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?

[NotTheBelleoftheBall]

I've been trying to get DD to show an interest in tv for about a month now. I'd love to plonk her in front of it for 5 mins while I put the washing away. Unfortunately for me she shows little or no interest.

She's not 'higher needs' she just likes demands our full, undivided attention, and unwavering eye contact.

[thatverynightinmaxsroom]

Sure, at 6 months:
TV or me chatting/singing to them? Me chatting/singing to them.
TV or sitting in bouncer/playnest fiddling with toys? Toys.
TV or snuggled up to me in sling? Snuggled.

Etc.

[User06383]

DS was never interested at that age, he got TOO interested at about two and would spend ages standing staring at CeBeeBies or throwing a strop because I wouldn't turn it on.

We went cold turkey. No children's television, it goes on at 6pm for The Simpsons whilst I do supper and that's it during the week.

Weekends we have a bit more on and I have to admit today we did watch a classic Disney cartoon as it was pissing down.

My dependence on children's TV built up slowly but since knocking it right down he's become a much pleasanter child. I just have to sacrifice time doing housework for reading books, we love a story!

[User06383]

We also have a lot of audio books, singing CDs etc as a bit of a change, we love a good dance off and DS will happily sit in his cot listening to an audio book, 'reading' a book whilst I shower.

[Notcontent]

I don't think a baby should be watching any TV to be honest.

[SomethingBorrowed]

YABVU, 8mo is way too young to watch TV, especially for such a long time. Why can't they play in a playpen while you shower? Or in their cot.
Book, soft toys, etc should keep them occupied.

[BlurryFace]

How is plunking a baby.in front of the telly so they can watch bright colours and listen to the noise any worse than plunking them in front of a mobile so they can watch the colours and listen to the noise? You're having a shower, not going out clubbing. I always put on Paw Patrol or Teletubbies for my DSs while cooking tea, it distracts them from hair - pulling and wrestling (can't have them in with me while the cooker is on).

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

We didn't let DD watch tv with the intention of keeping it off until 2. She probably had 5-10 minutes a fortnight with us from 18m although it is often on in other people's houses. By 2 I was pregnant with DD2 so we have tried to restrict it still because you can't allow it just for one. V early days though so we may well cave. DD1s nursery often have tv on at the end of the day at pick up time but we've asked them to discourage her from watching it. DD1's speech is superb, but she's pretty demanding of attention and would like to be read books/played with all day.

I don't worry about babies/children crying for a few minutes while I do things. I have always taken them into the bathroom while I shower.

[elkegel]

^We let the children watch tv, we just don't have it on all day in the background.

Ds aged 3 likes educational videos on YouTube so we watch about 10 mins of them each day. I let him watch a couple of old programmes a week -.raggy dolls this week and maid Marion! This evening we started the nutcracker. He watches a couple of films a week. Animal documentaries.^

43Percent I think you deserve an award for the best middle class virtue signalling post of the day.

[Dothbutternoparsnips]

I love tv. Mine have unlimited access as we did when we were little. All of us are pretty fit people, good jobs, interested in current affairs. I can't really see the harm it's done.

[Dothbutternoparsnips]

Plus to the people that have said they never give to to children...if you have an early riser (say 345-430am) are you actually playing with them then?

I gave the iPad and sobbed silently prayed the early starts would finish. They did or at least stretched out to 6.

[FlossyMooToo]

Dothe all mine watched tv. I also played with them, sang songs and did activities. TV didn't stop me doing that.
I dont see an issue with watching TV at any age as long as thats not all thats on offer.

I think its odd to limit it to 1 hour a day or 3 times a week. Like if you go over that alloted time you will somehow damage your child.
I have twins and can honestly say there was some days Mr Tumble saved my sanity.

[rattieofcarcassone]

My 6mo DD watches a bit of TV every morning whilst I have a coffee and breakfast, and then later in the day whilst I made and ate lunch. Until very recently she'd sit there squawking at me until I held her otherwise and would work herself into a real state. Now at least she will entertain herself for short periods and I can safely have her in the kitchen with me in her bumbo once she gets unhappy but using the TV in moderation doesn't bother me at all.

We're moving very soon and won't have one anymore which I have mixed feelings about, it has been handy as a distraction so that I could eat!

[FlossyMooToo]

Why wont you have one when you move?

[leighb23]

I'd be more worried about 'not wanting your baby crying'
What are you going to do, wrap them in cotton wool for the rest of their lives? Even babies need to grow a pair!!

[rattieofcarcassone]

flossy because DH and I have no interest in them really and hadn't had one for 5 years before we moved here with my parents for 8 months to save for a deposit/buy a house. We have desktop pcs and have watched things in Netflix and amazon when we wanted to watch something so we'll be going back to that instead, so we're not going completely without but equally I won't have something to distract DD if she's being super clingy and won't let me make food, which is about the only time the telly goes on for her unless my dad is home and puts baby TV on because he finds it amusing

[silkpyjamasallday]

I wouldn't worry too much OP, I use kiddie Netflix in moderation with my 8mo as it is impossible to get anything done while she is awake and she will get hysterical if I move more than 3 foot away from her (even though she can see me wherever I am on the ground floor as the rooms have double doors between them which are always open) unless I strategically put on paw patrol or similar. She doesn't watch it all day, we spend the majority of the time playing together, reading her books and practicing cruising, but I can't let the house descend into chaos and putting her in her bouncer with the tv allows me 10 mins to do the washing up or put some laundry on.

It's not going to damage them as long as they get plenty of human interaction too, and better than giving them an iPad which can damage the development of fine motor skills, the number of children I have seen trying to use a book like an iPad is depressing so we never let dd play with it.

[FlossyMooToo]

Ahhh I thought it was because you were moving to an island in the arse end of nowhere and could not get a signal

[Mothervulva]

It's a long day, being at home with small children and watching telly is one of the activities to take part in.
Don't worry about it.

[rattieofcarcassone]

flossy I could only wish for an island (as long as I could still get Netflix)

[whatajobbeingsamumis30]

Wow - so many different replies. A couple have said why don't you just leave him to play in a safe place/let him cry...my LO is usually up from 6am - 8pm in the day and will nap c2 hours - so that is 12 hours of awake time...of that we are usually out for about 3 hours (at baby classes and park) which leave 9 hours, 1 hour is TV and the rest he is playing either with me or on his own. He uses his jumperoo an hour a day (cause you know they shouldn't be in it more a day and no more than 20 mins ) so that is 8 hours of play on floor time and interaction one on one. I don't have family nearby and my husband doesn't get to see the baby during the week due to work so I suppose my shower in piece is my 'luxury'.

I suppose my worry is that it could be a slippery slope and I don't want a TV addict.

Thanks for relies! I think I feel better about it in the whole and I need to monitor and be aware moving forward!

[Tumilnaughts]

I keep the news on all day but my 7 month old is far more interested in the remote than whats on tv.

[whatajobbeingsamumis30]

And I supposed I asked the question to understand what the general consensus was among parents which seems to be there isn't one. My LO is a happy healthy wee soul so I suppose something is going right.

[Mothervulva]

I would guess most people let their children watch more telly than they'd let on. Especially on mumsnet.