- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
2nd Trimester
S/O Baby Einstein--where do you stand on videos/tv for babies?
I shared a link to the news story about the BE scam on my facebook page, and a girl that I'm fb friends with immediately posted something REALLY defensive along the lines of, "just wait until you can't get 5 minutes to yourself!" And I have absolutely no doubt that that's true--plus I'm not a mom yet so what do I know?
Full disclosure though, this girl is pretty open about the fact that her morning routine consists of getting up to feed her 6-month-old, then putting the baby in front of the TV for 2 hours or so while she (the mom) goes back to bed to sleep in.
So what are your plans for tv/video watching for your baby/toddler--or what do you do if you already have kids? We don't have cable (we just watch what we want to watch on hulu or netflix) and don't plan on installing it or using any videos until after age 2, just because that's what pediatricians recommend. I'm not saying I'm above using diversionary tactics to get a little peace now and then--and after nannying for a no-tv-allowed family in college I've got some tricks up my sleeve--but I just don't think infants and toddlers (or older kids for that matter) should watch hours of tv/videos a day.
(And this doesn't apply to, for example, a SAHM who gets a nasty cold and turns to Dora the Explorer in order to survive for a couple of days; I'm talking more about everyday routines.)
This discussion has been closed.
Re: S/O Baby Einstein--where do you stand on videos/tv for babies?
I don't think the TV should be a babysitter, but I don't see anything wrong with allowing a toddler to watch one episode of Sesame Street every day. It's just not a substitution for real human interatction.
I will not do Baby Einstein and the likes, though. Little babies do not need TV.
Edit: I remember when I was very little, my daily routine consisted of lunch, then Sesame Street, then naptime. Otherwise my brother and I would play outside all day long. I turned out fine
TV is a distraction plain and simple. IDRGAF that parents let their kids watch TV to distract them for some sanity time, but to think your kid is going to get wicked smaht watching it and they don't just shows the level of intelligence of those parents. And gives yet another black eye to our society in general.
My stance for when we have our baby? My plan is everything in moderation. We'll see what happens when we're in the thick of it.
I'm going to severely limit the amount of time my child is exposed to TV. I'm sure every now and then, when I need a few moments, I may use it to get a chore done or something, but as a routine? NO way.
Babies need personal time with their parents (or any human being, for that matter). I'd much rather spend time talking and playing with him/her than plop them in front of a TV every day so I can get an hour or two of extra sleep.
Evelyn (3.24.10), Graham (5.30.13) & Miles (8.28.16)
BF is so against these movies. He has his degree in marketing and I guess these movies are just a marketing scheme, or something? (He tried to explain to me what was discussed in one of his classes....I kind of tuned him out). I do like the cds though. I admit, I bought one of the classical cds for myself once, I liked the songs on it! The books are pretty cute too.
I agree with everyone else. I'm not planning on having my child watch tv regularaly, but it will probably happen once in a while.
Pretty much this. We were only allowed to watch one 30 minute video (and it was usually a sing a long) a day until I was 7 and my parents got seperated (they ended up getting back together, but my Mom's strict rules never went back into effect).
I think the biggest problem with TV-watching is that it can get in the way of important developmental learning. Motor skills, communication skills, life experiences, and the like can't be learned from TV. I don't think most baby's have the patients for hours of TV, anyway. I've tried to get some kids I've been stuck babysitting to watch a movie or something and no luck if they're under 5. They'd rather play (lucky me).
I think, as long as they are getting everything they need, a little TV isn't going to hurt... everything in moderation
There was a study published recently but the University of Washington where they looked at the IQ's of babies who watched the Baby Einstein video's versus those who didn't. The babies who watched actually had a lower IQ. Because of this, Disney (who now owns the Baby Einstein franchise) is offering refunds to those who bought the video's over the last few years. They are not saying why or agreeing with the study though. Thought that was interesting...
Baby Einstein dvd's were newish when I had DD7. We'd hold her and wtach them with her for about 15 minutes a day starting at around 4 months. They were also nice when I needed to unload the dishwasher or take a quick shower.
I'm certainly not a fan of keeping the TV on all day, but 15 minutes here or there isn't going to be detrimental for this baby.
I think this is a really good way of putting it. I know my brother and I watched waaaaay too much tv growing up (I try not to judge my parents too much for that though, because they had some heavy stuff on their plates), and we really didn't have the best social skills until we got involved with high school extracurricular activities and then went to college. So that's what I'd like to avoid with this baby.
I use to be a nanny (it lasted fortwo months) for a little boy who was 2 1/2. All he did was watch "educational" movies. He was always in front of a TV. His mother was convinced that he was a genius because he spoke in full sentences. The problem was that all his sentences were quotes from movies. He had the movies memorized and would only speak if he was quoting one. He had no imagination and was unable to entertain himself. He had hundreds of toys that were never used because he didn't know how to play. While this example is extreme it complelty turned me off to the idea of children watching TV.
There are other ways to get 5 minutes to yourself without having to put your child in front of a tv on a regular basis.
Maybe you could post some of your tricks to distract the children without TV.
My DD was never interested in sitting and watching tv, or movies until after age 2. She just had no attention span to sit still that long. Now, she is 3 and she can sit through an hour and half movie or a tv program, and she does request it sometimes. Depending on what we are trying to get done around the house, we will either allow it, or have her come and help us. This is only on weekends, so it is not a daily thing, but I am definitely not above flipping on the tv for her, if I need a few minutes or free time to get something done, or rest.
I am not a mom yet. But I can say from what I remember, when we were little, we were not stuck in front of a tv at any age. In the mornings when my mom worked, she says she put us in some kind of wind up rocker in the room with her. No tv. I remember in the afternoons going outside and playing softball, football, playing with the sprinklers, etc. We didn't watch tv when we got home from school until all homework was complete. As far as being educated, my mom, once she was SAHM, did that. We had alphabet blocks we learned to spell with. We had flash card games we learned to do math with. She read to us and made us learn to read. She did it all, and had 4 of us.
Now, I am not going to be SAHM for a while. But I know that I would not put my LO in front of a tv so I could get some sleep. That's crazy. My girlfriend puts her little boy on a blanket with toys in the bathroom with her as she is getting ready in the morning. Again to each her own.
It depends on what study you read. Some say that even having it on in the background is bad for kids under 2.
There is no way we won't have it on in the background. For example, I think I would go crazy BFing late at night in the silence.
I think it's pretty much useless and for adult convenience, not for the kid's benefit. But I'm not hard and fast about it.
Our TV is off almost all the time, unless DH and I are watching something -- and I don't watch daytime TV during the week. Yes, DD is in the room when we're watching the evening news or some of the shows (The Simpsons, etc.) before she goes to bed between 7-8 p.m. She seems interested in football and baseball when DH has games on during the weekend, and she'll grab and throw her little football or baseball. Which is hilarious!
But unless she's sick, we rarely do kid TV or movies. Although my mom bought her a Yo Gabba Gabba book and so I showed her an episode ondemand through our cable company -- and now she brings the book to me, points at the TV and nods when I ask, "Do you want to watch Brobee?"
*sigh* So sometimes I'll let her watch an episode while I do something else. But I don't just plop her in front of the TV, and I don't do it every time she asks, either.
DD1, 1/5/2008 ~~~ DD2, 3/17/2010
DD will be 2 at the end of next month. Every night we watch Dora followed by Diego (1 hour of tv). After Diego, she knows it's time to go to bed.
These cartoons are not like the Scooby Doo, Flinstone cartoons we used to watch. She has learned different animals (how many 2 year olds run around saying "Puma"?), she counts/claps/jumps with the characters, etc. It's our cuddle time and quiet time each night. Often times she's playing with other toys while watching but even if she's not, I have no issues with her watching an hour of TV each day.
I think that all of you/us can set some REALLY lofty goals of what will or will not happen, what we will or won't do, the way that we can just imagine how things will be after this baby is born, no offense, but first timers more than anyone
You don't know just HOW exhausted and sleep deprived you are going to be, you don't know what it's like to have baby that is inconsolable for days on end.
Everyone has great intentions, but if a little tv is what it takes for a few minutes of peace and quiet, I'm doing it and not feeling bad about it. It's not going to damage your kids, just as it's not going to make them into super geniouses either.
We're talking about studies for kids under age 2, so your 3 year old's tv watching habits aren't really at issue here, so for a baby, sitting in the bouncy chair with the interactive bar was all she needed while we ate our dinner at night. We also used a play mat with blocks or other soft toys that she could poke at. Now, with her crawling, its a little difficult as she's really just interested in going (so tv wouldn't help anyway) but we try and contain her with wooden puzzles or books. Of course, if one of the cats is in the room, that's an easy distraction as she will chase the cat as long as the cat is too lazy to move more than a couple of feet.
My DD is 3. She does watch tv/movies. However, we monitor everything she watches and how much she watches. And 99% of the time that something is on tv she's not even paying attention to it. She's been more interested in books on her own since before she was 1. And she's far more interested in playing and building with blocks. She watches the occasional Disney morning cartoons, Veggie Tales, stuff like that. But because she watches it so little, I don't have a problem if she wants it on. And we've only recently had cable put in and before we didn't even get regular tv. So for 3 years she's been very limited. (Well, except when I had horrible all day sickness. I will admit to putting in Disney movies or Veggie Tales for her to watch if she felt like sitting down and watching them. Do I feel guilty? No.)
I will say that her grandmother bought her lots of the Baby Einstens DVDs. She was never really interested in them but she loves music so that's the only thing we've ever used them for. But they were never bought or used to make my child smarter.
That is fine that you feel that way, but don't assume that the rest of us won't stand our ground on the issue. Many of the women who have commented are 2nd time moms. My DH grew up without a TV... like they did not own one. It is entirely possible to raise a child, especially a baby without a TV on. Just because you lack confidence in your own time management doesn't mean you should group the rest of us with you.?
This
Mr. & Mrs. as of May 23, 2009
Parents to Baby Jack as of March 4, 2010
and Bobbi Claire June 7, 2012
I'm not surprised by this at all. I'm not a mother yet, but i do have 4 nephews. And my SIL put her first son in front of the baby einstein videos when he was only 1 month old. DH & I never agreed with it - but not our kid (we never said anything). However, with her 2nd son she did not do this because she felt her first was a little hyperactive. I love my nephew, but he actually does have a short attention span.
Not to mention that my MIL bought her first grandchild (same kid as above), a TV for his room when he was 1 years old.
With our child, DH & I will not be plopping him down in front of the TV. And even when he turns 2, I'm going to limit his TV. Kids should be playing outside, or with games, etc. No matter how exhausted I am, I will find the time to nuture my child. After all, he grew inside me, and so DH & I are responsible for him, not a TV.
[url=http://www.thebump.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=UBB&utm_campaign=tickers][img]http://global.thebump.com/tickers/tt1a1ae8.aspx[/img][/url]