Refund: Disney Offers Money Back for Baby Einstein Videos

What bull! There is no basis to show that these do not have some small form of educational value. My daughter was a baby einstein fanatic, she had every one of the dvd's and absolutely loved them! There is no basis to show that a baby who hangs out in the living room while baby einstein is on will not show a different behavior and learning pattern later on than a child who sits in the room while the older kids are watching spongebob or mom or dad is watching something more adult. Studies have clearly shown that babies who listen to classical music learn better at a later age. Thats all baby einstein really is, classical music on a dvd, with yes, a little baby friendly visual stimulation. Parents should not expect these dvds to turn their child into a genius by age 4 but I wouldn't say that being exposed to such soothing classical pieces during infant and toddlerhood would have no impact on a childs behavior later on. People also seem to think that a parent who lets their baby or small child watch ANY tv is just using it as a way to get out of spending time with the child. Let me remind the world of this, Dishes still have to be washed, clothes folded, beds made, floors cleaned, supper cooked and many women have older children to help with homework, etc. We cannot do these things with a baby glued to our hip. Every mother needs a couple of hours every day in which she can do these things and omg, selfish thing above all others, maybe even take a shower and brush her teeth? If a mom uses something like baby einstein for a little while each day, to keep baby amused while she gets things done I don't think theres any harm in it. In any case I don't think theres any way they could correctly say that it has no impact on the child because what educational or learning impact it does have may not show up until much later and also, rather imperceptibly AND only if the parents keep up with a musical education. It's not just classical music they say makes kids do better in school, it's playing an instrument themselves. My daughter is 6 & takes piano lessons. She is extremely intelligent for her age. Did that come from an interest in music from baby einstein? Who can say? But exposure to such music probably didn't hurt. You can't just put your kid in front of baby einstein and then complain when they're 5 that they're not any smarter than other kids, you have to continue taking steps to further their love of music according to their age level. That still may not make them geniuses but it will likely go a long way towards ensuring they do better in school. Parents need to take action themselves, not just drop their kids in front of a tv and then complain their kids aren't any smarter. I still have all our baby einstein dvds and will keep them and still buy them as gifts for others who are having babies.

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My 5 year old still hums Mozart and Beethoven mixed with a little Tchaikovsky.. I'm not complaining. Lawyers will do anything for a buck whenever there is a pot o gold to be had, in this case Disneys/Baby Einstein.
Does anyone truely believe that these videos were going to make your kid a genius? If you did, your child probably never stood a chance at becoming a genius? Perhaps you thought it was designed to release parents of the "tedious" hands on education that you should give a child? In any case, videos are entertainment, if not brief periods of sanity for parents, but far from Einstein makers. Its a clever name and product which should be taken at face value. Stop the litigous mentality America and take a little responsibility.

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People, we need to stop basing every single action that we perform on studies!

Is classical music good for kids? Yes (it's called the "Mozart Effect", and it's been proven).

Is sitting endlessly in front of the tv good for kids? No.

Did Disney say that kids should sit, drooling, for hour upon hour in front of the TV, and that would make them smarter? NO.

Did Disney, or anyone else, say that these videos were a substitute for good parenting? NO.

Use some freakin' COMMON SENSE, for the love of Pete!!! Honestly, people have become so completely unable to think for themselves, no wonder we're speeding, unchecked, toward socialism. Nobody can take care of themselves. "This video didn't make my child a genius. I'm going to SUE!!" "My child got fat because I won't let him go out and play, who can I SUE???" "This study says I should breastfeed, but THIS study says I should feed this ultra-nutrient-rich formula. Oh, dear, whatever shall I do???"

I feel very, very sad for our children. What a crappy legacy we are leaving for them.

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I agree! I have 2 young boys and I work full-time. My husband works full-time and often has to work late. The only way for me to get ANYTHING done is to sometimes pop in an (dare I say it???) "educational" video. This allows me the brief time to get things done like make dinner for my kids while they're distracted. I'd rather they listen to some soothing classical music and watch some visually stimulating images than watch garbage like Spongebob or some other such nonesense. My kids like classical music as a result of their early exposure to it, and I will continue to develop & nurture that interest, and take accountability for my kids' development like any good parent should.

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Right on! There is absolutely no harm in these videos when used in MODERATION. You're absolutely right, there are other things to be done around the house. Putting the baby in the front carrier is not always an option so if you let your child watch these movies INSTEAD of Spongebob or The Fairly Odd Parents it is much better for them. I am an Army wife who is alone most of the time with a 6 month old and I have heart disease. I can't tell you how much easier my day became when I learned about these dvd's. It gives me time to do the things I need to do and rest when I really need it. He loves these videos but that's not to say that it's the only thing I let him do. For most of the day I am with him on the floor practicing with him to sit up, roll over, crawl...etc, etc. These videos are also a tool to help parents with what they need to be teaching their child at what age. (hence the ages on the videos- 3 mos +, 6 mos +,...) Common sense people!! Stop finding ways to blame other people because you didn't have enough common sense to know that you need to physically work with your child in order for them to advance. I am still using my baby einstein movies and will continue to do so. My son loooves them and so do I!

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I have personally never used these videos for my children. I know a lot of parents that do however.All of them have children that are ahead of the curve.They have also spent a lot of time working with there children on other areas of development as well. My children though are also ahead of the curve though they have never been exposed to said videos. For some parents I'm sure these are a wonderful tool to help them with there child's development. These sue happy people are the one's who need the lesson. I am so sick of hearing people complain when they don't use a tool properly! Yes these videos are a tool and should never have been substituted for the education a child receives from their parents! For children to reach most developmental milestone parents need to get on the floor and interact with their children! For those who can not do this all day long they can use these videos a little each day to help them but not to substitute for them!

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Oh my. Do I love every one of you parents that have commented. I thought I was alone on this one. I had done a post on this topic because I was shocked that I had not seen anywhere in the media how moronic and litigious these parents were in this whole story. I especially agree with LS. Nice job.

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Wow. You sound really angry. You know, if your child learned from infancy how to occupy him/herself, you wouldn't be struggling so hard to carve out a little free time for yourself. Check out RIE. Check out Janet Lansbury's blog on the subject. There are practical answers for moms and dads. wwwjanetlansburyDOTcom.

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My son is the ultimate Baby Einstein fanatic. He has been been addicted to the music-mostly, and the videos since infancy. He is currently 11 years old and severly autistic. He would be the best study subject for this area. Part of his autistic symtoms is the repetitive listening to one song, or watching one snipet from a video, over and over and over and over (you catch my drift). I hate repeat buttons. I would much rather listen to this music, than alot of others-Barney comes to mind. Since he could make himself understood he has craved the CDs and DVDs. We would go to a toy store and he ignores all else, except Baby Eintstein CDs and DVDS. We have hundreds of copies of each. A little indulgent I know, but for years he has wanted nothing else. There are times in my house that he has a different song playing on 2 computers, 2 tv's, and his ipod. He is totally and completly addicted. We have learned to either let it bother us, or to learn to like it. I find myself humming Mozart, or a hundred other composers songs, instead of Aerosmith or the Beatles. Has it made him any smarter? Hard to tell with Autism. He is almost 12 and still doesn't talk- he repeats words on cue, but uses almost everyother form of communication but talking. But he can read and write, even before he was formally taught, which I attribute to these DVD's. Good or Bad, like I said he is a perfect test subject.

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