Dancing Fruits

[Dancingmum2416]

What’s everyone’s thoughts on dancing fruits on YouTube for babies? Mine is 4 months old and this week has had his jags and now teething so very very fussy. Anything I’m doing isn’t working, playing, reading, rocking. He is calm on a walk but I can’t walk all day and right now it’s gale force winds. It seems to be the only thing that is settling him and I know surely if he’s quite happy that’s better than him being fussy but I feel guilty.

You'll get a mix on here that's to be sure😃 when mine was that age my TV was always on with nursery rhymes or my music videos. He didn't always watch it but I think he liked the music. He's nearly 22 months now and doesn't really bother with the TV. Honestly if your little one is happy especially when teething then I really don't see the issue. Don't feel guilty, there's nothing to be guilty about😊

i don't think a small amount of screen time hurts.. as long as it is just for short periods.

we have an 8 week old (my grandson) and the activites my DD does with him seems exhausting.. we have tummy time (never had that when mine were little), we than have flash cards for tracking (???) we have a piano for kicking... and he is allowed a small amount of screen time for the dancing fruits.. apprently its good for their development

5 hours a day... No.

HeyBear when desperate is beyond fine... all my niace MC friends put it on for their fractious babies so do i once in a while.

I am warning you now OP, it does not matter what you say, posting on Mumsnet is NEVER a way to stop yourself feeling guilty. You will always get people who come on here to put the boot in, and threads about screens are particular catnip for judgy types.

FWIW I don’t think it’s a problem at all, my son enjoyed quite a few baby screen things at that age and he’s a well-adjusted 8 year old now. Just stick to things that are actually meant for babies.

i confess... 26 years ago i recorded tellytubbies off the tv onto a VHS tape and played it on a loop.. for almost ALL day everyday for years.

i can say with much confidence, both my children now 22 and 26 have not suffered any developmental set backs due to my telly tubby abuse, they both were acedemically clever, have both finished uni with 'firsts' and are both working in the area they got their degrees in.

@namedchangedtoprotectme tellytubby abuse🤣🤣🤣🤣

Mine wasn't allowed at that age, purely because I didn't see the point when they were that tiny. However, I don't judge you it at all we all do things we feel a bit guilty for or a bit daft to keep them quiet for our own sanity. I sing fireman sam or paw patrol on rotation whilst brushing my sons teeth as it's the only way to prevent him screaming...

However, if you're worried about screen time I've got my son a Yoto which is an audio book/song player for children. He loves it and it's been a lifesave for early mornings etc. Your little one might like the nursery rhymes, stops the TV then.

Dancing fruits has saved my sanity on many occasions! I find it quite catchy tbh and find myself singing the tunes when it’s been off for hours. Do what you need to do, and do not feel guilty!!

My son wasn't into dancing fruits but we quickly realised he LOVED a bit of Ms Rachel when he was teething or post-jab or upset. She even taught him a couple of signs! You will get judged here, but whatever, you can't win as a parent. You know your child best, personally I find anything in moderation is grand and my little boy has smashed every milestone so far.

My DD1 who is 4 absolutely loved that. She used to watch a small amount of it and she's turned out fine. Met all her milestones, very sociable, seems pretty intelligent. I actually do think she learned some things off the nursery rhyme ones and was clearly counting at 18 months. She has always absolutely loved books as well so no impact there.

DD2 who is almost 8 months ends up watching it by default as DD4 might be watching a bit of Peppa pig after school. I try not to worry about it and use the time to have a quick clean around / cup of tea. You have a different view on these things the second time around x

I’m not trying to ‘shut my baby up’, I am trying to get him to feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Nothing wrong with it at all to help him relax / distract him a bit. I used to show mine the dancing fruits for a few minutes if he was upset and he loved all the colours and the music! Also another vote for Ms Rachel, I hate it but my son loved it. A few minutes won't hurt :)

They. Saved. My. Life

Honestly. Thank god for the dancing fruit, snow insanely useful tool when needed. Oh and cheerful upbeat music too, lovely

I’ll be honest that I don’t really get it. At four months they can’t even move. You can put them in front of the washing machine and theyre entertained 🤣 or you just hold them.

I get it when they’re older and start nagging.

The https://www2.hse.ie/babies-children/play/screen-time/#:~:text=2%20to%205%20years,can%20watch%20or%20play%20together.

HSE recommendation is 0 screen time. To be quite frank I don't see any need to stick a child that age in front of a screen. Put a toy in front of them, a washing machine, watching yourself do a few bits. At a glass door looking out, literally anything but a screen is interesting to them.

When I was holding he was just kicking and punching and wriggling, I obviously tried that first.

My washing machine is in utility room currently under construction

The thing is, no research into the impact of "screen time" is going to be particularly rigorous or convincing, because there are so many other variables in the way a child is raised, as well as their innate self - it's not possible to raise two identical children completely identically apart from the screen time and measure the impact.....

I was allowed to watch shit-loads of TV when I was a kid - I still got a degree from Oxford and turned out to be a pretty decent human being. Similarly I allowed my daughter to watch TV or a tablet when it seemed useful to do so, and she is now an extremely high achiever academically as well as (more importantly) the nicest person I have ever met.

On the basis of my exhaustive research, OP, dancing fruits are fine.....

The hse can stick their advice 🤣🤣🤣 Ms Rachel was our saviour here at times when you needed 15/ 20 minutes to get stuff done.

I am delighted you find medical professionals advice hilarious.

I have a very special place in my heart for Hey Bear dancing fruit. My daughter absolutely loved it from about 6 months when I needed to make her food and she would scream the house down if I put her down or god forbid in her high chair for a second.

Fair enough! Every child is different and you do what you can.

Totally fine op I'd say, just ensure it's not too much screen time but I know that I used the tv to distract both of mine to allow me to cook tea/dry hair or to distract them on a bad day with illness etc. don't beat yourself up, as long as it's not screen time all day I say

I think it's fine in moderation. It's a bit of visual sensory stimulation. If you had fairy lights it would do the same job. It's fine for a short period as long as it's not at the expense of other activities IMO.

I don't use the TV loads but definitely use it more when my baby is grizzly or unwell.

I think there is also one called Ella Loves Baby Sensory which is more gentle and not so visually overwhelming as Hey Bear btw.