kandace Blake

November 06, 2007

At Olympia High School, the Child Care and Development students have began their studies on babies. And when you hear the cries in the middle of class, look over and see a fake baby crying, you will wonder, why in the world is that baby crying?

All 20 students in Child Care and Development will receive a electronic baby to care for over the next 2 to 3 weeks. When the baby cries, the “mothers” have to try and guess why the babies are fussing-- their diaper, they are hungry, their head has been bumped, or their necks need support. On average, the  six babies will cry every 2 ½ hours, including at night.

The creators of this electronic baby was couple named Rick Jurmain and Mary Jurmain. They were watching about teen pregnancy on the TV in 1993 and thought that this is has no way of showing what motherhood is. So they decided to make a electronic baby who cries. The Jurmain's receive an award in 2000 and were guests on Oprah, The Today Show, the Ricki Lake show, CNN, and the Morning News.

During the student's day and night with the baby,  she has a blue “My Baby Book” to fill out what time the baby started crying and ended, what activity it interrupted and any comments. Also they have to fill out what its like to take the baby to school. What your friends think about the baby?  What is it like going on errands?  What’s like to be a caregiver? At the very end, they have to fill out a family tree.

Overall during their studies,  the students learn many things about parenting and how alcohol and drugs can effect a baby.