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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to wonder why people put children's television on for babies?

34 replies

Mapley · 08/02/2011 19:06

Besides the arguments for and against television with regards to arguments about it's effect on a baby's mental development, why on earth would you subject yourself to constant cbeebies when you don't have to?

Surely the years before your child is old enough to demand the telly on are a gift to be able to have music, your own choice of telly or silence?

And surely if you have children's television on for babies then you are just training them to be children who want the television on all the time?

This is inspired by a friend of mine saying she's had to limit television time for her 2 year old to two hours a day as he was driving her mental demanding the television on all day everyday. So now she has him on a strict hour in the morning and hour before bed routine. Apparently he's tantrumming at the televison set all day wanting it on, so she's being strict and saying no and hoping he'll get used to the rules soon enough.

This is the same woman who had cbeebies on for him all day everyday from birth pretty much, bought him waybaloo and in the night garden stuff for his first christmas, took him the the in the night garden live show etc etc.

gah!

OP posts:
mumoflittlemouse · 08/02/2011 19:21

Here, have my very first Biscuit

Surely you can think of some possible reasons why for yourself?

sheesh

Memoo · 08/02/2011 19:22

Wow, you must be really thick

saffy85 · 08/02/2011 19:26

I miss DD being a baby She loved "watching" Friends with me and liked the canned laughter (she heard people laugh and chortled along with them) and I swear her eyes lit up at the theme tune. She discovered ITNG and a love affair with Cbeebies started.

Sorry totally not an answer Blush

MoonUnitAlpha · 08/02/2011 19:28

I agree, my ds is 6 months and I'm enjoying being able to watch whatever I want! I'm not going to subject myself to cbeebies until he's old enough that Law & Order and House become unsuitable.

potplant · 08/02/2011 19:29

The shiny lights entertain them? I used to put mine in front of the Christmas tree for the same reason.

Original poster
Mapley · 08/02/2011 19:34

Exactly, shiny lights entertain them! Anything entertains them. So why put the television in all day everyday?

The reasons I can think of are that mother's are tired and want some time themselves. And having the television on is like baby opium. But then plenty if other stuff entertains babies too, so still not sure why television is a first choice.

OP posts:
bettybosseye · 08/02/2011 19:35

I'm with you OP, i miss the days before bloody cbeebies. Don't know why anyone would subject themselves to it unless they really had to.

Panzee · 08/02/2011 19:36

I like Cbeebies! Well some of it. Although my current crush is that one off Horrible Histories, so CBBC is on more often.

ethelina · 08/02/2011 19:37

Agree re wall to wall beebies, its all shit, but ITNG music is the signal for bedtime. He knows it, it starts the routine. Why not?

bettybosseye · 08/02/2011 19:38

Which one on horrible histories?

Original poster
Mapley · 08/02/2011 19:41

Yeah not really talking about the occassional ITNG or similar, I'm talking about constant c beebies in the background for under two year olds.

OP posts:
ethelina · 08/02/2011 19:43

Totally agree in that case. Much more fun to put coats on and go out.

bettybosseye · 08/02/2011 19:44

he's funny but i have a thing for the other one, don't know his name and can't think how to describe him. Needless to say cbbc is on alot in our house too.

coff33pot · 08/02/2011 19:50

When my DS was a baby I used to put the TV on if he had colic. The colours moving in different ways facinated him and apart from stimulating the mind it helped distract him a little from the colic! :)

Original poster
Mapley · 08/02/2011 19:52

haha :-) Hark at you two lusting over kids tv presenters!

Luckily cbeebies isn't constantly on in my house yet, but there have been days when I've experimented with it ( due to sick baby or mother) and it's driven me loopy. I'm sure my days are numbered though.

So come on first two posters, tell me why I'm
thick and deserve a biscuit?

OP posts:
Original poster
Mapley · 08/02/2011 19:55

Coff, I'm not sure that tv for tiny babies stimulates their minds as such, but you totally have my sympathy for the colic.

Did you use any old television programme, or children's telly?

OP posts:
bettybosseye · 08/02/2011 19:58

I know lusting after kids presenters does rather expose the dull nature of my life!
Although i do remember on another thread people saying they fancied Mr Tumble which is just wrong!

tabulahrasa · 08/02/2011 20:01

cbeebies or tv aimed at young children - has...

brighter coloured things, more movement, lots of repetition, lots of close ups of friendly faces

all things that babies like

coff33pot · 08/02/2011 20:01

@ Mapley my DS is 5 now and the colic was a nightmare! Now there is the baby channel with music in the background to brightly coloured themes etc. What I used to do was pick any bright baby programme and put on music cds like birds or sea shore sounds etc. Sounds daft but it worked :)

Itchymisery · 08/02/2011 20:03

Having just had a horrible tummy bug in our house, CBeebies was an absolute lifesaver.

Me and DH both v.sicky and poorly tummies, too weak to do anything. Inbetween feeds and meals we basically put DS (six months) on the floor with his toys and CBeebies on. I feel awful about it but we don't have family nearby and were genuinely too ill to sit and actively play with him. :(

The only other time it goes on is occasionally in the evenings (ITNG) before bathtime (and so I can do the dishes!)

breatheslowly · 08/02/2011 20:20

Cbeebies is great - have you watched Timmy Time? I believe that training your first DC to watch a bit of TV is useful when your next DC turns up.

IThinkTooMuch · 08/02/2011 20:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mumoflittlemouse · 08/02/2011 20:41

Ok, ok, I was rather lazy offering you that jammy dodger, but it's just that I couldn't really see why you couldn't think of reasons for yourself.

However, to redeem my earlier lazy self;

our DD had severe colic for much of her first 6 months and when I discovered by chance that Waybuloo not only caught her attention (at 4 or 5 months IIRC) but also when sat in her vibrating chair the combination soothed her to stop screaming, I thought I had found a window on a nightmare. This was how we began with CBeebies and she has and does enjoy many more programmes on there since.

She was never, even as a tiny baby, captivated by mobiles, wind chimes, mirrors or the like for more than a minute or two, but the gentle musings of CBeebies, she enjoyed.

On your point of having it on all the time, I do agree it is an easy trap to fall into and I have had to consciously have tv free time with our DD to avoid it. Luckily so far, she enjoys other activities equally (she is 19mo) and hasn't tantrumed for tele yet!

I would probably become even more strict like your friend has, if she did. But I do think it's great and quite important to ensure they know how to enjoy a variety of 'entertainment' including watching mum and dad do normal house stuff like cooking and just pottering about themselves. RL isn't non-stop entertainment is it?

I wouldn't be so rude as to call you thick though and while i'm at it, i'll have that biscuit back if you like Wink

hophophippidtyhop · 08/02/2011 20:43

dd1 used to love the cagney and lacey tune , it was on sunday mornings a couple of years ago.Gilmore girls tune used to get her dancing too!

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