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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have my 2 yo watch 5 hours of TV?

137 replies

Cbeebiesismybestfriend · 07/10/2022 06:05

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 Blush

Do others do the same?

OP posts:
Yayyayitsaholiholiday · 07/10/2022 07:03

I occasionally babysit a 1 year old during the day. The tv is always on. Cocomelon. All he wants to do is stare at the tv. I can’t get him to play, engage, look at me…… I turn it off and he cries and mum (usually in the next room) requests I turn it back on as he’s ‘obsessed’.
I think it’s such a shame for him. Too much tv can be really damaging.

Sallyh87 · 07/10/2022 07:03

Yes my 2 year old sometimes does. Guess I won’t be winning any parent of the year awards but she is doing okay and happy.

whatkatydid2013 · 07/10/2022 07:03

Honestly it is quite a lot. It won’t be massively hurting him but won’t be doing him any real good either. At that age there isn’t really any educational benefit and it’s not good for language acquisition whereas it starts to help with that as they get a bit bigger. I get not wanting to get up and me massively interactive at 5/5:30 but I’d maybe alternate TV and other quiet things if only to help him get used to idea that he has to just entertain himself sometimes

lannistunut · 07/10/2022 07:04

Hugasauras · 07/10/2022 06:56

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.

It is not about parents leading developmental activities, it is about children engaging in developmental activities - the main one for the whole of the early years is 'playing' - rather than passively watching.

Original poster
Cbeebiesismybestfriend · 07/10/2022 07:07

I’m not getting ready for three / four hours though Smile

OP posts:
homarrrerr · 07/10/2022 07:07

5 hours does sound like a lot and I'm pretty slack.

When mine used to wake at 5, I would plonk the telly on until I felt like a human. I refused to play until around 7. No way would my kids have left me alone for 4 hours in the morning though 😂.

Original poster
Cbeebiesismybestfriend · 07/10/2022 07:07

He only really passively watches when it’s a programme he likes, in fairness, which is why I prefer CBeebies to using iplayer or similar.

OP posts:
Hugasauras · 07/10/2022 07:08

But presumably he won't 'just play' or OP would just have him do that instead? A lot of kids won't solo play like that at that age.

Hjgfer · 07/10/2022 07:08

If your happy with it it’s fine. My daughters changed this week and is now having 3 hour binges watching YouTube videos of little girls play with their dolls. She then role plays what she’s watched on her iPad.

in winter we’ve usually have CBeebies on in the background all day.

tulipsunday · 07/10/2022 07:08

My two year old likes the 'Orchard Toys' games - smelly wellies/bus bingo etc. perhaps have a routine where TV is on say till 6:30 then breakfast/get dressed. Then you could play a game together/read books. Mine is not great at independent play for long but could try with some cars/puzzles/play food. Good luck.

WingingItEveryDay7 · 07/10/2022 07:10

The majority of MN are perfect parents so will tell you it's far too much, will damage development blah blah.... I wouldn't worry. My 2 year old had the TV on all day during lockdown 1 as I had just started a new job, no childcare allowed so had no other option... You know what? He is fine! He wasn't much of a talker before, but learnt so much by listening and 'chatting' back to the presenters! Sounds like you do plenty during the day so give yourself a break. You do you don't worry what the world thinks! You're doing great! x

SpeckofDustUponMySoul · 07/10/2022 07:10

Everyone's different and what works for one household doesn't for another, but yes I do think that's massively excessive.
Mine tended to occupy themselves with toys or activities when I needed to get ready etc.
And, I have had nigh on 5 years of 4/5am starts, so I appreciate how crappy early starts can be.
I've always kept to 1 or 2 hours a day maximum of TV/tablet and I still think that's a lot.

Whinge · 07/10/2022 07:10

Cbeebiesismybestfriend · 07/10/2022 07:07

He only really passively watches when it’s a programme he likes, in fairness, which is why I prefer CBeebies to using iplayer or similar.

So why not turn it off? If he's not bothered by it, then there's no need for it to be on.

JanglyBeads · 07/10/2022 07:10

So he's on his own in a (bed?)room watching TV 5-9?

avocadotofu · 07/10/2022 07:12

I think that's too much especially if it's every day. When my son is ill he watches a lot of TV but it's definitely not that much every day.

HungryandIknowit · 07/10/2022 07:14

It's too much imo, coming from someone who some days lets my toddler watch too much TV. I'd suggest giving him games (like smelly wellies as someone has suggested), puzzles, and colouring. Train sets and large lego can also offer hours of fun.

whatkatydid2013 · 07/10/2022 07:17

As ideas for things to do with minimal interaction from you my two used to be given things like a small pile of duplo blocks, a couple of toy cars or animals, board books, a tea set, a doll or similar. It was easier once they were about 3 1/2 & 1 1/2 as then they played together lots more but even when it was just my eldest we did that. It was mega helpful when I had to feed younger daughter while out and about as you could keep her happily occupied on her own. Admittedly they’d tell me what they’d done or make me pretend tea every 10 minutes but I could just lounge on the sofa or in bed reading while they did

savehannah · 07/10/2022 07:17

I get switching it on at 5am when he first gets up. But I don't really see why he needs it on for four hours? At that age I would just be doing my jobs while chatting to my kids, they would be playing with a toy by my feet.

RIPQueen · 07/10/2022 07:17

Mine often wake up at 5. It’s awful and o sympathise but giving him tv at that time is an incentive to wake up at 5 to watch it! It is better to let them be bored and lie in bed until 6

inappropriateraspberry · 07/10/2022 07:19

He's only 2! Why is everyone expecting him to be able to play games or with toys on his own?
OP, if it works for you, and he is happy, there is nothing wrong with it.

Romeoalpha · 07/10/2022 07:20

Yes, I am afraid it is far too much.
He needs to be playing (on his own! you don’t have to do anything except watch / make interested noises from the sofa.
And if he ‘won’t play’ - that’s because he’s getting too much telly! Children need to feel bored - it sparks their imaginations. Turn the telly off.

Original poster
Cbeebiesismybestfriend · 07/10/2022 07:20

JanglyBeads · 07/10/2022 07:10

So he's on his own in a (bed?)room watching TV 5-9?

No, we are both downstairs

When he wakes at 5, CBeebies isn’t on until 6, so then mr tumble on iplayer gets me through till 6.

As for why not switch it off I think because he does flit and out and most programmes are so short that if I turned it off entirely he’d flit in and out of his toys but start pulling the toilet roll off the wall or emptying the cats litter tray over the floor!

OP posts:
lannistunut · 07/10/2022 07:21

Cbeebiesismybestfriend · 07/10/2022 07:07

He only really passively watches when it’s a programme he likes, in fairness, which is why I prefer CBeebies to using iplayer or similar.

So what is he actually doing? It is you who has asked the question 'is five hours too much?'.

Original poster
Cbeebiesismybestfriend · 07/10/2022 07:22

@RIPQueen i honestly don’t think he’s doing it on purpose - he isn’t even that fussed about TV really.

Trust me, he would never lie quietly in his room for an hour. He would be very upset.

OP posts:
iCouldSleepForAYear · 07/10/2022 07:23

My girls got 5+ hours of TV every day during the lockdowns. Especially my youngest, who was only in preschool, because the rest of us were expected to be online for school lessons and work meetings during the day, as if nothing at all was the matter.

What we had to deal with, as a consequence of that, was overstimulation and hyper behaviour. Sometimes mimicking the behaviour or emotional responses they saw on TV. Sometimes lashing out, maybe from a lack of attention from us. Weight gain from far too much sitting. No inclination to play independently: DD1 was good about amusing herself with toys because she was older, but DD2 would not play with anything on her own, in her own company.

They still get a lot of TV now, but that's what it looks like with my kids when it goes too far. I've thought of enforcing TV holidays before, but I'd have to be on holiday too for it to work. When we've been better about keeping the TV off, the issues I mentioned above improve.