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Attachment Parenting
What are your thoughts on my 4 month old and TV?
Let me start by saying that I am not a big TV watcher myself, and before having a baby I would have insisted that my daughter would not watch TV for as long as I could avoid it. Fast forward to having an extremely fussy baby who hardly naps (we are talking two 15 minute naps today), who can't play by herself because she is overtired, and who doesn't want to be worn constantly (I am holding & soothing as I write!). I spend most of my day interacting with her: nursing, trying to get her to sleep, walks, play on the floor, songs, books, etc. A friend who also has an extremely fussy 4 month old says Baby Einstein has offered her a bit of salvation. Now I have always scoffed at Baby Einstein, but would it be so bad to put on a bit of Baby Einstein (if my daughter even takes to it) to give myself a bit of a breather during the day? If it isn't so bad, how much is too much in your opinion? I am afraid to open this Pandora's box and would appreciate your opinion before I place a hold on a Baby Einstein DVD at the library. Thanks!
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Re: What are your thoughts on my 4 month old and TV?
Hmmm...was just given one for free. Is 4 months too young for that? My DD has excellent head control and good trunk control though she can't yet sit up on her own. I'm wondering though if it would be the same problem as the exersaucer or playmats where she cries after just a couple of minutes because she's overtired... the real issue is naps and the Baby Einstein/other activity is just the band-aid until/if we figure out the whole nap thing. (Saw your prior post on naps... curious to see responses)
Ours said that 4 months was when you could start using it - He really got into it at about 4 1/2 months and still loves it, though he's rapidly outgrowing it. I'd definitely give it a shot - He gets board in his saucer, on his playmat, etc... but still loves the doorway jumper. I use it when I need to shower, too.
I've still not figured out the napping thing, (obviously), though it has gotten better. DS used to only sleep 15 minutes at a time...
Any strides we've made in the nap department, though, have been all DS - Nothing I've done (and not for lack of trying, believe me) has done anything - He just slowly figures things out. GL!
Take this with a grain of salt because I don't have children and you know the ol' saying about "never" doing things w/ your kids...
That being said, no way in hell would I plunk my four-month-old in front of Baby Einstein. https://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1650352,00.html <--- that's three years old, but there have been lots more studies that have come out more recently to continually prove how bad tv, specifically cartoons, is for infants.
I'm paraphrasing here, but IIRC the shows that have the highest amounts of color contrast and motion(such as cartoons) have the worst impact on baby brains-- something akin to seizures due to sensory overload.
That being said, if you need a few minutes of sanity and tv is the last resort, I'd try a news show or a sitcom-- even just the motion from those programs tend to attract an infant's attention for a few minutes and they're a lot less overload than BE or cartoons.
Thanks! That article is helpful. Think I'll go with the jumper over the TV.
Yes, actually that's been great for when I need to eat. She's pretty content in her rocker for 10 minutes or so and even for a bit longer in my lap. Actually, this has been constructive for me -- she loves watching me water the flowers or pull up weeds. I look at magazines out there, too, and the other day I put her in her bumbo and there happened to be a magazine on the floor and she started turning the pages. Too cute!
I also wanted to tell you that it does get easier.
Everyone always told me that at "four months," they saw a huge change in their babies and things got easier. It didn't happen for me until 5... 5 1/2...and there are lots of regressions. But overall, life is SO much easier now than it was at four months.
So I just put the jumper up and she LOVES it! Thanks for the advice! I have a feeling she will be dreaming about the jumper all night.
Sorry you are having a rough time but I really don't think TV is the answer :-( What about just playing music? Using a bouncer or swing?
Is it possible that your LO is over-stimulated? 4 month olds don't really require much "playing" with - too much play could make it difficult for her to sleep. Not sure what all you've tried to help with the napping though.
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
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Thanks! I think I'll avoid Baby Einstein. Overstimulated is a big possibility. My struggle is that she wakes up cheerful, then I'll usually succeed in getting her to sleep for a morning nap by nursing to sleep, but she will wake up after 30 minutes or less and I can't get her back to sleep. Then she's in a tired pattern and I struggle with what to do with her. I feel like I spend almost the entire day sometimes trying to get her to sleep, so I'll try to balance that with activity but maybe I am overstimulating her. After that morning nap, I have a heck of a time getting her to sleep without lots of tears, and then when I do, keeping her asleep becomes the issue.
Do you ever try nursing her when she wakes to see if that will get her back to sleep? I know you said she doesn't like being worn for long, but will she sleep while worn? When kiddo was 4 months, almost all of his naps were worn naps as that was the best way to get him to sleep longer.
I'd definitely try just giving her some chill time - it's fine for her to hang out on a blanket and watch you do something if she's content. I'd also definitely try the outside thing if you can. Will she fall asleep while worn if you go for a walk? Bouncing on an exercise ball can also help if you've not tried that. You might also try getting her down for her first nap sooner. I made the mistake early on of waiting too long to get kiddo back to sleep - which means it's harder and the nap is shorter.
Good luck! It does get easier ;-)
Breastfeeding Counselor with Breastfeeding USA
Babywearing Guide ** Newborn Carriers
Cloth Diaper Guide
Safe Bed Sharing Info
We don't actually own a TV, but I would totally agree with the PP--we live in such a media-obsessed culture, lets all try to minimize that as long as possible!
That being said, I'm REALLY glad you posted because I was wondering about the door jumper--my LO is too little for that now, but I have a feeling he's a perfect candidate for one of those after the 4 mo mark!
Thanks OP!
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Thanks! I'll give the earlier nap and exercise ball a shot. The nursing right away might help, too. She will nap while I'm wearing her, but still for only 30 minutes or so...
I would do some experimenting with naps first...earlier, then later, etc. I remember going through the same issues around then and it was a nightmare. Those fifteen minute naps used to tick me off so much!
I'm also going to ditto the jumperoo and swing. DD loved both of them at that age and they gave me a break for ten minutes to eat something or whatnot.
meh, DS watched about an hour a day (5 days a week maybe) from 8 mos on... he talks way more than any other 2 yr old I know. This article that says they have delayed vocab skills isn't really getting the WHOLE picture. I have a friend that plops her child in front of YoGabba Gabba, and hardly talks to him.
If you read to and talk to your child, they will have great vocab skills. And some that are read to and talked to all the time, just won't. It's not from videos or neglect. (ask some of the moms dealing with vocab issues) TV isn't the enemy. Using the TV as a constant source of babysitting or entertainment, is. But then again, I think everything is fine in moderation. Except Breastmilk butter.