Disney’s Baby Einstein DVD’s at the centre of controversy

Researchers have claimed that watching television of any kind may be harmful to under-two’s. Disney however, defends its bestselling Baby Einstein DVD brand that “aims to enrich the play experience”.

The Baby Einstein DVD’s have been attacked by the Boston-based organisation Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC). In October 2009 the group were threatening Disney with a class-action lawsuit against the Baby Einstein brand for “unfair and deceptive practises”.

In response to this threat, Disney is now offering US parents the chance to claim money back on up to four Baby Einstein DVD’s returned per household. They still continue to defend the DVD’s saying critics should not “twist and spin a simple customer satisfaction action into a false admission of guilt”.

Launched in 1997, the Baby Einstein brand quickly grew into an international phenomenon. Many parents hoped the TV tutor could help their child's development.

However, many child psychologists and paediatric specialists opposed this. One study, conducted by researchers at the University of Washington and published in The Journal of Pediatrics surmised that for every hour spent watching television, infants understood on average six to eight fewer words than children who did not watch television.

What do you think of this story? Do you think Baby Einstein is good or bad for the little ones? Discuss here.