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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want some background tv on for about half the day?

40 replies

Samraves · 18/02/2011 05:34

I have a 3month dd, and I find myself suffering a bit from cabin fever being at home with her all day. I try to get out for a few hours, especially on a nice day to the shops or for a walk, but some days when it is pouring with rain or I am knackered I just want to crash...

I hate no sound as it feels like the walls are closing in so I have been putting on Chill FM constantly apart from when I have been watch tv- prob an hour or so in the morning and a couple of hours in the afternoon. She has suddenly started taking an interest in the tv, so I have been on the internet about it, and now am worried that by having on background tv, it could mean my dd may suffer. And even more of a nightmare, radio isn't much better with regards to overloading their delicate senses!

I can live with turning off the tv, but will be tough... But not sure about the radio. Aibu to risk my dd's development for my sanity??

OP posts:

create · 18/02/2011 10:04

Oh Hully - what ages were they when you did that? DH and I are about to both be jobless, but with decent payouts. It's very tempting to up and go for a while, but would mean taking DC out of junior school.

MordechaiVanunu · 18/02/2011 10:07

Then I am Disappointed In You Hully. - (to show I'm chiding you in attempting humour manner.)

You should have put a wink to clearly show it was 'ironic' boasting of credentials to support your opinion.

But clearly I will now hang off your every word to try to drag my own children to the heady heights of scholarship -( to show 'irony' ) - (to show 'only joshing')

florenceuk · 18/02/2011 10:13

I am one of those people who is happy in silence - will turn off TV and never listens to radio unless forced to (by DH). So I sympathise with Lesley (we're not freaks!) Kids seem moderately intelligent nonetheless.

solooovely · 18/02/2011 10:17

Some people have mentioned background noise affecting speech. Personally I think this is only going to happen if it's on all the time very loudly. I have backgroud noise in my house and my 2 kids are brilliant speakers. I also have a friend who NEVER has the telly on and her children were delayed in their speech so I wouldn't worry about it.

If it keeps you sane then you should do it.

wannabesybil · 18/02/2011 10:17

Babytv, on sky, is designed to stimulate young babies, for a little time it won't hurt although when you hear 'where is the carrot? Here is the carrot. Hello carrot.' for the umpteenth time you will feel like your brain is sliding out of your ears. The best thing about babytv is that in the early hours of the morning it shows moving pictures and music designed to lull babies to sleep!

I used to have Classic FM on all the time, and I believe listening to classical music is supposed to be good for little ones (I just like classical music).

My problem at the moment is getting my four year old off the internet. He is four and is cruising the Cbeebies website and enjoying the games.

Being controversial. You should do the best you can for your baby, but you can only do what you can do. If you need the background noise to stay sane then you need the background noise. Age appropriate tv or radio is not going to destroy your child. No-one can be the perfect parent, sometimes you need to let something give just to get through.

The fact that you actually care makes you better than many, so give yourself credit.

(also, I have let my son watch loads of tv, and he is arguing v logically with me and has been referred to Special Needs as the nursery think he is so far advanced because he is doing sums and picking up reading and writing without any effort)

Hullygully · 18/02/2011 10:17

Mordechai - having made a rash boast that I never used emticons some time ago, I find I deeply regret it, yet am reluctant to turn coat.

create - we've done it a few times in blocks of a month or two, so just nicked a few weeks off school here and there. They were in primary and the head was very supportive (we did scrap books etc)

Can't recommend it highly enough.

babybythesea · 18/02/2011 11:29

God, yes, sorry. Only just realised what a smug b*h I sounded. Didn't mean it like that at all. All I meant was that some people clearly work better without the radio on and their kids do ok. I hate not having it on - a lot to do with moving recently and being quite lonely anyway - desperate for adult convseration I put radio 4 on because it talks to me rather than sings at me. And so far, my daughter seems to be coping. But it really really came out wrong - apologies. The science/research bit was genuine though.

Meglet · 18/02/2011 11:33

Yanbu. Sky news all day in my house. Or cbeebies. It certainly hasn't caused speech delay in my two chatterboxes. I also get to explain politics / eygpt / korea etc to the dc's when it pops up. We hardly ever sit down and watch tv but I as I don't have any adults to talk to I like to know there's a real world out there.

Habbibu · 18/02/2011 11:36

I grew up listening to R4 - can't remember it not being on. And I never stop talking. Is that really what you want for your child? Is it? Is it?

lesley33 · 18/02/2011 12:34

I guess it is about moderation. The OP says that she will switch off the radio while she is playing with her baby on a mat. I think thats fine. And I agree it is about the baby hearing speech and seeing the mouths of people as they are talking, not just people speaking to the baby.

But i have been in houses where the tv is turned on loud all the time. I can find it hard to hear what people are saying, so what chance does a baby have?

lesley33 · 18/02/2011 12:35

When my mum comes to stay, she will literally walk from room to room turning on radios and tvs as she goes. It drives me mad!

manicbmc · 18/02/2011 12:42

So what about those households that have older siblings who have the tv on/listen to music? Will these poor 2nd, 3rd and 4th born be at a disadvantage?

Unless you sit your little one down infront of the tv all/ignore them - I don't think a bit of background noise is going to harm them. My two would only be soothed by the sound of the countdown clock. It was my half hour of peace in an otherwise loud and hectic day. And they both knew their letter graphemes and basic phonemes by the time they started nursery - which isn't bad considering ds is a completely non-verbal and autistic.

solooovely · 18/02/2011 12:53

lesley33 unplug them! The extra effort of having to plug them in might make her not bother.

lillibet1 · 20/02/2011 21:34

I have a 3 month old ds tv on most of the day or if not the radio would go stark raving bonkers with out stop worrying

CityGirls · 20/02/2011 21:44

My mum had the radio on (sometimes tv) constantly whilst I was a baby. It hasn't done me any harm! In fact, I love the tv and radio on now when I'm falling asleep, I find it soothing. Also, I'm now one of those people who can sleep through noise unlike others who wake up at the slightest thing.
The only thing that will upset the baby is the anxious vibes you give off. Just relax and don't worry about it, baby will be fine.

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