Watching TV with a baby in the room?

[peanutbutter2409]

I've read a few things online that now make me feel like I've been neglecting and potentially harming my baby. My baby is now 18 weeks and I have tv on in the background most days whilst I'm getting on with housework, chatting and playing with him, breastfeeding, changing him etc. The articles I've read say that basically there should be no tv on until they're in bed or over 2 - this seems a little excessive or am I a terrible parent already?! We play lots, he loves his activity gym, I read to him and chat and sing etc all day too - we don't just sit in silence with come dine with me all day long!

[Allthebestnamesareused]

Carry on as you are. You sound like you're doing just fine

[SolomanDaisy]

Most people have TV on around their baby, don't worry about it.

[Aliveinwanderland]

I have the TV on all day and DS is 19 weeks! I can't see how it can harm him at all. I would stop reading whatever it is you are reading and apply some common sense. As long as you are doing plenty with him what does it matter if the TV is on in the background?

[FannytheW0nderDog]

Please don't listen to all of the pseudo-advice out there!! This kind of dangerous psycho-twaddle plays on new parents' fears. Keep the TV on and keep doing what you're doing because I'm sure you are doing a great job! You can bet there's another study out there that says keeping the radio and TV on the background is beneficial to babies development.

[Gingernut81]

Oh dear, DD (17 months) is screwed then! Just wait til you go back to work & you need to get ready. I don't let her sit I front of the to all day but Raa Raa the lion is my saviour on a morning 😂

[peanutbutter2409]

And that right there is why I love mumsnet - thank you!

[Dawsonforehead]

Your baby will be fine! The advice sounds extreme, not realistic to keep a child away from TV....and what magically happens aged 2 that would make TV OK?! So don't worry, you're doing a great job and carry on being normal!

[Ecureuil]

Raa Raa the lion is my saviour on a morning 😂

Raa Raa is always a signal to me that 20 month old DD has got up too bloody early!!

[fruityb]

I have always had the tv on as I need background noise. Plus it got him used to background noise. He doesn't really pay any attention to it - unless pointless comes on and then he's glued. I think he likes the colours.

[VanillaLatteAndCake]

I often have the tv on! Ds is 15mths and seems fine I do have periods with it off though but only now that he's more aware of it. I really wouldn't worry when they're still little like your baby.

[ineedwine99]

Eh?! My poor baby then, nearly 7m old and we have the TV on around her, cartoons, baby tv, documentaries and she loves the music channels

[iklboo]

DH these psycho-babble articles actually say why?

[NerrSnerr]

My daughter 'watched' the whole of House and numerous other things when she was a tiny baby. It's all just moving pictures and sounds to them at that age so enjoy the opportunity to watch what you want to. Now she's 2 it's all about Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol.

[tinymeteor]

It's fine! The whole 'no screen time' thing is way over the top in my view. Plus in my experience, the people who are militant about never putting on CBeebies are mysteriously fine with mum-and-baby cinema screenings at arty cinemas, so there's a certain snobbery involved I think.

[mouldycheesefan]

I dont have it on as background noise but when on mat leave I did watch tv during feeds which took forever with twins with reflux. But then I would switch it off after. I think constant tv all day is distracting for children.

[Scarydinosaurs]

I would have the radio on all day- for a baby is that any different?? Doubt it. I wouldn't worry. Once they start learning to speak, it's good to have it off so they can clearly hear your voice.

[polkadotdelight]

I remember posting exactly the same thing when DS was tiny!!!!

[Ding3kids]

I have it on around my 4 week old when it's just me and her. But personally not when my 2 and 4 year old are at home, they get TV sometimes but not all day. When my eldest was a baby i stopped TV all day when he got interested in it then started putting particular shows on only.
But when they're so young and you spend the day feeding/napping i don't think it matters

[Hollyandtheiveee]

Hmmm, I'm not averse to putting on the tv and my two have watched lots since they were really small. I don't think it's great to have it on most of the day as background noise though. Their little ears are tuning in to speech sounds and making sense of words and sounds. It has been proven that constant background noise can delay speaking and listening skills.

[SquedgieBeckenheim]

I HATE silence, so there is always tv or radio on in my house except at night
DD1 m, aged 2, will sit and watch it for short bursts, but mostly ignores it. It certainly hasn't adversely affected her development. She's ahead of her peers for speach and very active.
DD2, aged 2 weeks, obviously ignores it. I doubt it'll do her any harm.

[stupidoctopus]

We also use tv as background noise in this house. Every now and then I switch it up and play some music. But the tv is always on.

DD is 12 months (almost) and barely pays it any attention. In fact, she pays more attention when I play music through the tv that she does when programmes/films are on.

I'd like to see a source for the proof that it delays speech because DD has been saying and learning new words for a few months now, (hello/bye/cat/banana mostly), so I'm disinclined to believe that.

[archersfan22]

We didn't have a tv when I was young and actually I find it hard to ignore a tv screen in a room (eg a pub or cafe or if I go to someone's house who has it on all the time) whereas other people seem quite able to tune it out and carry on a conversation. I also have trouble concentrating if the noise levels in the office are too high. This may partly be just me but I think a certain amount of tv/other noise at home might actually be good preparation for living in our modern noisy world....

[RebelRogue]

DD must be horribly broken by now then. She's 5 and the telly has always been on as background noise..music,some silly shows,cartoons etc.

[NerrSnerr]

Holly do you have any links that prove that background noise delays speaking and listening skills?

[megletthesecond]

My tv was always on the news channel for company and to keep my brain ticking over. Babies are hard enough as it is without feeling isolated all day.