Is it ok for 9 wk old to watch tv?

[chickpeamum]

I know this is a naff questions, but she seems to enjoy the motion. I just don't know if this is too much stimulation, bad for her etc.

Actually I let DS2 watch Baby Einstein-type things in the evening when I was putting DS1 to bed. It was only for a short time, until he was ready to go to bed in the evenings, and of course only when DH wasn't home to hold him. I would put him in his bouncy chair with a dummy (so shoot me!) which sometimes kept him happy for about 5 - 10 minutes. This meant that DS1 could have a story and a cuddle by himself, without a crying baby in the same room. As soon as DS1 was in bed, I settled in for the three or four hours of evening feeding that characterised DS2's early life.

Who knows how DS2 would have turned out without the TV, but at 5 he is articulate, bright and an avid reader, with a wonderful imagination and an easy-going cheerful temperament (described by others as 'a ray of sunshine'.) So I know it doesn't prove anything to say my boy is OK, but I can't get stressed out about it.

Wow, thanks everyone for the responses.. I had no idea this was such a debated topic. I should clarify, I wasn't really intending her to watch it but as I was pacing the room with her I noticed that her eyes would stay glued to the tv and her head would turn to watch it whatever direction we walked. I just wasn't sure if she was getting hypotised or something .

I agree that under 2 thing is rubbish. As is the AAP recommendation about max. 2 hours a day of screen time for children age 2-11. Not realistic unless you have a nanny, only one child who likes the outdoors, and really good weather.

Wrote a long ranting message about it, but best to not bother.

I was going to say to thread title, can a 9 wk old actually SEE the TV? I thought they couldn't focus more than about 4 feet away, anyway.

Flack, why do you say it is rubbish? Because you feel it isn't practical or because you think they are trying to mislead you somehow with the research that has been done?

Are you saying you think it's ok for a 2 year old to watch more than 2 hours of TV each day?

Chickpea yes it is fairly hotly debated - or is when I can be bothered to get involved in another row about it

Message withdrawn

Pruni, chickpea said that she was walking around the room and noticed her baby was riveted by it. Not that she was using telly as a babysitter.

AAP guidelines are impractical on screen time, Franny. Yet another stick for parents to beat themselves up with. Found that site you linked to (Sovereignty) looks a bit dodgy to me.

I'd also like to know how many studies have found a positive link between ADD to any tv viewing whatsoever. I'm fielding questions from DD right now so no time to keep looking but I only noticed one mentioned on this thread, so far. One study is not proof, it's a question mark.

Ds2 loved his Baby Einstein video - probably a bit older than 2 months when he watched it though. I can't get het up about a baby 'watching' TV either - it's just movement and sound, isn't it? We're not talking about parking your baby in front of the TV for hours at a time, are we?

Ds2 used to like watching the washing machine best - especially if it had something brightly coloured in it. He would happily sit in his baby bouncer and watch the washing go round and round.

I'm not saying I don't have TV guilt (although we have done without a TV in the house for years at a time, including now) but I do get the feeling that TV fear is a little irrational - a bit like people who were afraid of cooking in microwaves when they arrived in kitchens - 'cept TVs have been around for yonks.

Also a bit like dishwasher phobia - woe betide anyone who makes their life a bit easier - that wouldn't be playing the mummy martyr now would it?

I think its about the images on tv and videos and computer screens being made up of millions of little dots, the viewing of which necessitates the closing down of about half the brain to watch.

In the case of the developing brain of a child this results in neuronic pathways not being properly developed.

Please see here: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17079575&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

for the latest research (which includes the original research mentioned at the beginning of this posting). As you will see (if you have the strength!) it's content that most research has been done on and in older children (ie 3 years and above). The researchers admit that more could be done in this area - but stress that there is (so far) no actual evidence that tv watching is bad (there are, obviously, concerns that length of viewing and what is viewed can have some effect). But I'll leave you to make up your minds about it. Personally, I don't think that tv watching is a problem and am happy for my 4 month DS to watch it occasionally.

(NB that Pubmed link is here - it's in my favourites )

Message withdrawn

Franny - I am trying to be open minded. Perhaps early tv viewing is harmful to children (ADD link cited)??...but then again, I expect that there is a wealth of counter evidence and research that suggests it is not.

I only skim read your link but that was just one researcher's study wasn't it?

Quick google - here is a link that argues otherwise

not conclusive that tv is harmful

Remotely Controlled is a wonderful book that explores the physical and societal dangers of TV. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to know more.

Interesting link hmc, the last paragraph made me laugh

OK I appreciate that I am having a conversation with myself about this but it does seem that this was just one study, and that British experts are expressing some scepticism and calling for more research:

sorry guys just interested in getting to the bottom of this i.e. is it harmful or isn't it

Perhaps I will read Remotely controlled....thanks for the link

previous posts x with franny and georgina

Found the buyers' comments interesting in that link Franny.

Particularly "For example, in a drama I was watching yesterday, a person was standing at a cliff edge about to jump off and I noticed my own palms becoming sweaty."

Erm yes, that's called being involved in a story - bloody good writing on the part of the screenwriter. I get similar reactions when reading a good book and the main character is in peril too...

My ds was 'watching' Sex and the City when he was 9 weeks old. Oops! (His first word was Prada - not). Clearly I didn't leave him propped up on the sofa to view this, he was in reflux hell and we couldn't put him down, so he slept on me, whilst I was on the sofa, watching my telly.

Flack I have twins, 2.11, no nanny, SAHM at the mo and they NEVER watch 2 hrs a day (unless they're ill and just want to lie on the sofa and have cuddles all day whilst watching dvds) - they have even been known to turn it off of theiur own accord and tell me that a particular grop is rubbish

I don't have a problem with them watching certain progs or more usually dvds, and they never watch commercial channels, but I don't think any child of under 11 should be able to watch more than 2 hrs, there's so much else to do!

oops! prog not grop

Being the obsessive type, I had a google....

This text seemed a rather sensible analysis of the research, and contains pointers to the original work too.

good article hub2dee