To let DD watch tv when she can't sleep

[Gingerninj]

I realise I probably am BU. DD is 22 months old (she'll be 2 at the start of August). Some nights she's up for hours crying. Nothing seems to calm her down and yet putting on an episode of peppa pig, in the night garden or masha and bear is garenteed to settle her down and makes putting her back to bed a lot easier. I don't want to make a habit of this so its just a last option thing

If it works, do it. When it stops working, stop doing it.
Best piece of child rearing advice I ever got.

I would probably avoid making a habit of it to be honest. The blue light isn't great that late at night and you might incentivise her staying up. Maybe a book instead? That said it's hardly the end of the world.

Do what you need to do to get through it. This too shall pass. X

I think JohnLaplsley’s words are pretty wise. The truth is that what works for you is nobody else’s business but I would say that a piece of advice I was given and which really worked for me was that, at nighttime, my job is to be boring. Really, really boring.
That way, there is no incentive to stay awake. No cuddles, no eye contact, no stories, no tv, but just a repetitive, reassuring phrase and a back rub. My dc knew I would come as soon as they called me, I would stay as long as they needed me but I was boring as shit.

Oh yes that is brilliant advice I am going to hold on to that be boring as shit advice.

I wouldn't OP, only because it be more trouble than it's worth.

God no, why give yourself the job of removing it later? Just treat night time like night time; quiet, dark, boring. She'll have to cave sooner or later!

TV? No.
Audio book? Yes.

I would say whatever works!

That said, obviously blue light is bad for all of us (particularly little eyes) so it might be worth trying to work out what it is about the TV that settles her. Is it the noise? The moving colours? These things can be easily replicated with kids toys if needed.

But as I say, whatever works!

I think it’s a matter of short term gain, long term pain.
Maybe a warm quiet bath, drink of milk, cuddles, story or quiet music 🎶

I'm another in the no camp only because she'll get used to it. We put a CD player in our twins room with lullabys they like and put that on. That seems to signal to them it's sleep time. They're 2.3 btw.

She's old enough now to know that nothing happens at night time? No TV, no attention, no playing, nothing. So crying won't get her anywhere. If it's a small baby I can understand she might need a feed or a nappy change, or a cuddle. But by this stage it's just a case of "if I scream loud enough I'll get what I want". Harsh but true.

I agree, she's crying because she knows there will be some kind of reward for doing so. I know it's awful when you're tired but a few weeks of being firm, no talking or cuddles, no switching on any lights, just making sure she's warm and not tangled up in her bedding and hopefully she will cotton on that screaming doesn't get her anywhere.

I'll probably try music next time we have a night like this, I think if i tried the being boring method I'd still be there all night. I researched a bit before posting this and mostly got "no tv before age 2". It affects development of the brain apparently. Now I'm worrying about the effects this might have even though I have a 13 year old who loved tv at her age and she's doing just fine

I did it and still do if I need to. DD is 2.5 and if she wakes and won't settle I bring her into my room and pop Moana or something on and she'll go back to sleep in her own room after about 10mins.
She just needs a few minutes to take her mind off what woke her in the first place.
That said, I also do this for daytime naps. I only put the telly on when I want her to go to sleep.
She doesn't go to bed asking for it and it works.

Do what you think is best for your child.

The problem with screens, and the blue light they emit, is that studies have shown it causes alteration in the brain waves and that can actually make the quality of the sleep, when you do finally nod off, worse.

I would honestly say that it is not a good habit to get into - for her sake, and for yours, because, at some point, you will want to stop her watching TV all night, and it will be far, far harder to take it away when she is older.

I’d do it to be honest, it works for her and for you so just go with it and don’t beat yourself up about it! Also a lot of devices have a night mode which changes the blue light to orange so doesn’t disturb the brain as much, might be worth looking at your kindle, iPhone or iPad or whatever you’re using to see if it has nightmode x

I think it's fine. DS would sometimes do this. He sleeps for England now. Lots of people like to tell you you're creating bad habits but if it works it works.

I'm not totally convinced by the blue light stuff. I always wonder if it affects different people differently.

And BTW he would often be hyped up by things which are supposed to make DC sleepy, like baths or massage, and soothed by things which are supposed to keep them awake, like TV! Odd child.

Sounds like a bad habit and quite lazy parenting to me.

Is there a peppa pig audio book she can listen to? it would be easier to let her listen to this in bed.

tripYouOut
What would you do then?

We've been known to stick an episode of Ben and holly on if DS is inconsolable for no obvious reason. I say do whatever works. I know, screens, lights, lazy blah blah, but unless it's happening more nights than not I don't think it's a problem or habit forming.