Tv

Liane28 · November 2014

Do you let your baby watch tv?
I try not to (too often) but it has started snowin like crazy so going out today is out of the question (i don't drive) and I can only "play" so much so I put the tv on and L has been watching the doodlebips for some time now from her exersaucer!

edoliesmom · November 2014

Nope, my goal is to keep her tv-free until at least 18 months. You know, it's good for babies to play independently at this age. I understand getting worn out from feeling the need to constantly interact with them and needing some "me time," so it's a good opportunity for them to play on their own during those times!

Liane28 · November 2014

@LalaMama81‌ any particular reason?

Liane28 · November 2014

@edoliesmom‌ yup! She plays independently really well actually!

kmos816 · November 2014

Sometimes she catches some news or football if we are watching it but otherwise no. We are also trying to go TV free as long as possible. She plays on her a lot while I'm doing other things.

Teresa1896 · November 2014

Occasionally glancing at the tv is different from "watching" tv, in my opinion. Our LO is more interested in watching his sister than in looking at the tv. I have been much more conscious of having the tv on as background noise for us. We spend more time listening to music and playing than watching tv.

juniper75 · November 2014

Yes - I don't put TV on for her specifically but its going in the background a lot and she has a 2 year old sister so she has seen her shows. She'll glance at it sometimes while she plays if they are singing or the voices catch her attention.

MissWhis · November 2014

She sees TV sometimes - mostly football right now, but she's always playing with toys or doing something else and it just happens to be on in the same room. We don't watch it all during weekdays, mostly just after she goes to bed or for sports.

I'm not being super strict about keeping her away from TV 100%, but I'd never put her in front of it with a show for her to watch. I don't know when I'd feel comfortable with that. Probably closer to two, I'd imagine.

She's going to get enough screen time in her life. I don't think she needs it now.

AmberLiz99 · November 2014

Nope. TV is off during the day, unless my 3 year old gets one 20 minute show, but LO doesn't watch it at all

Liane28 · November 2014

Ya she pretty much just gets interested if there is signing or dancing going on

Otherwise she continues playing with her toys.

Ashleypixie · November 2014

I don't sit her in front of the TV but I have to keep it on all day (news or dvr'd stuff) to keep myself sane and drown out construction noise. Every once and a while she'll glance at it if some commercial gets her attention and there's been at least three other times where I turned on babytv if something required my immediate attention, but she is pretty indifferent anyway. Sorrynotsorry. But I wouldn't make a habit of it. If she gets that bored I take her toy shopping. But I hear you on always having to play. It gets exhausting some days and I'm sure not being able to go anywhere sucks.

joyfullyfound · November 2014

No. I don't even let me 2.5 year old watch TV. There's so many other things you can do when it's snowy.

MissWhis · November 2014

LalaMama81 said:
Why not just put music on then?

This works wonders in our house. She loves kids albums where they have children singing along. We listen to the same few every day and she loves it. She gets a big smile on her face when her favorite one starts up.

Liane28 · November 2014

LalaMama81 said:
Why not just put music on then?

We put music on all the time! She loves it.

juniper75 · November 2014

I know I will get flamed to death over this but I just don't think TV is that big a deal. Like anything in life its all about moderation. I get that the AAP recommends no screen time til two - but really limited screen time is recommended for everyone not just babies. I have tried to find studies and research on this and its limited. And really how would they study this effectively where they could say all variables were the same and only the screen time varied. Not really possible. I just think you have to be responsible about it and make sure your child gets a good healthy amount of developmentally appropriate activities and isn't just parked alone infront of a screen. They need to have sensory stimuli, imaginative play, exercise etc...

It's an individual choice and to each his own - I'm not trying to advocate tv watching I just don't buy into this whole panic that your babies brain will be under developed of they will have ADD because they played in a room with the TV on.

UnofficiallyLO · November 2014

I'm home all day but I don't watch TV until he goes to sleep- half no screen time for baby, half too busy to sit and watch. I have (my) music on often so it's not silent.

Liane28 · November 2014

juniper75 said:
I know I will get flamed to death over this but I just don't think TV is that big a deal. Like anything in life its all about moderation. I get that the AAP recommends no screen time til two - but really limited screen time is recommended for everyone not just babies. I have tried to find studies and research on this and its limited. And really how would they study this effectively where they could say all variables were the same and only the screen time varied. Not really possible. I just think you have to be responsible about it and make sure your child gets a good healthy amount of developmentally appropriate activities and isn't just parked alone infront of a screen. They need to have sensory stimuli, imaginative play, exercise etc...

It's an individual choice and to each his own - I'm not trying to advocate tv watching I just don't buy into this whole panic that your babies brain will be under developed of they will have ADD because they played in a room with the TV on.

I agree

Liane28 · November 2014

LalaMama81 said:

juniper75 said:

I know I will get flamed to death over this but I just don't think TV is that big a deal. Like anything in life its all about moderation. I get that the AAP recommends no screen time til two - but really limited screen time is recommended for everyone not just babies. I have tried to find studies and research on this and its limited. And really how would they study this effectively where they could say all variables were the same and only the screen time varied. Not really possible. I just think you have to be responsible about it and make sure your child gets a good healthy amount of developmentally appropriate activities and isn't just parked alone infront of a screen. They need to have sensory stimuli, imaginative play, exercise etc...

It's an individual choice and to each his own - I'm not trying to advocate tv watching I just don't buy into this whole panic that your babies brain will be under developed of they will have ADD because they played in a room with the TV on.

No on here is a really panicking. In real life, I don't know anyone as strict as I am, so I don't really buy that this is even on most people's radar.

Even if it's not as negative as some sources say, it's not helping, so what't the point. A 6 month old can't watch a TV show and understand it. It's just "ooh pretty colors," which they can find outside, on their toys, siblings, books, etc.

Like you said, tons of screen time isn't great for anyone and I think saying you can't get through one snow day w/o putting on the TV is ridiculous.

Um I didn't say I couldn't get through the day without having the tv on, relax little mama.

olenkapdx · November 2014

I don't purposely put on shows for LO to watch. I sometimes watch part of a show while I'm feeding her and she will show interest in the flickering screen.

My mom used to park me in front of a TV playing soap operas and game shows. Maybe that's why I have an aversion to both now.

UnofficiallyLO · November 2014

For the record, I wasn't as anti TV before I had LO and started spending time with my friend and her daughter on a weekly basis. She just turned 3 and is always watching TV/ a video on someone's iPhone, taking phones to browse pictures. The first time she came to my house she didn't even realize I had a TV because it was off and she played marvelously inside and outside. The second visit it eventually came on and by the third she requested a show as soon as she walked in the door.
I'm not saying anyone who let's their baby watch TV is going to have an electronically obsessed toddler but I'm certainly trying to avoid it and didn't buy a house on 2 acres so my kid can grow up to tell me 3 o'clock = Peppa Pig time.

Smores730 · November 2014

My LO isn't paying attention to the screen just yet but I know soon she will. I feel like my life can only revolve around the baby so much; If I want to watch a show, I'm going to watch a show..
Similarly in the future, if I can't find anything that will entertain her while I try to make dinner for my family and Dora will keep her occupied.. Dora's what she's going to get.

chichi589 · November 2014

Our tv is on or music is playing constantly. I do not sit him in front of the tv but he will glance at it occasionally. His sister gets to watch tv from 7-8 or we will watch a movie on weekends/ my nights off of work. He is always with us and will look. It doesn't bother me. He gets lots of stimulation from books toys etc and a little tv isn't going to stunt that. His sister learned a lot from watching educational shows like super why or sesame street. She's two and knows all her letters, numbers to 20, colors, animals, animal sounds etc. she's smarter then most 2 yr olds and while we work hard with her watching some shows def was motivation for her. She always does flash cards on the iPad. With that being said, everything I mentioned is a treat for good behavior and I have zero issues taking it away when I see fit. I don't have any issues with it you just have to decide your parenting style & stick with it. When I was pregnant sometimes I needed that 7-8 hr to relax with a 1 1/2 yr old running around.

Talltrees82 · November 2014

LO barely naps so I will watch a show while he plays so I get a break. The TV is on in the evenings a lot with football/hockey etc and LO looks at it occasionally but I don't think it's a big deal. I don't sit him in front of it on purpose and we do plenty of other things in other rooms and outside during the day.

I would rather LO see the TV every now and then and have it be NBD for him instead of it become a novelty when he's 2 because he's never seen it on.

CalinAZ · November 2014

Nope - we keep the tv off during the day (though I do occasionally watch while he's napping in another room). We had the opposite where it was too hot here to be outside, so we've gotten good at doing "rotations" in the house. Different toys in different play areas, so we'll spend a while in the bedroom (while I tidy up), then in the family room, which is his main play area, and then up in his room. A new thing to keep both of us entertained is that when he's in his room, I read him Harry Potter. We're already 60 pages in! Music is also fun to have on and sing along to.

That said, I just read this article, which I found interesting (it takes the "moderation" approach to screen time, and weighs different types of screen time differently). Didn't look into their references, but it made sense to me. I don't feel badly about letting LO skype with relatives, because I feel like that's very different purpose wise than watching tv.

I've been reading so much more since LO was born, since the tv is now rarely on, and we got rid of cable. It's been fantastic

juniper75 · November 2014

I wasn't intending to imply that people here in particular were getting worked up or panicking - its just that tv seems to have become one of those hot button mommy topics all over the place and I just don't get why people get so passionate over it.

edoliesmom · November 2014

@CalinAZ Great article!

spano41 · November 2014

I don't put on shows for DD but she loves tv and will watch it when it's on. If we go out to eat she will find the tv in the restaurant and stare at it. I try not to have it on during the day but will sometimes watch a show while she's napping and if she wakes up before it's over i will finish watching it. We also watch a lot of sports and she watches with us. Football and baseball were a big part of our lives before we had DD and I don't see a reason to give that up completely because we have a baby. I don't think that tv is as big a deal as some people do. I think the problem is when it replaces other activities that are important for development.

LaurStar25 · November 2014

I only let LO watch it when he's not feeling well. He doesn't know how to play calmly yet, so the only activity he can do while awake without wearing himself out is to watch one episode of Max and Ruby. Even then, he usually loses interest about halfway through one 10 minute episode and wants to play with a toy. If that makes me a bad mom, so be it!

Also, I do get a little PO'd at moms who declare their children get "no screen time" and "never watch TV", and then allow their child to watch 4 hours of football with dad on Sunday...that's still screen time! I have no problem with a little TV here and there, but some people get holier than thou about it! There are a lot worse things a parent could do...

SoulTermination · November 2014

I generally have the TV going as background noise, but LO only glances at it occasionally. She's much more interested in her toys, or things she thinks are toys.

At MIL's house though, she does sometimes stare at the TV for a while, but only for My Little Pony: Equestria Girls. My niece who lives there too watches that when A's over there sometimes. I don't see it as a big deal. *shrug*

zazu13 · November 2014

No, But it's always on at the grandparents' homes and I don't fight it there. I figure a few minutes a week isn't the end of the world, but I never have it on at home, except after they have gone to bed.

JessieAlbin · November 2014

@mamrotu73‌ Raffi for the win! Baby Beluga is kiddo's favorite song. It stops him in his tracks when it comes on. Adorable.

kseccomb17 · November 2014

I don't let my boy watch tv and my girl gets about 1-2 Hours a day. My dad informed me today, that he would put a movie in and I'd sit there all day. I turned out okay, I think.

juniper75 · November 2014

MaiTaiBeth said:

Vinny424 said:

dani+california said:

And can we stop with the 'I turned out fine!' line? Just do it or don't, who cares. Lots of people 'turned out fine' after living in houses full of lead paint and asbestos. After their mothers smoked and drank while in utero. Obviously I'm exaggerating in drawing a comparison between them but shit, just own your decision. We don't know you, maybe you're not fine. Bahaha

Yes, hate that. It's often used for car seat safety, too.
That argument for car seat safety is the most asinine thing ever

c'mon.....TV v. car seat safety/lead paint/asbestos/smoking drinking during pg really not the same thing. The comparison reminds me of some political cartoon someone posted recently .....I rode around in the back of a pick up truck on the highway as a kid and yes, "I'm fine" but that doesn't mean I'm going to chuck PF in the back of the truck and go whizzing down the highway.
I'm going to use my personal experiences to make judgment calls on what she does, if, "I'm fine" bothers anyone then too bad.

This is kind of what I was trying to get at. Somehow the issue of TV has become right up there in debates with real health and safety issues and I think thats just taking things too far.

juniper75 · November 2014

Oh and I should add that: I was exclusively formula fed, slept on my stomach with blankets and toys in a room with lead blinds - prob had asbestos in the house, my mom smoke and drank while pregnant, the boob tube raised me and I often rode in the back of pickup on a lawn chair. But I didnt turn out fine - I am soooooooooo much better than fine.

Sorry couldn't help myself. But it's all true.

It's funny - I've often said I dont know how my parents did it - or my grandmother with 11 kids - but then, they didnt have any damn rules to follow. Prob just tied us up in the backyard with the dog all day.

Liane28 · November 2014

I-)

ambarnett1 · November 2014

I feel like we've done this before.

Ashleypixie · November 2014

Not only did I watch a lot of TV as a child, but I watched the movie "Annie" every day. Loved it, can still recite every line. I don't think I ever felt like my parents were neglecting me for their self interest, but then again, I was watching a movie about orphans every day so I may have thought I had it pretty good. I'm neither "just fine" nor brain damaged. I think this whole "dangers of screen time" thing is a little over rated, especially when we're talking about 6-7 month olds. TV isnt the problem, it's the using something to distract your baby because interactive play all day is boring and mom needs a break. Throwing your kids into one of those octagon fence things with some toys is just as bad. Having a set age and plan where you allow a television to even be on in the same room is just weird to me, I feel like it would establish watching as some kind of special treat and encourage a habit that wouldn't have been there in the first place. I don't really think I'm adding anything here other than "moderation" but 15 minutes of Max and Ruby so you can do your makeup is a pretty ridiculous thing to get judgy about. (Other than encouraging your kid to be an obnoxious little bitch like Ruby)

juniper75 · November 2014

You can't blame Ruby though - she has no parents!! And that creepy lobster is always causing trouble.

Ashleypixie · November 2014

Vinny424 said:

@MaiTaiBeth‌ I hope you didn't take me calling the car seat thing asinine personally. I don't think the two compare, but when someone says "i turned my kid around at 5 months in the car and she's fine" I think it's ridiculous.

Ummmm, the bolded is just my opinion. I don't know why you need research into why I think doing something to distract your kid (of any age) all day for your own benefit (because you're bored) is something I personally don't agree with. I don't know why you're so defensive about it. You wouldn't hire a sitter who would talk on the phone and not interact with your children. Really, I am seriously confused here! That being said, give a mom a break if turning on something for a second to do makeup or schedule a dr's appointment. Because ten minutes with a TV on isn't actually going to effect their development. I'm not sure why you're flaming me when three pages into this topic when more than one person has said the same thing and not referring to only six month olds. I'm glad we can both agree on one thing, Annie was a good movie. I don't understand the comment at the end though, "just not at 6 months old." Because I never said anything about a six month old watching Annie. And if I watched it at 6 months old I don't remember.

Ashleypixie · November 2014

Whoops! Quoted the wrong thing somehow! This was in response to @LalaMama81‌ sorry!

csmily51 · November 2014

I put the TV on for her sometimes, like when I get ready for work, packing her up to go, making dinner etc. But all her toys are out or she is in her exersaucer. She doesn't watch it though. The only thing she will watch is Buzz Bee/ the Hive. The colors, music and sound calms her down when she is overly tired/ or fussy. Usually that and a bottle knock her out. But it's a very rare occasion we have those issues, so it's rare she watches it. Also when we drive to my parents (8hrs) she'll watch it for a bit, something to keep her occupied & calm. We have found she loves classical music so o usu ally put Baby Einstein Beethoven or Mozart on and she hus along with the music while she plays...it'd adorable. We also use PanDora nursery rhymes. I also have a nursery rhyme DVD that reads the stories as a book not a show/slideshow of pictures. She doesn't pay attention, so I usually just play it on the surround sound and keep the TV off. I think whatever works for you. We don't make TV a strict thing, however, the tablet, computers and phone are off limits to her, but again, we don't encourage the tv/ make it a habit (maybe 30 min a week total).

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