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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

At what age do you think it is ok for a child to watch 20 min TV at the end ot the day?

21 replies

BarkAtTheMoon · 01/03/2011 16:49

I am currently looking after a 15 month old, and was wondering if it is acceptable to let her watch say 15/20 min tv at the end of a long day. she is with me for 10 hrs.
For the past few days she is really restless and tired by 5 pm and I have put her in the buggy and let her watch a little tv.
Her morning sleep has recently stopped and she sleeps in the afternoon but doesnt seem to sleep long enough as still tired.
I have let her watch Baby tv which is geared up for little uns.
Just wanted your opinions on this please.

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mousesma · 01/03/2011 16:54

I've been letting my DD watch short amounts of BabyTV (20 mins at start and end of day) since 12 weeks to allow me to get other tasks done. e.g. make breakfast or dinner N.B. I only do this if she absolutely will not be occupied any other way.

I think the official guidance is that children should not watch any TV until over 2 years of age. Rightly or wrongly your care will be held to account by a higher standard then parental care so I think you'll probably have to stick to the guidelines.

Blondeshavemorefun · 01/03/2011 19:21

no 3 was watching backyardigans at 6 weeks

tho has older siblings :)

tbh i dont a small bit of tv hurts, babs 2.5 loves peppa pig and if we are in after school,she sometimes watchs 20mins of it and again after bath before bed tv is on

Adair · 01/03/2011 19:25

Why don't you ask the mum/dad how they feel?

Personally, I wouldn't mind a little cbeebies - though pref cuddled up on sofa (with you?) not in the buggy...

Grabaspoon · 01/03/2011 19:29

When I looked after twin 11 month olds mum always said put on a dvd for 15 minutes whilst you sort lunch etc.

Tended to use it from about a year for 15 mins whilst I quickly sort out dinner/lunch/sort bag before we head out - but usually DC were more than happy to play/potter instead.

Would speak to the parents.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 01/03/2011 19:36

Could you try switching the nap around - earlier lunch then nap, or a pre lunch nap if you do later snack and later lunch?? Any use, or do you have school runs to be up for?

I take the children out for a walk round the block if they start to get grumpy at the end of the day, fresh air and something to look at can really help

cinnamondanish · 01/03/2011 19:37

It's really a shame that lots of people get so hung up about the whole issue of watching tv. Even from an early age it's a lovely way to sit and cuddle on the sofa and interact. I've always found that providing it's something age appropriate and educationally based (which nowadays is most childrens tv) then there's no harm in it. My 2 year old is hooked on Peppa Pig and he has the choice to watch one episode at lunch time whilst I'm getting lunch ready if he wants instead of playing and also one episode in the evening whilst making dinner. it keeps him from being under my feet and I don't think it does him any harm.

Adair · 01/03/2011 19:52

i agree Cinnamon, I relish that quiet time watching and cuddling, chatting to ds on the sofa as he says 'oh no, Pippin! Pippin!'. I do also use as babysitter though...

Original poster

BarkAtTheMoon · 01/03/2011 20:10

Hi, thanks everyone. That really helps. She was in the buggy because I was cooking, sorting out my own 3 children, homework, writing diary etc. Its the busiest time of the day! so I couldn't really sit with her. I spend all day doing activities with her while my own 3 are in school. So 15 min is either here or there in my opinion and she was so very tired.
We had been to toddler group and she fell asleep on way home in buggy. Usually I do do an earlier lunch then she sleeps in the cot.
But we had a speaker come to group today so it went on a bit longer.
I do love cuddling up with the children and watch their choice of programme every now and then - with older ones.
OFSTED didn't see a problen when they came and the little boy asked to watch tv and we cuddled up.
But much harder to do this when there are several other children all needing feeding etc.

I will speak to the parents tomorrow.

OP posts:

drinkyourmilk · 01/03/2011 20:25

I have been told to give my charge an hour each day - she'd tri-lingual and whilst I can back up one language to a certain standard (ahem - she's 20 months so not terribly complicated!) I can't even attempt the other. So I was told to use foreign language dvds each day.

Checkmate · 01/03/2011 23:23

When I used to use a CM, finding one who didn't put pre-schoolers, and especially babies, in front of the tv was top of my list of requirements.

I really dislike tv for under 2's, a lot of research has gone into the recommendation that they shouldn't have screen time. And I find that tv close to bedtime is especially bad for all my children.

But I probably feel more strictly about this than many, so you may as well check with the parents

nannyl · 02/03/2011 10:06

i dont see a problem with 20mins....

clearly not all day, but thats not what OP is saying.

if they had an older sibling im sure they would be watching a little tv before they were 1 year old

Its not going to hurt or damage them!

Original poster

BarkAtTheMoon · 02/03/2011 10:16

Checkmate
I do see your point, which is why I have been asking.
I will speak to parent today and find out their thoughts.
Can I ask how you would look after a 15 month old in this situation, as tbh she just wanted to be cuddled which I really couldn't do as there were other children that needed feeding etc [ regardless of the fact that they were my own]
If it had been my own child I would let them sit cuddled up with comfort blanket, snug in the confinds of a big buggy with nursery rhymes being sung.....
This also wouldn't be a daily thing either...I just didn't have enough hands!
Normally she is pretty content

OP posts:

Original poster

BarkAtTheMoon · 02/03/2011 10:18

Thanks nannyl

OP posts:

Checkmate · 02/03/2011 11:14

To answer your question (how I would cope in that situation at the end of the day)... I am not without sympathy as I am used to this situation too; I have 4 DC of 8 and under, including a 19 month old.

I don't allow TV mon-thurs for any of them, as if it goes on for one of them they all just want to watch and nothing gets done. I occupy the 19 month old by getting the others to take it in turns playing with him while I do homework with the others. I also still carried him in a wrap sling a lot until very recently (only stopped because I'm pregnant with number 5) if he was tired and I was busy with the others. If she likes being cuddled then a sling may work well for her? (if you google moby wrap you'll see what I use, much more comfortable than baby bjorn type things)
I find he tends to be quite content sitting in his highchair watching all the others for quite a bit of the time, too. He usually does that while I make supper.

I have noticed that he can't cope by teatime if I have too manic a day with him, because the teatime slot is so tiring with 3 older siblings coming home all hyper and wanting to play with him. So I do things with him in the morning, but not in the afternoon.

HTH

GetThePartyStarted · 02/03/2011 11:30

I would talk to the parents and see how they feel. I would not be happy if I found out my CM had been putting my baby in a buggy in front of the tv, cuddling up to watch something together would be different (although I don't do this myself). That said, he is my PFB so I don't have three others to look after so I can afford not to!

Original poster

BarkAtTheMoon · 02/03/2011 12:43

Thanks checkmate, the sling idea sounds really good - will def try it. Thanks . Also you are right about having a manic day and I think that was definately the reason she was over tired. Also she has a really horrible cold - again! - at the moment, which doesn't help.
Believe it or not I hardly ever have the tv on! We always go out in the morning to toddler groups, park, woods, beach, library and so on, then I provide both structured and child led activities for the afternoon. But have to leave my house at 2.30 for school run - pretty early!
My own children prefer to play together rather than watch tv too, quite often outside as we have a great space with lots of activities and a play hut.
We usually have it on for a short time on Sundays.
So that was really why I was asking - I really wasn't sure what other people did.

OP posts:

Original poster

BarkAtTheMoon · 02/03/2011 13:38

I have just had another thought - perhaps it would be better to listen to a nursery rhyme or story C.D if the problem arouse again. I have found this very settling when I have used before.
I personally would feel much better about it.
Although, like i've said, on the whole she is a really content and happy little thing,
Problem solved!

OP posts:

Checkmate · 02/03/2011 13:41

Original poster

BarkAtTheMoon · 02/03/2011 13:47

Just off to make nice. The little girl didn't come to me today as too poory, so will not able to speak to parents today. Not sure if I will mention it now though!

OP posts:

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/03/2011 14:00

tech if you are a cm, then you are your own boss, so if you want to put the tv on for a few mins then up to you

if a parents doest like tv then they use another cm

barclays · 02/03/2011 14:15

Hi there,

My son watched the discovery channels and history channels since a very young age. I was worried and spoke to someone who is a Dr of Science. He explained that his son done the same. My son is excelling in all his class work, it's got to the point he is on advanced maths and english. I now have twins and they are coming on very well.

I don't agree with adverts tho

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