Help!! Advice please.

[MrsC90]

Hello everyone,
I have a 20 month old little boy,
Since birth I have used the TV 😪 started with Baby TV Chanel and now CBeebies!!

Some days I'm not even sure how long it's on. I try and blame the fact that I was poorly after birth and also suffer form PND and Anxiety.

He is very well looked after and was an IVF baby so is so precious to us!!

I do take him out everyday to playgroups and play dates, walks and zoos and so much more.
My concern is that I might have permanently damaged his development!?

My question is if I stop the tv now can any effects on tv use be reversed, so basically if I have effected his language/speech or future development by letting him watch TV can the effect be reversed by stopping TV?

I'm worried he's not saying many words? 😪
He says...
Ball
in there
Daddy
Ma ma
Bubbles
Apple
Oh no
Woopsie
Tree
Cheese

(Probs more but my minds gone blank)

I feel so guilty and like the worse mum!!
Xxx

Don't worry about it. My son is 2 and watches tv every afternoon after his nap. He only watches nursery rhymes and numbers and letters clips on YouTube though and it's actually helping his speech, I think! When he was first born and doing little else other then sleeping I binged all 7 seasons of GoT and I doubt it affected him!

If you're taking him out every day then he's getting interaction. I think it's fine but I do try to keep the rule now that the tv doesn't go on until around 4pm at the earliest and if he reaches for the remote before then I just distract him with something else.

Maybe ask to move this to the parenting board as you'll probably get more replies

Thank you @Ginger1982 just feel so horrendous about it. And so worried Iv permanently damaged him!

I have no idea how to put this on the parent board, I thought I had lol 🤷‍♀️xxx

I've reported your post and asked MN to move it 👍🏻

Hi OP

We've moved it for you now.

You're totally overthinking it op. My just turned three year old has watched LOADS of telly since he was tiny. His speech is pretty advanced for his age. He also knows all his letters. He's fine. Don't worry.

TV isn't the devil, it's just not a great baby sitter either.
If you are talking to your child - including making eye contact and having proper dialogue on your side (not baby talk) - that will be encouraging his development more than TV will be damaging anything. If you choose higher quality things for him to watch I don't see why that can't be a positive even. No harm in a bit of telly to give you the opportunity to do the dishes in peace or whatever! I would try to limit it though and make it part of a routine.

There's loads online about how adults can support children's language development too if you are concerned

Thank you everyone, I feel loads better