Do you let your baby watch TV?

  • Wednesday, March 11, 2009 12:13 PM
    Message # 127120
    Tami
    As a first time mom, I purchased several copies of the Baby Enstein series for my son. At 2-3 months, we noticed that our son was turning his head and 'watching' the TV when it was on. He is now 7 months and seems to always want to watch it. The Dr. says they are drawn to the bright light. I don't turn it on anymore when I'm at home with him during the day. The only time I will bend is when I need him to finish his cereal/food. It seems to distract him enough that he  will open his mouth to eat. But when hubby gets home the first thing he does is turn it on and he keeps it on for the rest of the evening (which irks me to no avail). I've heard conflicting stories about whether TV is good for little ones.  I just wanted to get an idea of what other moms think about this. Do you let your little ones watch TV? If so, when/under what circumstances and/or how much?
  • Thursday, March 12, 2009 8:57 AM
    Reply # 127390 on 127120
    Suzette
    I'm totally guilty of letting my son watch too much TV when we are home. I've used it as a babysitter so I can get things done, shower, cook, clean.

    However is almost 10 months now and he really only watches when it is a show he likes.  Otherwise he ignores it and plays with his toys.  When it's one of his favourites (4 Square, In the Night Garden) then he is stuck to the TV like glue.  He's rather selective of what he watches.

    I just try to keep him a reasonable distance from it.  There are I'm sure like everything else, PROS and CONS.  My cousin couldn't believe how much his kid learned from the TV.  His kid would tell him stuff and his father would ask him about it and he would get a full explanation.  In amazement is father would ask "but how do you know all this stuff?"  Apparently he learned it on SESAME STREET.
  • Thursday, March 12, 2009 10:56 AM
    Reply # 127429 on 127120
    Marina

    My daughter is 18 month now and since she was 5 month I let her watch Baby Einstein series, this is the only DVD she's watching. However i limit it to only one disk a day, only in the morning, which lasts about 25 minutes.

    Now she knows the time when she watches it and it's kind of part of her morning routine. Sometimes she would point at TV again in the afternoon, but I would just calmly say that we watched TV already today and she forgets about it. In addition I recently heard that kids under 2 years old cannot comprehend cartoons and their brain cannot process all changing fast frames.

    Oh well, I don't know now what's right or wrong now.... I think, do everything within proportions. 

     
  • Friday, March 13, 2009 11:34 AM
    Reply # 127728 on 127120
    Claire (Administrator)

    I let Katelyn watch TV however, we watch it together. She just loves elmo and she really likes the sesame street moving together DVD. We watch it with her and it's really interactive so we jump and crawl and sing a long with it. On the weekends my husband lets her watch as much sesame street as she wants they both sit there together on watch TV it does bother me, but this is his time with her and he can do what he wants.  They both usually get tired of sitting there after 30 minutes and he'll get up and do something else. But if I tell him that they are watching too much TV they'll end up watching more TV than if I said nothing.  I think sometimes dads feel that us moms are always telling them what to do and they will do the opposite as a general rule to show their independence.

    The thing to consider is that watching TV will not make your baby smarter, so if put them in front of the TV all day long it doesn't really do much for them, but if you are otherwise taking them out, letting them experience a lot of different environments and activities such as reading programs, arts/crafts and other activities a little TV is OK.  Will TV make your baby smarter? according to the link attached no :-)  http://i.gizmodo.com/5164466/news-flash-tv-wont-make-your-baby-smarter-idiots

    Have I used the TV so that I can get something done quickly - yes! I am not superwoman - do I feel guilty about it - NO!  I do some many other things with her during the day that 20 mins of TV does not concern me.

    Like Marina said, it's good to limit the amount of time babies watch TV to 30 mins a day. 
  • Friday, October 30, 2009 1:34 AM
    Reply # 237472 on 127120
    Deleted user
    Tami W wrote:As a first time mom, I purchased several copies of the Baby Enstein series for my son. At 2-3 months, we noticed that our son was turning his head and 'watching' the TV when it was on. He is now 7 months and seems to always want to watch it. The Dr. says they are drawn to the bright light. I don't turn it on anymore when I'm at home with him during the day. The only time I will bend is when I need him to finish his cereal/food. It seems to distract him enough that he  will open his mouth to eat. But when hubby gets home the first thing he does is turn it on and he keeps it on for the rest of the evening (which irks me to no avail). I've heard conflicting stories about whether TV is good for little ones.  I just wanted to get an idea of what other moms think about this. Do you let your little ones watch TV? If so, when/under what circumstances and/or how much?

    If you’re concerned about behavioral issues and habits that may develop due to tv, your infant baby can spare you that worry.  I don't think babies that age can get that too-much-tv syndrome.  Your doctor is right, and it makes a lot of sense.  Right now, you're all that matters to him - your face, your voice, your scent.  I say tv is a wonderful tool to make work for you. Baby is happy and you are happy being able to have that few minutes to do some stuff you want while at it. Let your hubby have his tv time with the baby, he's actually doing you a great favor.  Enjoy or don't sweat this one.  Having a preschooler would be another story. ;D

    :::Nina

    Last modified: Friday, October 30, 2009 1:34 AM | Deleted user
  • Tuesday, November 03, 2009 8:49 PM
    Reply # 239546 on 127120
    Deleted user

    My answer would be a resounding- No. Although I agree that everything in moderation, my daughter is never left in front of the TV for any period of time.  If my husband or I want to watch something at the time, I actually turn her away from the screen; she doesn't seem to miss it. 

    I have heard that the changing frames (as someone mentioned earlier) overstimulate their brains and that become "addicted" to all the excitement and the fast pace. I have even heard a parent refer to TV as "cocaine" for her baby.  As an educator, I must say that I have seen MANY schoolage children who simply cannot sit down and concentrate on a seemingly menial task requested by  the teacher as they don't find it stimulating enough.  Or, many children have difficulty using their imaginations and being creative as as their creativity is zapped by the over stimulation, high technology of TV programs.

    Allowing a child time to "think" in a quiet room, is not as offensive as it may seem to an adult who would find such a situation boring. To an infant, anything allows them to imagine, as everything is new to them! 

  • Wednesday, November 04, 2009 5:44 PM
    Reply # 240071 on 127120
    Nicole
    Il have to take one the side of moderation. I know Im getting a lot of TV at the moment, since the baby is either feeding or sleeping. Now her awake time is books and "conversation" with me. But on the odd occasion, I will put her in her chair so I can put diner together. She is drawn to it, but no more than her attention allows for a book, or a chat. As for me...if you need a daytime TV schedule, you can call me.... Nicki
  • Thursday, November 12, 2009 9:13 PM
    Reply # 244204 on 127120
    Deleted user

    Hello again!

    I heard recently that Disney is issuing a full refund for all Baby Einstein videos purchased from 2003-2009 due to the false advertising that accompanied the videos.(i.e it seems the videos promoted an educational element which was proven false) In order to avoid a class action lawsuit, Disney has decided to voluntarily issue the refunds.  Sorry, I don't have further details as to how to receive these refunds.