Honesty please! How much tv do you let your toddlers watch when sick?

[eynjln]

I’m probably gonna get annihilated for this and I do feel super guilty about it!

DD is 23 months old. Her cold became a chest infection, on anti biotics as of this morning. She’s been ill for a few days, and me too with a chest infection. She’s off childcare, I have no family to help me, I can’t take her to the park or play group incase of spreading, DH works long hours and hasn’t actually seen DS since Sunday evening and I’m demented.

Yesterday I took her for a long walk, about an hour, got home and it made her cough even worse! So I didn’t want to do that again, especially as it’s so cold. And she has a low grade fever today.

She’s watched about 4-5 hours of TV today 🥺 I tried to play with her but she lasts only a few minutes and gets bored. I’m trying to stay present with the TV on, singing along and talking through what we’re watching, but it annoys her and she basically tells me to keep quiet 😂 and she’s also particular about when she wants affection, at the moment she doesn’t want any, so she’s lying on her belly on the other side of the couch while I’ve been doing a bit of reading.

and I feel so guilty!!! Are you guys the same with limitless tv when toddler is sick? She’ll usually watch an hour a day when healthy so I can cook and do chores or have a shower (unless at childcare ofc). But never this much

It’s just TV not the work of the devil. 😈

Honestly I’d do anything that keeps her calm and both of you sane and not feel one bit bad about it. She’s ill and it’s only temporary.

I hope that she feels better soon.

Well done for only letting her watch 5 hours. I’d be doing 8 hour tv days in this scenario

Haha true it really does feel like a cardinal sin though 😂

No restrictions at all if they or I am ill.

The only thing I would do at under 2 is try and take them out in pram locally after lunch in the hope they will nap and sleep off some illness if they won’t fall asleep at home

Haha ok thank you I’ll stop being so hard on myself !

She's ill, they are the same as us, they just want to sit on the sofa and chill in front of TV. Like you we have limits on TV use but it's out of the window when they are full of cold. Don't feel guilty, it's helping them rest and relax to get better.

Ok thank you! I will try that tomorrow

Thank you! i just read so many forums of parents being crucified for unlimited tv and then I was like oh god I’m the worst haha

Pretty much unlimited when I'll. I'd try and turn it off for a bit, maybe a short pram walk well tucked up, or some play doh or something. But essentially, just let her chill and rest.

It's better that she sits still to rest and heal. To is fine it won't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Wish you both well soon, absolutely dire time of year. Were the same in this household one thing after another

As above. She’s not going to feel like doing anything at all if she’s poorly, same as us. Other than staring at the ceiling there isn’t a lot else to do apart from some CBeebies! I’m not surprised she’s moaning if you’re doing a running commentary whilst she’s trying to watch 😆 It’s fine.

My 2 year old spent the entire night coughing until she got sick, on repeat. She’s been watching TV on and off all day. She’s my third so I’m way more lax and have no guilt 😂 She has also been telling me to keep quiet when I sing along to miss Rachel

Honestly none as we don't have one but I say whatever gets you through the day is fine in the short term.

When sick: pretty much as they want. I will offer other things periodically.
"Want to help make cookies?"
"Want to build a castle with magnatiles?"
Blah blah

I'm a bit fussy about what they watch...
I think I'm a good mother with fairly high standards.
Short term its absolutely fine

Loads and loads!

I do interrupt to read aa book and have naps

24 7 cbeebies.
Go with it
It s not horror movies

That all?
We have it on most of the day at the weekend when in she is playing around though and we interact but it's normally always on.

Enough TV so that I can crack on with some work around the house..... when my children were little and poorly the TV was the babysitter

Our TV is on most of the day, whether they're sick or not. I felt guilty about it to start with but all of them seem fine - outgoing, curious, inventive, kind. I don't think you should worry!

Honestly, it really doesn’t matter. She’s unwell and she otherwise has an enriching life exploring the world. My then 2 year old watched tv pretty much 8 hours a day for several months due COVID because I had to work. Just like everyone else. No ill effects. He’s clever and very active and social now at 7. As a child, I was with my grandparents from 3 months til I started school and the tv was pretty much always on. Didn’t do me any harm. I did well in school, got a PhD, successful career. Let her stare at Peppa Pig if she’s poorly. She will be fine.

What do you want to do when sick like that? Absolutely nothing 😂
Don't worry op. It's fine.

Ours is on a lot too. One DS who's nearly 3.

I have to say he's learnt a lot from a lot of tv. Some of the things he comes out with is incredible (he knows all the planets and the other they are from the sun!)

We also go out a lot, play together. If I'm honest in the last 6 months he's lost interest a bit. He will happily play with it in the back ground and doesn't really pay attention to it.

Don't feel bad OP. Someone will always say something you're doing is wrong.

A lot of kids tv is actually pretty educational.

When they're sick, just go with the flow. Enjoy the peace and quiet! I wouldn't be rabbiting on while she's trying to relax. Can you imagine if someone did that to you when you were watching telly 😂

I agree with PP, that what they watch is just as important as how much. But really, just let her chill.