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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think that using a tv to send a baby/toddler to sleep...

18 replies

Iggly · 23/01/2011 10:21

is madness?

A delivery driver gave us a tip for helping our 13 month DS fall asleep at night (we certainly didn't ask and don't have any problem) - stick a portable DVD player in his cot. He does that with his daughter and she falls asleep watching in the night garden. He chuckled that they hadn't worked out how to stop the night wakings though Hmm

I read on another forum (not NMs before you assume) of mum leaving kids tv shows on in her toddler's room to help her sleep. She then complained that the kid didn't sleep through.

Now DS wakes once a night unless he's ill or teething so I have no perfect sleeper. However I wouldn't dream of using the telly!

AIBU to judge? I'm sure I'll get flamed but I Don't Care Grin

OP posts:
Species8472 · 23/01/2011 10:25

YANBU to judge. I would as well Smile. Barmy idea IMO, but I don't have a bad sleeper so who knows what I might do in different circumstances if I was really desperate?

NorfolkNChance · 23/01/2011 10:26

My DD will not self settle fir a nap, we have tried everything.

Instead we have down time after lunch when we watch an animated film. 9 times out of 10 she will fall asleep watching it on my lap.

However what you are describing is very different so YANBU.

BuzzLightBeer · 23/01/2011 10:26

and other peoples decisions affect you because......?

NorfolkNChance · 23/01/2011 10:26

Just to add she self settles at night just not during the day.

mutznutz · 23/01/2011 10:27

I think people do what they have to do to get their kids to sleep.

My Mum used to put a radio underneath my sister's pram to get her off to sleep...it worked so she was happy.

TragicallyHip · 23/01/2011 10:28

I definitely wouldn't put a tv/portable dvd player in Ds's cot but on the odd occasion he wakes up and we can't get him back to sleep I will snuggle with him on the couch and watch something for half hour.
He will then normally go back to sleep after I put him in his cot.

CockneySparra · 23/01/2011 10:29

It goes against my instincts, completely.

I am not anti TV (am currently using it as a babysitter...been up since 6am being 'Fun Mum' and have had enough!) but a portable DVD in a cot? A baby gawping at the screen until his/her eyes get sore? Weird!

Agree, very different from what you have described@Norfolk.

doricpatter · 23/01/2011 10:31

It becomes a problem as they get older though, surely, as it's stimulating their little brains rather than teaching them to relax into sleep. So, in desperate times with a baby I'd be fine with it (I have personally done much weirder things to get a baby to sleep!) but for older children when it's an ingrained habit or crutch then YANBU.

Mayqueene · 23/01/2011 10:31

Er..Madness?

Not really, it's just a different parenting choice to yours.

I agree with you for the record, it's not something I'd do, but I reserve my judginess for neglectful/abusive parenting.

I'm sure you (and me definitely!!) have ideas on parenting that would make your delivery driver get his judgey pants on.

Different strokes and all that Grin

Sirzy · 23/01/2011 10:32

It's not something I would do but if if works for others I wouldn't judge.

doricpatter · 23/01/2011 10:35

I should hold my hands up here though and admit that I hate to see TVs in kids' rooms anyway, I think they should be in family areas. [sniff]

ChippingInSmellyCheeseFreak · 23/01/2011 10:35

I agree it's not a good idea. The older they get, the better they get, at keeping themselves awake to watch it - nightmare!

But each to their own and if they don't mind either taking it away later or having an older child up until stupid o'clock that's their look out isn't it Grin

It would be interesting to see how many portable DVD's they get through Grin

TrinityMotherOfRhinos · 23/01/2011 10:36

I got into a stupid thing of trying t get dd2 to go to sleep with the telly on when she was 18 months to 2 years

it was stupid, never worked and I dont know what I was thinking

DeidreBarlow · 23/01/2011 10:36

Oh Lord I've done thisBlush.

DS was 4 mths when wewent to Cyprus on holiday he used to be up all night! One night I just couldn't cope I was so tired so I put DD's portable DVD player next to him with Pepa Pig on (sound off). He stopped crying, no idea if he did go back to sleep but I certainly did! Tried it a few times after that but as soon as he learnt to roll we had to stop as he rolled over and slammed it shut. maybe he had just had enough of Pepa.....

Original poster
Iggly · 23/01/2011 10:37

I didn't say it did affect me. I'm bemused to say the least. And I've been bloody desperate.

OP posts:
bubbleymummy · 23/01/2011 10:38

A bit strange! We went through a stage with DS1 when DS2 came along of letting him watch a DVD before he went to sleep. I hated it but it got us through a few tricky weeks. I wouldn't have done it with a young child though and I wouldn't have put a tv in his cot with him! I would worry about them being so close to a screen.

We do use music to help get DS2 off to sleep a lot though so maybe we would fall into a 'mad parent' category too! :)

Original poster
Iggly · 23/01/2011 10:40

Grin May I'm sure that's the case!

BTW I'm not anti - TV and I'm sure it'll be used when DS is older.

OP posts:
Original poster
Iggly · 23/01/2011 10:43

Yes bubb it was the tv in the cot that I was judging the most. Tv in the room, less so but still a little.

OP posts:
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