Esta pergunta foi feita em MetaFilter , e as principais referências de resposta a Artigo sobre o fio mental . Isso faz referência à Lei do Trabalho Infantil da Califórnia, que permite que um recém-nascido (com relativa idade) de 15 dias seja "empregado na indústria do entretenimento".
Mais sobre o uso de bebês em filmes, da Mental Floss:
Some star-struck parents of prematurely born twins are able to cash in on their early-bird babies by allowing them to appear in TV shows or films as a newborn. Unless it's a reality medical series, most childbirth scenes in television and films are make-believe. Child labor laws vary from state to state, but in California, where the majority of those productions are made, a baby has to be at least 15 days old in order to get a work permit. Of course, most full-term babies have lost that "newborn" look after two weeks "“ their eyes are wide open, they've gained some weight, and their heads have begun to round out. So casting directors seek out "professional preemies" "“ babies born before their scheduled due date (twins preferred, in order to skirt around that 20-minutes-max camera time rule) but who are healthy enough to be brought to the studio. The law counts the actual date of birth, not the expected date, so, for example, a baby born after only seven months' gestation is still going to look tiny and fragile and appropriately "newborn" at the age of fifteen days. The law forbids smearing makeup on newborns, so cream cheese and jam are used to give them that authentic "fresh out of the uterus" look.
Então, baby? Pode ser real! Apenas mais de duas semanas de idade e coberto de condimentos de café da manhã.