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Babies and television / films

5 replies

NapaCab · 14/03/2012 19:10

What's the deal with babies accidentally watching TV or films that you have on while they're around? As far as I heard, babies aren't supposed to watch TV as it may damage their vision and it's just not developmentally good for them. Unfortunately my DS is absolutely riveted by any TV or moving picture imagery of any kind. I generally don't watch TV very much and don't just have the TV on in the background all day but obviously I do watch the news every night and watch films from iTunes on my laptop sometimes etc. Even if he's on his baby gym or playing with a toy, he stops dead in his tracks and just watches the TV / laptop if I have anything on! If I listen to the radio instead, he twists around to find out where the interesting noise is coming from.

Another mother I joked with about it ('my DS is determined to be a TV addict!') seemed really unimpressed that I was letting DS 'watch' TV but I can't help it - if I'm watching anything he wants to 'watch' it too. Do I have to just not watch any TV or films when he's around?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
oldmum42 · 14/03/2012 20:36

Tell the other mother to mind her own business! If you are doing plenty of other things with your baby, I can assure you NO HARM will come of him watching tv with you in the evening, using the computer or radio - it will not damage his vision or his development.

SparkyMcSparrow · 14/03/2012 20:38

A bit of TV is fine. Its not going to harm them.

Tell her to concentrate on her own kids and leave yours alone!

ragged · 15/03/2012 12:30

I think it's a load of hooey, the idea that snippets of screen time (or even much more) could cause irreparable harm. One of my family members wouldn't let her son watch any TV until he was 5yo (this was done to prevent ADHD, according to family grapevine). They went so far as to put the TV into a wooden cabinet with locked double doors, & basically nobody watched any TV all that 5 years.

IWillOnlyEatBeans · 15/03/2012 14:29

Leaving your baby to stare at the TV all day - bad.

Letting your baby watch a bit of TV every now and then because they like the sounds and colours - absolutely fine!

BabydollsMum · 15/03/2012 14:38

Totally agree, Beans. All in moderation. God, CBeebies has been a life saver at times if I just need DD to sit still for half an hour...

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