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Original poster

TV for babies - how young is too young?

22 replies

soppy · 26/11/2004 09:50

Hmm, I'd meant to delay DS (10 months) watching TV for a while, but yesterday was at my wits' end with him and in desperation put CBeebies on. I thought it was OK actually, and it saved my sanity by taking the pressure off me to entertain him for a little while. However I switched it off again pretty quickly, feeling I'd betrayed my high ideals!

What are your thoughts on TV at this age? Pros and cons? Amounts watched? I really don't want it to become a lazy substitute for proper stimulation and interactive play.

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fleurie · 26/11/2004 10:14

i try to avoid it as much as poss with mine who is 11 months - my sister has three and gets really desperate and they watch it a lot - try to put it off for as long as possible as may need to use later if i have more children - there was a study out recently which said for v young children it can affect their ability to conentrate or something - but that said it would probably have to be a lot of tv to have any impact
but if things were getting a bit much would use tv rather than get over frazzled - my view is happy mummy happy baby

monkeygirl · 26/11/2004 10:20

My dd was watching her Baby Mozart video at about this age and maybe a bit of tv but tbh I think most of them have a short attention span at this age anyway so it can never be for that long.

Personally I don't see tv as 'wrong' at all and think parents can get hung up on it and be made to feel guilty. Used wisely children can watch some very stimulating and educational things as well as have a bit of fun (which is just as important!). And I can't deny that it has saved my sanity on many an occasion which must be good for everyone!

Original poster

soppy · 26/11/2004 13:51

I think you're right monkeygirl

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bonniej · 26/11/2004 13:54

lots of the stuff on cbeebies is educations imo. my dd (17 months) switches the telly on herself so it can be quite difficult to get her away from it. I do feel guilty that she wathces too much though. As a mum I seem to always feel guilty about everything

bonniej · 26/11/2004 13:55

educational

Original poster

soppy · 26/11/2004 13:59

I think it comes with the territory bonniej

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Clayhead · 26/11/2004 14:06

First children - when necessity overrides guilt
Second children - from birth...

Original poster

soppy · 26/11/2004 14:12

lol Clayhead

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RudyDudy · 26/11/2004 14:29

My DS is 13 months and won't really concentrate on any programmes but he loves his Baby Mozart and Baby Beethoven DVDs and will be rapt for the duration. I find them particularly useful towards the end of the day (say between tea and bath) when is too tired to really want to do anything and needs some 'quiet time'.

CarrieG · 26/11/2004 14:34

Ds (4 months) watches TV intently when it's on...

...likewise washing machine, kittens fighting, dh playing air guitar...

I'm actually more concerned if I worry too much about him watching it, it'll be 'forbidden fruit' by the time he's 1! Whereas since I don't watch it much myself (more of a bookworm) hopefully he'll decide it's no big deal.

Easy · 26/11/2004 14:36

I have always allowed my ds to watch TV. When he was just a few days old, he laid watching University Challenge one evening while dh and I ate dinner (in front of the telly of couse).

He watched some cbeebies programs from about 4 months, when I needed to get something done. Often I would talk to him about the programs, and join in with songs as I passed the living room door on my way to the washing machine and so-on. From 1 year old we watched programs like numbertime and 'Words and Pictures' together.

Now aged 5 he likes TV, but knows what he likes to watch. If he's not interested in what is on, he switches it off and chooses to do something else. He reads exceptionally well, and his teacher says he has excellent concentration abilities for his age.

Personally I think people get a bit het-up over the evils of TV. I do think it's important mind you to control what programs are watched. No Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles in this house.

RudyDudy · 27/11/2004 13:57

That's all very reassuring easy - thank you!

80sMum · 27/11/2004 14:11

I was fortunate in that when ds and dd were small there was very little TV broadcast that was suitable for very young children. Also there were no videos, so we had to make our own entertainment mostly.
I guess I started letting ds watch Playschool and Watch with Mother from about 2 years old. Dd was probably younger. One thing that I never did though is to let them watch TV on their own. I always watched it with them. It was a nice opportunity to sit down for 20 minutes at 11am while Playschool was on; we would watch it together and talk about what we were seeing. Sometimes we would follow it up with games or stories based on what we had seen or sing some new song that had been on.
If the parent doesn't watch what the child watches, then the TV is basically becoming some kind of babysitter, with the child as a passive observer. IMO children under about 5 or 6 years should never be left to watch TV alone. Am I just being weird, or does anyone else think the same?

moomina · 27/11/2004 14:19

I agree, 80smum - Ds (17 months) has been watching Baby Einstein from about 6 months (sanity saver!) Now he's a bit older he does watch 'real TV' some everyday but he is rarely particularly interested in it, tbh. He will half-watch The Hoobs (which I also like ) and Noddy in the morning, and then maybe half an hour of CBeebies in the afternoon. BUT we always watch together and talk about it, sing along, etc - and it's an excuse for me to put my feet up too!

As long as they're doing plenty of other stuff too I don't see it as a problem. TV is a part of 21st century life, after all, and there are far worse things a child can be doing than jumping up and down to the Bob the Builder theme tune...

littlemel · 08/12/2004 12:37

the only thing we can find to stop my 12 week old crying is tv - she just stares at it intently, i think its just the lights and colours she likes. it does worry me though as she is a bit young....but its not like she watches it loads or anything, so i figure it vcant do her much harm?!!

nicnee · 08/12/2004 13:01

Ds has been watching cbeebies since he was about 4 months in the morning while I get my breakfast. He only watches it for 20 mins or so, then gets bored. It just lets me have a chance to eat and drink.
I do also talk to him about what is on the TV - eg "look at the cow". I also do the dances from boogie beebies for him which he loves.
I think it is ok as long as babies get plenty of other types of stimulation and TV isn't their only source of entertainment.
DS also loves the songs on the cbeebies website!!

dinny · 08/12/2004 20:59

DS (3 months) LOVES the Roly Mo Show. It's dd's favourite too. VERY handy.

dot1 · 09/12/2004 09:12

best invention in the world..! ds1 started with baby Mozart from about 6 months. Ds2 - whatever's on from birth..! He particularly loves any kind of music channel - loves his music - but has really got into Cbeebies 'cos ds1 (now 3) watches it. Don't care at all 'cos it keeps them both quiet and happy!

muminlondon · 09/12/2004 14:41

Interesting research on it \link{http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/Research/TV.html\here}.

I avoided it altogether till about a month ago (dd now 21 months) but that would be harder with older children around. I now let her watch up to 20 minutes of Teletubbies or Balamory per day although I wish Sesame Street was still on!

TheHollyAndTheTwiglett · 09/12/2004 14:45

oh shoot .. I don't limit DS's tv watching (couldn't as was so ill in pregnancy the TV was my godsend) and TBH he doesn't see it as a big deal

He will put the tv on, watch for a few minutes then just get on and play .. he will turn it off when he feels like it and ask to put music on or read or whatever .. he will also turn it off when I ask him to without argument

He doesn't sit goggle-eyed though he does have the capacity to watch an entire disney video (he can also work the video and DVD player ensuring he puts the old ones back in the right box)

He's 3.9 btw and a well-rounded fascinating individual at that

so poo to limiting tv .. if its restricted its more fascinating as can be attested to by the kids who come round and sit transfixed with mouths open because they're not allowed to watch it at home

muminlondon · 09/12/2004 19:45

I hope my dd is watching Disney videos at 3 years as well! I can't stand most TV aimed at babies or very young children with stuffed animals talking gibberish, can't wait to sit down and watch some good musicals when she's old enough to concentrate on them and sing along...

poppy101 · 09/12/2004 20:10

My little one wakes at 5am and stares at the blank tv in our room until I put it on. He likes the bright light and colour. We all sit together in bed to watch BBC News. Its the only time that he really takes an interest in the television.

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