I heard that if you let LO watch TV they will develop autism...

Baby428 · February 2010

Who knows if it is true or not but I refuse to let her watch the TV when it's on...however if she is crying the second she sees the TV she stops crying and is like in a daze. Have you heard about this autism thing?

Liss_37 · February 2010

no i haven't heard that. i refuse to play into things like that where there is no proof or concrete scientific facts. I don't sit him in front of the TV but I also dont prevent my dh or myself watching it in fear that DS will see it when it's on.

getnmarried910 · February 2010

Man, we're in trouble then. My kids watched baby einstein DVD's once in a while. So far, they are absolutely fine. Everything I've read, and from what my doctor and my pediatrician tell me, nothing gives you autism. The child has to have that gene or whatever it is (I don't remember what htey said) already. Some things will trigger it to set in earlier, but they said if you're child has it, they will be autistic no matter what.

ChicNotGeek · February 2010

I haven't heard of an autism link, but I park my baby in front of the TV sometimes. Usually when I have to take a phone call and need to distract her for a little bit. She really doesn't like the TV yet anyway, and she still prefers to look out the big picture windows.

kellmo · February 2010

Then everyone would have autism!

vera1127 · February 2010

I've never heard that. I have a degree in special education and have read tons and tons of literature on autism. Most studies believe that autism is something children are born with, not something that is caused by external factors. I do believe, and have read a lot to support it, that sitting children in front of the TV can lead to ADD/ADHD in children. While I'm not sure I would ever purposely sit them in front of the TV for long periods of time, there's nothing wrong with letting them watch a few minutes here and there. DS loves to look at the the TV, but I don't park him there for hours.

mdepping · February 2010

kellmo:
Then everyone would have autism!

Yes

Tonya_G · February 2010

coraandmike:
I've never heard that. I have a degree in special education and have read tons and tons of literature on autism. Most studies believe that autism is something children are born with, not something that is caused by external factors. I do believe, and have read a lot to support it, that sitting children in front of the TV can lead to ADD/ADHD in children. While I'm not sure I would ever purposely sit them in front of the TV for long periods of time, there's nothing wrong with letting them watch a few minutes here and there. DS loves to look at the the TV, but I don't park him there for hours.

Pretty much this. We try to limit TV time, but once they get older, if you have one in the house, they are going to watch it.

Anniekins214 · February 2010

My brother was diagnosed as autistic back in 1990; he was 2 years old. He did not watch television, he was too busy in his own little world. ?It wasn't until he was older that he enjoyed television. ?Granted, my brother is just one of many people with autism, but how do you explain cases of autism prior to the invention of television?

Jibbelle · February 2010

*sigh*

Lance&Becca · February 2010

Never heard it and it sounds like b/s to me. I do remember hearing something about a link between ADHD and television watching. All in all most experts agree that the less television for young kids the better......we just all do the best we can though.

madeleines_mommy · February 2010

MrsPreK · February 2010

OMG, LOL. It's like the 1st tri board all over again - BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Stick out tongue

Anniekins214 · February 2010

MrsPreK:
OMG, LOL. It's like the 1st tri board all over again - BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

MrsPreK, your little girl is adorable!?

OhioBobcat · February 2010

I've heard the same, but haven't held it very in very high regard. The ADD/ADHD thing though makes more sense as too much unsupervised time can overstimulate LO making their attention span shorter by school age which is when they would likely be diagnosed.

I'm in the camp of age-appropriate channels in moderation, which for DS is typically no more than 45-60 min daily of the Baby First channel, which is mainly contrasting visual effects and songs mixed in with baby friendly activity suggestions.

ORmom2be09 · February 2010

My pediatrician said there is a link between TV and ADHD. The way she explained it made sense to us so we keep her away from the tv as much as possible. I've never heard of a link to autism though.

Tonya_G · February 2010

OhioBobcat:

I've heard the same, but haven't held it very in very high regard. The ADD/ADHD thing though makes more sense as too much unsupervised time can overstimulate LO making their attention span shorter by school age which is when they would likely be diagnosed.

I'm in the camp of age-appropriate channels in moderation, which for DS is typically no more than 45-60 min daily of the Baby First channel, which is mainly contrasting visual effects and songs mixed in with baby friendly activity suggestions.

Hmm There is a channel specifically for babies to watch? And FWIW, the APA rec is no TV watching at all under the age of 2. Our TV might be on, but we're certainly not putting her in front of it to watch for a block of time.

MiraclePending · February 2010

Does everything cause autism now? Vaccines, television, Pitocin..what else?

ToledoDeux · February 2010

::bangs head on desk repeatedly::

OhioBobcat · February 2010

Tonya_G:
OhioBobcat:

I've heard the same, but haven't held it very in very high regard. The ADD/ADHD thing though makes more sense as too much unsupervised time can overstimulate LO making their attention span shorter by school age which is when they would likely be diagnosed.

I'm in the camp of age-appropriate channels in moderation, which for DS is typically no more than 45-60 min daily of the Baby First channel, which is mainly contrasting visual effects and songs mixed in with baby friendly activity suggestions.

There is a channel specifically for babies to watch? And FWIW, the APA rec is no TV watching at all under the age of 2. Our TV might be on, but we're certainly not putting her in front of it to watch for a block of time.

I'm in the UK and there are here.

To be fair, I watch them more than DS...moreso when I'm nursing. I like the kids' songs, hehe. Nerdy I know.

newguardwife · February 2010

MrsPreK:
OMG, LOL. It's like the 1st tri board all over again - BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

my thoughts exactly

Brittani10/28 · February 2010

I really dont see a difference in letting a baby look at a toy that lights up and makes noise and a tv. Babies like the tv because of all the colors and sounds...I dont see how that could be damaging. Now Im not saying let your baby sit around all day in front of the tv to entertain them... but a few min is not going to cause autism... just my oppinion.

mrs_sherod · February 2010

MiraclePending:
Does everything cause autism now? Vaccines, television, Pitocin..what else?

Yes...even the air we breathe!

goteamgo · February 2010

I have not heard of this, but it is such a load of crap. They do not know what causes autism. I repeat, they do. not. know.

RBC · February 2010

Anniekins214:
MrsPreK:
OMG, LOL. It's like the 1st tri board all over again - BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
MrsPreK, your little girl is adorable!?

this. OMG, she's so beautiful!

SamsMom91 · February 2010

ToledoDeux:
::bangs head on desk repeatedly::

Hmm

This.

CKLee1107 · February 2010

I highly doubt this is really a hard fact...especially since right now my LO just likes that it is moving lights to her...No worse than any light up crib toys at the moment...but I haven't used it as a babysitter ever either (for my sibs or kids I babysat...Alyssa isn't old enough to use it that way even if I wanted to)

jshf · February 2010

My nephew is autistic and he isn't allowed to watch very much tv because he gets obsessive about it and won't do anything else. Fortunately they diagnosed him early, at age 3 and he's gotten tons of therapy and has improved tremendously. I don't know if it is just him or maybe kids with autism are affected by tv differently than kids without. At any rate, too much tv is probably not good for anyone. I am a tv junkie and have had to curb my watching since DS has gotten more alert and aware. Now my computer, that's something I just can't give up!

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