To think that one hours TV a day is too much for a baby?

[whatajobbeingsamumis30]

Not sure if this is the correct place to post..Basically what I asked...I let my LO watch TV after every meal time when we are at home, about 20 mins, sometimes less sometimes more. My LO is 8 months so just wondering if AIBU and I should stop this as he is still young but I wouldn't be able to get a shower in the morning if I didn't without worrying that he would end up crying, the other times it allows me to eat and tidy up. If people don't let their babies then what do they do?

I didn't allow my DS to watch telly at that age. Occasionally he may have watched a video or two if he was distressed at that age, but I didn't want him to be addicted to it, because it is addictive. And I am really glad I didn't. He doesn't miss it, and loves reading and doing other activities.

If they cry for a bit let them. They'll soon realise you are going to go the loo and that's it. My DS at that age would play on his own when I used to cook (cos he realised quickly that wasn't negotiable) but as soon as I sat on the sofa, he would come crawling and want me to play with him! Even babies are smart!

Babies watching TV will definitely mean they will be screen obsessed leading to failure in later life.

We had a video (1999) from Baby Einstein because I stupidly thought it educational but DC1 preferred Elmo anyway.

In a few years you will be able to enjoy Spongebob Squarepants together.

Relax . it's tv . Not Marlboro light .

I do exactly the same OP and my LO is the same age.
Whenever I need to just get on and cook or clean or shower and need something as a distraction then it's TV baby-sitter time.
Thank god for duggee.

Of course it's fine it's just TV!

I don't understand the hysteria around kids watching tv.

It's 2017, tv, phones and tablets are a huge part of every day life and it's not going to change!

DS is nearly 6 months and loves the TV! It's just lights and colours, I can't see the harm. Yesterday he sat in the sling and watched Lady Gaga and old Madonna videos on YouTube (probably child abuse).

On occasion I've set the circle of benine neglect (jumperoo) in front of the big screen and put the football on which he equally loves while I sort the washing and do the ironing or whatever.

We do enough activities and "learning experiences" and stuff for me to not feel guilty about it every so often.

TV in small doses doesn't bother me in the slightest..

DS who's 7.5 months has no interest though so I use jumperoo / bumbo etc to keep him entertained when I need to do things.

DD who's 3.5 watched plenty of TV when she was little and it doesn't seem to have done her any harm. Now she likes watching some woman opening Shopkins blind bags on YouTube Kids I do limit that to a few minutes as it bothers me more than TV for some reason!

*benign. That'll teach me not to check my work. It's all that TV.

I wish my little sausage would watch telly a bit. But he isn't interested. Jump at the chance for a little breather you can't Be in entertainment mode all day. Your baby will be fine 😁

We have the TV on constantly in our house, sometimes baby TV other times my TV. DD is excelling her milestones at 9 months. Seems to do her no harm!

We had the TV on all the time, I have a chef and a uni student. I don't think you need to worry about an hour a day in all honesty. There's so many documentaries and wildlife programmes, How it's made etc.

Mine watched loads, both, one in UNI doing Law... NCIS obsessed..

One loves her phone, high grades and wants to be a teacher.

So long as you also spend hours interacting on a one to one it's not going to harm a baby...

Dd1 didn't watch tv until dd2 came along when she was 18mo, then CBeebies was on almost non stop! At 5 dd1 is flying at school, can ride her bike, loves being in the garden, rarely watches tv but does like a bit of tablet time!

My HV told me off for never having the TV on when DD was 6 months old she said the stimulation, lights and movement would be good for her. Assuming she didn't mean all day, everyday - I can't see the harm with 1hr

Interestingly I know a child who was not allowed to watch TV until she was about 15 months and is now obsessed with it. She comes to my house and picks up the remote straight away. (Part of my feels that if I saturate my baby with the TV the opposite will happen )

Interestingly I know a child who was not allowed to watch TV until she was about 15 months and is now obsessed with it. She comes to my house and picks up the remote straight away. (Part of my feels that if I saturate my baby with the TV the opposite will happen )

The tv is always on in my house and Ds doesn't pay it any attention really - it's just a noise in the background. He's too busy crawling around. He doesn't watch it on phones or anything. I don't see the problem myself - I don't put kids tv on it's just general tv programmes. I don't see the problem personally. He's nearly 9 months old.

What is this fear some parents have of the television? I dont get it.
Does it spit out radioactive waste?
Will it actually rot their mind?

Can someb9dy please explain to me why TV is bad?

The concerns are that research has linked screen time in under 2s to slower language acquisition as infants cannot learn language from TV etc, only from engaged caregivers, face to face.

The second concern is about creation of sedentary lifestyles and reduced activity levels in infants leading to unhealthy long-term lifestyles.

So it's not about what TV or other screens might do, it's about what exercise or interaction might not be happening while the screens are on. It's a judgement call for parents as to whether they have the right balance, but the American Paediatric Association are advocating no screen time before age 2. I wasn't aware of any specific recommendations here in the UK though. The USA is fighting a losing battle against obesity-related diseases which is probably why they have recommendations.

Why do people beat themselves up and suffer so much angst over things like this?

But thats not the fault of the TV. Thats parents not encouraging outside/physical activity.
A 1 yo sat on the floor with no tv on is still leading a sedentry lifestyle.
If you restrict a child to 1 one hours tv per day but then do nothing else with them you are not achieving anything.
I have 4 dc and the tv was always on when we were in. All 4 are sporty and active. They are bright and have no language issues.

TV is not the issue its lazy parents.

We've never worried about it, usually I have something on as background noise, with Baby TV on in every so often (usually when I needed to do something. DD is 15 months and we still watch it - she sits nicely and watches the programs she likes, and plays other stuff and reads books when they're not on. She loves her books and knows lots of words so I don't think we've scarred her for life!

It doesn't sound excessive, no. But if you thought a change would be nice maybe you could substitute something else now and again? Maybe find some downloads of songs or stories for young children?

As someone who doesn't really let her kids watch TV: I'm not scared of TV and I don't think it will rot their minds, I just think the alternatives are much better.

TV or helping me cook? Cooking.
TV or imaginary play? Imaginary play.
TV or 'reading' their books? Books. Etc...

I understand where you're coming from but my daughter's 6 months and not shown a great interest in cooking or imaginary play her I'm afraid