How much TV does your 18mo watch?

[Mothergoosesbiggestfan]

Thanks to illness every other week due to starting nursery DD is watching far too much TV for my liking...She does get lots of parental attention when not in nursery and I make sure we "do" something every day even if it's a trip to the park for an hour. We're lucky we have a large garden so when weather allows I make sure we use it for at least an hour of outdoor play at a time or more if wanted.

Our day has fallen into milk to music (radio), play with toys for 20 mins then the TV ends up on...obviously she doesn't sit straight, she'll get up play etc.. If it's not a nursery day, after breakfast we'll go out to "do" something. TV will go on once back occasionally, try not to encourage it but doesn't always work.

It's on again late afternoon and after Tea...

According to the WHO this is waaay too much but what do other NORMAL not mothers entering for the perfect mother award UK think?

I say garden for an hour as it's autumn and everything's wet most of the time...in the summer when it wasn't heatwave temperatures we were out as much as possible.

When mine was 18 months old they didn’t watch TV at all, I’ve only slowly started to introduce it now and they are almost 4.

It sounds like they are getting lots of fresh air but personally I would just not turn the TV on and provide access to their toys, it is surprising how well they can entertain themselves.

Or try to include them in any chores you have

But fundamentally you need to do what works for you, I had people criticise my parenting because mine didn’t watch TV!! If you are concerned about it reduce it a little each day by a few minutes.

My 19 month old gets one episode of In The Night Garden a week - a Sunday morning treat when we're all in bed together. That's all.

But, it's a bit irrelevant what I do, it's what you do and whether you're happy with it that matters. It does sound as if you feel she watches too much, so just cut back and find a level you're more comfortable with. This is the easy age to limit viewing, so just turn it off and she can play with her toys instead

And by the way, referring to your original post, I am very much a 'normal' mother in every other respect, and am not into prizes/martyrs at all. I just don't think toddlers need TV.

@canyoutoleratethis it really got bad during terrible illnesses when nothing would console them 😒

First child very little TV. Second a bit more, 3rd (20mths) loads. But it doesn't stop her doing other things.
She's isn't always watching it as she has lots of toys she like to play with in the living room. We read, do chores, and get outside every day. She also goes to nursery. Do what works for you and your child.

I think defaulting to putting the TV on when you're home is an easy habit to fall into. My DC were watching a couple of hours a day but when I feel the dependence creeping up, I go cold turkey and it resets them more easily than you'd expect! It's hard to find the right balance though. I've been up since 6am and if I put the TV on they'd leave me alone but instead I'm playing lego/refereeing already 😴

@Crimsonbow it's quite the sneaky evil. Ours was up at 5.30am so it did go on for a bit. But now we're also playing lego! 🤣

Is it just during “terrible” illnesses though? It doesn’t sound like it from your description. You say you play outside in the garden for at least an hour, more when it’s not wet and the weather is nice. That’s not something you would do during a “terrible” illness.

Just stop putting it on, you know it’s far too much. It also isn’t made better by your daughter not always sitting and watching it but also playing while it’s on. Background TV is a bad habit and it’s distracting from playing/talking.

Also, the best way to control it and set expectations is to have a fixed time each day/week when the TV can go on. We only have ours on in the evening when I’m making dinner. That way our kids know they’re wasting their breath asking for it at any other time of day.

@OperaStation you really need to read my posts better 🤣

I’m very guilty of having the tv on too much for my 3 year old. She asks for it a lot too, but if I turn it off and she throws a wobbly I make sure to not put it back on and within a couple of minutes she is fine and playing with something else. She does play, and do colouring and painting while it’s on too. Don’t feel too guilty OP. I’ve not been well myself lately so definitely have relied on it too much but it’s not all like the horror stories you hear, she’s not a zombie when she watches it and she does like to do other things and go out lol

Generally 20-30 minutes in the morning whilst we get ready and the same in the evening whilst we get dinner. But…
1 DS woke at 5am, this is not unusual.
2 I know he needs new toys as he’s bored of what he’s got but we can’t really justify the cost so close to Christmas.
3 I’m 7w pregnant and been signed off work for morning sickness / fatigue so even seeing to his basic needs is hard.
I hate that he watches this much TV, he asks for it too, but I need rest and space at the moment.

I should say he’s watching more at the moment because of those 3 things!

Asking Mumsnet is always going to bring out the people who pontificate and love to make you feel bad. I would follow your instincts and allow yourself to have more energy some days than others. Your child won’t suffer, because you are clearly putting them first.

Oh and @MNHQ I don't give permission for this to feature on your Facebook page

Oh my word, as mum to 2 older kids, don't even give it a second thought! My eldest was about that age when her little sister came along and was in front of the TV a lot! 6 years later there is literally no difference between her viewing habits and those of her friends who weren't allowed the TV at a young age. In fact it's probably less of a big deal for them. Don't worry, it does them no harm when combined with other activities.

Under 2's should have zero hours of screen time a day. Just don't put the tv on. You are in control.

Obviously when they are ill it's different rules in our house.

If you are feeling bad about it you can look into what TV shows are “better” than others. Which is to do with things like the time between screen changes, the music, the colours & the storylines. Things like coco melon are “bad”
if you give a mouse a cookie is “good”
there is a lady on Instagram called Jerrica Sannes, while I obviously don’t follow everything she says I do try to pick better programmes.

My second child was 18 months during lockdown 1. She watched lots of TV. CBeebies was a lifesaver.

I've never had an issue with my kids watching TV. They watch CBeebies or specialist videos on YouTube for their interests.

My youngest is now 3 and mostly watches Bluey or Caillou in French.

@MarigoldMoonStone I absolutely abhor Cocomelon...I will not allow anything to do with it in the house. She is a but of a Motter Goose Club addict but this involves mostly real faces body actions, lots of repetitive nursery rhymes and counting etc... so it's just that and Mr Tumble and jojo and gran gran that I rate.... but she does watch Bing, bluey, chuggington, Peter rabbit, go jetters, love monster, hey duggee, alpha and number blocks ...

Mother goose that should have been

I'm not precious about screen time at all but I really don't like TV on when it's not being actively watched. I think it detracts and distracts from other forms of play and the constant noise and low level of stimulation irritates me on a personal level!

At that age I think DD would maybe watch 20 mins of something and get bored, and when her attention started to wander I'd just turn it off.

It sounds like it's become more of a habit (and no judgement here because some days it's hard work and the TV is a good babysitter!) but at 18 months I think I'd be trying to do more stuff away from the TV or keep it off and encourage freer play with other toys.

This is all very well but your comment will only induce further guilt.

How on earth do deal with times when you the children have been on the go all day and need some down time? Or when you simply need to get something done or chat to your partner for 20 mins uninterrupted?

Same. It doesn't seem to have done any harm. He likes the TV but isn't obsessed, doesn't mind when it's turned off as long as we give a warning (as with any change) and sometimes switches it off himself because he's had enough. He usually plays while watching, so building duplo or playing with trains or colouring at the same time.

I am quite strict about what he watches though - Cbeebies fine, it's all reasonably educational/not too annoying. I don't let him watch Paw Patrol or Peppa Pig, I just don't like them. Didn't have Cocomelon on even he was younger. I wish I hadn't let him start watching Blippi 🤦 but he only really likes the soft play ones.

It's no big deal, and I can't actively parent all the time.