TV on much of the day

[PassionKissUnderTheMistletoe]

I am starting to worry about this.

I know it's bad to let toddlers watch too much TV (or any some people say)

When DD was a newborn I got into the habit of having the TV on while I was sitting on the sofa for hours BF-ing. She didn't seem aware of it at all at that age.

She is seven months now and I have noticed that she turns her head to the TV, particularly if music of any kind comes on. I hate her staring at it so I turn it off but TBH I get a bit lonely without it .

I try the radio but there is something about looking at the TV that is really soothing - I'm not even paying attention to it, it just keeps me company.

Does anyone else feel like me? What do you do at home with just you and baby? TV on or off?

[Simic]

I did have tv off - but I often read a book and baby was turning round to that sometimes. As she got older, I stopped it.
What about music to be soothing and sort of keeping you company. I wonder if gentle music is better than the flickering of tv.
If the loneliness is the actual problem, perhaps it's worth concentrating on that (going to parent-toddler groups, meeting friends etc.). I don't know why, but I feel fine about a breast-feeding baby being distracted by other children and "normal" noise. I suppose it's just that lots of people around has been the way children have breastfed for thousands of years whereas tv's new???

[SkyBluePearl]

i had the same dilema with my first - i tended to watch tv while BFing. In the end i stopped wathing tv and read or phoned a friend. Have to admit that haven't been able to watch tv with second and third baby. Too busy multi tasking with the kids. Personally i don't think you should worry about it too much at the mo as there will probabaly be few chances for you to relax like that as your family expands. Is it also worth trying to get out to some toddler/baby groups to meet some new friends?

[ItsJustMyOpinion]

My tv is on most of the day, its either cbeebies are programs that I want to watch, or dvd's. Dd will watch first thing in the morning, from 6 until about 10ish.
TBH half the time my dd doesn't actualy "watch" the tv, this is when I get to have the tv to watch what I want to watch. I work most evenings so don't get a chance to watch it then.

Don't get me wrong though, we don't just watch tv all day, we read, listen to music and go out and about aswell. The tv does get switched off at times.

[PassionKissUnderTheMistletoe]

Well, I am a bit lonely today as it's too snowy to go out!

I do go to baby groups but they don't take up much of the day. Haven't made any friends yet . Have only just moved to the area.

Just interested in other opinions. I find that I can't read if BF-ing because I can't turn the pages, and if DD is playing on the floor I feel like reading a book would "shut her out" and take my attention away from her more than the TV would iyswim.

[SkyBluePearl]

Dont worry passion, moving to a new area and having a first baby can both be a bit lonely at first but I'm sure you will make some great friends - it will just take a little time. We moved about 4 years ago and i felt very isolated at first.

[PassionKissUnderTheMistletoe]

Thanks SkyBlue

[LaWeaselMys]

I did exactly the same.

I make a distinction between children's television and adverts (which are fast moving and fascinating to babies) and normal adult television. All of the research about TV being bad is in relation to those two things.

I try and limit the children's TV but am not bothered about the adult TV. Like you I just found it too lonely to have nothing on, at that age DD grabbed at books - and I didn't really get much out of toddler groups until she was a bit more active.

[PassionKissUnderTheMistletoe]

Thanks LaWeasel, good to know I'm not the only one who has used TV for company!

I know it will be better when she's older and hopefully has siblings

[putthekettleon]

DD1 got through the whole SATC box set when she was a baby, doesn't seem to have done her any harm (yet... I guess if she turns into a nymphomaniac teenager I can blame it on early exposure to SATC!) I would put the telly on but also be sat on the floor playing with her and interacting with her, she didn't seem that bothered with 'adult' tv.

I think most people do it at some point so don't stress. As long as you're out and about doing other stuff too.