Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my 4 month old watch tv?

100 replies

Beeperbird · 03/12/2018 08:37

Read a couple of articles recently saying that children under 2 shouldn’t watch any TV.
Well I’ve already messed that one up then!
DC1 (2.5) watches 1-1.5 hrs a day I’d say -
He’s on the iPad while we get up in the morning and he watches some tv as part of his bedtime routine or while I’m cooking dinner.
DC2 (4 months) watches while his brother watches! (I also put the tv on whilst I breastfeed when DC1 is at preschool).
If I put DC2 on his playmat when DC1 is watching tv he will roll so he can see the screen... but what am I meant to do?? Sit with him in another room?!? Confused

OP posts:
yumsy · 03/12/2018 08:40

It sounds like you are a great Mum and people who say babies shouldn't watch tv should try living with two littlies!!

Stress not. Having something to distract them while you do other stuff will make you happier and calmer therefore making you a better happier Mum!!

babydreamer1 · 03/12/2018 08:52

I have the TV on most of the time while I'm around the house, my 2 month old sometimes looks at the screen. For them it's just pretty colours and lights! As for your older child, that doesn't sound too much to me. I think as long as you don't plonk them in front of it all day, every day and they do other stimulating and engaging activities and go outside etc there really is no problem with a bit of TV while you're trying to get something done. Plus that recent program on child development claimed that iPad use increases dexterity in toddlers, so maybe load some games on to the iPad too for the morning. Technology is a part of life and like anything it's fine in moderation.

Original poster
Beeperbird · 03/12/2018 08:54

Haha cheers! I’ve been thinking and I must have had the TV on while DC1 was little... but would’ve been something like the walking dead rather than paw patrol! And he seems fine... well so far 🤣

OP posts:
tryinganewname · 03/12/2018 08:55

I put nursery rhymes on the TV for DD who is also 4 months - it gives me a chance to eat or go to the toilet so I really don't see it being a bad thing. She plays around on the floor whilst 'watching' so it's not like she's just plonked in front of it for hours on end.

Birdie6 · 03/12/2018 08:56

I had the TV on most of the time when they were little. Anything from movies to quiz shows to cartoons. They are both adults and seem perfectly fine - they didn't turn into zombies !

TimeWoundsAllHeals · 03/12/2018 08:58

I don’t think a 4 month old can really “watch” tv. They might notice it but in my experience a kid has to be almost 1 before they can really pay attention for more than 30 seconds on a program.

I think it’s fine for them to be in the same room as tv as long as they get plenty of linguistic input when the tv isn’t on at other times. The big issue is the sound making it harder for them to distinguish speech sounds going on at the same time which is only a problem if it’s blaring all day long.

Smurfybubbles · 03/12/2018 09:01

DS is 7 months and we have cbeebies on every morning while he has his milk before we go downstairs for breakfast. I'll also pop it on for 20 mins during the day if I need to do something. Without it I wouldn't get anything done and he gets plenty of play with me and there's no tv during mealtimes and it's off an hour before bed. I think once they're not in front of it all day there's no harm!

blackcat86 · 03/12/2018 09:02

I took DD (3.5 months) to hospital on Friday. They put a monitor over her cot to distract her and she was transfixed but her first experience of CBeebies! It was actually quite good with her chatting away to the Tv and kicking about whilst they were dancing. It was the very experienced ward sister who suggested it so I wouldn't worry too much.

RLOU30 · 03/12/2018 09:04

I’ve been struggling with this one too. My 6MO loves the telly. He turns his head almost at a 360 to watch it even when I turn him away. We aren’t camped out in front of the telly all day but when it is on he seems to really enjoy the colours/noises Confused

ineedwine99 · 03/12/2018 09:04

I had baby tv on when she was younger but mixed with shows i want to watch (she loved big bang theory as a result :-D)
Now she has 10 mins in a morning after breakfast while we do last bits before leaving for work, then maybe 30-60 mins in an evening after nursery, alongside playing/reading. She's 2

WindinTheWillowsLover · 03/12/2018 09:06

what about things like mobiles or toys he can play with?

I think you are wrong, yes, because watching TV is a very passive process. Your baby ought to be exploring the world, and this is possible even if they are in their cot, crib, babyseat or whatever.

This is the start of screen-reliance, where children aren't actually using their brains to discover the world around them.

I think you'd find most child psychs would say it was wrong.

It doesn't sound as if you are actually talking to your children much but instead are using screens as babysitters while you do other things - when you could be engaging them through conversation.

And yes, I am an educational professional.

WindinTheWillowsLover · 03/12/2018 09:08

Here- this backs up my post.

mindd.org/screen-time/

WindinTheWillowsLover · 03/12/2018 09:11

If I put DC2 on his playmat when DC1 is watching tv he will roll so he can see the screen... but what am I meant to do?? Sit with him in another room?!?

In a word, YES. Or do something in the same room.How about you try reading to him, playing with him, using some toys to engage his senses?

KlutzyDraconequus · 03/12/2018 09:15

OP, if you have a smart TV or other way of getting YouTube on a screen, I'd recommend Busy Beavers. It's perfect for little ones and designed to entertain and educate t the same time. Learning through fun rhymes and educational stories etc.

There's also Mother Goose club, which is more fun rhymes and stories etc.

Badanamu is another which is characters and cartoons etc.

My daughter watched all of them as she grew up, she didn't even realise she was learning ABCs and 1-20 etc. To her it was just fun. She's 5 now tho so watches older kids stuff.

OutPinked · 03/12/2018 09:15

I had three under three at one stage, the TV saved my sanity Grin. My DC seem to have come away from sometimes entire days with the TV on unscathed.

Notcontent · 03/12/2018 09:18

iPad use does NOT increase dexterity. Quite the opposite.

PhilODox · 03/12/2018 09:19

I agree with windinthewillows. Advice is no screens before two years old.
It's perfectly doable- if children have never seen screens, they don't miss them.
My children are tweenagers now, and still don't watch television, or YouTube etc. We have no tablet (I broke it Blush ), they use a laptop for homework.
Amazingly they have no dexterity issues...

KlutzyDraconequus · 03/12/2018 09:20

It doesn't sound as if you are actually talking to your children much but instead are using screens as babysitters while you do other things

No it doesn't, not even a little bit.
For an educational professional you're comprehension of English is piss poor.

Where did op say she was using TV as babysitter? Why did you draw the conclusion she's not talking to her kids?

PhilODox · 03/12/2018 09:20

Ah notcontent, not true?
I wondered how people throughout history had managed to develop dexterity before the iPad was invented... Wink

peachgreen · 03/12/2018 09:23

@WindinTheWillowsLover Do you have any children? Hmm

OP, parenting a small baby is really hard work. You're not shoving your baby in front of the TV for hours on end. If putting CBeebies on gives you 20 minutes or so of respite, go for it. It's good for you and won't do your baby any harm.

Original poster
Beeperbird · 03/12/2018 09:23

Hi @WindinTheWillowsLover
Yes it was exactly information like the link you’ve provided that has caused me to question what I’m doing and look to understand what other people do... hence my post!

It’s a bit unfair for you to assume I don’t talk to my kids much - 5 out of 7 days a week I’m at home with them both and the tv is on maybe 1.5 hours a day - if I take a day as 12 hours, taking out a couple of hours for nap time that means I’m talking, playing, reading, going on outings etc with my kids for 8 plus hours a day.

OP posts:
WindinTheWillowsLover · 03/12/2018 09:24

@KlutzyDraconequu

Not only an ed professional but an author of parenting books.

It is completely clear that she uses the TV as a babysitter- when she is making dinner etc.

Sorry love but it's you who has the comprehension issue.

Children that age should not be having 1.5 hrs of TV and a 4 month old should not be watching either.

Read the link- unless you feel you know better than those people commenting?

RLOU30 · 03/12/2018 09:25

It doesn't sound as if you are actually talking to your children much but instead are using screens as babysitters while you do other things - when you could be engaging them through conversation.

Oh wise one, you have jumped the gun, haven’t you? Educated professional indeed! What a load of crap.

10PollyPockets · 03/12/2018 09:26

I love little baby bum because it's not overly annoying, my 10mo loves it! It's on Netflix and YouTube. Its basically nursery rhymes and learning songs. Its not on constantly but if I need to shower or do the kids dinner etc it goes on

WindinTheWillowsLover · 03/12/2018 09:26

peachgreen I have two children both with excellent degrees- masters from Russell Group unis. I like to think that some of what I learned as an ed professional has some bearing on that.

The OP asked the question!!!!

She clearly feels it's an issue- and quotes research to show people say children that age should not have that much screen time.

So you know better than all these psychologists who have researched it and feel you can contradict them? (when my post was linking to their research?)

Swipe left for the next trending thread