Do you watch TV/movies with your babies in the room?

sgrl · November 2009

When I was at the pedi this week, he asked me if Sadie watches a lot of TV. I thought that was a weird question. She doesn't "watch" much of ANYTHING for more than a few seconds, except for the bear on her playmat and our faces (she's five weeks old tomorrow). We do have her in the room with us when we're watching TV, and I do worry because my husband watches loud-ass movies (he's watching GI Joe right now with her asleep on his chest). Do you think this is bad? I don't usually even turn the TV on during the day when I'm with her, except to turn on music. I asked the pedi if having the TV on in the background is bad, and he said no, but I'm still a little worried. I do read to her every day, but she doesn't seem to "get" the whole reading thing yet.

jldittber · November 2009

My LO watches cartoons and Disney videos. Of course he doesn't "get" them, but he loves the colors and noises. He watches about 15-45 mins every few days.

I'm not a huge TV watcher, but when I do, he normally is with me. We eat our breakfast to the intro segment of Regis n' Kelly LOL

twinks2009 · November 2009

Yes we have the TV on with our LO in the room. I try everything to make sure he is facing away from the screen - bouncy chair looking at us not the screen, etc. If I can't arrange it, then I turn off the TV. I wasn't very diligent about it in the begining, but now he can focus better and for longer, I don't want him watching the screen. I don't think the noise is bad...mainly because he likes noisy places like restaurants, malls, walks outside with cars and trucks going by...

dragon_chica · November 2009

They recommend that children don't watch TV until age 2. Obviously some ppl start earlier than that because it's used as a "babysitter." Right now your LO is too young to even comprehend what's going on and is probably only attracted to the lights, colors, and sounds. We watch TV all the time with DD in the room but normally I don't have her turn towards the TV anyways. And I see nothing wrong with what your DH is doing. IMO your child won't be a light sleeper that way!

sgrl · November 2009

Oh God, no way. She's snoozing right through the guns/explosions/yelling. I made him turn it way down because I worry about her hearing!

I LOVED Sesame Street as a kid but I don't really want her WATCHING watching much TV, you know?

dragon_chica · November 2009

I'm totally there with you! I'm a TV junkie but I'm going to try my best to not turn her into one. Or at least until she's a teenager! I figure the way to do it is to not only limit the watch a day but to fill the rest of the time with fun, active, and stimulating activities.

ClaireBennett · November 2009

We watch an obscene amount of time with her in the room. We don't let her look at the screen but we do watch it. She doesn't fall asleep until around 1 am, so we watch a few episodes of lost before we put her down. We try to keep the TV off when she's awake and talk to her and whatnot. I figure, if she's sleeping, it probably doesn't matter...

cala09 · November 2009

I have a tough time with this one too. My LO sleeps well through the night which means she's actually up a lot during the day except for a few naps. So, having some tv time saves me from having to listen to my own voice all day long. I've noticed that LO will twist her head all the way around to see the tv though---despite the fact that I face her as far away from the tv as possible and in the opposite direction. She may already be down the road of becoming a tv junkie but I'll still try my best to prevent it

Today, I actually focused a lot more on tummy time and had jazz music playing in the backround!

mybabylove2009 · November 2009

I am not really concerned, I am a SAHM and basically all I do during the day while I'm picking up the house is watch TV. I would go BSC with out my day time TV and we always end the night with about an hour of simpsons on DVD. We normally discuss what is going on. I don't even mind if he's facing the screen the colors fascinate him!

Its honestly one of those battles I am just not going to fight. We do so many other educational activities that I am not worried.

kp28 · November 2009

Heeeeeeell no! I think that is why tons of kids have ADD these days. They're bombarded by stimulation from day one via the tv. Its on at our house, but he's never facing it.

metta1313 · November 2009

DD, who is a little over 3 weeks right now, is in the living room while we watch TV. We're not too worried about it now b/c we know she can't focus on anything. When she gets older, the TV being on all the time with her in the room will probably change.

Serinn · November 2009

I don't watch much TV, but I've had it on with DS in the room. Sometimes even while I'm sitting on the couch snuggling him. He likes the colors. I make sure that while we're hanging out it's not just TV watching; I'll play with him too.

My mother told me something interesting while she was here. Apparently when I was little she watched a lot of scary movies with me in the room, thinking I didn't know what was going on anyways. Turns out I got pretty riled up the nights she watched them. Same thing happened to my aunt when she was little (she's only a couple years older than me). It seems the music used to set the mood in a horror flick still gets to the little ones, even if they don't know what's going on in the movie. So I'm careful what I have on.

staceyk110 · November 2009

kpaulson:
Heeeeeeell no! I think that is why tons of kids have ADD these days. They're bombarded by stimulation from day one via the tv. Its on at our house, but he's never facing it.

This. I keep reading that TV during infancy can cause ADD. The TV is only on when DS is sleeping. I'm probably going overboard but I'm okay with that. Besides, I'm such a TV junkie with "my shows" I can't miss, I don't want DS to turn into one too!!

MrsBatty · November 2009

We occasionally have DD in the same room as the t.v. when it's on, but NEVER if it's something loud or violent like the pp is talking about. During the week when it's just her and I she will sit in her swing for 10 minutes across the room from the t.v. and "watch" cartoons while I wash some bottles or throw in a load of laundry. That's about the extent of it.

Soap1 · November 2009

I definitely watch TV. Like a pp said, on the days DH works for 13 hours and I am at home all day, I would go BSC without TV to watch.

I think the problem happens when you sit your baby in front of the TV for long periods of time while you do other stuff. Sometimes when he is really fussy, I let him look at the screen while I hold him/bounce him/talk to him, and the lights will keep his attention, but I only do that for a couple of minutes at a time.