to think friend is making life unnecessarily hard on herself by never letting her dd, 2.5, watch TV, when she has a newborn as well?

[emkana]

Friend rang today, stressed, trying to get her 2.5 year old to have a midday rest looking at books by herself. I gently suggested TV but she didn't see that as an option, which made me feel a bit silly. I'm all for limiting TV but when I was in her situation the TV was a lifesaver! And it hasn't made my children into couch potatoes at all, now they are 7 and 5 (the older ones) they hardly watch TV at all, because they are able to do all sorts of other stuff.

I bet it won't last

Yanbu. Don't really understand the "no television" rule myself.

Will watch thread with interest!

IMHO it's entirely up to her if (and when) her DC watch TV. Nothing to do with you at all.

If you want to be helpful instead of judgey, how about suggesting story tapes?

Yanbu. I let ds indulge in cbeebies after I had dd. It was the only thing that kept him amused and didn't make a mess. Now dd is 8 months we only tend to watch it at bedtime.

she'll crack.
not your problem
she's been a sanctimonious fool.
maybe get her some brainy baby or baby einstein DVDS?? i mean that's not TV but a LEARNING EXPERIENCE isn't it?

Well, I'm going to say yabu as it is her choice but I give it a week, max I praised the lord for cbeebies when ds was born and attatched like a limpet. Maybe suggest that she gets herself a good wrap sling to make things a bit easier?

I think it's her choice and if it's important to her to limit TV in this way then that's fine. Personally, I think she's nuts, but it's her call.

when ds2 was a newborn, ds1 had never watched tv, (aged 19 months) i remember trying to teach him to watch it so I could put DS2 to bed!

I think good on her for trying not to use the tv then (save it up for when trying to cook dinner!)

also to be fair on her I find tv can over stimulate them at that age (if it is lieu of a nap)

I'm not a fan of TV for little ones, but a few well chosen DVDs are a godsend IMO.

I have a 3yo and a 15wo, we don't have a television. It isn't a problem.

Most of the time

YABU, but it depends on how she took your advice. Perhaps you felt that she was in some way judging that you do. It is her choice, but hopefully she didn't make you feel bad for suggesting it iyswim. If she did then yanbu

YABU
Maybe try some suggestions not involving TV? I have DS1 3.5, DS2 23months, DD 3 mnths and no TV. so, we read they play and if I'm really tired as usual I go to bed with baby for a couple of hours and lie down while they boys play/lie in bed with me and rest.
If notmassively tires and wanting them to sleep/rest quietly I pop DD in sling then boys in pram and go for a walk.

i second story tapes
agree not your concern if this is important to her

Why don't you show her decsion some respect?
It's her life, her child.... and ok, she's stressed, but fair enough, we all were at that stage.

You don't need to fix it- just sympathise like a good friend and then forget about it....

sprry- i sound grumpy.
Just had the usual tug of war bed time

But i don't really see the need for tv and we don't all have to live by one another's rules/decisions.

Good on her- I hope it all gets easier.

Have been reading this with interest.
Am 34 weeks pg and DD is 22mo.

She had has no childrens TV until about 2 weeks ago.

But I am knackered. And when she saw In the Night garden it was a migical wondeful moment for both of us. Now she runs around shouting "tombiloos" and I know how to shut her up have a rest when i need one.

thing that bothers me a bit is once you've started it must be so tempting just to stick it on when they're getting on your tits overexcited or stroppy...

Ds didn't watch tv until last November when he and I had fluey illness. He was 2.4.
It saved my sanity.
I have to say watching a bit of telly has done him no harm. He'd rather be outside or playing with pals, but on a miserable day when you can't get out and you need 10 minutes break from Duplo, it is a fabulous invention.

I do respect her decision, in fact I admire her for her principles, and I showed her nothing but support and friendship on the phone.

IME story tapes not as calming as TV for young children.

emkana, you had no reason to feel silly as you clearly belong to the 99.99% of us who think she's a bit nuts!

Having said that, I know I do things which my mum says is making life very hard for myself, like making all ds4's food fresh and putting him in cloth nappies and I know I am making things harder but it does make me feel better about myself that I make such a martyr of myself for these "causes"

Oh yes and I give her a week!

Must say this thread has made me feel a lot more comfortable about giving in to tombiloo demands when i have had enough

My eldest didn't watch any tv until a bit over 2 1/2 and that was probably due to me having had a new baby.

ATM all of them watch too much tv but that will change when they go back to school.

I had the 'no tv rule' , i was very passionate about it. Then i had children and i ve changed my mind . You havn't been silly at all but if this is what she wants to do...

My ds still did not watch tv when dd was born (he was 2.10). It was fine, because he knew how to amuse himself. I don't think she is making life unnecessarily hard not using the tv is she never has, it is when you are used to having the tv on and then limit it that it is hard because it becomes something that is relied on.