to think TV is like drugs for babies?

[arses]

I have been quite precious restrictive regarding television in the house since ds came along. He is 11 months now. Most days it doesn't go on at all, and I am pretty anal strict about turning it off after 30 mins.

However, for the last week, I have been feeling really ropey. D and v, topped by a cold, constant headache etc. So, twice last week and yesterday morning, I turned on the TV while giving ds his porridge waving goodbye to all my pfb principles.

This morning, I sat him in his highchair and started feeding him to realise he was gesticulating wildly towards the remote control and back at the television. As he'd been so persistent in getting his message across, I turned it on and, of course, he was immediately transfixed.

What do they get out of it? It's like sweets for their tiny minds, isn't it?

DD did the same thing: hooked after 2 or 3 times.

In fact she's watching it right now as I attempt to MN write my essay.

You are only BU because I am jealous. My 15 month old still has no interest in television whatsoever. I have tried to entice him to sit still for 5 minutes and stare at the pretty moving pictures, but no, it is obviously more fun to relentlessly hunt down the baby wipes and decorate the room with them.

5 minutes - that's all I ask.

Do you have Sky?

Try Baby TV, which is designed for babies under two and intended to stimulate, Classic FM on the tv and dvds of bee bright etc www.beebright.co.uk/ which are again designed for young children.

Put in another room to nap/play/have quiet time.

I used the tv shamelessly at first. Mainly Classic FM and Baby TV, but later dvds of things like letterland and bee bright. But I always put him in his room away from any stimulation for quiet time/naps. He is watching Playtime Disney now, and I am not ashamed at all, as he has a massive cold and I can't do too much with him.

He has no problems interacting with adults or other children and (partly due to educational tv) is about a year and a half advanced academically. Use tv like any other resource.

That's what DD watches : Baby TV. It's quite good in that it's got educational angle to it.
We're a trilingual family and she learned a lot of English words from there that she wouldn't have otherwise (DP works a lot, so not that much interaction with DD).

I love baby tv too. Will only keep DD entertained for 20 mins max but still perfect for getting little jobs done when you have a non napping baby like mine.

No Sky TV here. DH has a "thing" about it. He also has a "thing" about dishwashers, which is a bigger battle for us to fight .

arses I hope you insist DH does the washing up then seeing as he finds it so special!

Oh ayjayjay, I do. Have done since we moved here 5 years ago. But it is all a trick as he takes ages to wash a few dishes and watches BBC Iplayer on his iphone in the kitchen . Doesn't work as negative reinforcement, sadly.

He just likes TV that's all, just like he probably enjoys chocolate or picking up leaves or paddling in the toilet.

The problem isn't TV watching itself IMHO, but what they don't do if they watch it all the time for example, Playing, exploring... exercise as they get older.

But mine have found TV to be educational and entertaining and it's something they look forward yo and I don't see any harm in that.

I'd say though that children learn more by doing things than by watching so it's important to get a balance.

I couldn't even get mine interested in Judge Judy. What is wrong with the child? I offer him quality viewing experiencs like that and he just blows raspberries and toddles off to destroy my work papers.

Another jellus h8r here too....DS not too interested in TV - and with baby 2 on the way this week (hopefully) I'd really like him to tune in so I can cop out for a little while!! Am thinking about BF here specifically.

I believe baby TV was banned in France as they believe it was damaging to babies' development. Sorry but even though I shamelessly used TV whilst pregnant (was v sick and tired) I still think it should be a last resort measure. Although I will agree that if it is a toss up between tv and keeping your sanity or killing your kids, it's probably better to switch it on!

How do you think it affects their development?

Don't let them watch Singing Kettle. It's TV crack. DS2 never went near the telly until he discovered them, now it is all he ever asks for.

DD watches:
Cricket (with her dad)
Surfing (with her dad)
Waybuloo (with both of us because we love the music, are we weird?)
In The Night Garden (because she likes it).
X Factor (because I Sky plus it to watch during the day and fast forward through the acts I don't like.)

That's a lot of TV, isn't it? (though not every day). Am I a bad mum? I worry that I am...

I always thought I'd restrict TV watching, but having been very poorly during the first 8-10 months after having DD, I would use it to entertain her while I got some rest. CBeebies is like crack to my DD and has been since she was very young...

Doig- it isn't banned now as we live in France and it's available.

I have one of each DS1 - not interested if last longer than 15 mins. DS2 would sit in front of it all day if I let him. I think it depends on the child

cbeebies is truly the opium of the toddler.

the problem is it's too good, the kids do too little to get tired watching it.

something less good like Homes Under The Hammer strikes a better balance.

DTs didn't watch any television at all until about two, well, apart from BBC News and David Attenborough programs that DH and I love.
DTs now request DA Living Planet etc. regularly and have learnt a quite a bit from this fabulous piece of television; it's not every day that nearly 3 year old children correct visitors 'no, that's not a Minkie whale, it's Ocra'etc.
Apart from that I allow few episodes of Thomas, Bagpuss or Mr.Benn/Paddington/etc. - the 'oldies' - a day.
At least the pronunciation and dialogue are not embarrassing - unlike Cbeebs et al.
Find the Cbeebies mind numbingly stupid and dull, the presenters seem to have forgotten their meds, the programmes are full of grunts/whinging/violence/idiotic dialogue.
So YANBU.

arses - my DH has a thing about Sky too - "they've ruined English football" etc etc.
My DC both like CBeebies, natural history stuff, Formula 1 Racing, and so on...but DS1 (aged 5) will watch for a little while then go off and play with his trains or similar.
DS2 (aged 3) looooves TV and would watch all day, but he tends to want to watch the same things over and over: his current favourite is a BBC Wildlife compilation DVD, he particularly likes a scene with a male and a female tiger scrapping, and also enjoys one with a giant python swallowing a springbok - nice!!

kungfupanda, I share your frustration. DS2 (2 1/2) simply will not watch more than 2 minutes despite my best efforts. I don't advocate plonking kids in front of the box for hours but it is great to get 30mins peace.DS1 (10) on the other hand is completely addicted and will sit like a zombie goggling at any old shit for hours and panics if you turn it off. I can't win.

My ds has just woken himself up from a nap at the sound of waybaloo starting!