AIBU to let 7mth baby watch tv today?

[MaryShelley1818]

I’ve been up vomiting since 7pm last night...probably been sick about 12 times.
I slept downstairs while DP had baby upstairs, but I’ve only had about 3hrs.
DP working from home and is going to try and juggle baby alongside work this morning (there’s only 3 of them work at company and the other 2 are in Germany in meetings so unfortunately some work needs to be done as they provide a service).

My parents are elderly but are going to come for a couple of hours this afternoon and take DS for a walk in his pushchair.

So....would I be the worst mother ever to let him sit in his highchair for a bit in between while I lay on the sofa, and let him watch Peppa/Baby Sensory/Nursery Rhymes?

I’m really struggling to even sit up and can barely stand. I came up the stairs on my hands and knees this morning.

Entirely appropriate use of TV! Don't be afraid of doing the same tomorrow if you still need to rest.

Do you have a travel cot he could go in and move about in rather than sat in a seat?

There was no such thing as baby tv when my DCs were small 30 plus years ago. I had food poisoning when my youngest was a baby and I would have given anything to have something like that to distract her. Definitely go for it.

My DGC watch tv sometimes and I think they actually learn quite a lot from it, obviously it's not good plonk them in front of it all the time, but one day won't do her any harm at all.

Poor you, vomiting like that is one of the worst things. Hope you feel better soon.

Agree with everyone else that this will be fine. Sounds like your son would enjoy a bit of TV time and you can get the rest you so desperately need so seems like a win-win to me.

At 7 months babies don't discriminate between "worthy" and "less worthy" activities the same way adults do. I realised this when I had my second and was less able to do dedicated activities for the baby but they didn't seem any less happy.

Yeah he has a Travel Cot set up in the front room with his baby gym and some toys in which will also probably have some use today! Problem is he’s just started crawling (only in reverse!) so after 5 minutes he stands on his head, gets stuck and cries! Lol! So constantly needs resetting!

I imagine your DC will have a whale of a time with the TV! He might get a bit loud though

The weather is set to be nice for quite a while yet so you won’t be missing anything taking a day to recover.

Have a day taking care of yourself and don’t feel guilty.

I had a horrible bug a few months back when DS was about 6 months. I just made a fort in the living room, play pen, play mat, bouncy chair and little baby bum and in the night garden on the tv. We survived anyway hope your feeling better soon OP

Oh sorry you're ill OP. It's horrible having a tummy bug never mind when you've got a baby to look after.
Personally I wouldn't let a baby watch tv all day. The current advice is for no screen time under 2 years old as they don't know the damage it can do to a babies brain. There has been some studies done which liken the addiction to screen time to be similar to that of an addict coming off heroin which is rather frightening.

That said, each to their own. Lots of children watch tv and they're fine so it's for each of us to make our own decision about what's best for our children. Maybe you could let your LO play with some vetch toys or something? They tend to keep the entertainment up for a while!

Hope you feel better soon!

He’ll be having toy time, outside time and a mix of other stuff. Luckily he won’t have to watch tv all day as I’m very fortunate to be getting some help. (As in my OP)

That said if I wasn’t getting help I’d be absolutely stuffed as I’m so ill I still can’t actually stand up atm. DP intermittently coming in to give different toys/change nappy etc whilst I lie on the bed with him.

DS so far being an absolute little star!! Didn’t wake up until 9.20am now just fell back asleep!
No signs of being unwell, was smiley, happy and bouncey, and drank his full bottle.

Go for it. Society causes people to get way too caught up in feeling guilty over relatively minor things (in the grand scheme) and you sound very ill.

I only watch t.v. in the evening and we've noticed our 2 month old is transfixed by football. I don't feel like we're bad parents because we let her watch 90 minutes of a match with us. Better for her to have a cuddle on the sofa when alert then be in her cot staring at Ollie.

Hope you get to feeling better.

He’ll be having toy time, outside time and a mix of other stuff. Luckily he won’t have to watch tv all day as I’m very fortunate to be getting some help.

Good grief, he's probably having a more varied day than most babies with well parents!

I did a stupid aww (on the bus) at him needing resetting

I’m another Little Baby Bum fan! Dave and Ava is good too. My LG copies the songs and now knows where her tummy and nose are from watching. It’s not all bad - lots of it is fun and educational. Chill out and get better - baby will love it!

Get well soon!

I don’t see why you would even ask. What’s wrong with the tv? My daughter is roughly the same age as your child and she has a couple of hours tv time a day so I can get stuff done around the house. Your original post makes it out to be something terrible for him to watch TV.