How much tv is too much for a 15 month old

[Cupcakemummy85]

My dd is nearly 15 months and has been ill this week so I've let her watch her absolute favourite peppa pig. It's been on pretty much non stop. I do try and play with her but obviously being ill she isn't really in the mood to play. She does do her own thing for a bit and then watches it. I used to watch tv as a child and it didn't do anything to me but I worry as my mother in law beloved children should be outside playing and won't let my dd watch any tv what so ever in her house. How much does everyone else's children watch. My dd is a bit of a nightmare ill, won't eat much, complains all the time, standard for a child so tv does keep her happy.

Yes and so is watching cartoons. I don't think anyone understands what I'm saying. My daughter reads, listens to music, dances, plays, watches tv etc all kinds of things! Who cares if tv is a small chunk of her day. Perhaps less time spent on here and more time with the kids?! Lol I was looking for friendly information/advice not judging!

I have a 15 month old and am 22 weeks pregnant.

Cbeebies is on at a low volume in the background all day.

I let my ds watch TV at that age. I can't remember how much. Now he is two and I don't really limit it actually - he can watch what he wants. I'd say usually it's about an hour a day, some days 2 (some days none).

I haven't come across any official government/NHS guidelines about TV watching, I wonder if anyone has a link to any?

Anyway, ds is awake for about 12 hours a day, so I'm not concerned about an hour or two of TV. He gets plenty of exercise, interaction and playing too.

"Friendly information/advice"? You mean "people who agree with you"?

What the blimmin' heck do you think I'm doing, if not giving you advice?

I am NOT judging!

I'm doing this, I'm not sure if it's ok...
Here's some research.
I do what you do op happy baby bla bla
hmm, lots of people disagree with you op, here's some reasons why what you're doing might not be great.
I do what you do op anecdote showing this poster hasn't read the research and thinks that individual stories are proof that research, large scale observations and trials are irrelevant.
hmm you're in denial. It's really not good for your dc.
Op throws massive wobbly in an irrational stream of consciousness.

cupcake you do realise youasked? We didn't knock on your door and insist that you listen to our opinion.

You should let children be children, yes. And that does include cartoons, yes.

But you don't have a child, you have a baby, and you are leaving the tellybox on to hypnotise her into docility so you don't have to sit and comfort her while she's ill and whiny.

With the best will on the world, that's not normal, its not even acceptable.

Guffaw at Lambethlil

Well I'm going to go and play with my child now ;)

Perfectly normal and acceptable to let a child watch TV if they are ill and just want to snuggle on the sofa. I have a DVD day if I am ill too.

I'd say none at all.
It's only recommended over age of 2.
My 1st watched none until age 2 and now at 3 watches 10mins per day only.
9m old has never seen any.

It adds nothing before 2 and simply takes away- google it.
If they don't expect it they can't miss it.
Go to charity shops every week and get new toys or a toy library. She'll learn to do pretend play etc not glued to a box

Horses for courses surely. DD loves the tele, sings to various tunes and has far more language at 20 months than either of her very high IQ brothers, who didn't really watch TV. She also loves jigsaws, p.pig and fisher price little people, playing in the sand and getting muddy in the garden.

Most things in moderation, except love that comes in bucket loads for loads of the children mentioned in this thread regardless of our opinions on TV.

If any of my DC are ill they tend to flop on the sofa in front of CBeebies with paracetamol suspension toped up at required amounts and no doubt fed a bit of junk food if that helps them to feel happy and therefore recover quicker.

I'm interested that people keep mentioning "guidelines" and "recommendations" - HV never told me about these. Where are they coming from - NHS, Department of Health, Education?

Dd is 3. Started watching tv when she was 2. Nothing before then. She watches it only on saturdays and sundays - max of an hour each day. Some weekends we might be so busy that she might only watch on one day. Other than the Olympics she has never seen live TV as she basically watches dvds and the tv is switched off at all other times. If she is ill then yes I let her watch much more tv as it makes her happy and she is not well enough to do anything else. Ds is 1. Has never watched tv. I take him away to play when dd watches tv.

I don't judge as there are times when I am knackered that I would love to plonk them in front of the tv and have a nice lie down so I can understand why others do it, especially when you're knackered. Recognise that's why you do it and dont try and justify it!

Out of interest does this start from a certain age as well? Ds is 12 months, and most days I don't have the tv on (although whenever dh is at home he ALWAYS has the tv on ) but when he was younger and pretty much just sleeping/feeding etc I always had the tv on, in fact you see loads of people say use the time to catch up on boxsets/series etc.

Rubirosa the evidence is linked to upthread.
The reason you won't have heard about it from your HV/ NHS/ DofE is evidenced on this thread.
The risks aren't life threatening and the hostility aroused just isn't worth it. Contrary to what most people think 'the authorities' don't like bossing us about; when they release advice, it's expensive and only done if a) the risks are grave and b) there's a chance of compliance.

So all of you who didnt let them.watch tv under two years did you never have the tv on when your baby was in the room? I spent hours sat cuddling/rocking/bfeeding mine and yes thw tv was on at times!

My youngest is 21mths and likes ben and holly! She will copy the yoga.moves on waybaloo and the signs on something special. i often do them with her.

Bit if everything in moderation. We are on holiday rhis week and have been.out all day, everyday so no tv. Tomorrow we have a 6-7hr car journey and i may well stick a dvd on for her to watch...shrug...

Bit of everything in moderation

Of course. But for an under-2-year-old, almost ANY television is not moderation - it's excess.

There's loads of links upthread, issimma - see my post of 14:47.

Strange that the government hasn't issued any recommendations or guidelines given how harmful TV is.

5madthings- we didn't have a television, so no, I never had it on whilst bfing.

Cupcake- I believe evidence suggests that children growing up in clean, germ-free environments have less hardy constitutions than those growing up with a little dirt, whose immune systems have improved through low-level exposure to pathogens over a long time.

I didn't spend all that time playing with them btw- they played by themselves a lot too, exploring stuff safely etc.

MisforMum- girls' language development is usually better than boys' at an early age on average.

Rubirosa I set out some of the reasons governments would be loath to issue guidance on this. In a nutshell, it's expensive and would detract from other messages. Can you imagine the 'nanny state' how dare they...brigade.
There would be little compliance and as its not a lIfe threatening issue, meh, why should they.
TBH it's not a conversation I'd rush into IRL. nothing gets a parent's back up more than suggesting that they're not doing the best by their child. The child's health is not at risk, you'll hate me and judge me a snob for mentioning it. Nah, I'll nod politely as you tell me your toddlers learnt Spanish.

None of those links look very conclusive. TV may stunt language development if it replaces interaction with adults - or maybe parents who are less likely to interact with their children put the TV on more. TV in bedrooms/as children fall asleep may cause sleep problems.

I'm not seeing any clear cause-and-effect here? In families where there is a lot of TV, there is less reading to children. That doesn't mean TV is causing less reading, just that the two things are seen in the same families. Same with obesity.

So, there are no official guidelines because TV isn't a risk to health and there is little evidence that TV itself is harmful. TV for under 2s isn't going to help their development, but creative play, adult interaction will. Funnily enough it is possible to manage both.