I'm a bad mom after work

LeahCK

Ok. I'm exhausted!! My 4mo old DS is still feeding at night then work starts at 8. When I get off at 4:30 and play with him for a while he goes down for a short nap. And I mean short (15-20 min). After he gets up he and I play some more, snuggle, tickle, etc. but when I lay him next to me he turns his head toward the TV and I feel so bad but it's a few minutes of rest. I only allow it for a few minutes before I pick him up and distract him elsewhere where the TV is out of sight again. 

And yes I have chairs to alternate him in and play with him there, tummy time, back time, you NAME it.  

Is ANYONE else guilty of this? 

WhitWed

Repeat after me: You are not a bad mom!  I don't blame you one bit. Sometimes we have to do things to save our sanity and catch a break. I don't think a few minutes of color, and sound, stimulation is a bad thing.  You sound like a great, and active, mom so enjoy your few minutes and don't be so hard on yourself.  If it makes you feel better, I have friends and co-workers who purposely put their babies in front of televisions for sometimes hours per day.  So the fact you feel bad about a few minutes shows your level of care!  Just don't leave it on Spongebob. 

LeahCK

WhitWed:

Repeat after me: You are not a bad mom!  I don't blame you one bit. Sometimes we have to do things to save our sanity and catch a break. I don't think a few minutes of color, and sound, stimulation is a bad thing.  You sound like a great, and active, mom so enjoy your few minutes and don't be so hard on yourself.  If it makes you feel better, I have friends and co-workers who purposely put their babies in front of televisions for sometimes hours per day.  So the fact you feel bad about a few minutes shows your level of care!  Just don't leave it on Spongebob. 

YOU ROCK!! Thank YOU!! Tonight the sanity and exhaustion levels are really off kilter so I'm Overly tired and my sanity has gone out the window when I tried to heat up my plate of food in the fridge.

I won't ever do spongebob, I can't stand spongebob or Barney for that matter...  

Nechie122

We often have the TV on in the evenings when we get home from work. A little TV won't hurt your LO. He's not actually "watching."

Now that my DD is a toddler and can point out objects and actually sit and watch shows, I'm a lot more sensitive to what she's exposed to and how often. But I was more lax about it when she was an infant and figured a little background noise wouldn't hurt her. I think I follow the spirit of the AAP recommendation while still living my life.

Meery82

Yup. My little guy has been watching baseball playoffs. If it makes him feel better, a few minutes won't hurt.

BabyNewbury2012

Your not a bad mom! You sound like a great involved mom to me!

Dont feel bad I too do this in the evening, I do the tummy time, sitting in her play chair and time in her exersaucer plus lots of cuddle time but after all that there are times that I turn on mickey mouse clubhouse for her so I can get bottles ready or dinner cooked or something like that. Its not every evening but some evenings it is what works for us.

mylittlesunshine

Yeah your not a bad mom at all.

I *try* and have a rule of 1 hour of tv a night (for DD1). Usually it is an hour before bed while I am nursing DD2 and getting her settled in. My husband works 2 jobs with the second one during the evening, leaving me to feed, bathe and put the girls down by myself and I am currently EBF DD2. Oh, and if it makes you feel any better, sometimes I have let DD1 watch tv and eat dinner....oh I am a terrible mom

You do what you have to do to make it work. Don't feel guilty.

EVM1216

There are some nights that I thank god for the TV so that I can get in a 20 min "Caillou nap" where I lay on the couch with DD and we cuddle while she watch Caillou and I nap.  There is nothing wrong with taking a little rest for mommy after you get home.  A more relaxed and calm mommy makes for more positive interaction.  Stop beating yourself up!

septmom11

DD watches sesame street EVERY morning while i get ready for work.  When she wakes up i change her then settle her on the floor with her pillow,blanket,sippy of milk and sesame street.  She loves sesame and i know she wont move for 10-15 minutes while i finish getting ready and pack us both up.

kmwills

You're not a bad mom.  Every night after dinner, we watch the Lion King.  I try to watch with DD, to interact and talk about what's going on.  But last night, I put my feet up and crocheted.  At least I was still in the same room! 

LeahCK

Thank you guys.. that makes me feel sooo much better.

I'm only half tired today.. not completely tired like I was last night.

I just didn't want my DS to turn into a "slow learning boy" like some of the research suggests. 

Acdett24

I work 6 days a week so there are days when I can't remember my own name let alone play whatever game my DS has invented for the night. So we set limits, he can pick one show and he snuggles on the couch until it is over. Sometimes I lay next to him and close my eyes and other times I just go into the other room and sit quietly. He likes it because he gets to "be in charge" of what he watches and I like because I don't feel like I am going to lose my mind. And that stuff about being a "slow learning baby", my DS is above his grade level in all areas so don't worry about it. You are doing a great job!

LoCarb

LibraryChica:

;"all things in moderation, except cocaine. Don't start a coke habit."

What a great line...LOL!