The organizing team thought that BTIO would impress upon teens the seriousness of the decision to become a parent and encourage them to delay parenthood until they are able to cope with the physical, social, and economic realities. Over offers participants an opportunity to learn about the demands of parenting. The baby dolls are realistically constructed and contain an internal mechanism that causes the baby to cry for food and attention and records instances of abuse or neglect. Students are required to take the baby and its necessary paraphernalia including a car seat, stroller, and diaper bag, wherever they go during the 48 hour simulation period. Students sign contracts with the school, the teachers, and with their parents.
Students keep journals of the feeding and crying time.
At the conclusion of the simulation period, students write an essay about their experience. Flour sacks, cabbage patch dolls, or eggs cannot cry, demand feeding, or report abuse and neglect. Throughout the simulation the students had to feed, nurture and be physically present with their baby. Students could not ignore their baby without it being recorded as abuse. The built-in electronic monitor recorded all instances of neglect and abuse.