Babies and tv

[polkadotdelight]

DS is nearly 14 weeks and pfb. I am suffering with pnd and anxiety. I worry over everything such as room temperature, is he spending too long in bouncer etc. At the moment I am finding it hard to get out and about, I spend a lot of time at home but get very lonely and have the tv on for company. Ive noticed that DS is transfixed by the colours/movement etc and although I never put him in front of the tv to watch it I am now worried about having it on. Ive read that children under 2 should have no screen time. What does everyone else do?

[dorasee]

I think you're baby will be fine! Look we all hit walls. I am up every morning at the crack of and I have to put on In the Night Garden just so I can go to the loo or type replies on MN. ;-)
Not to sound preachy but focus on getting your PND sorted. The world will become a much more peaceful place once you feel better within your own skin. Part of your TV worries stem from anxiety. Trust your common sense and better judgement. But at the sane time, if having the breather gives you some peace, go for it. Look after you too, not only your baby. You need to be well for both if you. Hugs.

[dorasee]

*Your baby

[dorasee]

Goodness typos galore. Sorry.

[mrsnec]

Hi,

Mine is a similar age and we always have tvs on in the background but I don't notice dd staring at it or being particularly transfixed by it. I wasn't aware if tv was good or bad at this age so I am interested in the answers you get.

[fourlegstwolegs]

Why not have the radio on instead of the TV? Then you will still have the background noise but without a screen. Hugs.

[polkadotdelight]

We went out and bought a dab radio today. I would still be interested in peoples views though.

[Tallblue]

My baby watches Baby Einstein for a few minutes here and there, for example when I need to keep her occupied whilst I express breast milk. She loves the colours and the puppets. Don't think it will cause any harm!

[BertieBotts]

Babies with older siblings don't get a complete absence of TV. I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're not showing her Saw 3 or hardcore porn you have nothing to worry about.

[Thegoosenotthegander]

Are you getting help with pnd and anxiety? I think if you get that under control you should find you worry less about these other small things.

[Beatrixemerald]

I really wouldn't worry, there is so much you can drive yourself mad over. my dd is 6 months old and fascinated by the tv but only watches for a few mins at a time when on in background. what would really help is getting out the house and chatting to other mums, baby sensory/massage etc etc are great ways of meeting people and it helps you to realise a lot of fears and anxiety are normal

[fourlegstwolegs]

Personally I am anti TV for small children. DS is 2 now and I have managed to resist so far! It can be done. And its worth it! Good luck! x

[polkadotdelight]

Thank you. I am on medication for the pnd but the chaos of Christmas, loss of routine and a poor sleeping baby set me back a bit.

[thinkingaboutthis]

Didn't really put the TV on for DC1 until about 18 months.

DC2 got wall to wall Cbeebies from birth

Honestly I think there are far more important things to care about than TV and it isn't something that worries me.

[splendide]

I've wondered the same a bit. DS is 9 weeks and I have the TV on basically all the time we're in. I also have PND. It's not like I prop him in front of it, it's for me. He's generally feeding - still feeds very frequently - or he's sleeping or his brief awake moments I sit him facing me and interact.

In the evenings he doesn't go down till about 10 so he's with me and DH in the living room again tv on. Is this really bad :(

[thinkingaboutthis]

Of course it's not bad! There's no firm evidence that TV is a problem anyway. Millions of children grow up with the TV on and are fine.

[Pointlessfan]

I don't think screen time is very good for babies but neither is having a completely drained and exhausted parent so don't worry too much, it's all about balance. I hope you start to feel better soon

[polkadotdelight]

Thank you everyone.

[TobyLerone]

I was wondering about evidence for the 'no screen time' thing. It seems like another stick for some parents to beat themselves with, while others crow smugly about not letting their children ever catch sight of a screen.

What are the perceived problems with young children and screens? It's not like our childrens' generation will be able to avoid them for long.

[VashtaNerada]

My kids have always had access to the TV and it was often on when I was on maternity leave. It doesn't really bother me as long as they do lots of other stuff too, I wouldn't worry too much.

[fourlegstwolegs]

There is some evidence. And I'm not smug and I don't crow. I just don't do it.
www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2537240/Children-watch-TV-damaged-brain-structures.html

[thinkingaboutthis]

Well of course if the Daily Mail says so! That study isn't even about babies

[TobyLerone]

You'll forgive me for not basing the choices I make for my children on a Daily Mail article

[BertieBotts]

It's an American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation, apparently. The research is to do with the fast pace of images changing, some people think it can have an effect on developing childrens' brains because the focus on TV switches on average every seven seconds. I thought that was interesting so tended to prefer slower paced programmes when DS was little, the older Thomas episodes, In The Night Garden. US TV is quite different as well with more ad breaks which could have a different effect.

Either way it's bonkers - you can't keep children away from TV for two years unless you don't have one. Which is fine of course if you don't, but god, don't go out of your way to avoid your child catching a glimpse of TV. Everything in moderation and they will be fine!

[LucyB1]

I don't know how anyone gets a urging done without a bit of help from baby tv! As long as its not all day everyday and they are getting stimulation from real humans as well then there is nothing to worry about IMO.

[HazyShadeOfWinter]

I read an interesting article about it recently (sorry cant find link; will look again tomorrow when more awake) which was re-assuring people that there isn't something inherently harmful in being near or watching a TV screen. Even some of the authors of the American Peadiatrics study now say the advice is over the top. I think the problems stem if older babies and toddlers/children have too much time in front of TV without real human interactions too.

Having TV on to keep your mood up and help you cope better is less harmful, IMO, than if you weren't looking after yourself and your PND/anxiety got worse.

Take care of yourself, and congratulations on the new baby.