15 Stone (95 kg or 210 lb) Babies

This British documentary was quite well done and reasonably well-balanced. Airing Dec 13th 2012, it introduced two couples and a few solo ABDLs, touching on their interests and their problems. To the show's credit, it doesn't present their interest in being babies as the problem.

It can be watched on Youtube or regionally on channel4.com.

My first exposure to this production was in August. Minnow films had contacted PeggyLu of Lifestyle Emporium about appearing. She asked me to be in on the conference call to provide a second opinion and some background on Lifestyle Emporium's role in Bay Area ABDL history. PeggyLu has dealt with the media before: She was the unofficial basis for the adult baby shop salesperson that appeared in CSI's "King Baby" episode in 2005. This time, the timing didn't work out. However, the show was able to speak with Auntie V. (not "Auntie Viv"), past owner of VerySpecialClothes.com, now retired. This adult baby clothing source also has a unique role in the ABDL community: It was founded by Florence as Amber Enterprises.

"15 Stone Babies" itself opens with Dereck and Maxine, who run a nursery in their home for adult babies, with Maxine serving as a mummy. Business wasn't that good. Derek had started serving as a Daddy as well and had started building a dungeon for BDSM services, in addition to his day job. The show also follows them on a trip to the US, exploring the option of opening a nursery there. Clients, diversification, expansion... It would seem an everyday except for all the nappies, snap pants, cribs, highchairs, etc.

The second couple, Justin and Cat, have differing wants in their relationship: Cat would like to play a little girl and have an otherwise open relationship. Justin would prefer to be the exclusive daddy to a baby girl. The documentary repeated this conflict, as if it defined their relationship. Some viewers thought Justin's mix of being controlling and paternal came across as "creepy." Justin and Cat could have been portrayed in a much worse light. Every couple has conflicts, after all.

A little screen time is given to the British couple's westie and the American's retrievers. The dogs gave their owners an extra measure of ordinariness. For the most part, the adult babies came across as real and rational.

"15 Stone Babies", as might be expected from the title, focuses on the adult baby end of the ABDL spectrum, to the exclusion of the DLs (the nappy lovers).

While it doesn't reinforce negative stereotypes, "15 Stone Babies" isn't free of stereotypes. For example, this show could easily leave viewers with the impression that all adult babies had lavish nurseries and layettes. Many of the interviews take place in custom high chairs or cribs. Unlike Trisha Goddard's babygrow^DEF or Jerry Springer's K-mart toys, there is no indication that these were dictated by the producers.

The show also reinforces the association of ABDLs and trauma. Dereck was a bedwetter that turned to diapers for security. Cat's childhood was spent in foster care "hell." Etc. To the credit of "15 Stone Babies", they didn't cut Cat's denial of this association or Matt's comment that he didn't recall a traumatic childhood. (After a pause, however, he mentioned the divorce of his parents.) This association is due to confirmation bias. Many ABDLs, like many non-ABDLs, have had difficulties or traumas. In England, around 40% of marriages end in divorce and around 50% of those involved children under 16. If it deterministically caused people to become ABDLs, around 20% of Brits would be into nappies.

The show also touches on problems due to being an ABDL. For example, Dereck mentions the depression of dealing with being an adult baby and a suicide attempt. When the show aired, Dereck and Maxine's neighbors recognized them. Later, the neighbors had been drinking and came over, resulting in a confrontation that was less than neighborly. The neighbors were charged with assault but were found not guilty. This evening-news reality is the stark contrast to the show's peaceable visit to a couple next door and their terrier.

The final words go to Davy of toddlerism.com: "It's lovely being an adult baby. You get cuddles and a teddy bear to squeeze and you have nice jolly clothing with prints on it of a little dinosaur - Rarr!"

While not perfect, this show seemed reasonably positive and balanced. The association of trauma isn't out of line with that held by the ABDL community. The adult babies were presented as functional, reasonable Brits who enjoyed something out of the ordinary. Larger-than-average layettes were implied, but this is excusable: the snap pants, frilly dresses, and nursery tours make for better television than street-clothed discussions about how some adult babies might only have nappies. This is, after all, a TV show.

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For a Second Opinion: A review by Nicky Omutsu