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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

Babies and TV

13 replies

jaabaar · 28/04/2010 11:38

hi,

I have just now read a threat about TV and ADHD and have googled. To my horror I read that watching tv EVEN in the background is damaging to babies brains.

That would basically mean in our household NO MORE TV? As our 3 month old baby never sleeps during the day and goes to sleep about 11 and wakes around 7.

What do you mums do regarding background TV?

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SheWillBeLoved · 28/04/2010 13:15

Oh god our TV is always on except for when DD is sleeping. I'm also guilty of plonking her in front of In The Night Garden and Waybuloo (her favourites ) whilst I do some housework. I unfortunately don't have the time of patience to sit in silence all day, singing nursery rhymes with her! She is 9 months by the way.

Original poster

jaabaar · 28/04/2010 13:17

Oh that is good to read! I have put myself into a state over this thinking I am being such a bad, terrible mother!

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SheWillBeLoved · 28/04/2010 13:20

Bloody scaremongering. As if being a mum isn't worrying enough at times without being scared into not watching some Loose Women eh

CaptainNancy · 28/04/2010 13:25

Recommendations are no screentime under 2 yo... but they are only that- recommendations.

tortoiseonthehalfshell · 28/04/2010 13:31

My impression (I was probably the one who said it? I'm part of the anti-TV brigade and I mentioned it yesterday on here) is that even in the background means, if they're not sitting there glued to the screen but are listening/watching sporadically?

At 3 months mine was totally oblivious to the TV being on at all, so I didn't worry. It was when she started being attracted to the flickering lights etc that I turned it off.

The other thing to be conscious of is, it's a risk but a) it's cumulative and b) it's only going to contribute to ADD with kids who are already predisposed. Almost every single Western child watches TV before 2, and they don't all have learning issues.

Don't worry too much. Every parenting decision is a balancing act, and if TV keeps you happy and calm and sane when no-TV would send you over the edge, then use the TV.

thumbwitch · 28/04/2010 13:32

Ha, DS watches entirely too much TV but he gets bored of it himself and does other stuff (playing with toys, going outside etc.)He gets quiet time too and his brain gets a chance to rest - he has no light or sound at night, and no entertainment in the car. I can see that over-stimulation of the brain might have an impact on some susceptible children but I doubt it is a blanket problem.

withorwithoutyou · 28/04/2010 13:40

I was super freaky about never letting DD watch TV then when she got to 13 months old and I went back to work p/t and got pregnant and knackered all of a sudden it didn't seem so bad!

She's 20 months now and has a bit in the morning and then it sometimes (often) goes on after tea time. I don't worry about it though, as she's got fabulous speech and have never worried about her being disposed to ADHD.

Hats off to anyone who doesn't resort to it though - it probably is better not to have it on but hey-ho we all do our best.

Funnily enough some friends of ours were saying to another friend that children under 2 shouldn't watch TV and there's doesn't. Good on them but their DD is in full time nursery all week so that's probably why!

Irons · 28/04/2010 15:50

My 10 month old has 20 minutes of active watching when I'm doing something and I put Waybaloo on for her. Otherwise I might have it on a bit in the morning for GMTV and in the evening around dinner time. I can't see that that could be damaging in any way. We're out most of the day any way and there is loads of humdrum noise all the time. Cars, people talking, radio, kids shouting etc.

arcadia96 · 28/04/2010 15:57

I mute it and stick the subtitles on so she can't hear it if she's not looking at it either then no harm done! (DD aged 5 months).

babyOcho · 28/04/2010 16:00

YOu could just listen to the radio, if it's just the background that you want.

Original poster

jaabaar · 28/04/2010 19:24

Thanks for all the advise. I was wanting to know about background noise because we do watch TV in the evenings and if it would be so damaging if the baby hears it but does not see it.

Undertitles is actually clever!

OP posts:

ExplodingBananas · 28/04/2010 19:47

I don't think radio is much better actually, I think the problem is they have trouble concentrating and picking out one sound from another. So if there is always background noise like a TV or radio on young children can't pick out voices and develop their vocal skills
I guess it would be a bit like asking us to decide which mortgage deal would be best whilst at the front of a rock concert!

Original poster

jaabaar · 28/04/2010 21:17

Lol exploingBananas! That makes perfect sense!!!!

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