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Original poster

Babies and TV

134 replies

taliac · 05/08/2007 20:21

How much is okay? Any? Some as long as its age appropriate / educational? I've researched but can only find scare stories or PR for baby dvds online - does anyone know what the facts are (assuming there are some?)

Any opinions / info appreciated.

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ruddynorah · 05/08/2007 20:24

i think basically none is best. how old is your baby? it's more 'educational' for him to watch you doing the washing/going to the shops/chatting to friends than it is to watch a train going round changing colours while avoic over says, 'blue' 'red' etc etc. take him to see the ducks or something.

Original poster
taliac · 05/08/2007 20:29

She's 1 and has had virtually none so far.

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notnowbernard · 05/08/2007 20:35

Am sure some is fine... C-Beebies etc...I think babies have to get used to some viewing if they have older siblings (here's me hoping so, anyway)

nickytwotimes · 05/08/2007 20:39

I think that like everything else, a little is fine. My ds is 1 and was introduced to In The Night Garden by dh. He loves it and trust me, it is not a passive activity for him! Also, one of us watches it with him and we do singing and clapping all the way through.

DulwichDolly · 05/08/2007 20:40

my dd is 14 months as has been watching Cbebies for a while now.... she loves mostly the theme tunes of the cartoons and keeps her entertained for a bit while i carry on doing other things.... i vividly remenber thoroughly enjoying telly as a young girl... it hasn't doone me any bad... got a great education, degree, good job, married and have an active social live.... i thing that a bit a day, it doesn't do them any harm...

sorry I cannot be more specific.... just follow your instincts and your judgement!

DulwichDolly · 05/08/2007 20:40

yaaah, my dd loves the night garden.... she even tries to pronounce the name of the characters!!!

Pitchounette · 05/08/2007 20:41

Message withdrawn

Original poster
taliac · 05/08/2007 20:45

I'm a big fan of the all things in moderation principle, but I remember reading some stories last year that linked TV watching at a young age and ADHD etc - does anyone more qualified than I know if these had any Actual Science behind them?

OP posts:
Tapster · 05/08/2007 21:51

I've read that DVDs are much better than TV as babies like the repetition and will learn more as a consequence. However, it does drive you a bit bonkers watching the same DVD over and over again. I wouldn't let a baby watch more than 30mins a day max.

ThomasTankEngine · 05/08/2007 21:58

Some recent research from US said no TV till age 2 as it addles brain.
Bit late for my poor DS1 and DS2.

Emprexia · 05/08/2007 23:12

if 30mins of Fifi or Dora or Blues Clues means i can go potty without an audience or get a little bit of cleaning done, i'm all for it.

As long as they aren't plonked infront of the TV and left there all day, i dont see what the problem is.

CrookshanksinJimmyChoos · 05/08/2007 23:14

If I didn't plonk DS down in front of Cbeebies now and then, wouldn't get anything done in the house!!

doyouwantfrieswiththat · 05/08/2007 23:26

I like to encourage ds to watch premiership football as that's the career path I have mapped out for him....I do try not to let him watch Jeremy Vile.

I'm fairly sure he watches more tv than most people would think good for him because at 18 mths he knows how to use the remote control but hasn't yet mastered drinking from a beaker...I am a bad mother.

wulfricsmummy · 06/08/2007 12:09

This reply has been deleted

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TheGoddessBlossom · 06/08/2007 20:52

cor I wish my 1 year old WOULD watch TV like his bro instead of following me around WHINGING!!!!!

yama · 06/08/2007 21:09

No science from me just the observation of my own experience. My dd watched maybe 30 minutes per day between the age of 17-20 months. We decided to ban it after reading certain articles in the press and I have to say her behaviour changed noticably. She has less tantrums and they are less extreme. She also sleeps through the night again.

Although I don't get those 30 minutes 'peace', the rest of my day is easier.

tryingtoleave · 07/08/2007 04:06

How do you manage to shower if you don't put on the tv?

yama · 07/08/2007 08:15

She plays in the bathroom as I shower. Sometimes with toys but usually she likes to try to catch the water as I'm showering.

magnolia1 · 07/08/2007 08:26

Well 5 kids and If I am honest They can watch t.v whenever especially as the age range is 8 months to 12 years so they don't all sit and watch at the same time.

magnolia1 · 07/08/2007 08:28

ds1 is 8 months and loves watching motor racing with daddy on a sunday afternoon

ELF1981 · 07/08/2007 08:28

Kaishay - I am totally with you.
I record FiFi in the morning and DD (22 months) watches it when I am cooking dinner. I have tried cooking dinner with her in the kitchen but it doesn't work, she's always right next to me and its safer for her to be in the living room. If I shut her in with her toys, she creates. If I put FiFi on, she'll sit quietly with a bit of cheese and watch it. I get to cook us a nice dinner without burning her or myself and everybody is happy!
We have the TV on but she doesn't really take note unless it is FiFi or Bob, if we're sitting down in the room with her, she's happy to ignore the television and play.

Yama - How old is your DD now? I haven't noticed my daughter having any tantrums and she sleeps through most nights.

fillyjonk · 07/08/2007 08:30

mine don't really watch tv, they do learn to entertain themselves. they have the odd ivor/bagpus dvd but thats it.

tbh my big re tv is the idea that my kids don't need to entertain themselves. That skill is FAR too vital to my sanity for me to risk much tv.

I have noticed that kids who have grown up sans tv can usually entertain themselves very well.

pipsqueeke · 07/08/2007 08:34

DS is 17 momnths and has cartoons on for half an hour in the mornings and normally he'll watch an ep with DH or simpsons before bed. the telly's normally on during the day but he's busy playing with his toys.

also with DS he doesn't have tantrums/less sleep etc not that we've noticed anyhow.

Tapster · 07/08/2007 08:41

Sorry but the telly being on during the day even when they are playing is I think a bigger issue than a child watching 30mins a day of TV.

yama · 07/08/2007 08:44

Elf - she's 21 months. The tantrums started at about 18 or 19 months. I realise they would have happened with or without tv but they are not so bad now she doesn't watch tv. I guess every child is different. As I said before these are only my observations. There may have been another factor at work here that I haven't taken into account.