To have my 2 yo watch 5 hours of TV?

[Cbeebiesismybestfriend]

God that sounds so bad written down.

He goes through stages of waking at 5 and it usually lasts around a week then reverts to half six again, not sure why.

I don’t know what to do with him at this time other than let him watch TV! Then he has another hour or so at the end of the day

Do others do the same?

I think a bit of tv in the morning at that age till you’ve woken up a bit more is fine. Not 5 hours though.

Mine were early risers, I had a rule of no ‘activities’ before 9am, at that age they’d usually play with their cars or trains or something whilst I dozed on the sofa.

Five hours is a lot, yes. Is this every day?

The issue with TV is not that it is damaging but it is just a time filler, so a kid watching TV for five hours is missing out on five hours of potential developmental input.

It depends how often it happens, really.

I know but I don’t honestly know what developmental input I could realistically do at that time in the morning. I tried reading a bit with him this morning but I was so bloody tired!

5am is definitely TV time! But is he watching 3/4 hours in the morning? That's too much IMO. Do you have a partner? Are all early mornings on you?

Honestly 5 hours a day? No lovely, that's too much - I'm very very laid back about telly but do you mean he's watching telly from 5am-9am? What time does he go to bed?

I remember those days. My 'rule' was never go down before 6...would play or read after a piece of fruit till 6.30-7 and breakfast then.. obviously if looking for breakfast would give earlier..but this usually worked OK. Then breakfast would get you to 7-7.30 and then play again.... then at least you're into normal morning time. I remember being exhausted getting into work at 8.15! Didn't use TV at all but looking back , I was probably OTT and should have given myself a break. It wasn't a huge issue tho as for them, TV wasn't in their heads. On the weekend, I could be out walking the roads or at the playground shortly after 8! The thoughts of it! But I think most important bit was don't go down till 6.

When he wakes at 5, and if I’m not at work he does generally have the TV on until about 9. This isn’t every day because 3 days a week he’s at nursery and he doesn’t wake at 5 every day thank god!

I suppose in fairness he isn’t sat watching it solidly for that time, but it does mean I can get ready!

I completely understand. I had a a year or so where my son would be up all night and then wake at 4.00. He would have tv all morning.. I couldn't function. If I worked out the hours a day, it would of been more than 5.

Tv is so different now for this generation. Lots of it is educational. You can't be too hard on yourself about it.

Mumsnet won't agree with you. But most of the mums i know let their kids and toddlers have tv on most the day. So your not alone

It doesn’t feel like much because we do a lot during the day and the TV doesn’t go on until just before 6, but then I added it up and thought argh, TV 5-9 and then 6-7, whoops

I would definitely try lessen this.. what time do you need to leave and how long to get ready? I would often let him play in bedroom with ensuite door open and stairgate closed or even pop him in with me for shower. Make up was a quick effort, and still is 10 years on!!

It's more what they're watching than amount.
Ms Rachel is good.
Terminator 2 is bad.

I used to watch TV loads as a kid.
I'm fine. 😅🤣

That's far too long. What happens on the days where he wakes at his normal time of 6.30am?

I understand wanting him to do something quieter as it's early, but most people will be getting up to start the day between 6 - 7am, to get children ready or get ready for work, so there's no reason to extend quiet time beyond this.

I think 3 days a week isn't so bad. Maybe as he gets older make it contingent on him watching after he does his "morning tasks" like tidying his bedroom/pull up the duvet, brush hair, eat breakfast, get dressed, get bag and cost and shoes ready by the door... the only issue I can see with TV being a morning thing is that you'll eventually want him to start getting ready for school without wanting all the fun stuff to happen first!

Mine would have the tv on all day, but it does become like a radio. It's in the background and they dip in and out of it. Not done my two any harm, they are both bright, interested and engaged at school etc.
if they're watching CBeebies etc most of it is educational anyway!
I'm sure with used to watch loads when little as well.

When he wakes at 630 if it’s a non nursery day he does watch a bit but it’s only two hours max.

The other thing is as time goes on the TV might become a motivator for getting up early, avoid this! My early riser (once had a day begin at 4.10am) was allowed TV during summer holidays from 8am and he'd be sat there, now 10 bleary eyed at 7.55 as having woken he'd want to go down. We stretched it to 9 after a holiday with no TV available and he now sleeps till 9 on weekends! Life changing! I hate the TV on in the morning myself so wouldn't ever allow on a school morning say. So they just kill each other while I get ready instead 😂

Is it more in the background while he plays away? As this is different if so, I think.

I so remember those early wake ups. When my dd was little & waking early, CBeebies didn’t start until 6am…how I used to cling on for that good morning sun song!

However, 5 hours a day is too much. It won’t help his sleep either - I’d get rid of the hour in the evening first personally as you may find his sleep improves without that.

I think this is something we beat ourselves up over. Is he loved, cared for, happy? That’s the main thing. Whether he watches a few hours of tv or traipses around the countryside building dens while wearing mini boden, the key thing is he’s happy.

I don’t think it is - it just seems to happen every so often that we have a block of about four to five days where he wakes 5-530 and then it just stops as suddenly as it started!

The day starts in the same way regardless of when he gets up so I don’t think it’s intentional or anything like that.

How many 'developmental activities' are you really going to do when knackered at 5am? That would definitely be TV or tablet time here, I'm not doing active parenting at 5am! Screw that.

If you're worried about the amount maybe knock the TV at end of day on the head, but I'd keep the early morning stuff np.

Hi, it is not about YOU doing anything but watching TV is passive, he doesn't have to use his brain. If he was just pushing a car around on the carpet he would be using his brain to make choices and would observe the effects of his actions for example.

It is a common misconception that 'developmental input' = parental input. It does not, it just means not being a passive watcher.

I don't think its the end of the world and more people do it than admit to it. Its not ideal no, but will it harm your child? If its CBeebies and the like not at all.

At 2, he shouldn't have more than an hour of screen time per day as a rule.

5 hours is far too much, and will affect his development.

Sorry, I know it's hard, but it'll pass. Can he not be with you whilst you get ready? That's what I used to do with DS at that age, we'd play little games, have cuddles etc. He was a horribly early riser too, we used to have cuddles and milk in bed at that time, and then get up at 6.

Yes, it may well harm him. Excessive screen time impacts negatively on children's impulse control, ability to empathise, social skills, and non-verbal cues. There is a link between excessive screen time and ADHD.