Can I have your views on big tellies and small children?

[NoviceKnitter]

We've got one of those stupidly big tellies and now a little baby (8 months) who I would quite soon like to start introducing to the odd favourite children's programme (I'm thinking Pingu, Paddington, etc.) I feel like our telly is TOO BIG for a little'n and would like a smaller one. DP thinks that's nonsense (and an excuse for the fact that I find our TV a bit big myself.) What do you lot think? Can I argue my desire for a smaller one is for the benefit of LO?
By the way, it's not, like, one of those hang on the wall cinemas type big, but still quite big iyswim. (32" I think).

It seems a bit mad to buy a tv for an 8 month old tbh. Better to spend the money on a new garden toy or some books.

I cant see a problem as long as they don't sit too close [says marne as dd2 pulls her ride-on toy up to the tv, climbs up with her face against the screen]

Also make sure they can't pull the tv over.

don't think the size of telly matters, TBH. 8 month olds don't really need the telly too much so I wouldn't worry if you're not sticking him in front of it all day!

Me neither - don't think any size of TV matters to an 8mth old certainly wouldn't buy a new one. Although at 8mths I think they're a bit young to be interested!! At 14mths my DS has just started to watch TV for about 5 mins when his sister is watching it but only while he has his milk to drink or something.

Have heard that plasmas on stands are dangerous though ... can fall off onto bubs.

Dp works in IT he says flat screen tvs are healthier than the huge old fashioned monste(catho ray tube thing inside) we've got but he's not concerned enough to replace it.

I just insist mine sit quite a way away from it also the pulling over thing with flat screen bothers me-and we're broke!!!!

We have had a large TV (42 inch plasma type) and had had since DD was about 18 months old or so. She is nearly 6yo now. It is fine. It is very stable and it would really need some pulling to pull it over, but she has never been the type to go and touch it anyway - we always distracted her if she did with any TV, DVD, CD type thing when tiny so she just knew not too quite early on. Her eyes, etc are all fine - so no harm from there.

Interesting - no one against big tvs. certainly wouldn't buy a new one just for DD but I suppose having her has reinforced my wish to reconsider its prominence in the living room - as if size = importance and I'd like it to be less important perhaps than its size suggests...

At 8mths is dd really going to be interested? my 2 only gave a seconds glance then off they went until both were getting on for 15-18 mths. Even now my 2yo dd has the concentration of a gnat and only watches for as long s she can eat an orange!

If you do want a smaller one for dd to watch try logging onto your local freecycle and see if you can snag one on there. there's often 14" portables on ours, but be warned, they go quickly!

We have a 42inch plasma and DS1 stands about an inch away from it watching cbeebies sometimes , esp when I am feeding one or other of DTs and can't do anything about it. Hope it is not affecting him too badly .

We have a 50in plasma mounted on the wall and my 2 year old ds sits on the sofa and will watch it, but knows if he gets to close we turn it off
I wouldn't buy a new telly for an 8 month old x

Crikey - how big are your rooms to house these humungous TVs? Isn't there a recommended viewing distance?

We have a dinky 24 inch flat screen and it's plenty big enough.

Tis not my choice of tv. DH wanted it... Our house is not huge, but it is long and thin and tv is at one end.

I wouldnt worry if its just every now and then.

I have a clear memory of when I was tiny, watching bambi on a cinema screen in the front room.

turns out it was the telly