Baby Enstein - Is that not the thing anymore?

JennyStephens82

My 2 month old is so in to his activity mat/play gym by Baby Einstein.  I was going to get him some DVDs but I can't find them anywhere...Are there other suggestions for DVDs for him to learn from/watch?  We interact with him all day and talk to him but the tv has caught his eye.  Thought this might be a good way to have him learning but give mommy a break.

flcl

Baby Einstein is still around but I think that its reputation isn't as great as it used to be.  Nothing is wrong with the videos but it didn't help babies learn more or less than other videos.  I have the HBO baby set (dance, music and poetry) based on a friend's recommendation... her daughter loves watching them but I'm not sure how educational they are as we haven't watched them yet.

RondackHiker

Do you have a picture window? Perhaps you could put a bird feeder out in front of it and plop little one near the window when you need a break. Or a ceiling fan or a mobile.

Or if baby is content and kicking on a play mat, take a break then.

erinsullivan427

My two month old sits in his bouncer staring at the bird hanging from it for an hour kicking and smiling. They really don't need to be entertained, stimulated and educated at this age. Even something as simple as a fan is exciting. Everything is so new! Leave him on the mat. He will fuss if/when he gets bored. I agree with no tv until LO is 2 but I know most people use tv beforehand. If you let your baby entertain themselves starting out, it will be a lot easier on you in the long run.

H&H2014

Baby Einstein isn't allowed to market their products as educational anymore. Studies have shown that babies that watch tv have slower brain development. You can read all about it in Brain Rules for Baby, it's a great book.

There's a whole thread about it here :

https://pregnant.thebump.com/new-mom-new-dad/baby-basics/qa/is-tv-bad-for-baby.aspx

From the American Academy of Pediatrics:
"Children of all ages are constantly learning new things. The first 2 years of life are especially important in the growth and development of your child's brain. During this time, children need good, positive interaction with other children and adults. Too much television can negatively affect early brain development. This is especially true at younger ages, when learning to talk and play with others is so important. Until more research is done about the effects of TV on very young children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television for children age 2 or younger. For older children, the Academy recommends no more than 1 to 2 hours per day of educational, nonviolent programs."