Luke cares for our RealCare Baby

My experience with the RealCare Baby was extremely good.

The task for my Preparation for Parenthood qualification was to look after her for the whole day. I had to change her nappy, breastfeed and burp her.

It made me realise how sensitive I was when I was younger. Her weight was as real as a real baby’s. I already had experience of caring for a baby, with my wee sister.

My score was 80%. I could do better if I knew what to do and when, but a baby doesn’t let you know!

Caring for the Baby

When I had the baby it was funny because all the staff in the dining room were laughing at me and joking when it was crying.

I called the baby Jimmy Bob Jason. It was quite a funny name but it made people laugh. I had a little fob to put at the baby’s back when it began to cry and when you did this it would make a beeping noise. The beeping noise meant that the baby knew you were there and would respond to you.

The baby hardly ever cried, it was always asleep and making cooing noises. When it started to cry for the first time I began to panic a bit but once I got used to it was quite alright. It got easier the longer I had it.

I had to feed Jimmy Bob, change him, burp him and rock him. It was fun and exciting having the baby but it was hard work too. I’d have him again even though it was hard work looking after him and doing school work at the same time. It was great.

Written by Stephen C

Class 3's first reflections on caring for RealCare Baby - part two

On Thurday 1st March I had the baby for the morning. This experience was brilliant because it taught me how to learn about a child and how to look after it. I have named my baby Callum.

It made me feel stressed but at the same time it made me feel proud of myself. Before I was given the baby I was unsure if I could cope with things like supporting his neck and changing his nappy. I would like to look after the baby again overnight.

So far I have enjoyed the whole experience, however, I found the baby unrealistic because it did not move and a real baby is more floppy. When the baby was crying I found it hard to concentrate on my school work and I know this would have a long term effect in my education. I have also realised that being the age I am, I am not yet ready to look after a child. I was good at looking after the baby as I knew how to change him and make him stop crying.

By KM

I enjoyed the emotion of looking after the baby. In created happiness in the class, and it felt real the way it cried and laughed. Sometimes people would mistake Lewis for a real baby. It makes me feel like a dad, but I don’t want to be a father!

By EA

Class 3's first reflections on caring for (Lewis) RealCare Baby

I enjoy it when Lewis is sleeping. It will be fun and a laugh watching other people cope, though it is different when other people are watching you! I am worried about changing Lewis' nappy but I think I'll be good at feeding. When you change the baby's nappy he knows that he has been changed because of the sensor. It’s the same with the bottle. I think I'll feel like a dad; apprehensive, surprised at having a child, and happy. I'll feel bad if the baby keeps crying and I don’t get to work in the morning. I will need to keep rocking and checking on him.

By DF

The virtual baby was something I did not enjoy, I had a few laughs but Lewis was too much attention that I didn’t have time to give. My work did not get done because I was holding a bottle for about half the lesson.

It didn’t make me feel more responsible (I am responsible for a lot anyway). I did see others with it however and they really opened up because they enjoyed the experience.

I wasn’t very good at it but I was persistent, I never ignored the baby, but I don’t think I did that well. Caring for Lewis for a couple of lessons totally puts me off caring for him overnight due to the fact that he either wakes up once during the night or half the night.

The program does however make you realise some of the responsibilities that I would have to take up and the luxuries that I would have to give up.

By JB

First pupils in class 3 care for Lewis

First pupils in class 3 care for Lewis
Originally uploaded by dafc1885.