TV on all day

[ShirleyShirleyShirley]

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...

@twittwootwittwoo

Please, please don't feel shit. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a bit of Cbeebies in amongst everything else you've been doing! It's all about balance. My two DC have played all morning, but they're watching a bit of TV with a snack at the moment. DD(6) is isolating from school until Monday, and so far today they've done some Lego, play food, cars, chasing each other around the living room... and watched some TV.

We usually play or go out in the morning, watch a bit of TV with a snack, play some more, get DD from school, watch a bit of TV with another snack, play, dinner, Cbeebies Bedtime Hour, stories, bed. It would be different if they were plonked in front of the TV all day, but they aren't. It's mixed in with other things.

Please don't worry about a bit of TV.

And OP, there's nothing wrong with what you're doing, either. When your DC is older I wouldn't have it on all day, but at 2 months? Do what you want!

We try to do no tv days, so the dc play and find ways to entertain themselves w out tv. I admit, I prefer the days when they can watch tv as its more quiet in the house! I avoid putting the tv on when baby is around most of the time. I will let her watch the odd nursery rhyme or may turn the tv on when she is sitting in the highchair eating and im quickly trying to prepare my lunch...but its only a few minutes. Unfortunately, I do not get to watch tv myself....I either read on my phone or do house tasks instead....Might watch a movie once a week (and it takes us two to three days to complete one movie!!).

During both my DCs first year I had the tv on while I’m at home all days for the company; it kept me sane and neither of my DC got interested or distracted by the tv until they were nearer 18 months. I made the most of being able to watch my own shows as now DD is 3 I have to be careful what I watch. She likes tv but will only watch short programmes before going off and playing.
If you sit them in front of the tv in a baby bouncer from newborn then I can see how that’s harmful but it being on in the background is fine.

I think you'd know if he was over stimulated, when my LO had too much interaction she'd have a crying fit in the eve. It was like clockwork! If he is happy and settled, I'd say go with it for now.

You could always try the radio or podcasts though if you are concerned.

Thank you everyone. I am going to reduce the tv being on and out the radio on more often, and when the TV is on I am going to position DS to make sure he can’t see it. Hopefully the best of both worlds!

I've been wondering the same thing. My DS is 11 weeks old and I tend to have it on all day in the background as company during this spectacularly crap time! We've always been a "background TV" family though and was brought up the same. But we have a pretty large TV and he does tend to get a bit mesmerised by it, and I'm also worried about overstimulation. It's not kids TV, just This Morning or similar but I think I'm going to try and limit it to being on very quietly when he's sleeping. It's sad but it does feel lonelier without it on.

Trickiest thing with interpretimg early years research is the sheer amount of interacting variables involved in a child's development.
There is an association with constant TV and speech, but a lot could be to do with deprivation, single working parents "needing it" and so ob. The trick is to try and see why and work that into your life. as one pp has said this is to with the caregiver speaking less and the child getting less practice.

I think the thing is to look at the big picture. It's not just you and baby in a room, you have the sibling to worry about, and many other things. Think about the actionable insight. If the TV is making you less stressed and you can provide a better environment for your children - then it's a benefit. Or if it means you can earn a bit more money part time in the evenings, since one of the strongest associations with child development is money!