Have I let my baby watch too much cocomelon

[Roseyrhubard]

Had a right few days with my 7 month old recently. We’ve put it down to teething as all the signs are there. However he has been throwing some serious tantrums and the days have been long. He is very whingey at the minute. He’s always been a little like this, at 4 months he used to cry at people a lot but he grew out of it so I’m hoping this will soon go too.

ive always let him watch tv from probably about 8-12 weeks old. Started with the dancing fruits and then cocomelon. Now I often put it on when I want to get stuff done around the house. (He does go in his jumperoo a lot too). I know you aren’t supposed to let them have a lot of screen time but it keeps him quiet and I still have a house to get on top of. Just read something that popped up online that links cocomelon to tantrums and now I’m massively over thinking it? Shall I take it away completely? Not sure how I would get anything done though. I often pop him in the high chair with toys have it on in background etc. I just feel like there’s so much pressure on being this perfect mum, i would love to sit and play with him all the time but I still have 1000 other things to do.

I'd put some music on instead...

My first had horrific tantrums. He could never entertain himself at all. As a young baby he watched a bit of Tv But then an advert came on and he screamed. Always had that view of limiting screen time but he needed some early. Next 2 didn't at all. But having a happy relaxed child is the goal. If your being better keeping TV away and they're stressed and crying then it's not better.

OP honestly don't worry. In my NCT group we all used to joke about the TV babysitting service. All our kids have hit milestones, settled into nurseries well etc etc

I've not heard reports about cocomelon but it's not something we watched. We also had dancing fruit and just plain old Disney films like finding nemo, and nursery rhymes.

But what I was keen to do was to make sure the tv was never just left on in the background. If we're playing on the floor - the TV was off, when we're eating TV is off etc etc because I had read that can be damaging - something about focus and language development. Can't remember the full article I read but basically if the tv isn't being purposefully watched then turn it off.

I remember being stressed and plagued with Mum guilt over the TV - until someone wrote a post here on something to do with the dangers of TV and the whole thread was filled with people saying - oh yes I remember those days when I had 1 DC - but now we have DC2 or DC3 - and you have kids ranging from all ages - you can't ban an entire household from watching TV because you have a baby under 2yrs old in the house. Others saying - great so I should banish my 4yr old to watch TV alone so it doesn't hurt my 10 week old - that sort of thing.

Then I realised I was being a bit PFB and I stopped worrying about it. So many families out there with multiple kids and infants in the same house, it's just not feasible to say 'no tv'.

What is it about cocomelon in particular that causes tantrums?

I'm not anti-screen at all, but I do not let my DD (22 months) watch Cocomelon anymore. It winds her up beyond belief!

The FPS rate. It’s a hyper stimulant so it’s literally rewiring your child’s brain.

Personally I think there’s no need for a baby that young to watch any tv

if you do insist on using tv time then hell no to coco melon. A quick google will tell you absolutely everything you need to know about why it’s dangerous for babies and toddlers!

however, there is a reason why even the nhs recommends no screen time for under 2s. There’s so many other activities to occupy them that doesn’t involve tv. The problem is, once you start allowing them you have to go cold turkey to stop them watching it. Honestly, there’s no benefits to a baby that young watching it

i fell into the trap of dancing fruits. Sold as a ‘sensory’ programme for babies. It isn’t, that programme (like coco melon) puts the brain in an almost trance like state.

Probably but I think it’s realistically all the same really. Ds was absolutely obsessed with Cocomelon - he would stop crying when it was on tv or the songs playing in the car ect. But now he’s 17 months old and hasn’t shown an interest in it in months - it’s all about Bluey and Duggee now 🤷‍♀️

No, it’s not all the same. Cocomelon is a hyper stimulant whereas other shows aren’t.

Don't get me wrong, I never put that shit on for my kids - but I think you need to be careful not to jump on the hysteria bandwagon.

Here's a more measured article.

www.parents.com/news/some-think-cocomelon-is-too-stimulating-for-their-kids-we-asked-an-expert-to-weigh-insome-think-cocomelon-is-too-stimulating-for-their-kids-we-asked-an-expert-to-weigh-in/

No “hysteria bandwagon”. The FPS rate—that is far higher than any other children's programme—tells you all you need to know.

FPS = frames per second. Most TVs are only capable of 60 FPS. It wouldn't matter if they created cocomelon with 1000 FPS, your TV wouldn't be able to display it - and, if it could, it would simply be a much smoother moving image. Most animation is actually done at very low frame rates because it costs money to render every frame.

kids.kiddle.co/Frame_rate

The people saying it is a hyper stimulant are saying it is the quick scene changes that are the issue - this is entirely unrelated to FPS.

You've repeatedly used terms you don't understand, to spread panic about the programme, so I do consider your input to be driven by hysteria rather than understanding. Sorry.

Do Ms. Rachel instead of Cocomelon.

My kids get plenty of screen time, I am no pearl clutcher on this topic but even I was a bit 😮at putting an 8 week old in front of a screen.

Honestly at this age there is no need - you can occupy them in so many ways, some already mentioned but in addition you could get a Tonie box so they can listen to stories/music, jumperoo is great, bouncer, play mat, light machine, bubble machine, so many options. And you could definitely use a sling - I used one till mine were almost 2, there's no way your baby is heavier than that!

I have been hearing good stuff about Ms. Rachel, and maybe I think you can try it.

YIKES!!!

With the things I heard about Cocomelon worry about tantrums even for 7 months.

That is not true.

Your kid only needs TV as this is what you have created, no 12 week old needs TV and it is addictive and it will only get worse so wean them off now while you can. Also it's not advised to put them in a jumperoo for too long either so please look into that. I get you want to get things done or have a breather, but work out some better options for your baby. They should be happy just playing with toys or anything really, pots and pans etc. No child, especially a baby needs TV. That's just being really lazy.

I recall feeling like all my baby did at that age was yell at me. With hindsight, it was actually that the baby was starting to see things that it wanted, but couldn't get to and was super-frustrated about it! Not long after, crawling commenced - as someone said to me at the time, they need a certain motivation towards movement, and frustration is definitely motivating!

So, it maybe that more tummy time and a push towards movement will help with the "tantrums"?

I hate to say it though, but housework got a whole lot harder for me once crawling started: suddenly they don't stay put and get into everything. (Quite literally climbing into the washing machine and onto the dishwasher...)

I found a bouncy chair or highchair positioned so chores could be watched very helpful too. Housework is apparently fascinating to babies. I wish I liked it as much! :D

I don't own a TV, so no comment on that. But your 7 month old sounds very normal - hang on in there!

Yes they do.