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RMarie88 · January 2014

So my little girl likes to watch TV. When we're holding her while watching TV she will watch it and it seems she likes it, she'll babble and kick happily. She interacts with us just as much but she just loves watching TV. We don't ever just sit her in front of the TV by herself or anything like that. I'm just curious if this is really bad.

LittleNugget93 · January 2014

My daughter does the same thing. My cousin said that watching the TV hurts their eyes, but I haven't looked into it. I only ever have her watch it if she has been crying for a long time and I've tried everything to calm her down. She calms down immediately when she watches the TV but not with any of her toys that have flashing lights.

blush64 · January 2014

I have heard watching TV is not good for babies and not recommended for kids under 2. I don't let my baby watch tv and I will limit screen time when she is older as well.

I don't think the issue of babies watching tv had to do with their eyes. I can't really remember where I read the imformation.

trudibell · January 2014

These are the AAP's recommendations about TV and children under 2.

Mom38673 · January 2014

They say TV too early will cause ADD. The quick changing of the information on the screens promotes this. My first loved TV. I did make a point to play with her a lot and do other things. She is 9 now, and rarely cares about TV unless we are traveling. She may have a movie that she wants to see. I believe as long as it's limited and not a primary point of their attention, it's not a big deal.

roo1oo · January 2014

I leave the TV on all the time as background noise, but my LO only watches it when he's calm and sitting with one of us or in his high chair, and then its only for a few minutes. I make sure to engage him in lots of other activities.

magdalina.h · January 2014

My daughter loves watching football. She'll practically break her neck to watch it. I use that time to play with my toddler.

veetveet · January 2014

There is a debate about this on the attachment parenting board. I leave the tv on all the time. My 3 year old is fine.

ELauren88 · January 2014

We have the TV on for background noise a lot. LO will occasionally "watch" for a minute, but she's overall not interested, so I'm not worried.
I'll become more concerned in the future if she starts staring at it for long periods. Only BC I dont want her to rely on the TV for all her entertainment. But, that's just me.

RMarie88 · January 2014

Thanks for all the info ladies, I appreciate it.

carrotcake06 · January 2014

If our TV is on while kids are awake, it's usually tuned to sports. Our oldest watches videos and stuff on an iPad usually.

We do not intentionally put the babies in front of the TV and position them facing away from it.

Aubs0009 · January 2014

We have it on primarily for background noise. I think as long as you are not using it as a babysitter you are fine.

olga1311 · February 2014

After reading aap studies on tv an babies I turn it off during the day. I only turn it on when LO is feeding and when she is asleep. Otherwise I watch shows on my laptop if she is awake and I have few mins break while she is entertained otherwise

DebateThis · February 2014

TV's not good for babies (there are at least two decades of research that all prove this), we just don't yet know exactly the threshold for how bad it is/how much exposure is the tipping point between "not good" and "really bad". There's a reason AAP says NO tv, not just to limit it. We know it can alter/damage/delay their development in every way - behavioral, sleep patterns, communication and language development as well as emotional development - even just having it on in the background. Better to just leave it off. If you need background noise, turn on a radio or Pandora and dance and sing with LO.

https://www.raisesmartkid.com/pre-natal-to-1-year-old/2-articles/22-the-effects-of-tv-on-baby
https://voices.yahoo.com/how-television-damages-babys-brain-development-
7388000.html?cat=25
https://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/10/infant-tv-guidelines/

lianeadine · February 2014

We tend to have to tv on a lot. She will nearly break her neck trying to watch. It. I make sure to turn her away and play with her, but dh will let her watch it. He claims she likes football. I am going to look into the research on ADD and show it to him, maybe that will get him to stop.

JennOH85 · February 2014

I limit LO's exposure to TV, but we do watch some shows when he's awake. Truthfully, I don't doubt that TV in excess is harmful for anyone but I sincerely doubt that it actually causes ADD. I think there's perhaps more of a correlation, like the study about language acquisition that NPR shared recently. The short version is that more affluent kids had better language skills and knew more words by certain ages. No shit. People with more money can spend more time with their kids and/or pay other people to spend time with their kids. Money =/= smarter kids, it's correlative. I think the TV studies may end up being similar in some ways. I'm not an expert, just my opinion and gut feeling. If watching Downton Abbey while LO nurses is wrong then I don't want to be right

Mom38673 · February 2014

Looooove Downton Abby!

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