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Original poster

TV on all day

32 replies

ShirleyShirleyShirley · 04/12/2020 05:55

I am worried my baby is over stimulated...I go downstairs early with my baby (just over 2 months) because I worry I’ll nod off with him if I stay in bed. We settle onto the sofa and I have the tv on all the time no matter what I’m doing - I’m not necessarily watching it but it’s company as otherwise it’s a bit quiet and lonely. This is going to affect him isn’t it? Will it be overstimulating him? Sometimes he watches it but not often. Is this bad? I play with him and read to him and we come up to bed where there is nothing but a low light before his natural sleep time...

OP posts:

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Pearsapiece · 04/12/2020 06:05

Do what you have to do to get through. I did this with ds1. I intend to do it with dc2. You need the company. Sometimes I switched to the radio if I was doing housework or doing a specific thing with baby like a sensory activity or something but not often.
It won't scar them for life!

FTEngineerM · 04/12/2020 06:09

It won't scar them for life

Not totally accurate, there is a wealth of information out there, journal articles/peer reviewed studies and so on that highlight a link between early consistent TV watching and ADHD diagnosis.

Read up on those to base your decision OP, congratulations on your new little one

Temple29 · 04/12/2020 06:17

I have a toddler and a 3 month old and I mostly just have the radio on during the day because I find the newborn stares at the tv too.

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WomenAndVulvas · 04/12/2020 06:22

If it helps you get through the day, I think it's okay with a 2 month old baby. The first months can be a challenge. But personally, I think the TV should be off from when they start getting distracted from other things by it - probably around six months. They don't benefit from screen time when they're very little.

Bramblecrumble · 04/12/2020 06:25

I was going to say the same as women with vulvas. Stop at 6 months, I remember watching orange is the new black with newborn. She'd watch the starting credits with all the faces then fall asleep.

twittwootwittwoo · 04/12/2020 06:49

@FTEngineerM

It won't scar them for life

Not totally accurate, there is a wealth of information out there, journal articles/peer reviewed studies and so on that highlight a link between early consistent TV watching and ADHD diagnosis.

Read up on those to base your decision OP, congratulations on your new little one

Have you the links to these studies?

Pearsapiece · 04/12/2020 07:03

Give the woman a break, her baby is 2 months old for godsake.
Focus on your little baby op and enjoy the days that you can. Don't beat yourself up. And don't let anyone tell you your baby is going to get ADHD from watching the TV, I've never heard so much shit in all my life

twittwootwittwoo · 04/12/2020 07:10

@Pearsapiece

Give the woman a break, her baby is 2 months old for godsake. Focus on your little baby op and enjoy the days that you can. Don't beat yourself up. And don't let anyone tell you your baby is going to get ADHD from watching the TV, I've never heard so much shit in all my life

They have got me worried, my 22 month old watches tv (not all the time) but there's a couple of CBeebies programs she likes and couple of Disney movies

But she's is out twice a day for walks/doing something like going to the park or walking the dogs

We also have music time and reading time but she's a handful and doesn't sleep well (never has) so a half an hour break to drink a cup of tea whilst she's watching mr tumble is a welcome break

Feeling a bit shit now

Tootsietoot · 04/12/2020 07:15

It's only very recently in human existence that we can have constant stimulation, so no one really knows the long term impact (if any). People can says it's fine or not but in actual fact no one knows.

SnugglySnerd · 04/12/2020 07:15

I remember being so anxious that dd1 shouldn't watch TV. I used to out it in while breastfeeding or during naps but off if it was awake. Fast forward 2 years and I had a 2 years old and new born twins, CBeebies was on most of the time they were awake! We did go out for walks and if they were napping I turned it off and played with dd1 but it helped me get through and doesn't seem to have harmed them, none of them are really addicts now in fact they often turn it off of their own accord to do something else.

FTEngineerM · 04/12/2020 07:19

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/04/040406090140.htm

“ This study suggests that there is a significant and important association between early exposure to television and subsequent attentional problems”

@twittwootwittwoo that’s one whilst I make a morning coffee, I’m sure you can Smudo some research into the topic of you’d like to know more.

FTEngineerM · 04/12/2020 07:20

Do * not Smudo

SuspiciousSquirrel · 04/12/2020 09:25

@FTEngineerM

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/04/040406090140.htm

“ This study suggests that there is a significant and important association between early exposure to television and subsequent attentional problems”

@twittwootwittwoo that’s one whilst I make a morning coffee, I’m sure you can Smudo some research into the topic of you’d like to know more.

Surely these studies are talking about actually putting babies in front of kids tv for hours?I don’t think having it on in the background would have the same effect. My 12 month old isn’t particularly interested in adult tv, she is very mesmerised by stuff like CBeebies so I try and limit that as much as possible. You have to think about your own sanity as well, are you really not going to watch any tv for years with your baby in the room?!

GreyishDays · 04/12/2020 09:27

Fairly soon you’ll need to turn it off so that they don’t watch it all the time. You’ll know when that is. And you’ll be doing more stuff with them then too.

GreyishDays · 04/12/2020 09:29

Actually, @SuspiciousSquirrel
“You have to think about your own sanity as well, are you really not going to watch any tv for years with your baby in the room?!”

Probably, yes, is that so weird? When they were little they’d watch a bit of kids tv on the morning and then at 4.

Then it went on for adult tv once they were in bed at seven or so.

Porgy · 04/12/2020 09:32

I had a velcro baby that would only nap whilst being held. I had the telly on all day when I was at home on my own. Because I was not sitting there bored out of my skull while he had a kip. I still spoke to him, played with him, took him out for daily walks, visited family, went to play groups and soft play etc. But I did watch crappy day time TV while he slept.

This was well before Covid. I feel really sorry for new mums right now. Having a baby is isolating enough. At least I was able to see my mum and go to groups etc.

GreyishDays · 04/12/2020 09:39

I don’t think anyone’s suggesting having the tv on while they’re asleep is a problem.

FTEngineerM · 04/12/2020 09:55

@SuspiciousSquirrel erm.. yeah. Exactly that. Another study found tv on in background causes the caregiver to speak less therefore a trend was seen where a larger vocabulary for the DCs in households where it wasn’t on in the background.

There’s no right or wrong way to do it but I was just highlighting that saying ‘it’s harmless’ amongst other things isn’t actually true. We all have to get by at the end of the day. I choose no tv on at all whilst Dc is awake. I need to look into it further to establish what age the risk decreases, when I have time.

Original poster

ShirleyShirleyShirley · 04/12/2020 10:20

@FTEngineerM

“ . Parents should not worry unduly that watching TV with their young child in the room will stunt their child’s development.”

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/background-tv-and-play-in-children/

I am crazy about my boy and am not ignoring his development to watch tv. I talk to him all the time. I read to him, I show him black and white pictures, I show him my neighbours catalogue with brightly coloured pictures in, I get him to smell things, I get him to feel different textures, I sing to him, I do nursery rhymes, I count with him and do the ABC, I do massage, I make animal noises, I do accents when I change him, I chat to him about what I’m up to, I repeat his noises back to him when he coos, he plays with one of those thugs with dangly toys. When we go out I chat to him in the buggy. I can’t wait to be able to read books with him and have him understand and make up stories with him, I’m so excited about it. I am not worried about my interraction with him, if anything I’m concerned I am interacting too much and overstimulating him. The tv is on because my DH works long hours and I’m lonely. When DS is sleeping or feeding I might be reading, but the tv is on to give me comfort!

OP posts:

Mylittleturkeysandwich · 04/12/2020 10:29

DS is 1 now and the TV is on most of the time. He doesn't watch it. I like the noise in the background. There would be much less tv on if we were actually allowed to go anywhere or do anything. He is spoken to and sung to every day. He gets a bedtime story, granted he would rather eat the book but the intention is there. His nursery have commented how chilled he is and how he's happy to amuse himself with a few toys so I don't think there's too much damage being done.

OP at 2 months old you're fine.

mindutopia · 04/12/2020 10:52

That's absolutely fine. It's one of the perks of small babies. Honestly, enjoy it. After about 9 months, you will pretty much never sit down to watch tv during the day again until they're about 12!

FTEngineerM · 04/12/2020 10:53

@ShirleyShirleyShirley I didn’t say anywhere it stunted development. Nor does the study so I’m not sure where you’ve pick that up from.

It sounds like you just posted for reassurance and not wanting any info that goes in opposition of what you’re currently doing. Having the tv on whilst their asleep isn’t what you asked in the op

FTEngineerM · 04/12/2020 10:54

Argh! They’re*

Original poster

ShirleyShirleyShirley · 04/12/2020 11:02

No That’s right, at no point did I say I have the tv on whilst he’s sleeping, I said I have it on all day. If people had come here and said yes it will be overstimulating then of course I will make changes. The fact that I’ve even wondered about this has made me think that I’m going to make changes anyway.
But you said ‘ Study found tv on in background causes the caregiver to speak less therefore a trend was seen where a larger vocabulary for the DCs in households where it wasn’t on in the background.‘ My last post was to point out that is not the case, my baby will not suffer from that, I am concerned about overstimulating him, not his vocabulary.

OP posts:

LuckyC27 · 04/12/2020 11:02

I have a 4 month old and have the tv on all day but as background noise. Otherwise I would be in silence all day and go mad. He wakes for an hour and half - 2 hours and during that time we are constantly on the go so doesn’t really see the tv unless I put him in his chair to play with his teething toys and if I do that it’s 10 min max.

Like you OP I am constantly talking to him, singing etc and he babbles away and has taken to screeching this week 😬

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