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Original poster

to be a bit surprised how many people put buggies in front of the tv

125 replies

TheFlumpFlan · 05/03/2014 10:24

Recently I've seen quite a few do this. Today I asked a friend to sit in for 15min whilst I popped to the shops whilst dd maple in the buggy. Kind of her but I was surprise to come back to see dd had woken so shed wheeled in the other room and turns the tv on.
Last week whilst we another woman got a buggy out to stick her 10month in to watch tv whilst we ate, I was offered a spare and both women looked taken aback that I'd rather leave dd to crawl around. I've seen it a few times dropping kids off too, an under two strapped in in front of the tv.
Am I the odd one making my live difficult letting children roam as I do household tasks? It's never occurred to me. The kids never look bothered or affected by it, but it just feels like something I couldn't do? Is it normal?

OP posts:
Quoteunquote · 05/03/2014 19:42

Honestly I have never seen anyone do this,

Are children who are of the age to still be in buggies really interested in TV?

I know mine had no interest in TV when they were little.

and why would you put them in a buggy, rather than leave them on the floor, then they could play or watch TV?

Don't they just want to get out and move around?

Sillylass79 · 05/03/2014 19:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhereIsMyHat · 05/03/2014 19:50

I have done this with all three of mine for showers, if I need to do something before we go out etc. they are loved, have a huge amount of freedom, have all thrived, been taken places, well fed, talked to. I cannot accept that this makes me a bad parent with all things considered.

I could name a million things I have done that I could judge others on for not doing or going, but I won't as that would be a bit shit.

I'm really livid at the baby p comparison. Fucking hell.

Sillylass79 · 05/03/2014 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WhereIsMyHat · 05/03/2014 19:54

What does everyone do with their children at home if they need to do something. Do you take said child everywhere?

I'm genuinely interested to hear how you manage certain situations.,..

PeriodFeatures · 05/03/2014 19:56

You must feel hugely superior in the parenting stakes to have posted this.

I personally have never done it but thank you for the idea. Another tool to whip out in emergencies or when i'm totally bloody exhausted. Grin

PeriodFeatures · 05/03/2014 19:59

I think it is lazy parenting. I would judge. And say something!

Seriously ? Youthegreat you would seriously say something? Have you got any friends?!

YouAreTheCentreOfYourOwnUniver · 05/03/2014 20:01

Wow it must be painful for some of you having your judgypants hoicked so far up your own backsides...

I will happily admit to doing this with my DC. All of them.

Everyone of them is now school age and top sets where applicable, top tables in classes, avid readers, enjoy sports, excellent social skills.

Do any of you honestly believe that 15 mins watching tv strapped into a buggy/pram for their own safety is going to harm them?!?

And the situation in the OP sounds entirely sensibile to me, sleeping child wakes up to a neighbour not mum/dad/main carer, wheel them in front of the tv for 5-10 min until someone familiar is there. My DC would not have been happy at an unexpected face being there.

IdRatherPlayHereWithAllTheMadM · 05/03/2014 20:03

Its not the tv aspect for me its being restrained in the buggy

mydaftlass · 05/03/2014 20:04

I used to do this with one of mine to get her to sleep as a toddler when she refused to nap in her cot. I never did it when she was wide awake though!

Aeroflotgirl · 05/03/2014 20:05

My ds is 2 and very mobile, does not sit still for a moment, but loves it when Ceebeebies is on, and will watch a programme in the buggy.

WhereIsMyHat · 05/03/2014 20:05

Idrather, so I guess you have never used a buggy if restraining is an issue for you?

TheGreatHunt · 05/03/2014 20:05

Yes. But not ones like that.

My two DC watch too much TV but I don't park them in a buggy.

Aeroflotgirl · 05/03/2014 20:09

Exactly it's one little bit of their lives, it will not affect them in tge long term to be in the buggy watching TV whilst I take a breather, go to the loo, prepare supper etc, or deal with dd mealtdowns. Blimey it's like we chain them up all day in front of the TV, the way some of you are acting Hmm

funnyossity · 05/03/2014 20:12

It's not so much a judgement as it just didn't occur to me to bring a buggy beyond my lino floor at the back door. I can see the practicalities - but dirty wheels would put me off!

Mine came into the bathroom with me and played for 5 mins. Then I had a playpen for when I was downstairs and had to leave the room.

LittleBearPad · 05/03/2014 20:13

I haven't done this. It seems a very odd thing to do.

Dd tends to just trundle round whilst I do stuff. If I'm upstairs she comes with me. If I'm in the kitchen she's with me or in the sitting room or her bedroom. (They all join up).

We have a gate between the kitchen and the sitting room and I close this if I'm getting hot food out the oven but otherwise it's fine. I'm lucky that she isn't much of a climber though I guess and actually is quite helpful at emptying the dishwasher and shopping bags for an almost 2 year old.

In terms of eating she eats with me. If she finishes and wants to get down she does. It's always been fine.

Aeroflotgirl · 05/03/2014 20:13

Funny ds hates tge playpen screams, he does not sit for 5 mins. If I left him to have a shower I dread what will happen, at least he's safe and that's the main thing!

WeileWeileWaile · 05/03/2014 20:15

I can remember doing this with DS (now 11 yo) out of desperation. He'd wake in the middle of the night & refuse to go back to sleep. I can't remember how old he was, but I remember walking, bouncing, singing and eventually popping him in a buggy and pushing him back & forth in front of bbc news 24, while I begged him to go back to sleep.

It worked too Smile

Aeroflotgirl · 05/03/2014 20:15

Luck you all seem to have perfect children that cause no problems, tge judgy pants are out in force today.

Feminine · 05/03/2014 20:16

As I said earlier, a buggy is not a straight jacket.

They are only restrained by some safety straps.

Why is it frowned upon to use any form of it?

Some of you must be those parents who don't ask tiny ones to hold hands in the street..."in case it messes with their creativity"

Popped in front of a screen, or just popped in the buggy for a few minutes a day, will not cause any harm.

In some cases it is imperative to have them safely anchored.

NorbertDentressangle · 05/03/2014 20:18

I've never seen or heard of this happening and I've visited lots of families due to previous role as a Family Support Worker (and some of those families have had, erm, 'interesting' and varied ideas on raising children).

Aeroflotgirl · 05/03/2014 20:19

To have a shower I pop ds in his cot with some music on shock horror or if I need a longer rest

MinesAPintOfTea · 05/03/2014 20:19

Ds loves Telly and I put it on most whilst I cook. But I don't leave him restrained, he's free to get his toys out or come through to me our just wriggle about. I taught him to climb off the sofa safely at about a year so he sits there or stands if I haven't tired him out enough

If its done for a long time its bad for fitness and development ss. That's why theHVs say they worry

funnyossity · 05/03/2014 20:20

Our playpen was unpopular too! It was only really on use if there was a parcel being delivered and we rated it as our biggest waste of money.. and yet it was very useful for the seconds/minutes it was in use!

whatever5 · 05/03/2014 20:20

I can't see the problem. I think my children watched teletubbies for a short time at that age. It was great and if anything quite good for them to sit quietly and watch something. I they didn't like it or wanted to do something else they would soon let me know.