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Babies: 6 - 9 Months
EVA116
member
Am I a bad mom?
EVA116
member
So my DD is almost 7 months and she watches cartoons. She likes to drink her morning bottle and watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Sesame Street. We started this routine because DH and I need to get ready in the morning and she sits in her swing and eats till my sister arrives to watch her. She now gets mad if I don't put on one of those shows. She has even grabbed the remote herself and tried pushing buttons while looking at the tv. She also watches an episode before we take her bath at night. Is this too much tv? We are visiting my DHs family this weekend and I am afraid they will think I am a bad mom because of this. My SIL is like super mom and I don't even think her 18mo old watches any TV.
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Re: Am I a bad mom?
Whatever, it's your kid. I personally don't really let my 7.5 month old watch tv, but it's not my place to judge people who do.
My LO probably catches about 15 minutes of cartoons in the mornings, I don't think its the end of the world. If she was watching it hours a day, then I think that would be ridiculus.
I must be a bad mom too. Pre-baby I swore no TV until kiddo was 2. Hahahaahaha. If it's really quiet in the house, I started turning on Sprout (I think it's PBS Kids basically?) channel. LO now watches Sesame Street once a day, and The Good Night Show in the evening. He loves, loves, loves Elmo and laughs like crazy at anything Elmo does or says.
I think this is one of those things where moderation is key. As long as we are not using the TV as a babysitter all day, it should be fine. I need to be able to get things done so that I can sit and play with LO- and if he needs to watch a show so that I can have 30 min to clean and then sit with him for the next 2 hours, that's just what works for our family.
Molls loves Super Why! I try and get a few things done but I always make it back for Hip Hip Hooray! We dance together for this. It's never more than twice a week but she is in love with Alpha pig , my mom got her the plush for xmas.
Agreed with everyone. As long as it's not a babysitter, you're good. And they aren't watching like, say, Nightmare on Elm Street.
My guys are mesmerized by baby Einstein. It's like tranquilizers for them.
When Alphy pig does his ABC song E goes crazy! The other day he kept doing it faster and faster and E was so excited I about died from laughing at her.
lol, Molls loves that, she loses her little mind laughing. Her fave is still hip hip hooray though, she screeches like a banshee.
If you plopped your kid in front of the TV for hours every day, I would judge you. 15 or 30 minutes so that you can grab breakfast or pee is another story all together. My 8 month old has only watched TV on two occasions in his life, but he is fairly independent and easily entertained.
I'm not planning on letting him watch too much TV. We don't have cable and rarely watch it ourselves. But I won't go crazy if he happens to catch an episode of Sesame Street now and then and I don't judge people that let their kids watch a moderate amount of it.
ETA: I should add that my kid doesn't even like TV. On the two occasions that I sat him in his jumperoo in front of the TV while I tried to do whatever it is I needed to do, he fussed and whined until I took him out and then proceeded to ignore the TV. My kid never watches TV...although I wish he would.
Eh, the remote is about grabbing something that looks fun. My kid is obsessed with them, just because.
I wasn't planning on showing him any TV any time soon, but we ran across Sesame Street the other day and he was very interested in Elmo and the other muppets. So he's watched a few minutes of it a few times. He seems to like it
If I had to get ready for work, I would probably do the same. I don't think it's hurting anything.
As far as going somewhere new though, she may be too distracted for Mickey anyhow. Don't stress about it.
Hey! I was really into Nightmare on Elm St and horror movies in general when I was a kid. Look how great I turned out! Hahahaha!
Can you imagine? My mother let her 5 year old daughter watch the original Last House on the Left. PISS YER PANTS!!!
I put the tv on to cartoons when I am needing to get something done, but even when it's on DS plays with toys and maybe looks up at the tv every 5 min or so, watches for 30 seconds and goes back to what hes doing.
One show he LOVES is Yo Gabba Gabba. He actually squeels at the tv and will watch a whole episode. I now put it on everyday and I sit on the floor with him and help him dance around and bounce when its on. He LOVES it. and it works lovely to get him sleepy for a nap right after too.
He even starts to remember some of the songs so I can sing them to him later in the day and he'll get all excited. His fav so far is the "train" song and I move him around and go "chugga chugga" and then I "Toot, Toot" his arm like a conductor would and he goes crazy happy!
One thing that is funny thought is If I sneak an epi of sex and the city during the day (usually when he's napping) If he is awake if he hears the opening song he ALWAYS has to turn to the tv. I think he likes the opening song lol.
I have no problems letting him watch tv, but in all honesty it's mostly background noise to him lol.
By lilenatalem at 2012-01-28
well, at least we're bad moms together! If my daughter is awake and I have to get ready for work she goes in her swing and watches TV. i agree, if it's hours a day that's an issue, but a little bit so you can get ready is fine!
Wow! I am surprised at these answers! Are you the same women who didn't eat lunch meat during your pregnancy? Lol . . .
I wouldn't personally put my child in front of the TV, even for 20 minutes. The AAP made that recommendation for a reason and it's not "extensive" TV viewing they're talking about. It's ANY TV before two. TV viewing is strongly linked to ADHD and even autism and I personally do not want to take a chance with that. In my second grade classroom the children with the most behavior problems are the ones who spend the most time with video games and TV. Why start that habit early?
Do I think it makes you a bad Mom? No, but I think you should reconsider putting her in front of the tube. It's an easy habit to break and there are many other things you could entertain her with during that time (jumparoo, chewing on a mum mum in the highchair etc). I would be more concerned that you're letting your 7 month old demand you do something for her because she'll "get mad" if you don't. There are going to be lots of things your daughter will want to do that you're going to have to say no to, even if a tantrum ensues. Now would be a great time to practice.
Just my two cents. . .