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Original poster

2 month old screen time.

50 replies

charlottecruz · 11/04/2022 13:41

Before anything I know screen time is bad for babies, but I often find that when my 10 week baby is on my lap or on his bouncer, his attention will often divert to the tv and focus on it.

What can I do to break this focus he has on the tv? And from what age did you let your little ones have screen time?

Thank you!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

OddSocksSparklyDocsandDungaree · 12/04/2022 06:56

Before I had my daughter (14 months), I was adamant she wouldn't be watching TV. Through maternity, the TV was permanently on but that was more to keep me sane Now, I wish she'd sit still long enough to watch a programme but she can't sit still for more than a minute.

I also said no dummies but at 2 days old, she had one just so I could get some sleep

Wnkingawalrus · 12/04/2022 06:57

Nothing divides MN like a how much screen time for your kids chat

Do people honestly watch tv with their baby turned away facing the wall?

BertieBotts · 12/04/2022 06:59

It really doesn't matter. Everything in moderation. Don't worry.

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Imissprosecco · 12/04/2022 08:03

This thread is hilarious. What happens for second children? Do they have to be hidden away while their older siblings watch their allotted one hour of CBeebies?

OP it's fine. The advice is about whether children get sufficient activity, not whether their brains are going to implode if they watch 10 mins of Peppa Pig. In this house the TV is quite often on as background noise. At this moment, CBeebies is on and DS is pottering around, alternating between playing with his doll, toy kitchen and some stickers. We'll go out somewhere in a little while so he can run around. The only time he really sits and watches TV is first thing in the early morning and again in the evening, when we watch the bedtime hour. As PP said, everything in moderation.

00100001 · 12/04/2022 13:19

"This thread is hilarious. What happens for second children? Do they have to be hidden away while their older siblings watch their allotted one hour of CBeebies?"

Following advice regarding screen time is not "hilarious". As for second children, the joy of in demand TV is that you can time it for baby's naps etc.

Iggly · 12/04/2022 13:22

We had no screens for the first two years for my first. For my second, it was very little really until she was 2.

Now they’re obsessed 😂

But I think that having no/minimal screens for the first few years is important for speech and language development and research shows that, which is why I was so much stricter than I am now.

TulipsGarden · 12/04/2022 13:23

It's not screen time for a 10 week old, chill. They're attracted to bright lights and moving objects, that's all.

Iggly · 12/04/2022 13:23

@00100001

"This thread is hilarious. What happens for second children? Do they have to be hidden away while their older siblings watch their allotted one hour of CBeebies?"

Following advice regarding screen time is not "hilarious". As for second children, the joy of in demand TV is that you can time it for baby's naps etc.

You don’t have to “allow” or “allot” time at all! When my second was born, I only let ds watch the odd random short episode of peppa etc usually when I trying to deal with a baby. It was a blatant electronic babysitter tool at the time.

thingymaboob · 12/04/2022 13:37

[quote 00100001]@thingymaboob
"Sounds utterly miserable for everyone."
Not really... A million other things to be done instead of watching TV[/quote]
But no TV at all until 2 is a bit over the top.

Musomama1 · 12/04/2022 13:43

I remember watching a box set and lots of arrested development when DS was tiny. Think he was napping or feeding or facing me.

We had him watching LBB at tea time for maybe half an hour or more when he could sit up in the baby chair, so maybe a few months old? Whilst DH and I had tea.

He's three and we prob do 2-3 hours a day now, but our days are really long we both need little breaks. He's a really amazing talker and communicator down to just talking to him all day.

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 12/04/2022 13:45

All the people saying no TV before 2…or even 4 (?!) definitely didn’t have to face lockdown with a toddler

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 12/04/2022 13:55

My dd is 3.5 and turned out fine by the way. She probably started watching about 2 hours of TV a day during the very first lockdown when she was around 20 months (although we stuck to a rule of no TV until after 3/4pm for a while which was good). She was an early talker and has a great vocabulary now.

I wouldn’t worry so much about screen time (as long as it’s not ridiculous) but rather pay attention to what it is that they’re watching- there’s loads of really educational content out there now; Number blocks/alphablocks, grace’s amazing machines, CBeebies presents ballets etc.

My dd loves watching crafting videos on YouTube now - it really sparks her imagination and she loves making things. She also loves following along with step by step drawing tutorials and doing (adapted mind) monster maths activities on the computer. I think it’s a bit like food- worry less about quantity and look at the nutritional value of what they’re consuming in terms of screen time.

Wedonttalkaboutboris · 12/04/2022 13:59

And all I did was watch tv series when she was a baby and breastfeeding/cluster feeding for hours on end. I’d have gone mad otherwise!

starrynight21 · 12/04/2022 14:03

I watched heaps of TV when mine were babies - they'd be in the bouncer facing the screen . I never thought it was going to harm them, and it didn't. They are adults now and perfectly OK . No need to worry about things like that , your baby will be fine.

TulipsGarden · 12/04/2022 14:21

@Wedonttalkaboutboris

All the people saying no TV before 2…or even 4 (?!) definitely didn’t have to face lockdown with a toddler

😂😭 I was never particularly bothered about screens anyway, but trying to work full time and parent a 14 month old meant the TV was my best friend 😂

SatinHeart · 12/04/2022 14:26

Turn the bouncer so baby is facing you (or whoever is watching tv) then the tv is directly behind the bouncer.

On your lap, lift your knees right up so baby is facing you and sitting/lying against your thighs. Again, TV will be directly behind them.

At that age, if baby is still fighting to see the TV despite doing those things, it is likely on too loud.

PatientlyWaiting21 · 12/04/2022 14:28

That’s what I was thinking!

I wouldn’t worry, there’s a difference between plonking them infront if the tv for periods of time and letting them see it for a bit. I had my lunch while my girl was in her chair with her book, the tv was on I put on pippa just to see her reaction abs she was SO excited! Anyway I don’t think 5 mins will harm her or make her unable to hold interesting conversations 🙄

lemmein · 12/04/2022 15:09

So much pressure on parents these days. Seriously, do what you want - we don't have a load of mute adults knocking about because they had too much 'screen time' - it's really not that important. Let them enjoy the bright lights for a bit and have a cuppa in peace.

FrancescaContini · 12/04/2022 15:10

Turn off the TV. It’s very very easy.

Favourodds · 12/04/2022 15:41

For those who love to throw guidelines out there, from the RCPCH:

The evidence base for a direct ‘toxic’ effect of screen time is contested, and the evidence of harm is often overstated. The majority of the literature that does exist looks only at television screen time.

Evidence is weak for a threshold to guide children and parents to the appropriate level of screen time, and we are unable to recommend a cut-off for children's screen time overall.

Many of the apparent connections between screen time and adverse effects may be mediated by lost opportunities for positive activities (socialising, exercise, sleep) that are displaced by screen time.

Favourodds · 12/04/2022 15:47

The WHO guidelines are also focussed specifically on reducing sedentary behaviour in childhood, rather than any specifically negative effects of screen time. As the RCPCH highlight, if screen time isn't replacing all the good stuff in your child's life, there's no evidence of harm.

thingymaboob · 12/04/2022 16:04

The "turn the TV off ffs" brigade on here are ridiculous and hilarious and I'm so glad I don't know any of you in real life. My daughter is 4, she's active, does ballet, runs in the mud, swims and is happy and content. She watched so much CBeebies during lockdown. Her reading and number comprehension is extremely good - probably because of alpha blocks and number blocks. It's all about balance. Also, telling a mum on maternity leave to turn the TV off is obsurd - "watch TV when they're in bed" hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. Yeah right. Some people live in cloud cuckoo land.

thingymaboob · 12/04/2022 16:05

@WTF475878237NC

Turn the TV off fgs. You can watch it when they're in bed or to your heart's content when they're older.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Recycledblonde · 12/04/2022 17:00

I didn't worry too much about tv when mine were small, I remember my daughter seeming to have a particular love of snooker! They are all in their 20s now, when they come over we have long involved discussions without them looking at their phones and they are all avid readers. They still all love playing board games too.
I grew up without a TV and remember being obsessed with it once I'd left home and had access to one.

duvetdayforeveryone · 12/04/2022 17:21

We always had CBeebies on in the background when in the lounge

I also laid out toys on the blanket, including paper and chunky crayons.

This was only part of the day. We also had water play in the bath (I always monitored this), play sessions at the children's centre, going to the shops, and going to the playground.

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