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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Baby TV??

41 replies

DangerMousey · 16/04/2013 13:38

My DS is 19wo (4 months) and is bloody hard work!

He currently seems to hate his bouncy chair, his playmat and his bumbo, and even gets frustrated/grizzly if I hold him on my lap and try to play with a toy with him. He is just a bit of a grumpy baby i think, but it is hard to hear him grizzling all day, and feel like I am failing to find ways to cheer him up all the time :(

He likes being cuddled and carried around the house but he is 18lb, and I have a bad back, and I cannot carry him round all day, I need to some time to have a poo myself now and again.

He is currently taking four 45-minute catnaps per day, which means he is awake for around 2 hours in between each nap. During each awake period i try to always play with him, sing songs and cuddle, put him in his bouncy chair in the bathroom whilst I have a shower, sit him on the bed whilst i put the washing away, talk to him about what I am doing around the house etc etc.

Over the last couple of days though, I have found that the one thing which is guaranteed to stop him crying is to put Baby TV on (it's a Sky channel with lots of songs, bright colours, no adverts, aimed at babies)....he will actually happily lie on his mat for 10-15 mins with this on.

But my question is.....does this make me a terrible mother?? I feel bad just plonking him in front of the telly but sometimes I am at my wits end with his crying.

Am I going to be stunting his development , or is it ok for him to watch a few mins of telly during each of his wakeful periods??

Sorry if this is a daft question but he is my first baby (obviously!) and I have no idea what i am doing!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Portofino · 16/04/2013 13:40

No. Go for it.

Teladi · 16/04/2013 13:41

No, it's fine. You're interacting with him and doing all the things you should be doing. It is OK to go and have a poo.

Boggler · 16/04/2013 13:46

What channel is it? Can you get it on virgin?

jumperooo · 16/04/2013 13:47

No go for it, my baby loves this channel aswell. It's age appropriate and very basic IMO. She loves Big Bugs Band and something called Billy Bam Bam.

Unfortunately for us parents the programmes are repeated all the time, you will get to see
the same episodes and hear the annoying theme songs very quickly!

adagio · 16/04/2013 13:47

Dangermousey - snap, but without the bad back! In fairness my DD is generally happyish, but I guess this is a hard stage for them as they can't sit up or do much but have started to get bored easily, and the wakeful periods are longer.

If you feel bad enough then I have found mine (same age) also appears to enjoy you tube hits such as oats, peas, barley grow etc (bright coloured nursery rhymes, complete with karaoke for when you can't remember the words and feel obliged to join in)

This is my first too, so i will report back in a few years if baby tv on 623 and muffin nursery rhymes have stunted her development!

Original poster

DangerMousey · 16/04/2013 15:46

Thanks ladies. Ok, I will feel a bit better now about using Baby TV as part of our day :)

He is actually playing on his mat in front of it right now, at the end of an exhausting 2hr period of wakefulness which has included watching me bake some cakes for DH's birthday today, having a roll around on my bed, having a bottle, and having a poo (him, not me!). He will be off to bed again in a bit for his 4pm nap, the most challenging one of the day, where he is knackered but find it hard to fall asleep.....joy!

Bogglerit's channel 623 on Sky, not sure on Virgin....can you have a look in your menu or whatever, it's just called Baby TV. It has a few American programmes on which aren't to good, but most of it is english and there are lots of annoying catchy songs that DCs seem to love, as jumperoo says. They will get stuck in your head though!

OP posts:

salcz · 16/04/2013 15:50

It's a premium channel on Virgin (703 I think).

robyn2 · 16/04/2013 18:21

Lots of baby tv stuff on youtube we connect the computer to the tv so that we can watch it. Go with what baby enjoys.

PickledInAPearTree · 16/04/2013 18:25

My 2 yo still begs for hippa hippa hey.

I warn you after two years you will be gagging to stomp on those bugs.

And don't get me started on mr snail.

wonderingagain · 16/04/2013 18:28

Have you tried music on its own? Classical or Fun Kids?

AugustaProdworthy · 16/04/2013 18:32

Just do it! It's a good station with no adverts and both of our DCs love it. I have no problem with TV as long as you're around.

nilbyname · 16/04/2013 18:38

Your baby is 19m? Try consolidating the 4 naps into 2 biggish ones? Is he walking yet?

andrews81 · 16/04/2013 19:38

Was just about to say about the naps; try one morning and one afternoon (after lunch/feed). He might be just overtired and not getting enough sleep in the day? Babies tend to wake after 45 mins but will need up to 1.5-2 hours per nap good luck xx

IslaValargeone · 16/04/2013 19:42

I'm not going for the popular vote with this one but, do you really need to put a 19 week old baby in front of the tv?

I know there is a great deal of controversy around tv for children, but I don't think there is any disagreement on it not being appropriate for babies.

nilbyname · 16/04/2013 20:21

isla I have to say I agree with you there, and also op the baby mat, bumbo, bouncy chair all sound a bit babyish...your baby is a toddler now...perhaps try some more age appropriate activities like...

stacking blocks
finger painting
water play, get a bit trugg, or just be on a chair at the sink and fill empty cups etc
putting things in out of bags
helping withe simple chores, like putting things in/out of the washing machine
gloop
sand in a tray with toy cars and trucks moving around

silverangel · 16/04/2013 20:34

OPs baby is 19 weeks not months!

DTs loved baby tv, still love Big Bugs band, its done them no harm at all.

nilbyname · 16/04/2013 20:56

(Blush) sorry op, what an idiot I am!!

HKat · 16/04/2013 21:00

Big Bugs Band! Anyone else now hearing the theme tune??

bonzo77 · 16/04/2013 21:14

DS1 was addicted from about this age. Still is at 3 ! Luckily DS2 now 19 weeks also loves it. 3 years I've been putting up with this. It makes cbeebies look like the open university! But it is advert free, unlike the other channels. Wait till he discovers peppa pig which is on commercial TV. DS1 is currently pestering me for some doll that pisses and slippers with ears that move

Original poster

DangerMousey · 16/04/2013 21:39

Thanks for your helpful posts everyone - no worries nilbyname, easy to misread weeks for months on these freds!

Isla perhaps you didnt read my original post carefully? I am obviously not feeling chuffed about dumping DS infront of the telly, but he is going through a difficult grumpy phase and very little seems to entertain/soothe him at the moment. Even cuddles! And gawd knows I send enough time every day singing nursery rhymes, cuddling, playing, tickling etc etc....this TV channel seems to interest/entertain him in a way that very little else does at the moent - hence why I am resorting to sticking him in front of it for 10-15 mins, a couple of times a day.

I am worried about the impact of doing so, and started this thread looking for reassurance that I am not going to be doing any harm by using the telly occasionally in this way.

If you have some other ideas about how I can entertain a grumpy grizzly 4 month old for 2 hours at a time without a break, please, I would love to hear them but i warn you, if you suggest that i might like to 'buy a sling' i might have to stove your head in

OP posts:

RainDancer · 16/04/2013 21:52

To be fair OP you did ask for others opinions on this and Isla was just expressing hers. I'm afraid I'm with her on this one. I too have a VERY demanding 4 month old and feel your pain! But somehow it just doesn't sit well with me to have her watching TV or having any screen time at such a young age, even when I'm at the end of my tether. But if it feels right for you, go for it - I'm rapidly discovering there are no rights and wrongs when it comes to parenting - just what's right for you and your baby.

milkysmum · 16/04/2013 22:02

OP you do what you have to do honestly. I have an 18 month old and he adores this channel and can diffuse his grumpiness in seconds!!!

wonderingagain · 16/04/2013 22:32

how I can entertain a grumpy grizzly 4 month old for 2 hours at a time

OP I don't want to worry but if he's grumpy and grizzly all the time and he is napping every two hours there may be an underlying problem. I should speak to the HV about this. TV will distract him from the problem if there is one, and mesmerise him. It's probably a bit like watching a mobile and I doubt it can do any harm for 15 minutes.

Suzieismyname · 16/04/2013 22:44

DD1 used to watch about 30 mins of Baby TV every night. Can't remember when she started, probably about 6 months. We liked it becausr it was short and safe!
She was the first of her friends to talk properly. I preferred it to ITNG and silly Waybuloo - can't stand that babytalk!

Suzieismyname · 16/04/2013 22:45

Is Grandpa's Gallery still going?

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