Putting your child in front of youtube is the same as putting them in front of the TV

[Yesitismeagain]

My dsil is v critical of mums that put their child in front of the TV to watch CBeebies. She says it is lazy parenting. It is bad for the child etc.

However, she puts her 14 month old son in front of her iPad to watch Youtube Pepper Pig or Ben and Holly for episode upon episode at a time. I've seen him sat in his high chair for at least 45 mins watching Youtube whilst she tidys up etc.

AIBU to not see what the difference is?

[CupidStuntSurvivor]

There is none. She's being a judgmental hypocrite.

[fuzzpig]

No YANBU. Of course it's the same, it's watching telly!

Although actually in some ways it's worse IF she is not supervising. My DCs go on YouTube and watch cartoons. Recently when they were watching Pocoyo (totally innocent preschool show) and halfway through what came on but a trailer for the 50 shades of grey film?! Was very glad I was there to skip the ad

[middlings]

There isn't a difference.

I also use too much YouTube. I think it avoids them watching too much rubbish advertising. Same reason they watch cbeebies. There's no fundamental difference though.

[DisappointedOne]

I too have spotted unsuitable films being advertised when DD is watching things on YouTube. I hate adverts but at least they don't tend to be x-rated!

[LittleBearPad]

There's no difference at all.

[PopularNamesInclude]

There is a difference and YouTube is worse. That is handing a young child free access to a world of totally unsuitable content alonside Peppa Pig!

[ourglass]

There's no difference, and she's a hypocrite.

[Yesitismeagain]

I sat mine in front of CBeebies as a means of a break, I make no judgment on others. I just find i want to smack her across the face for being smug and shining her halo.

[tenwrigglywigglycaterpillars]

YANBU there's no difference.

[wheresthelight]

I use cbeebies to occupy dd while I grab a shower or a hot cuppa and in the evening to help unwind as she loves the story time bit much more than being read too (mainly cos she would rather look at the book herself than let anyone else near it) before we do bath and attempt to get her off to sleep.

your dsil is being a massive hypocrite and another's have said it only takes a second for the baby to press a button or an advert and wind up watching any amount of unsuitable content

[Mintyyssockie]

She sounds short of a couple of brain cells.

[Justwhy]

Actually, I think You Tube is worse. CBeebies there is no choice, you watch whats on. My 2 year old on You Tube is like a child possessed. No not this one, this one. No changed my mind, this one etc.

[GoodbyeToAllOfThat]

Of course it's the same.

[Coffeethrowtrampbitch]

She is being daft, there is no difference.

Except that as has been pointed out, he could see something unsuitable by accident. My 7 year old ds was watching Minecraft videos when he clicked on a clown video in the related clips section. It was a scary clown and he was frightened, but if the same thing had happened to his little brother who is 3 he would have been absolutely terrified. So now they are only allowed You tube videos when I am sitting beside them.

[GoodbyeToAllOfThat]

On Youtube you're only a click away from porn something inappropriate for children.

[ImBatDog]

no difference at all.

my 8yo (Asd) is addicted to youtube, but he spends hours watching other people playing computer games, Stampy is a favourite, as is DiamondMineCart.

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

YouTube is worse because it's easy for a child to click into something inappropriate. But in terms of telly, of course she is BU - it's exactly the same. Ooh smuggery grips my shit in the first place, but smuggery about something there's no reason to be smug about? . I'm surprised you haven't smacked her across the chops with the iPad OP

[21pc]

viewpure.com Removes the ads and links to other things on youtube videos. I use it as a teacher when I don't want random things coming up in a video I'm showing

[MrsC1969HJ]

ImBatDog, same here. My nearly 4 yo DS is also ASD but will watch emergency vehicle call outs and steam trains over and over again. I don't mind at all, I am always nearby and it appears to have a calming influence on him.

[MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom]

There's no difference other than, as others have said, YouTube is riskier because of unwanted videos and inappropriate adverts.

This smuggity smugness is awful and worries me about what's to come as DD grows up and I interact with more parents like this... I do sometimes sit DD down in front of the YouView box, but more often I sit with her. We're raising her bilingually so we sit and watch programmes like Bing and Octonauts in Welsh so she's getting to watch children's programmes in both languages.

I think this smugness is horrible :(

[HyperThread]

YouTube is riskier. However, with YouTube you have more control, so you can decide which programme/episodes you want them to watch. It also means that children don't get into the habit of watching TV and programmes and soaps that were not designed for children.

[Jackiebrambles]

She sounds a bit thick, it's completely the same.

At least cbeebies has nice educational stuff and is pretty good quality.

[ILovePud]

Ha ha ha, what does she think happens to the programmes when accessed through the medium of youtube that transforms them into something educational? Daft woman, as others have said you tube (like TV) can be great in moderation but the issue with youtube is that you can quickly click through to really inappropriate material.

[SlatternIsMyMiddleName]

I had a friend like this. Constantly referred to the fact her DS didn't watch any tv. Turns out she put DVDs on and the child watched those. I failed to see how this was any different, but apparently it was!

[buffythemuffinslayer]

This thread makes me laugh!

XDP doesn't own a TV - I do. Went over to discuss something to do with DS, and DS was on the iPad. He is old enough to scroll through things, so could conceivably come across something NSFW.

I much prefer the TV: large enough to watch together rather than solo, I am the only one who understands how to change channels/get the DVD working and .... it's not portable! So we can escape from it.