To let my 4 month old watch tv?

[Beeperbird]

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?!?

Thanks @KlutzyDraconequus
DC1 is well above average in terms of his talking (he even learnt to count in Spanish from his Dora the Explorer obsession a month or so ago!), we have no concerns about him developmentally.
DC2 just seems like a normal happy baby who’s drawn to whatever DC1 is doing - including watching the TV!

The under 2 thing turned out to be a number they pulled out of the air, I think it's rubbish.

Of course don't abandon young children in front of a screen for hours on end but it really isn't going to harm a baby to be in the room while someone is watching TV. And for older children just be aware that time spent watching TV is time they are not having social interaction, or problem solving, or being creative, or developing their motor skills. As long as they get opportunities to do these things it's totally fine that they watch TV sometimes.

Phil
TBF I know only one of 65 exactly, but 28 of 65-75 and 4 have adopted modern tech, the others are hateful towards it and irrationally dismiss it. To them, video games are satanic, TV is brain rotting and the internet is full of pedos and porn. They expect kids to be out all day from 9 till 9 and be exploring the woods and canals and such like.

Going back to the link posted up there by Windy and actually looking at the actual source of the headlines, which I'm sure Windy did obviously:

pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/138/5/e20162591

I won't bore anyone any more than I already have other than to say that, should you read the actual source, it uses language such as,
"Finding seem to suggest"
Or
"Evidence points towards"
Etc etc.

At no point does it say the much more frightening and click baity,
"SCREEN TIME IS EVIL"

in fact the source material suggests some screen time is good and recommends programs from PBS including Sesame Street.

Not sure why an author wouldn't know to post the actual source instead of an article that supports their position..

We all know the advice is no TV under 2 but there is plenty of other advice that parents do not adhere to, for various reasons. The vast majority of parents use TV and other methods to enable them to do things which benefit the child e.g. prepare dinner. If you’re regularly sticking them in front of the TV for a couple of hours because you can’t be arsed, then that’s different. This isn’t the case. Most parents are doing their best. Of course some parents are shit and neglectful but fortunately, they are the minority.

Well as we are all getting our degrees out compare how big they are ... I've got 2 degrees in Psychology! Get me! I'm also really tired so my little girl of 9 months watches nursery rhymes most days for 30mins when I need to go for crap or put the laundry on. Sometimes in the car she gets a whole hour because we just need to get off the M1!

Can you let me know the name of your book please @WindinTheWillowsLover so I can avoid it?

my 16month old loves Baby TV, full of alphabet songs and number blocks- hardly damaging. I take my DD out every day, speak to her constantly, but when I have to make lunch/ dinner, do the washing up, yes the TV is on.
I far prefer tv to an ipad/ tablet, a TV is communal and generally on in the background when shes playing with toys. A tablet is solitary and children tend to zone in on them more.

So you know better than all these psychologists who have researched it and feel you can contradict them?

They're not God. Neither are any other Professionals. They're human beings who are prone to making judgments and forming opinions which can be as flawed as any of those made by 'ordinary' people.

My own anecdotal evidence demonstrates that (let's be honest, quite a lot of!) TV in the context of an affectionate, warm and loving relationship with your children does not damage them. If you want the statistics, which are apparently necessary to be included in 'The Good Parent Guide', all 3 passed the 11+, 2 went to RG (Yes, RG!) universities, one graduated with a First, the other now 3rd Yr., the youngest still at Grammar School. My opinion is that they are funny, bright, kind and well-balanced (I am biased, obviously!) And of all of us, I'm the one who now watches most TV.

They're not God. Neither are any other Professionals. They're human beings who are prone to making judgments and forming opinions which can be as flawed as any of those made by 'ordinary' people.

This just shows how little you understand scientific research. Research is not about 'judgement' or opinions - it's about trials and research, peer reviewed.

Do you also believe the world is flat because you've not been into space?

Parenting has not changed so dramatically in the last 20-50 years that there is any great difference between a mum in the kitchen looking after young toddlers then ( maybe 30 years ago) and now. In fact now it can be easier because of ready meals, slow cookers and microwaves.

It's laughable to suggest that someone whose children are older, doesn't understand 'modern parenting' when talking about cooking a dinner.

Some posters are being ridiculous in order to substantiate their opinions.

what is ridiculous is that so many posters are clearly defensive by the research- which is overwhelmingly against screen time for very young children and babies- and rather than wondering how they can parent better, they choose to dismiss research and shout down anyone who agrees with it.

Shocking really on a parenting site.

The vast majority of parents use TV and other methods to enable them to do things which benefit the child e.g. prepare dinner.

so what did people do before say 1950 when hardly anyone had a TV?

Saying you are putting food in your child's mouth so it's ok to use TV as a babysitter for a baby and a young toddler while you make it, is rather a feeble argument.

@KlutzyDraconequus
Why would I take notice of someone who criticises some else's understanding of English yet cannot use grammar nor understand inference herself?

There are literally dozens of reports on this online- not only the one I posted. If you want to put your head in the sand or your fingers in your ears that's up to you but it's a very odd way to behave and only shows you must be feeling very guilty yourself by how much you are rattled.

My 5 month old loves Peppa Pig. We put it on in the car for her during long journeys and I’ll sometimes put it on during the day too. I would prefer not to, but I’m human and would rather that than listening to her cry. I also have the TV on a lot in general as I watch it during the day when we are at home.

We go to plenty of baby groups, swimming, for walks, play music and she has lots of sensory toys. I think when she is older I’ll definitely limit screen time more but I think it’s fine for now.

WindinTheWillowsLover I too am an educational professional - as coincidence would have it i'm currently in the process of marking a set of undergraduate assignments on this very topic. The evidence is actually very mixed and as with everything relating to childhood development you need to look at the bigger picture.

Sitting babies and toddlers in front of the tv all day, every day is obviously not very good but small amounts of time balanced against a variety of other activities is not going to create any problems.

And off topic but it never fails to surprise me how people can shoehorn 'Russell Group' into anything! When will it end??

Purely anecdotal evidence here but I watched MOUNTAINS of TV as a child and I got my degree from Cambridge.

Citing university degrees as proof of the benefits of a screen free childhood is suspect IMO.

No one can say whether watching TV will harm your child or not. It's all part of a much bigger picture. Surely?

Pre-TV, my dm used to park me under a tree in my pram so I could watch the leaves. I did the same with my babies, outside the front door because we lived in a maisonette. How many of you would do that today?

Pre-TV, there was Music and Movement on the wireless. I can still remember that.

My first dgd had colic and my dd used to bring her round in the evenings for respite care from granny. Deep joy. We used to watch Sex & the City together while I rubbed her tummy. I think she liked the close-ups of faces. Anyway, it worked better than gripe water.

When my dd went back to work, I did childcare for a bit. We watched the Teletubbies and Angelina Ballerina together. Both became part of our daily life. We talked about them when the TV was off. For a time, she WAS Angelina and we had to make room in the buggie for her little friend. This led to reading the books and learning how to turn pages and recognise names in print.

Most mothers aren't stupid. It's not neglectful to use whatever's available to entertain your dcs while you get on with something else. Everything in moderation. And that includes sitting on the floor and 'interacting' all day. Sometimes you both need a break.

Why would I take notice of someone who criticises some else's understanding of English yet cannot use grammar

I have nothing to say but... L OH Fucking Ell..

Some One.. some one... Sum1..

I'm pretty sure before tv a lot of mums back in the day put babies outside in prams for naps. times change their are guidelines but it's follow your instincts my 1 year old had a fever of 41 degrees whilst waiting for Dr to keep her calm she was watching Cinderella I hate how people can't wait to rip in to people she asked for reassurance that she isn't damaging her child not to be accused of ignoring her children

You seem to be implying that parents spend less time actively interacting with their children now; all actual evidence shows the opposite. The 1950s housewife wasn't spending all day playing with the baby; she did hours and hours of housework while baby did things like play in the playpen (pretty out of favour now) or sit in the pram out in the garden (ditto)

Well, I don’t have any degrees myself but I’d try and reduce if you can.
DS (13mo) watches a ten minute bed time story with his Dad as part of bed time routine and that’s it. He plays on the kitchen floor while I cook or clings on to my legs
Appreciate I only have one child though...

This just shows how little you understand scientific research. Research is not about 'judgement' or opinions - it's about trials and research, peer reviewed.

This much I understand - a lot of common sense has been sacrificed on the altar of 'scientific research' over the years.

Do you also believe the world is flat because you've not been into space?

No, I don't, but that must be because:

i) our family couldn't afford a television till I was 13 (yay!)

ii) I ended up getting a degree from a Russell Group University (yay!)

so that proves my intellectual credentials!

I feel that both of the above must also go a long way towards proving that I am a good mother, despite letting my children watch gazillion hours of TV when they were young. (I often watched with them - making up for lost time!)

He plays on the kitchen floor while I cook

Ooh, I'd be careful there, ethel. There's bound to be someone along to tell you about the research on accidents involving young children in the kitchen. Probably safer to watch TV.

I think the problems start to arise when babies are put in front of the tv and stay there all day.

Babies need interaction with other humans to learn. They will not learn facial expressions and language from tv, but will do from mum and dad.

Therefore... if you put your child in front of the tv whilst you're doing other things, I really can't see a problem. If you put them in front of the tv for 10 hours a day whilst you sit on mn (not saying you do this!) then that's not so good.

It's all about balance. Some tv is not going to hurt your baby.

'there are guidelines...'

The problem with guidelines is that they change. When I had my first dc, we were told to put them on their fronts to sleep and NEVER take them into our own beds. Now I see posts on here saying they should never be on their own to sleep, even during the daytime. There should always be someone else in the same room with them - or they might forget to breathe?

No weaning before 6 months - but new research apparently shows that later weaning may result in more allergies.

'It's all about balance'. YES! Childcare manuals seem to have become more dogmatic, pushing the author's pet theory. Dr Spock was the only one around in my day. He was reacting against the very authoritarian Truby King. His USP was basically 'Use your common sense', which is fine by me.

My neighbour was told by the HV back in the day to put the twins outside while she cooked tea, crying or not.

Guidelines aren’t just changed for the sake of it though. It’s not like they think ‘let’s tell everyone to put their babies to sleep on their backs in the same room as their parent(s) for a laugh’

There will be some scientific basis for it!

Actually, there was a programme on BBC 2 last Monday, showing those under 2 that had been using tablets had better fine motor skills than those that hadn't. Gross motor skills were the same across both groups.