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?

You’ve described DS to a point in those first few sentences @ReeseWitherfork

Calm down! 😂 You’ve changed your mind so many times on how many days it happens - weekly blocks, but not when he’s at nursery, but some weeks it’s fine, but then it’s two days a month … you can understand the confusion! You also mis-corrected me

I said:
watching TV 5-730 and 8-9ish and then presumably the hour before bed too?

and you replied:
I meant 8-9 in the morning, not evening!

So actually I was right the first time? 3.5 hours in the morning and presumably the hour before bed too (4.5 hours total)?

I don’t want an argument and I’m not trying to be a dick, and I have made suggestions on morning activities, but you’re so defensive you’re taking everything as an attack!

@ChronicOverthinkr I am not worked up. Clarifying myself isn’t indicative of annoyance.

I have only ‘changed my mind’ when I actually properly analysed the morning and realised that while the television has been on the time actually watching it has been far less than I originally thought.

Other things (like the supposed 9pm bedtime) are not me ‘changing my mind’ they are borne out of misunderstandings.

Then there was no need for the “for gods sake” and the raised eyebrow emoji, then, was there?

Look, if you’re happy with the situation then you’re happy with it. 4.5 hours of TV for two days every month is a bit different to the implication of your original post, and if you seem sure it’s not impacting his sleep, behaviour, development or schedule, then there’s no problem is there?

I think there was a need to express a bit of exasperation, @ChronicOverthinkr , when I have already clearly said he is not watching television at that time. To be honest, for someone who is not wanting an argument, you really aren’t posting to that end.

If I am doing a shit job at parenting fair enough and I can only try to do better. But it is surely not overtly argumentative to say that he is not purposefully waking for television, or that he is not watching it at 9 in the evening.

Our rule from the day they were old enough to understand was that you don't leave your room before 7am. You can be awake, read, play quietly, but you don't go downstairs, you don't wake anyone else until 7am. Then on a weekend or holiday they can have screen til 8.30 - gives us a lie in. Another hour after lunch unless we're out for the day. Then after 5 they can watch a film or play video games until tea time. Total 3-4 hours. On a school day there's no screen in the morning but they have a couple of hours after school.

In answer to your question, 5 hours for a 2 yo is too much. Start as you mean to go on - you don't leave your room until 7am (get a gro clock). Then you can watch TV until breakfast time when the TV goes off.

Ah you see my DS wouldn’t understand that. Perhaps when he is a bit older we can try it.

He is in bed at 7, so if he wakes at 5, that is a very long time without a drink or with a heavy nappy on.

That is far too much. He is probably caught up in a cycle of being over stimulated and no wonder his sleep pattern is messed up. He needs something consistent because there's the days he's at nursery as well. How about getting him a Tonie box, it's audio books and much better than a screen. I have a 6yo and he doesn't use screens during the week. It has made a massive difference to his sleep and concentration.

This thread has been interesting, going from
but then I added it up and thought argh, TV 5-9 and then 6-7 to I don’t want to stress or angst about it too much. It’s an every once in a while thing

Sometimes we talk ourselves out of worrying about things that genuinely are a problem, sometimes we analyse and find it is actually less of a problem than we first thought.

We have TV (usually videos on the tablet) on a lot in our house, but it's mainly background noise. 2yo DS dips in and out and mimicks presenters and children in his play that he does both simultaneously and spontaneously. He is doing very well verbally and physically, and shows empathy.

I have blocked videos and channels that aren't educational or music-based (Kids YouTube).

I would only be concerned if your child was glued to the screen that entire time.

I think the last thing you’ve been is clear in this thread, you replied to a poster and corrected her when she had actually got it right then got exasperated when she was unsurprisingly confused. You’ve talked yourself down from your OP and decided it’s no longer a big deal. No one has said you’re a shit parent.

I think it's a lot, yeah. Presumably you get up at 6.30, so turn it on until then, 1.5 instead of 4 hours?

I would also make an effort NOT to turn it on straight away on the later waking days but encourage him to play himself for a bit (with you there too) so he doesn't immediately think wake up = tv. My children liked building blocks etc.

I think the suggestion for audiobooks such as a Tonie box or Yoto player is a good idea. 2 year olds seem to love listening to Julia Donaldson books and Elmer as well as nursery rhymes.

Try music and audio stories.

What are you doing for those 4hours?

No one has suggested leaving him crying in his cot and those of who have made suggestions, you don't seem to have seen as possibilities? This time won't last forever.. I spent a lot of it sitting beside him on the floor or out walking, that was my preference as I'd crack up stuck in. Second child happily played himself so I just got on with the day once he'd had breakfast. I believe he was more independent because he was left at it, and he is still a wonderful player now. I also remember keeping them upstairs by having cars and books etc in a basket next to my bed so I'd stay in bed chatting to them while they played...even if I got 20 mins out of that it was worth it. Another half hour sat up reading whatever little books etc. It's blurry eyed, shuffling around in your dressing gown stuff. Me getting myself ready was a 10min scramble in the middle of this.

You really can't be sure he's not rousing extra early because of it really...I also used to lie on floor by cot in desperate hope of a return to sleep! Trying to send the message of itsnot morning time now. If he'd thought it was tv time, thered have been no hope
As it was it didn't get him back to sleep but at least I was resting and he was lying there happy. The thoughts of it now!! I appreciate everyone has to be happy with their own way of doing things, and if you are, work away, but you did ask.

I don’t know about the tomie box. I have considered it but I don’t know if he’d just be able to listen and follow a story without accompanying pictures.

If I haven’t been clear then I am sorry but I have been up since 5, and on that particular instance I had said twice that DS does not go to bed at 9.

I do think it is a big deal but the problem is that everything people are suggesting are either not really age appropriate or just not really practical. No one’s suggested leaving him crying in his cot - well, quite a few people have said that they have a rule their children don’t come out of their rooms until 7am. If I left him he would cry. So they might not be saying it in so many words, but the result is the same.

@mikado1 i am confident he isn’t. He doesn’t wake so early every single day for one thing and he doesn’t ask for TV. He really isn’t fussed by it.

Meh whatever helps you through.

Few suggestions, have a look at the montessori bedroom set up wee one could be pottering about in their bedroom at that time playing with age appropriate toys while you lie on. Or you can get those little clocks that change colour when it's time to get up so they can learn when it's too early? I don't think there's a problem with having a bit of TV time that early when you're all still half asleep.

Incorrect
No link between adhd and screen time. Adhd people prefer games and screens yes but it doesn't cause it.

5 hours at a stretch? YABU

an hour or so, great. Breakfast then, wash, dress, get out to the park would be better.

problem is that everything people are suggesting are either not really age appropriate or just not really practical people are just suggesting turning the TV off, that is practical for any age.

Yes and alternatives to perhaps do at 5am, or even at 630 when I have to get ready for work!

But it does not matter, the thread is taking on a distinct ‘tone’ and I always feel threads are best left when that happens.

Cbeebiesismybestfriend · Today 13:08
Yes and alternatives to perhaps do at 5am, or even at 630 when I have to get ready for work!

But it does not matter, the thread is taking on a distinct ‘tone’ and I always feel threads are best left when that happens.“

apologies: I misread and thought you were saying 5 hours each morning 🥴 I’ll get my coat.
I think an hour in the morning certainly isn’t the end of the world.