AIBU to have the TV on all day long

[grissini]

I literally turn it on when we get up and then I have it on all day long. I'm at home with my 10 month old and I use it for company. The radio or podcasts just don't have the same comfort for me, despite being more interesting

Am I alone?

I was the same when on Maternity leave and DD barley took any notice of what was on.

Now on my days off work we are usually out in the morning till after lunch, come home and pot about with the TV on. She will watch it on and off while playing with toys etc.

Music channel on all day and about an hour of kids learning YouTube videos before they go to bed and then my programmes for the rest of the night.

Id find it very strange if I went to someone's house and they had a blank telly in their living room with no noise or entertainment. It's not 1920's.

I think it is great that you are questionning yourself.

The thing that springs to my mind is, that while you like it, lots of us don't, as shown on this thread and you are subjecting your kids to it whether they like it or not. Lots of us would find it stressful.

I think you are right to consider trying to cut down. Would the radio not work as well? Or you could try blessed silence and see what happens

I do now I am home alone most days (although will turn it off if I need to concentrate on something). Like other people have said it can be company and takes me out of myself. I didn’t when DC were around as it distracted from them. We’d put it on to watch Pippin or `teletubbies and then it was off until I needed to cook dinner.

I visited a friend with two DC aged 2 and 5 the other day. I was there about 3and a half hours and it was only after I left that there had been no screen time at all for anyone. I hadn’t even checked my phone. We had just chatted/played the whole time, sometimes the DC wanted attention, sometimes they amused one another. It was an absolute pleasure and despite them being quite active children I felt relaxed and rested, I think because my attention was not divided.

Currently the same with my 10 month old, I have it on everyday, I take him for 2 walks a day but apart from that I have TV on, usually netflix kids, he has his own tab and we have trolls and any other singing cartoon, he loves to clap and bop away!

Id find it very strange if I went to someone's house and they had a blank telly in their living room with no noise or entertainment
I'd find it really bad manners if someone had the tv on if you were only there a couple of hours.
As soon as soemone comes round, if the tv is on ( after about 6pm) it goes off, so we can talk to each other

I'm a Radio 4 addict but even I don't have it on all day. Find I can do 2 things at once with the radio on as I find with the TV I'm watching it and so can't get other stuff done.

I do think having the TV on all day is a bit excessive. Mix up your media a bit - podcasts, Radio 4, Talk radio, whatever

@themoomoo believe it or not you can hear people speak while a TV is on in the background. I have never had a problem holding a conversation while the top 40 played on the telly

You’re not a shit mum, your baby is only 10 months so I imagine he’s not paying too much attention to it yet? That will change very soon though so now’s the time to break the habit.

I had two 15 months apart and it was very, very tempting to plonk the older one in front of the Telly so I could tend to the baby but I held firm (just about!) and I’m so glad I did.

She’s 2.5 now and the very most she gets is about 45 mins per day broken up into morning and evening viewings, but I try to keep some days screen free. It’s really not good for them - I see a noticeable difference in DDs behavior on days she has too much tv.

Plus I think quiet time is really important when they’re playing so they can concentrate on what they’re doing without being distracted, building up their concentration etc.

I’ve put the radio on in the kitchen here and there throughout the day - I know it’s not the same thing but I think if you can try to limit the screen time you will be so glad you do. Plus when it’s limited it works like a treat to get them to stay quiet or sit still for whatever reason (cutting their nails etc.) because it’s such a novelty.

so we can talk to each other This is becoming an alien concept Well face to face anyway.

I find it makes me less snipe if I’m in alone .

YABU.

There are load of studies and impact reports out there about the damage screens are doing to our health and much mor importantly to child’s development.

So many children coming to pre school and reception with delayed speech.

You should switch it off. Have music on in the background.

The TV images are too stimulating for little brains and over stimulate babies, increase cortisol (stress drug). This has been linked to depression and anxiety in later years.

You say you are in/out through the day and you are interacting with your baby, so that’s good. But those bright images and lights are just too much for a small developing brain.

Talk to your HV about it. Ask for some advice on ways to pass the time? What about local groups?

Having a baby can be lonely isolating. But please consider switching off.

this is such a needless waste of electricity, we only have finite resources on this planet. I find it concerning that a grown adult has such difficulty being with their own company that they require constant background noise.

Haven’t RTFT but I work from home and put Radio 2 on when I get up and have it in all day, much the same. Quiet just sounds wrong...

My 2 year old is shit with the TV on and shit without so it doesn't make a difference to her behaviour here my TV schedule is roughly the same as yours as well, but Homes Under the Hammer instead of Jeremy Vine!

I was raised on a solid diet of background TV but was also reading from nursery age and much preferred books. Yes it's anecdotal of course, but it hasn't affected my family so I continue it with my children.

poppoppop100. You should be talking to your child
But then I can't hear Jeremy Kyle!!

I am worried about delaying his speech etc so I'm very keen to start turning it off more. Radio 4 could work

It's not a good idea.
There are studies that show the damage screens do. It's the flashing light.
Also yours and your child's brain will get so used to having noise that it won't be able to concentrate as well without it.
You'll have difficulty reading , thinking etc as well without noise. Your child's concentration will suffer in school. Learning through school , studying and sitting in exams. Sounds daft but it will have long term effects.
Use of language will also be less and your child's language development may also be effected.

op I love radio 4 and I am really into so many of the programs! Love love women’s hour, the life scientific, the long view. There is a tonne of stuff.

Or just a music play list from Spotify too is fine. I don’t like silence. The radio feels like “company”

The other thing I will say is that don’t be afraid to let her get bored. I actively allowed them to Potter/get bored and refused to engage for 10-12 min chunks a few times a day from around this age (10 months-ish). I would drink a cup of tea and ignore. Getting bored and finding ways to amuse themselves is a really important skill and it ideally needs peace and quiet to implement. As I said upthread, I know life with a 10 month old can be dull. It’s fine to do a mixture of adult stuff (shopping and meeting friends), active engagement and if you need to, short bursts of screen time. Don’t feel as if you have to constantly engage and entertain. There is a happy medium.

My tv can be on 24 hours a day sometimes....

We leave it on low over night for the dogs whilst they are sleeping

Id find it very strange if I went to someone's house and they had a blank telly in their living room with no noise or entertainment. It's not 1920's.

Eh??? When I invite someone round for a coffee or whatever, I'm inviting them round to see see them and chat to them. Why on earth would I have a TV making noise on while doing that? Odd.

I'd find it very strange if I went round to someone's house to visit them and they had a TV blaring out in the background the entire time!

believe it or not you can hear people speak while a TV is on in the background. I have never had a problem holding a conversation while the top 40 played on the telly
i didn't say you can't but it's unbelievably distracting and unless you're 22 or so most people would be irritated to fuck listening to the top 40.

I always have the TV on whilst guests are around and it's always the same at others' houses. None of us have it 'blasting out' just something visual with low level sound in the background.

Dear me! This is another example where my real life experiences seem at odds with MN I guess. I find it quite rude - if you aren't listening to it or watching it then what's the point of having it on? And if you are, then that's a bit discourteous to your guest! It's different if you're staying with family or something and you're both watching something of an evening, but I find it a bit odd if someone has come over for a coffee or a drink. The first thing I would do when the door goes is turn off the TV if it was on!

I did love watching to music channels in my teens! Not sure I could bear listening to the top 40 now though...