TV with baby around?

[Biscuitsandteaplease]

How often do you have your TV on during the day with your baby present?

We have an open plan living/kitchen/diner in our flat and I'd be enormously lonely without it on during the day but am aware it may not be such a good idea. I have sometimes switched it off and put music on instead which helps but how much is too much?

Sadly my DC loves watching a bit of TV when he can but I do deliberately play with him on the other side of the room where he can't see it, so it's not all he's doing!

I haven't found it affecting his sleep/wanting to play etc but he is only 4.5m so there's obviously still time

Prior to open plan kitchen, essentially never
Since open plan, quite often because otherwise it does feel lonely, although I’m trying to get into the habit of puttinf the radio on instead

I'm terrible for constantly having my TV on in the living room but I have to say my 9 month old has never showing any interest in actually watching it. He is happy playing with his toys and we are out and about loads. If he was actually sat watching it instead of playing then I wouldnt have it on as much

I have my TV on most of the time (DD is 6 months). Its the only way i can get anything done or stop her getting stroppy! But I feel really guilty about it and like im being a crap mum

I’ve never had mine on when our son is around but know I’m in the minority among our friends

Stop worrying! Their brains aren't going to melt because the tv is on! My 2 watched TV quite a lot (in fact, they still do) and it never caused any problems. I played with them every now and again though the day but then left them to be entertained by the TV/their toys/their fists when they were happy enough; that way I could have a cup of tea, use the loo, eat and get on with household chores. In fact, if anything, as they grew up a bit it encouraged them to play and read more as they'd make up games based on their favourite programmes and would read/listen to stories about the characters.

My tv is on quite a bit in the day but it's just normal tv or the news channel, not baby tv. She's 11 months and occasionally glances at it but I don't feel the need to let her 'watch' tv yet. I'm sure that will change soon!

Mine is never on, but it’s not deliberate, I just don’t think to put it on. I’m not really keen on him watching tv if I’m honest, but the times I have put it on to try to distract him if he’s in a grump and I need to do stuff, he doesn’t watch it anyway! He’s 9 months.

Well our baby has older siblings so it's on a lot. When they're at school it's hardly on at all.

My 4 month old loves the tv I make sure he doesn't see anything scary and mostly lay his feet pointing at the tv if it's on so he cant see it. I do loads of playing and talking with him so dont feel too guilty when he gets 10/20 mins so I can eat in peace
I think as long as your baby is getting lots of attention too a bit of tv wont hurt

God all the time when dd was small! First I was bf so watched about 800 box sets during growth spurts and cluster feeding.

Then I was a single parent and Hey Duggee or Baby Club meant I could have a poo or wash up without a toddler climbing up my legs demanding attention. Dd is almost 3 and her speech/understanding is excellent.

There’s so much to feel guilty about, TV isn’t one of them. Whatever anyone tries to tell you.

Ours is on pretty much all day. My dd is nearly 2 and will sit and watch films now.
Pre-children we had the tv on most of the day anyway so no change

Depends how long they spend in front of it I think . Ultimately they need to develop their imagination, their motor skills, language, etc .

All the time but she rarely looks at it as she is always feeding! I’d go insane without TV at the moment, 15.5 weeks old.
Once she is older and taking notice I’ll limit it though. When she is awake and not feeding we do various “play” but she mostly feeds or sleeps on me so I need something to do.

It was on loads when I was on mat leave . DS was usually feeding or snoozing though, and didn't pay it much attention when he was awake - except he was weirdly in to Catch-22 . Now he's 7 months, I'm back at work and he's at daycare it's rarely on when he's awake. Not because I'm worried about it frying his brain, but because he requires too much attention for me to concentrate on what I'm watching.

There are so many hours in the day. I spend hour upon hour sitting on the floor playing with DS 11months we sing all the time and go to groups. But sometimes late on in the afternoon or when I'm showering I do sit him in highchair with moana on and he absolutely loves it. I think a bit of TV is fine. I don't need another thing to feel guilty about!

My DS is 5.5 months. It’s on most of the time but just background noise. He glances at it every now and again whilst I’m playing with him but we never sit and watch it

I read something about babies finding it difficult to distinguish voices and speech sounds properly with background TV/radio/music. So I do try to limit it, and listen/watch with headphones when he's napping. But at some point in the afternoon when he's playing more independently (12 months) rather than us reading/singing together I do listen to the radio for a bit or a podcast, otherwise it's a looong day.

I don't tend to have it on in background but I do often have Classic FM playing on Alexa. But as PP said, there's only so much interaction you can do in one day before your brain starts to melt out of your nostrils. We do stories, singing, playing with toys, walks, four or five classes a week, play dates... but sometimes she gets to sit in front of Hey Duggee for 20 mins while I get something done!

My DDs watched loads of TV as babies/small children/teenagers. They still love to watch loads of series and films. They are both intelligent and articulate adults who achieved first class degrees and hold down good jobs. I honestly think TV brought them on a lot. I wouldn't worry about it at all.

Our TV is on as soon as we come down stairs in the morning.
Dd(4) loves the theme tune to This Morning, always has a dance in front of the tv when it comes on.

I always have the TV on and my 13 week old seems to pick up on colours and noises, preferably Thomas the tank engine, I don't leave him for hours on end staring at it though I just have it on in the background when he's playing

I didn't think it was something I shouldn't be doing

Thank god, I have been worrying about this far too much!
I do try and pick baby friendly stuff when I need 10 minutes and I rotate him all around so he's getting a bit of everything so hopefully it's not too bad. He's only entertained by it for so long anyway.

My mum did always have the tv on for us growing up and we're alright