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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu to wonder what non-tv parents do when they're ill?

89 replies

minoandolphin · 26/02/2016 13:14

Been wondering about this for some time and can't find an answer anywhere. What do parents who don't let their kids watch any TV do when they (the parent, I mean) are feeling horribly ill and have a very active toddler to somehow keep entertained (assuming it's just them alone with them for most of the day). I manage with YouTube peppa pig on a loop whilst I quietly dissolve in a puddle of my own snot on the sofa; but I am genuinely curious how people manage if they won't allow telly at all.

OP posts:
OllyBJolly · 26/02/2016 18:54

We didn't have a TV so there was no expectation from the kids to watch it. They would just amuse themselves with whatever they usually did. This was in the days before tablets etc so probably playmobil, lego, dolls, torment the cats .

I can only remember being very ill once and they just seemed to know to leave me alone. I agree with a previous poster, under normal circumstances it's rare that you're so ill you can't function at all.

MoonriseKingdom · 26/02/2016 19:12

I have a 17 month old and am 9 weeks pregnant. I work 3 days a week. I am really struggling with vomiting and fatigue. I am lucky that my mum has been over quite a bit to help. When on my own it's a real struggle to keep up with her. We've had TV on much more than I would like but think it would be really hard without it.

minniebear · 26/02/2016 19:21

Apple I don't consider myself any type of parent. I stated a fact, that my 20 month old doesn't watch TV. I don't either-it's not a pastime I enjoy. I also don't do crochet, calligraphy or play squash. OP asked what do parents do when they're ill as an alternative to TV, I said what I do as an alternative to TV. DD1 happens to be 20 months. I don't judge people who choose to watch TV (or let their kids watch it) - I don't really care either way to be honest.

Atenco · 26/02/2016 19:31

It's sad the people saying that they couldn't afford a telly and were accused of being holier than thou. I lived in Dublin and deliberately didn't have a television, but my neighbours were so sweet, On three occasions I was given a television by people who felt sorry for me.

And why did I not want a television. Firstly because I used to be a telly addict and secondly because I am so lazy, I could see myself constantly using the telly to entertain my dd.

Howmanyminutes · 26/02/2016 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 26/02/2016 19:53

Yes we have one in our NCT group, no TV...but there is an ipad!

I used to beat myself up a little re too much TV, but I have no family to call on, no cavalry to take them out when I am ill.

I think its swings and round abouts, we take ours out nearly every weekend in summer, compared to peers we do quite a bit, and dd is excelling at school....so...I wouldn't sweat it!

bostonkremekrazy · 26/02/2016 19:54

we were totally screen free for a few years, when ill the children would lie in bed and read books, colour, or sit downstairs with play-doh, puzzles etc. all quiet activities that could be done alone.

if either parent were ill that was trickier, but with an enclosed safe garden we managed in most weathers to let them run around for a good while with parent lying on the sofa supervising. indoor quiet games then followed, with snacks/picnic often served on a rug on the floor to avoid the hassle of table laying etc

now we do have dvd's - and a tablet, we do limit screen time each day, we do not have internet on our phones - and a movie at weekends. BUT if ill now i put a movie on and we huddle up on the sofa - as they are older i know i can nap for that time safely.

it does make a difference and when i think back i do wonder how i managed without a movie to sit them in front of.....but on the other hand i try to make conversation with my tv addict nieces who sit square eyed drooling in front of the box and i remember why we got rid of it in the first place!

BudsBeginingSpringinSight · 26/02/2016 19:57

Children are good at keeping themselves busy, mine have unlimited screens now, but they still prefer keeping busy in other ways

Mine have always had access to TV and by my own admission probably too much, but, they still know how to keep themselves amused in many other ways and rip through books like wild fire, love being creative and all the normal stuff DC do...so not sure of the point there.

I don't think its necessary to impose strict restrictions on DC.

Look at POOR ROCCO Maddona.

ReturnoftheWhack · 26/02/2016 19:59

I just don't understand people's issues with TV, you can still monitor what they watch?

Howmanyminutes · 26/02/2016 20:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FreeButtonBee · 26/02/2016 21:04

My 3yos watched very little to (30mins at bedtime) until they were well over two. But then I got pregnant and they stopped napping but we're still tired. Then an hour of something after lunch was a lifesaver.

When I had horrific all day pregnancy sickness plus a vomiting bug that resulted in me puking and shitting at the same time, they watched tv all day long. I probably should have asked DH to come home from work as I was pretty close to passing out. But I am so rarely ill that I didn't really realise. No family within 3 hours.

I am actually much more strict about iPhones/iPads. We have just one tv in one room but mobile devices are EVERYWHERE all the time.

lenibose · 26/02/2016 21:23

We have a TV. BUT we only watch sport on it. Or the news. We also have iPads. We are not screen free but we are 99% screen free (the exception being long haul flights which we do a fair bit of). We also work full time. DS's CM lets him watch TV although now he is at school that's not an issue. We watch zero TV at home while he is awake unless there is sport on. If we are ill he goes to school/CM while we recover. Or he plays around us and always has. Just before Christmas I was very sick (recovering from a late miscarriage and an infection) and unable to do much other than prepare basic food. On one day DS played by himself for nearly 8 hours with intermittent bursts of reading from me. He has always been v good at entertaining himself but I don't know whether that's necessity or personality. We are screen free not because of some philosophy but just because we don't watch TV and DS has grown up around that. When he is unwell however I do sometimes put on TV for him but he's quite unused to watching it so after the first 30 mins usually asks for it to be switched off. I don't judge people who watch TV all day. So I am baffled by all this vitriol towards people who don't. Also we don't have ANY family nearby. Siblings live 4-6 hours away and both sets of grandparents live 10-12 hour flights away. We manage quite well.

Ragwort · 26/02/2016 21:40

We didn't have TV when DS was younger (or ipads, screens etc), I honestly don't think I was ill that much, we didn't have family nearby either. He played with his toys, or I could always manage to get him to the local playschool (walking distance) so at least I had a couple of hours rest myself. Grin.

junebirthdaygirl · 26/02/2016 22:07

Didn't let ds watch much telly when young. He was my pfb and going to grow up a model child.While pregnant and constantly sick l lay on bed with head down moaning and he played on the floor with trains farms etc. He was 2, However he grew up obsessed with telly so it backfired on me. He would stop and watch TV in shop windows!! I was far more easier going with the others and they have little interest in TV now.

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