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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let dd watch TV?

61 replies

Lj8893 · 07/08/2015 14:55

Dd is 21 months and since she was about 1, she has been interested in the TV so I put CBeebies on for her. Now, when we are at home and in the lounge I will put it on as background noise. She doesn't watch a lot, but will watch Bing with huge concentration and also loves In the night garden. I don't feel there is anything wrong with her watching abut of age appropriate TV but have had a few comments from some people such as "oh I wouldn't let my dd watch TV at this age" and "why has she got a bing toy, she must watch a lot of it to know who he is" and when I have said things about dd loving bing I have had comments in perhaps a judgemental, superior way about how their dc wouldn't even know who that is.

I don't think I'm being U, but do start to doubt myself when I get comments like this!!

OP posts:
Mamadothehump · 07/08/2015 17:23

Your child, your rules. End of.

TheOriginalWinkly · 07/08/2015 17:23

Better 20 minutes of tv and a happy toddler and a cooked dinner than an hour's battling, stopping them grabbing the oven, them screaming because they want picked up/read to/played with, burnt food, stressed parent etc. DD gets Mickey Mouse Clubhouse twice a day now while I cook, I wouldn't be interacting with her then anyway (she's FAR too little to help), she gets read to lots every day and plenty of fresh air and exercise and it's not on all day so I don't care what anyone else thinks.

CheshireChat · 07/08/2015 17:30

Hah, I'd use to put the telly on for my DS when he was a newborn as it kept him from screaming. And I say that as someone who watches very little TV myself. I'm sure she'll be just fine OP.

reredos1 · 07/08/2015 18:00

Unlimited screen time here. Swathes of it. As much as he wants.

NerrSnerr · 07/08/2015 18:10

No Ducky we all don't think a bit of tv is lazy parenting.

Do what is best for you and your family. I think the people who are so judgemental are compensating for their own (perceived) failures.

MummaGiles · 07/08/2015 18:15

My little boy is 6 months and loves Furchester Hotel, I don't see the problem. He also loves Pointless - I think all the lights and colours are like baby sensory.

Strokethefurrywall · 07/08/2015 18:16

Unlimited screen time here too - they self regulate themselves. If they get up and go and do something else, I switch it off or put on something I want to watch.

I very much don't give a shit if others judge me.

Strokethefurrywall · 07/08/2015 18:17

But then I am an exceptionally lazy parent. And a damn good one at that.

Squitten · 07/08/2015 18:26

We don't have a TV so my lot watch stuff on iPlayer instead. The elder boys don't watch much but it is absolutely a lifesaver with 20mth old DD while I'm cooking etc. She loves Bing too Smile

I'm not a fan of using it as background noise but it most certainly has its uses!

Original poster
Lj8893 · 07/08/2015 18:28

Stroke, you are my new favourite mumsnetter Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Lj8893 · 07/08/2015 18:31

When we were planning our wedding, we went to sort the suits out and dd decided that was a good time to want everybody's attention! Nothing we did was good enough and we were struggling to sort anything out suitwise. Dh managed to find bing on YouTube on his phone, kept did happy and we managed to sort the suits out! How's that for lazy parenting Grin

OP posts:
Strokethefurrywall · 07/08/2015 18:33

Yay!!! FINALLY I'm someone's favorite mumsnetter!

MrsTedCrilly · 07/08/2015 19:09

My little one is 15 months and has watched it for a few hours a day for a long time. We also play lots, read lots, go out, cuddle, explore etc.. I think it depends on how the rest of the day is spent. My best use for it is it distracts him when he's waiting for his teething medicine to take effect. You have nothing to worry about OP.. I also can't believe how judgy the people you know are! If someone sticks their kid infront of the tv all day with no other stimulation then of course that would be a problem.

I just don't get what could be wrong with In The Night Garden etc, it's colourful and educational! What a pip Wink

MakeItRain · 07/08/2015 19:28

Oh don't worry about it. I remember some days when the cbeebies programmes used to come round for the third time in a dayBlush Now they're a few years older they're not really bothered about tv and seem relatively unscathed by it (though strangely enough are quite mocking of cbeebies these days, so maybe not as unscathed as I thought! )

crustsaway · 07/08/2015 19:31

Of course you arent being unreasonable at all.

I knew someone who wouldnt let their child watch tv due to it having some awful affect on their developmental brain???? hahahaha, err ok then.

chiruri · 07/08/2015 19:38

My DD (7 months) loves Pointless, too! She clearly has a thing for Richard.
I'm a complete movie fanatic so will often have a movie on when I'm in the house. However we also go out every day, she sits and watches people at my gym/gets played with/gets cuddles, and we go for a walk most days. She also gets read to regularly. Somehow I think she'll survive.

purpler · 07/08/2015 19:41

The summer we've had dd has had the TV on most days. She's 22 months. She has a huge vocabulary...uses and recognises hundreds of words. She speaks in sentences. Many people have commented on what a clear speaker she is. So, she watches an hour or two of TV
We play and do lots of other things as well. Meh YANBU

MiaowTheCat · 07/08/2015 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rivercam · 07/08/2015 19:58

Nothing wrong with watching TV. One year the Teletubbies toys were the number one, must have Christmas toy.

Ignore the parenting police.

Ginrummy · 07/08/2015 20:02

Yesterday I used no TV for a punishment. That was a mistake. Trying to cook the evening meal was absolute hell.

SchwarzwalderKirschtorte · 07/08/2015 20:12

But when he did speak he would say carstle parrth

That is how you say castle path Wink (South Eastern pronunciation) Grin

PuppyMouse · 07/08/2015 20:13

My DD is same age OP and her speech is her strength (took ages to walk!) but it has noticeably jumped even more since she started watching a couple of programmes on CBeebies. She's a Justin addict and recently said the whole spotty bag magic words, which is three consecutive sentences. Plus she's trying to copy the signs. I think like anything in moderation it's fine and useful to learn stuff when they're small. Just my opinion.

DIYandEatCake · 07/08/2015 20:16

Hmm... Yanbu to let her watch some TV, but yabu to have it on for long periods or as background noise. My pfb watched no TV til she was over 2. Her younger brother, however, has watched it along with dd since he was born, and particularly enjoys Thomas and Peppa Pig, no harm done as far as I can see. We have it on max an hour a day though, and not as background noise, mostly because I can't stand children's TV and it would drive me bonkers. We do have music on as background noise quite a bit though.

Original poster
Lj8893 · 07/08/2015 20:17

Puppy, dd rarely watches mr tumble but is trying to master the "take your finger, touch your nose" sequence. She's managed the actions so far and nose and goes! She's very dramatic when she does it Grin

OP posts:
starlight2007 · 07/08/2015 20:20

*But when he did speak he would say carstle parrth

That is how you say castle path wink (South Eastern pronunciation*

I now have a friend from SE who does speak like that I think she talks like Cbeebies ( clearly my child was not deprived of Tv) now moved onto Cbbc phew...