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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In-laws letting Baby watch tv

130 replies

Gwjb2024 · 07/03/2025 16:55

I have a 14wk old. I try not to have the TV on around him as I’m worried how it will impact his brain development while he’s so little. That’s not to say he’ll never be aloud to watch TV. I’m very much looking forward to snuggly movie nights when he’s older but for now I don’t like him looking at it. We’re currently at the in-laws - who are well aware of my stance- and they keep putting him in front of the tv. We were playing in the lounge and he was sat watching so I turned the tv off - no one was watching it. MIL stated ‘ you just need to accept that the tv will be on when he comes to grandma and grandads’
i wasn’t sure what to say so I laughed awkwardly. Am I being ridiculous? How would you approach this or do I just accept that he might be stuck infront of it more than I would like while we’re here?

OP posts:
SparkyBlue · 07/03/2025 17:28

You are being ridiculous OP. Like others on here binge watching box sets saved my sanity while going through the newborn stage and DC2 and 3 would have seen their siblings watching telly or YouTube kids or whatever. DDs now love drama class and creative writing so absolutely no issue with language development. You need to relax and be kind to yourself and enjoy this time with your baby and not be worrying about unnecessary things

Reugny · 07/03/2025 17:29

I grew up having the radio on in the background. I did that for my DD as a baby and now she likes listening to radio.

On TV either through freeview, sky, virgin or apps you have radio channels that have a fixed screen. Just change the TV channel to a radio station.

Ohdeardearme · 07/03/2025 17:31

When my son was a baby we never switched the tv on until he was in his room at bedtime. He never watched tv until he was 5 and started school and then he was allowed to watch children's tv and also sometimes watch sport with his Dad.
We have only ever had one small tv at home because we didn't want tv to dominate our lives.

So I sympathise with you OP.

But if your in-laws want to watch tv in their own home and your baby is in the room then really they are entitled to do so..
But if they are deliberately putting your baby infront of the tv to keep him amused I would be very annoyed with them. If they are doing that it sounds like they are deliberately undermining your parenting of your own child because they don't approve if it.
So if they are deliberately putting the baby in front of the tv I would not be going to their home more than I could help.

ginasevern · 07/03/2025 17:34

There are a lot more harmful things in this world to worry about than TV. I'm not sure TV is harmful anyway. I assume he isn't going to be living with the in laws, in which case you are being daft.

KindLemur · 07/03/2025 17:37

Very very kindly I don’t think them having the tv on is going to do anything to your babies brain. It’s when he’s 5 and he’s going round to eat haribo and crisps in front of bluey for 4 hours plus being waited on hand and foot you will find the problems 😂

Ohdeardearme · 07/03/2025 17:38

ginasevern · 07/03/2025 17:34

There are a lot more harmful things in this world to worry about than TV. I'm not sure TV is harmful anyway. I assume he isn't going to be living with the in laws, in which case you are being daft.

Who are you to tell OP.she is" being daft"? She has a different view on parenting from you but that doesn't make her daft..
Especially when expert opinion is on OP's side as regards the detrimental effects of tv for young children.

KindLemur · 07/03/2025 17:39

hydriotaphia · 07/03/2025 17:17

I am exactly like you OP regarding tv around babies/toddlers. There is research that supports the idea that ambient tv/radio noise stops babies being able to focus on talking in the room and hence impedes their language development, so I do not think you are being in the least bit ridiculous in taking this appraoch. I think it is fine to ask to have it off, perhaps your DH can explain it is important to you. If they are resistant for the sake of a quiet life I'd let it go. A bit of tv noise will not do too much harm, it's more valuable for you/the baby to have a good relationship with them.

Jesus my toddler has amazing speech and can write her name down all her alphabet etc I spent a lot of mat leave breastfeeding her with keeping up with the kardashians on in the background I can guarantee it’s not damaged her language development 😂😂

LegoHouse274 · 07/03/2025 17:40

KindLemur · 07/03/2025 17:37

Very very kindly I don’t think them having the tv on is going to do anything to your babies brain. It’s when he’s 5 and he’s going round to eat haribo and crisps in front of bluey for 4 hours plus being waited on hand and foot you will find the problems 😂

Haha. My eldest is 6 and this is spot on!!

(I jest though. My kids are very lucky to have one set of GPs who love them to bits and want to spoil them. )

WeeOrcadian · 07/03/2025 17:40

"am I being ridiculous?"

Kindly, yes, you are

Your baby is looking at the colours and shapes at this age

Calm down

Thunderlegs · 07/03/2025 17:40

You're not unreasonable - the evidence is clear about screen time for children as are the guidelines for children under two. If it's only a few visits here and there I'd try not to stress, but if you are round there weekly that would be harder to let go.

SerenityNowSerenityNow · 07/03/2025 17:45

You're being ridiculous.
I spent my maternity leave watch the hotel inspector with DS 😂😂

MammTorr · 07/03/2025 17:51

Yes you're being ridiculous

Wellshellsbells · 07/03/2025 17:51

SpikeGilesSandwich · 07/03/2025 17:20

YANBU in my opinion. That would piss me off too. We didn't do tv before 3 and DH was always switching the tv off at his mother's. She never had DC by herself but god knows what she would have done, when DH was that age, she was giving him milky bars everyday. Confused

Oh no!!! Milkybars!!! The horror!how is your life now with this ill reared degenerate???

MsCactus · 07/03/2025 17:52

This is so ridiculous. He's way to young to even see the TV or comprehend it.

Incidentally, my DD watched TV as a baby and learnt to count to 10 at a year old from cbeebies (ahead of all her peers of a similar age). She is naturally quite clever, but tbh I credit kids TV as I never counted with her at that age, assuming she was too young, and she picked it up from numberblocks.

One of my siblings also spent their whole childhood in front of the TV and is exceptionally bright. Top marks throughout school and won an award for graduating with the highest mark in their subject at Oxford uni for the past 10 years.

Kindly, OP, you're being ridiculous. It won't affect their brain development whatsoever

ItTook9Years · 07/03/2025 17:58

Mine watched The Wizard of Oz while I slept at about 4 weeks because DH worked away and she had me awake most of the night. Health visitor did suggest it may have been “a bit stimulating” but needs must.

She went on to play Dorothy in the school production at age 8 so no harm done.

sanityisamyth · 07/03/2025 17:59

He can't even see the tv at that age! It'll just be blurry moving shapes.

ItTook9Years · 07/03/2025 17:59

Wellshellsbells · 07/03/2025 17:51

Oh no!!! Milkybars!!! The horror!how is your life now with this ill reared degenerate???

Show quote history

In fairness, I’d not be happy about people giving DD anything made by Nestle.

DitzyDerbyBabe86 · 07/03/2025 18:01

Yes you are being absolutely ridiculous.

MadamePeriwinkle · 07/03/2025 18:02

My DD was on a steady diet of CBeebies well before 14 weeks - she had raging colic and The Shiny Show was the only thing that could distract her.

20 years later she's halfway through her degree at a Russell Group uni and on the path to becoming a human rights barrister.

I don't think a little TV will do him any harm tbh!

SAH07 · 07/03/2025 18:05

I will hold my hands up and say my two watched tv from babies, used to have baby tv on from a few weeks, then onto cbeebies pretty much on all day. They would watch it, wander round, play, watch before bed as their routine. It hasn't rotted their brains.

Both doing well academically and as teenagers don't watch tv at all now. Maybe a bit of Netflix for a film or series.

TheUndoing · 07/03/2025 18:05

The WHO recommendations for no screen time for under 2s is pretty clear. I don’t think YABU at all. Each to their own but I do think people tend to get pretty defensive about screen time for kids.

KindLemur · 07/03/2025 18:06

ItTook9Years · 07/03/2025 17:59

In fairness, I’d not be happy about people giving DD anything made by Nestle.

Show quote history

Are you not at the 3 class parties a week phase. How do you police the party buffet 😕

MammaTo · 07/03/2025 18:06

But how often are you actually at their house? I think pick your battles and this isn’t one of them.

KindLemur · 07/03/2025 18:07

TheUndoing · 07/03/2025 18:05

The WHO recommendations for no screen time for under 2s is pretty clear. I don’t think YABU at all. Each to their own but I do think people tend to get pretty defensive about screen time for kids.

yes but there’s a difference between antiques road trip being on in the background and a 3 week old being placed in front of peppa pig for 7 hours a day

SatinHeart · 07/03/2025 18:08

MammaTo · 07/03/2025 18:06

But how often are you actually at their house? I think pick your battles and this isn’t one of them.

Totally agree with this. Unless you are there 5 days a week it's not really an issue.

Just face baby on you/in bouncer/on playmat with their back to it.