Babies watching TV

greeneyed_bride · October 2011

One of my Facebook friends shared an interesting article about the possible problems associated with children under two watching TV (even things that are supposedly geared towards children that young, like Baby Einstein.)

Obviously, each parent should make the decision for themselves, but I thought it was an interesting article -

https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/infant-tv-guidelines/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29&utm_content=FaceBook

sunnyday016 · October 2011

This article doesn't specify the amount of time the kids in the study spent watching tv. I mean, put a kid in front of the tv for 8 hours a day and I have no problem believing that they'll have difficulties paying attention. But a half hour here and there, maybe even a couple half hour sessions sprinkled throughout the day with stimulating play/outdoor time/independent play time in between? I really don't think it does anything. To each their own I guess.

StephCripps · October 2011

I don't think it's so bad.. like PP as long as it's not all day long..

my son watches some shows on dvd while i do the dishes/chores or have a shower

he's 1.5

honestly without a little thomas the tank engine i wouldn't get anything done

namara5532 · October 2011

I agree with the article and its reasoning. Babies need to be stimulated actively to develop in a healthy way. Sure, the TV can talk to them, but they need one on one interaction with another human being to develop language and social skills. TV time also robs them of play time and the ability to develop on their own the ability to entertain themselves for a few minutes.

DH and I already made the decision that we're going to do our best to not expose our baby to TV. We don't have cable anyway, but we're going to limit video game and movie exposure for the first couple of years. After that, we're going to interact with media devices such as TVs with our child so they learn it's just another tool for entertainment, not a people substitute.

greeneyed_bride · October 2011

sunnyday016:
This article doesn't specify the amount of time the kids in the study spent watching tv. I mean, put a kid in front of the tv for 8 hours a day and I have no problem believing that they'll have difficulties paying attention. But a half hour here and there, maybe even a couple half hour sessions sprinkled throughout the day with stimulating play/outdoor time/independent play time in between? I really don't think it does anything. To each their own I guess.

Yeah, I agree that a little here and there probably won't hurt a baby. I think the points that I found most interesting were that things like Baby Einstein are not beneficial for babies and that it's more beneficial to leave them alone to play by themselves than to put them in front of an "educational" show.

bingham101 · October 2011

I agree a little now and then like maybe turning on a movie before nap time or something. But I am really worried about this for at home daycare. I havent started interviewing yet, but I want to make sure that the TV isnt being used to babysit. I want an intereactive person. All I can remember from being at the baby sitter when I was little is watching Giligands Island on tv.

Angel002 · October 2011

I felt bad because this morning my 11 month old (11 months on Sat!) woke up at 4 am this morning and by 5 I wanted more sleep so we put him in the pack and play and turned the tv on. LoL. He doesn't really watch it but the sound let him sit and play till we got him to go back to sleep.

ETA: to add we have a sitter that comes to our home, but we are lucky that she is an older mexican lady so she has the tv off all day. The only time it comes back on is at 4 when my 9 yr old is home and after he does his homework.

Plus we only have 1 tv in the house (some people think we are weird) so it's easier to control the amount that is watched. I think I watch the most out of everyone. how sad.

NiniJ55 · October 2011

sunnyday016:
This article doesn't specify the amount of time the kids in the study spent watching tv. I mean, put a kid in front of the tv for 8 hours a day and I have no problem believing that they'll have difficulties paying attention. But a half hour here and there, maybe even a couple half hour sessions sprinkled throughout the day with stimulating play/outdoor time/independent play time in between? I really don't think it does anything. To each their own I guess.

I agreee. My only issue is that I don't "really" goes on with MIL when I'm not home... LOL.

kiarstin · October 2011

I have seen some good article on it. And most say that there is absolutly no use in educational prgraming for a child under two. So using it to educate is pointless. But they also say it doesn't really hinder in small doses. So if you need a shower or you are tired and need a 30 min break, or you have to finish some laundry then utilize it but don't delude yourself into thinking that your tv time is helping your kid. Just enjoy the break, regain your sanity and go back to being able to enjoy some time with your kid. Every parent needs a break, I can't imagine it being easy to entertain and watch a 1 year old all day sometimes you need to get stuff done. I plan to limit tv as much as I can but If I need a shower and a bright tv will keep my kid from screaming hysterically in a play pen the whole time I am ok with a few minutes. but thats a few minutes not ALLL day.

JENVALENTINE1981 · October 2011

Call me a bad mom, but I don't fall for each and every little study that comes out...a parent could go crazy trying to follow every new tip, suggestion, scare, etc. My children are healthy and I have allowed them to watch limited cartoons as toddlers, its called being a kid! Right now I have a ninteen month old and I allow her to watch cartoons when she has a snack in her highchair, she loves Dora so she gets very excited when it is on. We are talking MAYBE 45 minutes a day max, nothing wrong with that, now if I were allowing her to watch hours a day, fine. As with my older boys, they watch an hour or so in the evening and are both allowed one half hour of computer game time each after school, I feel like I have created a good balance for them. In the other free time they play outside, make forts, play board games, race bikes, etc. They have a well rounded routine.

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