Feel like a bad mummy. Toddler watching too much tv!

[Madallie]

Just that really. I'm 39+2 weeks pg and for the past couple of weeks I have been relying a lot on the tv (peppa pig, Ben and holly) to keep my very spirited and high energy 2.2year old occupied.

I've always limited tv for her and still do but amount of time she is watching it is increasing more and more. I'm just so exhausted and my energy levels have dropped loads particularly as I am not sleeping well at all. She's not one to sit and play, even when I try to play with her which I always try to do. She just wants to run around the house from one thing to another and for the past few weeks I just haven't been able to keep this up.

I do get out with her everyday, park if weather is ok, friends houses, relatives, shopping etc but it's the bits I between when were at home.

The thing is I feel really guilty and probably irrationally feel it's going to affect her badly. Also, she's now asking for tv more and more. I'm worried this will continue and now she'll always expect this much tv (which obviously I won't allow).

Have other people turned to tv in similar situations? Guess I just want to see so I don't feel so bad.

My son doesn't have the TV restricted. Doesn't do him any harm. I like the background noise tbh

My toddler is 2 and a half and I have a 5 week old newborn, and he's currently watching loads of tv! Don't worry about it - it won't be forever. The weather is horrible at the moment anyway, and by the spring we'll be much more able to get out and about. They won't remember this short period in their lives anyway.

Ah thanks, I do feel better that others are saying the same thing. At the same time as being very grateful for the tv, the other part of me keeps feeling so guilty but like you say i know it won't last forever. She's healthy, active and happy so I suppose it's not harming her.

I am exactly the same. Have DS1 aged 5.1, DS2 aged 2.9 & am 36+3 pg, will have ELCS at 39.0.

DS1 goes to school every day, so obviously I take DS2 on school runs too & we go to a group of sorts every day he's home plus nursery 2 full days a week, but, like you, it's the time when we're at home that I struggle - with both of them, but with DS2 in particular. I feel even worse in his case as he has a speech delay & I'm sure that too much screen time doesn't help that. I try to limit it to max 1-2 hours per day, but sometimes it is just too much to get up off the sofa!

I find it eases my conscience a little to try & set the oven timer for 15 mins twice a day where I have no TV & play with DS2 - puzzle, cotton reels, even just singing together. Also, he likes to be allowed to 'help' with loading the washing machine & dishwasher, feeding the cat etc

My 2.5 yr ds watches a fair bit. I'm pretty relaxed about it as I think it can have a positive impact on language skills. I did a year at uni in Germany and watching tv had a great impact on my language. We often talk with him about what's going on, on screen so it's not a solo pursuit either.

You are full term pg with a v young toddler. Do whatever it takes to get you through the day!

Use it. It won't be forever. Spring will be here soon. Mine is 3 and barely notices it on now. Plays on regardless.

My three yr old watches loads. Hates silence so has it on as back ground noise.

Soon be warm and dry enough to play outside do counter act it in the spring.

Not worried.

DS (3) watched TV while I cook, or if I'm cleaning. I don't have the excuse of a second child/being pg! The amount has increased with the awful weather; in summer he barely watched any at all.

So don't worry - but you can sit with him and talk about what's going on. That's what we do. And then sometimes we draw things we've seen on TV, or make the crafts that we've seen, so it's not all screen-based.

And if it helps, DS has watched TV all his life and is very socialised (nursery) and speaks well.

Would echo paintyfingers - sticker books, jigsaws. Bubbles? Amazing - you just sit there blowing bubbles and they go crazy!

I have been feeling exactly the same I was pg with Severe HG so for the whole pregnancy we just cuddled in my bed and watched tv and i swore when the baby was born the tv was not going on !! now with a demanding 4month old that is teething the tv is still on and i have been worrying that i will always have an excuse !!

a appreciate some of the others suggestion are great but when i was preg as couldn't even muster the energy to read him a story or move at all !!

getting him a Dr kit was great because he would check me and the baby were ok so i would lie there while he did that .

i would let him put make up on me or face paints or style my hair

Also he would love to come and read stories to the bump use a familiar book that he can remember the story too !

A bit pricey but ds got a leap pad for xmas so he will sit with us while feeding and i wil talk him through what do do hands free ..

oh and music in demand is great loves to dance to gangnam style or anything a bit funny and has a microphone so i will ask him to put on singing performances and sing the songs from school with actions al while i wallowed in self pity on the sofa or in bed !!

DS 23mo has been watching LOADS of TV lately - ITNG, Peppa Pig and Tractor Ted. I feel guilty as I'm not even pg. I work full time and he is in a very high quality nursery 4 days a week, so I'm trying not to beat myself up over it - especially as it does seem to be helping with language acquisition, some how he's learnt A LOT of farming terminology!