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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

2 year old DS and TV

18 replies

ldnirish · 28/07/2021 16:42

Hi all

Please no flaming, I am aware this is an unsatisfactory situation and I am looking for constructive criticism and help.

I had surgery 5 weeks ago and it's a long and slow recovery. Would allow DS to sit with me and watch TV for "quality" time as otherwise I couldn't play/lift him/cuddle him well. I now realise this may be a bad decision.

I am slightly more mobile now but still need to be extremely careful as I am not healed yet.

DS is now absolutely obsessed with TV and will watch a whole film from start to finish. This isn't great for a 2 yo is it?! Please tell me I havent done him any lasting damage/made him dumb!

Any tips on how to reduce TV time/stop him asking and break this cycle would be much appreciated. Would also be nice to hear that he's not the only TV crazy toddler (I hope!!)

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 28/07/2021 16:45

It's fine given the circumstances. Once you are mobile again just get him out and about. He won't be able to watch TV in Nursery and reception. It's easy to balance it out.

RainingZen · 28/07/2021 16:45

Can you tell him TV not working and say "oh dear never mind let's do xyz". If you can get outside lots that might help as he won't see the TV and br tempted/reminded.

LifeBeginsNow · 28/07/2021 16:54

Ive had to resort to tv on many occasions due to chronic illness. It's not ideal but at least it's a bonding moment and both parties are happy.

Can you ask him to bring his favourite books on to the bed and you can read to him/ talk about what he can see in the pictures?

Playing shops while lying down is also good. My DC brings all of the food bits and till and he rings up my purchase and then cooks what I've chosen.

Oh and sometimes I have put the music channel on and he's entertained me with his moves.

AllTheSingleLadiess · 28/07/2021 16:59

Hide the remote. Or you could remove the batteries so he thinks the tv is broken.

It will take time for him to get out of the habit but he will ThanksThanks

tobedtoMNandfart · 28/07/2021 17:00

You're overreacting he'll be absolutely fine.

ShinyGreenElephant · 28/07/2021 17:03

This happened to my DD2 when I had covid. She got back out the habit. Dont worry at all!

laalaaland · 28/07/2021 17:03

You had to do what you had to do, your child will be fine.

If you want to change it now you could either go cold turkey, completely remove all TV....it will be painful for a few days then easy, or just decide how much tv you'd like him to have each day and do that.

At that age, I ended up stopping all TV as my son would just have epic meltdowns when we needed to turn it off to do something else...but every child is different.

nc8765 · 28/07/2021 17:04

Hold on, a WHOLE film? 😉
That's only 2 hours a day. If that's all he's doing then That's great! My 2.5yo gets loads more than that, and I'm not immobile.

Eatenpig · 28/07/2021 17:39

There's a lot of 2yr olds who watch way more than that as normal!!

Heavymetaldetector · 28/07/2021 18:03

My son has to have loads of tv time due to my chronic illness and worth home etc. He’s absolutely fine. Switch it off and he’ll do something else, or leave it on and he’ll happily watch. It’s all good!

Heavymetaldetector · 28/07/2021 18:03

Working from home!

AllTheSingleLadiess · 28/07/2021 18:03

You only need to feel guilty if he's watching horror movies Wink

Realistically sometimes it needs to be done and you'll go through periods in the winter when you'll watch more tv with him because it's too miserable to go out.

Jammysod · 28/07/2021 18:08

Don't beat yourself up, you didn't really have many other options whilst you were recovering!
CBeebies was a god send at that age, especially when we went through the 4/5am wake up phase...I needed a couple of coffees at that time before I could function.

User0ne · 28/07/2021 18:52

It depends how much TV you are happy for him to watch. We do very little (kids have 15-30mins a day and lose it if they complain about it being turned off).

They have had more in the past (lockdown and WFH), they went cold turkey after for a couple of weeks as that was easier than slowly reducing the amount

Hilarias · 28/07/2021 20:45

Change the language if Netflix! My DH speaks another language and if he’s been watching tv with that language settings on, when my DS starts to watch he gets bored in minutes! (Or you’ll end up with a bilingual 2 year old so win-win Grin).

Hm2020 · 28/07/2021 20:47

I really wouldn’t worry about it untill your well enough to do other things you’ve done your best in the circumstances your in hope your feel better soon op Flowers

rainbowunicorn · 28/07/2021 21:07

It is really only on here that people seem to have this mad obsession andout too much screen time. In real life kids watch TV, play video games, use tablet and phones regularly.

I really wouldn't stress about it.

Original poster
ldnirish · 29/07/2021 14:23

Thank you all for your kind messages. I realise I am probably overreacting and reassured by the comments on this thread.

The point of this surgery is to hopefully make me a healthier and better mum in the future so I really do need to keep that in mind!

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