To let baby watch TV?

[JammyRedRooo]

My 3 month old DD is wonderful but still very much a velcro baby. My DH works out of the house so I find it very hard to get a minute to get anything done during the day. I recently discovered Hey Bear sensory videos on YouTube and DD will actually sit and watch in her bouncy chair (previously she would cry if I put her in it).

It means I can get a drink, have a wee and a wash but mainly just have a few minutes where she isnt attached to me.

However I mentioned this to a friend who has a slightly older baby and she said she wouldn't be letting hers watch TV until he is much older. It made me feel like a shit mum tbh. I only do it for max 15 minutes a day.

Please tell me this is ok??

The studies haven't been done with CBeebies.

And yes it will cause harm but for you as your baby will learn numbers, letters, how things work, how to play with certain things, etc and then she will do your head in by repeating them continuously to you...

Can I recommend Steve and Maggie on YouTube? Brilliant stuff 🙂

@MrsTerryPratchett that made me laugh out loud

Hey Bear saved my sanity! Mine loved it from a few months old. Crack on OP!

@HeyFloof

Op, everyone knows YouTube baby sensory is a gateway drug to cocomelon.

You need to be very careful or it will be Blippi before you know it and then you'll be absent mindedly humming along to the excavator song or worse "I like to ate ate ate apples and banaynays".

Do what gets you through and don't beat yourself up

Oh god opples and bononos. That stuff sticks with you!

When my DS, who neither slept through the night or napped well, was small I was losing the plot. My wonderful Aunt gave me a tip from her HV when my cousin was small-to sit him in front of the news as the presenter talks directly to the screen so it feels like a grown up talking to them. It often saved me! (And I've a newshound of a 12 year old which I love as we can talk about all sorts of current affairs but I don't really think that's linked!).

Everything in moderation 😀

A lot of the statistics and advice re television for babies snd children is based off the lowest common denominator. They have to set strict guidelines to be followed because there are, sadly, parents who will just dump their children in front of the tv all day every day (and I don’t mean a sick day or when mother is pregnant and needs a break I mean allllll the time). If your child is otherwise stimulated snd taken outside and played with then crack on with a bit of screen time. Sure.

Also, at 4 months I don’t see the difference between tv and flashing lights at baby sensory. It’s not like your child is actually watching the shows, it’s just bright flashing lights etc

@MsPickle

Genius - need to try this

LOVE hey bear sensory!! My baby is 9 months now and she loves it. She will also play happily while it's on though, she's not glued to it. That winking bee can really stop a crying jag in it's tracks though.

I first put it on when she was fussy and feverish after a surgery, my mom made sure to tell me that my aunt's bratty perfect daughter didn't see a single screen till she was 3. The parents didn't watch TV till after she was asleep for 3 years. Sorry but no! Now when the baby cries my mom is the first one to leap for the remote

I think it’s completely fine. You absolutely need to look after yourself, having a piss, food and drink is the bare minimum, you have to meet these needs in order to be able to parent, so babe sits in a chair and watches telly for 15 mins? Nah, legit cannot get worked up about it. DD loved sitting in the bouncy chair and watching the washer as well.

My 4mo DD is a 'velcro baby' as well. I put her in front of the Baby Club on CBBC today for 20 minutes because I need to finish off some painting outside. I don't think she's been harmed by it, plus it is only a short period of time.

You and your baby will be fine!

Personally I haven't because the WHO advise against it for babies and toddlers. I do agree it is lazy parenting. TV was only on in front of baby if baby was breastfeeding and not able to see it. But the most important thing is you do what you think is best, it's your baby!

Used to stick DD in her bouncy chair in front of the snooker; she'd be mesmerised and I'd get some time for self care or a couple of household jobs done.

She's just got a First in History so I don't think my lazy parenting fried too many brain cells.....

Ooh DD loved those dancing fruit and veg videos on YouTube. They were a lifesaver sometimes!

I bet the people calling it lazy parenting all use dummies 😆

Proud to be 'lazy' here and also not constantly having to hold in wee or not wash / feed myself

I have such fond memories of DD watching Hey Bear videos and have that pineapple burned into my brain absolutely nothing wrong with it in moderation. She's now a few days from 2 and addicted to Bluey (something I have encouraged because she now says 'aww biscuits' which is hilarious)

Hm, some people might not let their first born watch TV, but the majority of 2nd DC probably see a fair bit of Paw Patrol and they do survive- unless you rush them out of the room when older DC are watching?!

@MotherOfCrocodiles

A very good point. I was the 4th child so you can only imagine the things I watched as a toddler 😬

Your baby your rules

Glad you found a way to get a wee by yourself op. It takes all sorts, TV wasn't a big thing in my family, I'm missing whole chunks of cultural references because of no TV, my siblings kids too, and I caused how they've benefitted. My dc watch an unseemly amount of youtube.

Personally I haven't because the WHO advise against it for babies and toddlers. I do agree it is lazy parenting

Have you had a baby that can not be left for even a few minutes without screaming? If it’s a choice between baby screams whilst you try and make something to eat/have a wee/drink a cup of tea or 15 minutes of tv and you all stay sane then it’s obvious which you choose.

Far better for a child to have a ‘lazy parent’ who has had a chance to eat/shower/wee and isn’t stressed out than a parent who is at breaking point and struggling.

15 mins a day is fine.

@WTF475878237NC

Personally I haven't because the WHO advise against it for babies and toddlers. I do agree it is lazy parenting. TV was only on in front of baby if baby was breastfeeding and not able to see it. But the most important thing is you do what you think is best, it's your baby!

‘What you’re doing is obviously lazy but of course it’s fine for YOU to be lazy with YOUR baby! You know best! Personally I’m not lazy so I wouldn’t do this to my baby but it’s fine for you to be lazy! I’m super into vacuous statements empowering parents to make the choices they feel are right, even when those choices are lazy and something I wouldn’t do because I’m better than them! Also just wanted to make sure everyone knows I breastfed, even though it has nothing to do with this post!’

And do the WHO have any hints and tips about how to endure the crying of an increasingly distressed baby to have a quick shower or make dinner when you have an un-put-downable baby? No? Then they can fuck off.