The Walt Disney Company is offering refunds to customers who purchased Baby Einstein Videos during the time period June 5, 2004 to September 4, 2004. This is in response to claims by advocacy groups that the company implied that the videos were educational.

The advocacy group who initiated this argument is the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. This group has been working for more than two years in this process. In May, 2006 the group made a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission, stating that claims made on the Baby Einstein web site were not supported by research. The company removed some statements from their web site at that time that might have been confusing. The wording was also removed from packaging on the products.

The FTC did not bring up any charges or action against the Baby Einstein company because they do not claim their videos to be educational. In an interview in a Good Morning America segment a spokesman from the company stated that these videos give parents and children exposure to arts and humanities through the products.

In June, 2008 the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood was still unsatisfied with the progress in this matter, so they brought their information to a group of Boston based lawyers who threatened a class action lawsuit against the Disney company.

It is important to note that the Baby Einstein Company has stated that they stand behind their products and by offering a refund customers can make their own decision as to whether or not the products met their expectations and satisfied their family needs.

The refund policy allows families to get a refund of $15.99 on up to four Baby Einstein videos purchased during June 5, 2004 and September 4, 2009.

I have a good portion of the Baby Einstein videos and used them in my house. Some were more entertaining than others, but I never believed they would educate my children. They were a safe choice for my kids to watch, because I knew they would not find anything offensive in them. The videos I purchased fall within this time frame and I’m not going to be seeking a refund for them.