BOSTON - October 23 -  In an important development in the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's ongoing efforts to stop companies from marketing screen media as educational for babies, the Baby Einstein Company, a Walt Disney company, is offering a refund to anyone who purchased a Baby Einstein video in the past five years.

 "There is no credible evidence that any screen media is educational for children under two," said CCFC's director, Susan Linn, "so we are pleased by this offer."

Baby Einstein's offer of a refund came three years after CCFC filed a Federal Trade Commission complaint against Baby Einstein for making unsubstantiated claims that their videos were educational for babies.  After CCFC's complaint, Disney stopped making those claims, but did not extend a refund offer at that time. Now, anyone who bought the videos between June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009 can get their money back.

"We thought that families deserved better," said Dr. Alvin F. Poussaint, a psychiatrist at Judge Baker Children's Center and member of the CCFC Steering Committee. "Marketing of baby videos plays to parents' natural tendency to want what is best for their children. We believe that in response to our advocacy, Disney is now offering a full refund to parents who bought Baby Einstein videos." The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under the age of two.

 "Parents have a right to know that there is no credible evidence that screen media is educational for babies," said Dr. Linn.  "We urge parents who bought Baby Einstein videos to take advantage of Disney's refund offer. We hope that other baby media companies will follow suit."

For information about how to obtain a Baby Einstein refund, visit http://www.babyeinstein.com/(S(3qnoffi1whnnnt55h2ljk355))/parentsguide/satisfaction/upgrade_us.html.

To read CCFC's Federal Trade Commission complaint, visit http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/babyvideos/ftccomplaint.htm.