So my DS is two months and change. We usually have the tv on in the background at our house as we go about the day. Today for the first time, I saw him notice the tv. He was staring at the screen as I changed his diaper. Then when I put him on his piano play mat which he LOVES, he kept turning his head to look at the tv instead of his toys. When I turned it off, he went right to cooing at himself in the mirror and batting at his toys. Now I am worried about having the tv on all the time and will be making more of an effort to turn it off when DS is somewhere that he can see it.
obviously I know that DS can't understand what's on the screen, but I am still worried that "watching" tv is bad for him. What do you guys think? When is the tv on in your home and when does it need to be off? I want to do the best for DS, but it gets boring sometimes when he's doing his own thing and I'm working on laundry or something like that. Or when I'm just sitting on the couch breastfeeding.
Re: Watching tv with baby?
Eh, we keep our TV on 24/7. DS barely notices it, even now, unless I put on a show for him (Sesame Street, YGG, or Dora/Diego). When he was a newborn, I would have gone insane without TV/Netflix.
Do what feels best for you and your family.
yeah, not really helpful. I'm not talking about putting LO in front of the tv or letting him watch it, I'm talking about having it on in the background. I don't think that it "offers" him anything; I am worried about whether having it on in the background can be harmful. Did you even read my post??
Thanks to those of you who actually responded to what I was asking.
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
Its on all the time at our house too. Just for noise most of the time. I catch her watching it sometimes...I think it is more just the colors moving. She doesn't stay interested for long and doesn't always pay attention to it. I personally think it is ok...everything in moderation.
Until it went on the Fritz last week I had it on when my hubby was at work just to have some noise. House is too quiet
This. We try to position DD in the living room so she can't see the TV if she's playing or in her swing.
We've always had the tv on 24/7 - my kids barely watch it (they are 10 and almost 7). They have a favorite show, which I set the DVR to record each Saturday, but for the most part they are playing with each other or outside. They do love movies, so we limit those.
On the other end of the spectrum, I have a friend who refuses all TV - her kids are the same age as mine and she's also got a 4 year old - her kids absolutely cannot function if they are anywhere that has a TV - restaurants, other peoples' houses, etc. And I don't say that lightly - they completely zone out and can't focus on anything that is being said to them because they are so overstimulated by it. These are very bright and intelligent children, so it's always shocking to me to see that reaction.
Take a healthy approach to it and you'll be fine. A friend of mine has hers on 24/7, noticed that her 3 year old was watching it all the time and started regulating it more. Each child/family is different, so just pay attention to their individual needs and you'll be fine.
I agree. The AAP has been saying for decades to limit, or eliminate, television exposure to children under the age of 2. It's been shown to language acquisition, it's directly linked to ADD/ADHD in children, and there has been research that there could even be a link with autism. Other issues early television exposure is linked to are kind of obvious, sleep problems, obesity, lack of activity, and poor academic performance later on.
We don't really watch a lot of TV to begin with so we're not having it on until our son is 2. Then we plan on being strategic and limiting his exposure to 10 hours per week. Interestingly, AAP says that shows like Sesame Street are beneficial to toddlers but harmful to infants.
But yeah I'd avoid ANY tv exposure before 2 years.
It's all from the AAP. I don't think my husband and I are being hypocritical, we do watch television, but we don't have cable and we don't do the leave-the-tv-on-all-day thing. I understand how difficult it can be, my parents and in laws have television on all the time, but after researching the detriment it can have on infants we made our decision and are sticking to it. It might not be the right decision for every family, but the OP was asking for opinions on it so I shared mine even though it's not reflective of the status quo. I didn't mean to sound judgmental on what others do in their homes, just sharing what we're doing in mine and why.
Agree. I'm Lawlz. TV is the debil!
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
Funny - we just had this conversation in our house because it seems like LO just started noticiing the TV. HOwever, I think he is just attracted to the combo of sound and color... not like he is "watching," obviously because he can't understand anything yet.
Our discussion ended wtih the decision that once he is old enough that he could technically "watch" TV, we won't have it on anymore . We want to avoid TV as long as possible with him. This will seriously cut back on mom's time watching trashy reality TV on Bravo. ;-)
dude. your kid isn't even a week old.
No judgement, but I am surprised at how many people always have their TVs on. I had it on sometimes when my LO was really tiny and mainly nursing or sleeping all the time. As soon as I noticed him looking at it, I stopped putting it on altogether when he is up and around. Babies are so easily and quickly overstimulated (especially newborns).
I am a school psychologist and am always thinking about all the attention problems kids have and how so many of them need media to keep themselves entertained and stimulated. I genuinely think exposure to TV is one of the many factors in this (not the only one). Our babies' brains are developing so quickly and are influenced by what they see of course. If their brains get used to being overstimulated by things like TV, it follows that they will crave this stimulation as they get older also.
We have never been a big TV family during daytime hours, we only watch it for an hour or two in the evening, so little guy is already in bed by then. Now when I am nursing little guy, I always have my kindle with me.
When little guy is old enough to actually watch and understand shows (around 2), I will let him watch some of the more educational kids shows a little bit each day. TV ain't the devil, but I choose not to expose my babe to it quite yet.
I am not saying that a baby glancing once in a while at a turned on TV will result in ADHD. But if the TV is ALWAYS on and a baby keeps looking at it. . . over time they will get used to always having that stimulation (sight and noise) nearby and it could effect brain development. Of course, people should do what they feel comfortable with. For us, it isn't a necessity to have the TV on and our LO was definitely interested in it when it was on. . . so we keep it off. He will get to watch TV sometimes, just not quite yet. Not when he is so easily entertained by his own hands
I watched Bravo and HGTV all through my mat leave with my son and it is n pretty much all the time when I'm home. Same now that I'm home again. FF three years later, my son is now gay, redecorating my entire house and having Mimosas for breakfast, and my 2 month old daughter is getting bikini waxes and asking about her first set of implants to fill out her bathing suit. It hasn't affected my kids at all.
But really, my son doesn't watch tv, really. He does adore music and knows the words to songs on the radio. Sould I not listen to music in the car?
i totally respect other people's decisions, but it's really just that. Whatever works for each family. Do I think there is a ton of trash on tv? Definitely. But my kid would rather spend every waking moment outside than watching tv.
Pinot, I think you're fine
Married: 6/27/2008
DS: 3/14/2010 Planned, PG first try
M/C 6/2012
DD: 4/22/2013 Planned, UnDx Infertility, PG on our own
BFP: 10/28/2016 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE!
M/C 12/12/2016
BFP: 10/27/2017 Unplanned, HUGE SURPRISE
EDD: 7/2/2018
So, catching a glimpse of the news while I made dinner is going to make my baby hyper, fat, and nonverbal?
::takes notes::
Ginny DX 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Charlie DX Specific Antibody Deficiency & ASD
those are the same channels I watch! Glad to know that DS is going to turn out so fabulous, haha.
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
That's not what I said at all. The OP asked for honest opinions and I shared mine, which apparently is different from yours. What's right for you and yours might not feel right for everyone, and believe it or not, that's totally ok
This. Except we're Chuggington, Oso, and Bubble Guppies fans.
Personal blog
Pinterest: LO ... somedayOk, so totally lurking. I wanted to offer my two cents as a mom of a 3.5 year old.
I had the TV on a fair amount when I was on leave with DS for 6 months. We also have the TV on in the evenings now after work/preschool. I know his daycare has the tv on but I am not sure how much? My son LOVES to watch movies, Despicable Me, Monsters Inc, The incredibles etc.
That said, my son's FAVORITE toys are sticks (which he makes into robots), 2 Styrofoam pieces from Dell (his robot legs that he wears), and a couple metal Tonka trucks that he plays with in the dirt outside, digging holes and refilling them. He is obviously 1. Active 2. Creative and he has an astounding vocabulary.
My son has always seen/heard the TV and because of that IT IS NO BIG DEAL. Its not some elusive creature that he wonders about or hears about but isn't allowed to touch/see. He could care less if the tv is on but will watch his fav. movies when we have family movie/popcorn time.
Personally, I think it is more detrimental to kids to say ABSOLUTELY NO tv... candy.. etc. I believe in moderation and TEACHING KIDS HOW TO BE RESPONSIBLE and use things appropriately. What will it teach your kids if you severely limit or do not allow them to watch tv but they hear you watching tv when they are in bed?!
I can personally say that having the tv on, caused NO damage with my son. He is a happy, intelligent, witty, hilarious, and well adjusted 3.5 year old.
"No one will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you're the only one who knows what my heart sounds like from the inside." -Unknown
TV will be on in our house often. H and I have the TV on in the evenings. DD1 watches educational shows in the mornings. FWIW, she has been watching particular shows since about 1.5 and it's amazing how much she has learned from them. I'm all for limiting screen time but I'm not militant about TV. Whatevs.
We spend a lot of time outside. I'm not worried about him or DD. She hasn't even noticed. She's 2 months.
Watching TV is really a interesting topic. What I have experienced that when you are living alone that time TV is of great help you cannot always sit and talk to with children. When children are growing they need someone to converse so that their vocabulary may increases when they are watching TV they learn new words.
Wow. Just, wow. If you really believe that tv is the best teacher for your child, that is really sad. Particularly if we are talking about young infants.
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Nov siggy challenge: animals eating Thanksgiving food
Rhys - born 04.17.2013
Harry - born 04.18.2016
https://www.parents.com/advice/babies/baby-development/can-listening-to-the-tv-be-helpful-or-harmful-to-a-baby/
https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/infant-tv-guidelines/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/236211.php
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/health/19babies.html?_r=0
https://healthland.time.com/2013/01/07/too-much-tv-fussy-infants-spend-more-time-in-front-of-the-tube/
https://www.healthychildren.org/english/family-life/media/pages/why-to-avoid-tv-before-age-2.aspx?nfstatus=401&nftoken=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000&nfstatusdescription=ERROR:+No+local+token
https://www.pbs.org/parents/childrenandmedia/article-faq.html
https://www.whitedot.org/issue/iss_story.asp?slug=ADHD Toddlers