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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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1 2 3 4

Original poster

To just let him watch the bloody tv!

80 replies

Pinkyyogapanties · 13/11/2023 10:09

Before children ( as a teacher ) I had my ridiculous expectations of parenting . How I laugh.

No dummies
No screens in a restaurant
1 hour or tv ( you see my children would be busy crafting !)
hahahahahha

I have a 3 month old and a 2 year old and I am becoming so stressed. Why on earth I don’t just let dd watch the tv ? Would stop me chasing her around and exhausting myself at 8am. Why didn’t I just give the children dummies .
I am becoming so stressed and I imagine this will cause more issues longer term than a dummy , few hours of pig could ?

Should I just let dd watch the bloody tv ?

OP posts:

Sleeplessinseattle234 · 13/11/2023 10:11

Good god yes. U do what u need to do to get though. Then watching tv doesn’t make u a bad parent.

Original poster

Pinkyyogapanties · 13/11/2023 10:23

imagine this will cause more issues longer term than a dummy , few hours of PEPPA pig could ?

OP posts:

BubziOwl · 13/11/2023 10:24

Get the telly on and have a cup of tea asap!!

LakeTiticaca · 13/11/2023 10:42

My kids had dummies and watched kiddies TV regularly
And they ate junk food.
Screens not invented back then thank god
They are all well rounded, responsibly employed citizens now 😉

Heartofglass12345 · 13/11/2023 10:43

Do it, there are lots of educational programmes too which will make you feel better about it, especially on iPlayer. My son taught himself to read and count from watching numberblocks and alphablocks!

IlonaRN · 13/11/2023 10:45

Better a dummy (that will be grown out of eventually) than a thumb (which will cause issues with teeth!)! We called our son's "the mute button" 😆

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 13/11/2023 10:48

CBeebies is your friend!

phoenixrosehere · 13/11/2023 10:49

Was never fussed about letting my children watch tv, quality not quantity , and I grew up watching lots of educational shows that prompted me to try new things and travel to new places as I got older.

My oldest was the only one that accepted a dummy and I only used it as a last resort. He gave it up once his teeth came in before his first birthday. The middle refused dummies and bottles and went from nursing to a sippy cup which actually made sense. My 3 week old looks absolutely affronted when given a dummy, she happily prefers her hands to gnaw on instead.

TVaddict23 · 13/11/2023 10:50

I absolutely do not understand the hate on dummies. My midwife actually suggested it as she could see DD was going to be a thumb sucker.

I gradually started removing it until it was just for sleep and then just took it away one night. Absolutely no dramas and no teeth issues.

It was a life saver when she was little!

rockinginarockingchair · 13/11/2023 10:52

Put the tv on when my two were little we would have watch post man pat together THE ORIGINAL ONE many years ago every day.
Got my tea we get on the sofa and watch to shows of it.
Back then we had video tapes so id pop one one and do the house work.
I was lucky none of mine had a dummy and no hand held screens.
But the TV was a life saver some days.
And thomas the tank engine and post man pat videos they were obsessed with them.

Marblessolveeverything · 13/11/2023 10:53

Honestly it's about balance, but the key thing is you prioritising your well being. You can't parent effectively if you are constantly running on empty.

I put on tv programmes I liked. My pair had a comprehensive knowledge of top of the pops 80s, 90s. It probably accounts for their love of David Bowie, Kate Bush.

I also went retro with cartoons, old roadrunner, bugs bunny etc.

If something will give you vital breaks do it! You are not going to go from zero to 12 hours solid tv.

Potplant19 · 13/11/2023 10:55

I felt similar to you before I had children too...

Neither of mine (3 and 1) have been fussed on dummies. We have a general "before breakfast and after dinner" rule with the TV which makes me feel I still have an element of control... But in the early days of our youngest that went out the window and I embraced TV. I actually found watching a film much better than one episode after another - my eldest would get het up on whether she could have another one, and one was never enough... So I had a bank of favourite films we'd cosy up and watch together - the Good Dinosaur was a favourite for a while, Octonaut films on Netflix etc. Everyone happy!

rockinginarockingchair · 13/11/2023 11:34

Not all children want to watch or need cartoons some like wild life shows.

Disturbia81 · 13/11/2023 11:38

Oh god stop being a martyr, can't stand people making life harder for no reason. It's about balance.
Mine watched loads of tv, ipads etc.. My sanity is intact, I get stuff done.. then spend time getting out, being together. They are great kids

AdoraBell · 13/11/2023 11:41

Use the TV for short periods, as a pp said while you have a cup of tea/whatever you need in the moment.

InTheRainOnATrain · 13/11/2023 11:44

Personally I hate iPads because young kids tend to go into a trance with them and become completely unaware of anything else around them. I limit them to times when it’s important that DC sit there quietly like on a plane. TV though, definitely fine! Just choose something with vaguely educational content and stick the subtitles on. And from the parent of a 6YO thumb sucker, dummies are great!

ElaineMBenes · 13/11/2023 11:45

We used dummies and never put limits on tv or screen time.
DS is 9 and will happily engage in a wide range of activities, yes he'll watch tv or play on his iPad most days but he also still plays with toys.

Let her watch TV!

FestiveSandman · 13/11/2023 11:46

If you care at all about your children’s development then that should stop you rather than opting for an easier life at the expense of your poor kids.

Peppa Pig is an awful thing for your child to watch. So rude. You can tell the kids whose parents let them watch it.

ohtowinthelottery · 13/11/2023 11:47

Nothing wrong with sticking the toddler in front of the TV to give you a chance to deal with the baby/have a cup of tea.
My DS was in front of the TV every morning whilst I got his sister ready for nursery/school. He grew up with a love of books and an adult he barely watches TV.

Stop being a martyr.

Franklin2000 · 13/11/2023 11:48

YWBU to put the pig on, put on Bluey, that’s far more entertaining 😂 I absolutely don’t watch Bluey alone when DS isn’t around

Pooheadbumbum · 13/11/2023 11:48

OP I have 4 children, and had the exact same rules as you. I have carried them on, although my older children at 9&8 and so maybe have more tv time occasionally (but some days none at all).

We don’t allow other screens and no dummies.

It is possible, but hard work.

I will say, let her watch some tv now, you can always revert in a few months time when your headspace is better.

You are doing great!

ElaineMBenes · 13/11/2023 11:50

If you care at all about your children’s development then that should stop you rather than opting for an easier life at the expense of your poor kids.

What drama!

A bit of tv is fine.

Watchthedoormat · 13/11/2023 11:50

I'd be happy with DC watching TV. Less so an I-pad as then they realise they are portable and will want to take them when they go out and about which I think I can become a problem when a habit is formed.

FestiveSandman · 13/11/2023 11:51