Screen Time

kpresley

Hola, I was hoping to get your insight on Screen Time for our little LO (she is 8 months old). I'm sure you all have seen the upates that children under 2 years old should have zero screen time. Does this include educational DVD's such as Baby Einstein, etc. Thanks for insight!

LittleApple

zero means zero.  None.

But I am not against screen time.  No, I don't sit my 6 month down in front of the TV, but it is on in the room when his sisters are watching a show. 

stepper1725

I believe this includes all screen time, even those shows/videos that are marketed as educational. We are following the guidelines, and haven't let DD watch any TV, or computer, or tablet. We get the major side-eye from the grandparents on this! But at this point, imho, DD doesn't "need" screens, she needs social interaction, physical play, books, etc. I will say that I've been super lucky because DD is a pretty independent baby. She is content to play with her toys by herself for long-ish periods while I get things done around the house. Were she not this way, I'm sure I'd let her watch a 30 minute show so I could get things done.

bigbootyjudi

Nothing means absolutely nothing, but that isn't just television; computers, cellphones, anything like that is included as well.

We don't follow the no screen time rule because there's no way I could sit in a quiet house all day. He watches 20 minutes of tv purposely a day because it's the only way I can pump and I EP. So, he either starves or watches 20 minutes of Yo Gabba Gabba....a little DJ Lance isn't going to hurt him.

jnnfrrose6

I let me guy watch a bit when we're at home because I'd go crazy as well in a quiet house, but he's not glued to the TV.  I haven't seen anything about why this would be bad (guess I need to do more research), but I know that when he was around 2 months it was the only thing that would help calm him during his evening fussiness.  He'd rest on my propped up legs facing the TV and calm right down.  I just figured it was from the lights and sounds, and honestly, I don't see what the difference is between that and the light up things on his activity mat.  It certainly isn't part of his routine at this point, but if my husband and I have the TV on and he's playing around on the ground with his toys, there's really no way for me to stop him from looking at it (without turning the TV off, and I don't think hubby would appreciate that during his sports).

jnnfrrose6

Let me add, too, that he's in full time daycare, so he gets plenty of playtime during the week for socializing, etc...  I'm not a SAHM, so it's just the weekends where this happens.

danslilgrizzly

I just started letting him intentionally watch about 10 minutes of Sesame Street a WEEK. DH was trying to let me sleep another 10 or 15 minutes one morning and pulled up an episode on his phone and DS loved it so I figured a small amount every once in awhile isn't so bad. However, we have always watched TV/movies with DS in the same room -- he has shown very little interest in anything we watch, so it's not a big deal.

michellepeanut

None. Our LO has no screen time in our house. The TV is only on after she is in bed.

Danaz1

Baby. Einstein is not educational study show that those shows do nothing babies only like tv for the colors and movement they learn from play and interaction from you.

Summer in CT

I don't purposely put LO in front of the tv, but he does get a glimpse of it sometimes if I have it on for his sister.  Most of the time he just ignores it.  I wouldn't put a Baby Einstein show on for your LO though, I don't think babies need to watch tv.