Your Experience of Your Child(ren) Watching Ms Rachel?

[user666555]

Hello,

I don't really need people to tell me that I'm an appalling mother and that I've messed my child up for life because I worry about this everyday ...

However, I don't have much support/a village and sometimes when I need to cook or have a shower I'll let my daughter (8M) watch some Ms Rachel.

I feel guilty about this already - so what I'm asking is did your child still turn out alright? Did it impact them too negatively or do you think it wasn't such a bad thing?

Thanks

There’s nothing to feel guilty about. If anyone is making you feel guilty for letting your child watch a bit of tv then I’d distance myself from them.
Do what you have to do to get through the day.
I’m currently writing this, cuddling my grumpy toddler whilst he watches some nursery rhymes on tv. I pop miss Rachel on when I need to cook dinner as I know it’ll stop my son from climbing on the sofa and launching himself off head first 🤷🏻‍♀️
Nothing to feel guilty about at all

Miss Rachel is good in some respects - lots of parents report her helping their children with speech development.

Her shows are, however, visually overstimulating and designed to grab focus and not let it go.

So, fine in short and controlled amounts with a set limit. Which it sounds like you are doing - so I really wouldn’t worry too much.

@Row23 @BeSpoonyAquaHare thank you.

I think I feel guilty because people keep saying things about the fact that screen time can increase the risk of ADHD and autism in little children

However I do not know how else I can do anything else around the house (cooking, cleaning, taking a shower etc) if I don't put something on. My daughter isn't great at entertaining herself hence why I even put the TV on in the first place. Before having her I was against ever allowing her to watch TV before the age of two. Now I feel so guilty 🙈

If you feel guilty and want to stop putting her in front of the tv it’s worth considering that the more she’s used to entertaining herself the better she’ll be at it as she grows. What else have you tried?

How long is she watching for? If it's 5 - 10 minute bursts, I wouldn't be concerned. If it's longer periods, or whole episodes, I'd try and cut down - but that's my comfort level, not yours.

My son is the same, I could never really leave him anywhere and he would not tolerate a cot or a playpen. I found ways to get him involved quite early on, and now he's nearly 3 and can do most things. He loves to help me tidy, clean and cook. He's brilliant at mixing and finding recipes and cutting things up. It does make things a lot slower, but I found that worked better for me than trying to find something bright and visually stimulating to hold his attention while I tried to get something done.

For showers, he either sat in the bathroom in a bouncer with a toy, or more often, came in and showered with me.

I would avoid it at 8 months just because she'll be bored of it quicker. Just put a YouTube of a fish tank or something on. Something less stimulating.

I've found kids used to lots of TV young need more and more exciting stuff to be entertained whereas my 4yo is happy to chill with a black and white film or a "baby" show. He loves the magic roundabout but his mate asked when stuff would start exploding

Lots of parents rely on screentime and their children turn out fine - really don’t waste time on guilt!

An 8 month old won’t have much of an attention span or be able to entertain herself a huge amount but if this is something you’re worrying over you can start working on building these things up.

My son had some screentime but also relied on cheap and cheerful activities to keep him occupied nearby me when I was cooking etc. He used to love silly things like peeling off washi tape stuck to the kitchen cupboard doors, or sorting through a ‘sensory basket’ (literally just a washing up bowl with a mixture of wooden spoons, corks, an old silk scarf, pine cones, stuff like that from around the house). Give them time and they will learn to entertain themselves with minimal adult input for short periods of time.

But give yourself grace - it’s hard without a village. If some screentime gives you the opportunity to keep body, mind and soul together it’s absolutely fine, and it’s not irreparably harming your baby.

I know exactly how you feel. I felt so guilty over screen time, and still do although I do try and limit it if I can. My little boy loved miss Rachel, it was the only thing he'd pay attention to tv wise so she was a godsend on difficult days. Hes not as fussed now (18 month old) and prefers playing with his toys and exploring around the house. He still enjoys some tv like mr tumble but is a lot more active now.
I know how hard it is so try not to feel too guilty, you sound like a great mum!

It’s absolutely fine but at that age, honestly a little boredom is good for them as long as she has toys and things to play with. It can be anything - even a bag of wipes! It’s much much harder when they’re older so I’d want to wait to use the tv for as long as possible if I could. it’s good for them to get bored. It’s probably becusss she wants to be attached to you 24/7 which is also normal so I’d wear a sling/hold her as much as you can whilst making dinner or whatever it is you’re doing and let her be involved.

Can she not do it with you and make it a game? Definitely need to lower your expectations about what to get done with a baby and it’s better for them to be involved even if it’s slower.

Thank you for the responses everyone.

Sometimes it's 10 minutes of screen time so I can have a shower. Other times it's longer (for instance when I'm cooking)

I try to take the bouncer outside for instance when I hang the washing out to dry but I don't like taking her with me in the kitchen when I cook as I'm Asian and we use a lot of onions and spices to cook.

Hope that she'll be okay in short bursts - surely?

Can you put her on a mat so she can just play with toys next to you? But yh I’m sure she’ll be fine.

Watching Miss Rachel does not cause autism 🙈