How much tv, if any, do you let your toddler watch?

[Gateau]

My DS is 16 months and for the forst time is now becoming interested in kids' tv programmes. Which I think is no bad thing, in moderation. He LOVES The Night Garden and watches either it or another programme every morning, and at night. So that's half an hour in the morning and again at night.
LAst night when he got in from nursery he also put the tv on (no kidding!)and watched The Night Garden. But that's a one-off as we usually go out to play in the garden, but it was raining.
How much does your toddler watch? Can you recommend an programmes for this age group? I must say, I do fidn The Night Garden strangely addictive.

DD is 2.6, she doesn't watch any television. Neither do we.
She has watched the first 10 minutes of the snowman animated film last christmas, and a 5 minute Bod programme.
She is perfectly happy occupied in other ways. I am lucky in that she will occupy herself while I need to do something ,most of the time, and rarely tantrums.

The question is can she occupy herself because she has never known television or inspite of this?

loads, but he also plays, loves books, crayons and paints, goes to playgroup etc.

He loves Something Special and Lazytown on Cbeebies, but he also loves the Simpsons and Friends- when the theme tune to Friends starts he shouts 'Dance!' and we all have dance in front of the TV together holding hands.

DD (23 months) is a complete telly addict! It's on for the Cbeebies bedtime hour when she gets home from nursery, although she's pottering about playing with toys whilst it's on. She knows what programmes come on in what order, so she shouts "I watch dubbers now!" after Charlie & Lola and seems to know all the characters.

At weekends she sometimes has cbeebies on whilst I'm cooking or something. She seems to particularly like dancing to teh songs on Tweenies and Space Pirates.

Sorry, had hands clamped over mouth there in shame. Well suffice to say that DD can sing a shockingly wide array of CBeebies theme songs and if we were following government guidelines on hours of TV consumption she'd probably have an adjusted TV age of about 23 (years, nor months sadly)...

DD (18 months) prrobably watches 1 1/2 - 2 hrs depending on the day.
We also have it on in the morning and before bed like everyone else.
She loves ITNG too but we are really enjoying Pocoyo (found on CITV) and maybe channel 5.
They are very short cute animations with lovely music in them. We bought a DVD as the adverts irritated us.

Lots, mainly Cbeebies though his fecking father has now introduced him to Top Gear reruns on Dave which he adores. But we also go out at least twice a day, play in the garden, read books etc, so I am not worried.

Unfortunately DS watches far too much at the moment. I have always hated quiet in the house so have it on for background noise. He also watches it when he eats. He does play with his toys too and can entertain himself really well.

I am nearly 37 weeks pregnant though so can't play with him or run around with him as much as I would like to.

I'm really ! I was against toddlers watching more than say 1/2hr of TV before I had DD but now it is on for several hours a day (she's 19 months)! I work nights and have no childcare so the TV entertains her when I'm too tired, which is a lot of the time as she doesn't sleep well either. She doesn't constantly watch the TV she'll potter about playing except if ITNG is on, then she's glued. I wish I did more with her. Will be glad when we're back at playgroup so that will be one afternoon sorted without TV!

dd 2.3: loads.
films and dvds and iplayer now though (no tv/licence here any more)

she does lots of happy imaginative play too (and quite easily entertains herself too)

Am opposite to some of you though - i HATE background noise n(apart from music). it really stresses me out when dh has radio on kitchen, and dd watching mermaid called Ariel while singing along tunelessly in living room - TOO noisy.

(PS i dd adores pocoyo too . narrated by stephen fry - how could it NOTbe fab?)

My dd1 used to watch cbeebies until we got Baby TV on virgin, then she started watching it all the time! I particularly liked all the songs on it.

my dd2 wasn't interested in tv at all until around 17-18 months (which was honestly sometimes difficult since its a real lifesaver sometimes), but she now adores baby tv too. it really calms her down.

now both girls watch just that. i find it much more relaxed then cbeebies.

Umlellala, you can watch babytv online on their website. my dd2 falls asleep to the classical music on their baby radio every single night!

ds has it on always between 7.30 - 9 for milkshake and then again for 5.30-7 for the night time thing on beebies.

sometimes (when i'm feeling lazy poorly it's on all day with various DVD's on - bambi is a fave of his, along with chitty chitty bang bang??!)

apart fromt hat tbh we're either out at groups or the radio is on - more often it's the radio as for the simple reason it's cheaper - no electric but it's obv better - and DS likes dancing with me in the kitchen when we're baking etc.

till - everytime justin comes on (if DS is around - he shouts mr tumble mr tumble the other prog he likes to watch) sometimes sits and signs with him but not always.

Too much. Ds1 would watch all day if he could. I don't let him though. I'm another one who hates background noise.

He can take or leave CBeebies (except Bob - very popular) but is very keen on old Top Gear episodes on the Dave channel, cricket and Formula 1(thanks to dh), and tennis. At the moment his absolute favourite thing is Dangermouse DVDs (demanded all day long); can't imagine what he thinks when he watches them.

He is very good at entertaining himself, and loves books too, so I don't worry too much. I think its better to get it out of his system now. I've seen all his older cousins go through an 'obsessed with tv' phase and come out the other side.

I was banned from watching tv as a child because it would rot my mind, or something, and it became the only thing I wanted to do. If I went to someone's house I'd be pleading to watch tv rather than play games or play outside.

EachPeach I think she would probably know how to occupy herself either way.

some children can occupy themselves alone for hours on end, others are always looking around for some added attention or stimluli...

I think TV calms them down a bit TBH in small doses after a really long park/play session I think it really helps them unwind.

DD 21m really loves Cebeebes and depending on the weather and what we are doing but watches around 1 1/2 hours a day. She needs extra stimulation.

"I don't know but she often points at the screen and says Daddy blush He looks absolutely nothing like him "

MINE TOO!

Sometimes up to 3 hours, and mine is 2. I know this is far too much, but it's exceptional, however, never less than an hour a day.

Ebenes -

And what is it with bloody Top Gear re-runs ? I swear DP has seen every episode at least a hundred times...