Sedentary Screen Time

[m4rdybum]

So WHO are recommending no screen time for under 2's - www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwj97fvCoOnhAhUc8uAKHXjBCf8QzPwBegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fhealth-48021224&psig=AOvVaw29_CjNCa234CZnkrRlAZG1&ust=1556213321334716

I am currently sat with my LG (3.5 months) as we watch the absolute trip of a show, In The Night Garden.

AIBU to keep doing it as part of her bedtime routine? It's the only time she watches TV (and tbf, she's probably not even watching it).

I wouldn't but that's just personal choice. I've always made the kids turn the TV off well before bedtime, so they wind down. I do like bedtime routine though. Mine for the baby (9months) is bath, feed, book, bed.

Sometimes I put little baby bum on in the background for the nursery rhymes but ds doesn’t really watch it, we just sing along together (well I sing, he’s 5 months so just looks at me like I'm a loon)
I think books are better for a bedtime routine though personally, but each to their own. Plus ITNG is absolute dross.

Often watch in the night garden before bed, her favourite show is peter rabbit.

Dd is 15 months

I don’t have a problem with a bit of screen time but at 3.5 months you might as well watch a program YOU enjoy cos they’ll have no idea what’s going on!

Agree with riotlady, at that age they won't have a clue so make the most of watching what you want!
DD is 2 and watched maybe 30-45 minutes of cbeebies a day in the background while she's pottering about before nursery with DH or having a snack after nursery in the evenings with me. We've done that since she was old enough to watch and understand so a good few months.
Ultimately screens are part of life and that's not going to change so although we keep it to a reasonable amount, I see no reason to ban completely.

Screens are only a part of life if you want them to be Polar. Personally I think babies prefer books, a cuddle and a chat.

ITNG is ace. Have a look at Anne Wood (the producer) and her long career. She’s also a massive advocate of children’s literacy.

I think most of the discussion around ‘screen time’ is far too much about moral panic, and not enough common sense is applied.

This needs to be taken in context. If you read it the guidelines are being revised to combat inactivity and obesity.
There are no issues with screen time providing the child also spends time bring active. It's not necessarily about the impact of screen time it's about passive screen time and inactivity.
Letting your little one watch in the night garden before bed is not a problem!

@PetuniaPetunia if you can get through life without using a phone, computer or tv then you live a very different life to anybody I know!

I thought it was interesting that the media all picked up on the screen thing, but the report also says they shouldn't be in a buggy or sling for more than an hour in go, including babies. I suspect there's going to be a lot of outrage from baby wearing groups about that - and I do think it's a bit ridiculous. I think it's pretty normal and reasonable for a parent to go for a 90 minute trip out...

I thought it was interesting that the media all picked up on the screen thing

I suspect that was part of the reason it was phrased like that, to encourage the media to actually bother to report, there's no "story" in make sure you're not sedentary, whereas the evils of screen time are a sure fire click winner.

DD is 9 months and she is obsessed with little baby bum, hey duggee and Bing. She also has to have LBB on in the car or she screams the entire journey.

I honestly couldn't care less about screen time at this age, she does plenty of other activities and her development is brilliant. I understand limiting older children who are more in control of their devices.

there's no "story" in make sure you're not sedentary, whereas the evils of screen time are a sure fire click winner.

True. I do think it's weird to even talk about a baby being sedentary though - they need plenty of floor time, but what even is sedentary for a 3 month old? Whether the TV's on or not they won't be doing jumping jacks.

DS is 9 months and if the TV's on he'll sit and stare at it for about 2 minutes then continue to crawl around. If that's harmful to his development then we should also stop using the washing machine, which gets a similar reaction.

He mostly sees grown up stuff, because he seems to just like the lights and colours regardless so why would we subject ourselves to Peppa pig? We have stopped watching actively unsuitable things in front of him now, though - when he was your baby's age, though, OP I got through a whole season of Orange Is the New Black while breastfeeding him, which hopefully won't prove too scarring... Aren't box sets the standard way suggested to get through cluster feeding?

The In then Night Garden theme tune always makes me a tiny bit emotional because it means it’s around 7pm and OH is nearly home and I’ve survived another day 😂

We catch what’s on CBeebies around that time but only for 15 mins or so - then it’s bath, book and bed. Mainly so I don’t have to watch Moon and Me, which is frankly absolutely terrifying. A mute clown who sleeps in a bag 😬

I let my 11 month old watch baby einstein on YouTube whilst I'm waking up and getting the house sorted for the day as that's all she really likes, but she soon gets bored of even that! When she's more interested I'm gonna let her watch films but don't really want her getting into tv shows. I find it odd when people say their under 1 yo's are 'obsessed' with certain TV shows and demand to have them on. I met a family with an 8 month old when my DD was the same age and they said "oh do you guys have to have such and such programme on all day?" so I said "no I just put on what I want to watch haha!" And then my best friend has a 3 month old who already has 'favorite' shows. Makes no sense to me, I just can't imagine it. Probably because my DD just isn't interested in tv very much!

We're getting sky installed today and everyone's been saying "ooh you'll have loads of kids channels now for the baby!" but I really don't want her getting hooked. 😩

I read that every bit of time they spend watching TV is time they could be learning to develop, which is why it's advised not to allow it before the age of 2. However I think half an hour each day is alright!

Why are you doing this? It’s of no value to her, you might as well watch something you want to. Read a book as part of nighttime routine and it will help massively with her development as time goes on.