Cocomelon or In the Night Garden?

82 replies

NanaGary · 17/03/2025 20:25

I'm writing a book for parents about babies' and toddlers' TV-watching which is NOT anti-TV. I would love to hear from parents or grandparents about babies and/or toddlers who have watched Cocomelon and/or In the Night Garden and what their reactions were. I'd also like to hear YOUR opinions about which of these two series you think is better.

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GingerLiberalFeminist · 26/06/2025 13:34

NanaGary · 26/06/2025 13:27

Hi GingerLiberalFeminist! I'm interested in your "glazed zombie" comment - might it be possible though, that she was actually just concentrating very hard? I recently did a shot-by-shot analysis of a Cocomelon episode (Old MacDonald' Farm) and was intrigued to find that most of the shots only last a few seconds - I guess this is what is meant when people say it's "very fast". If the subject-matter were more interesting and we got fewer of the enormous faces and huge eyes, it could be quite good, but as it is, yes I hate it too! BTW In the Night Garden is not animation (except in a few bits eg Pontipines): it's actors in body suits, filmed in a real woodland environment (so probably cost thousands more than Cocomelon).

Yes of course ITNG is actors although pontypines and the train are animated:)

Jaybird949 · 23/01/2026 14:10

I'm not a big fan of either for my son. What I do like is a YouTube channel called Fuzzy Friends FunTime. It's a relatively new channel with about 110 or so videos that he really enjoys watching. It's kids-oriented without seeming too 'babyish.'

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NanaGary · 23/01/2026 17:21

Thank you - I'll have a look at it! How old is your son?

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GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 24/01/2026 11:46

My two loved In the Night Garden when they were small! We we would join in with all the dances. I think they are two old so haven’t seen Cocomelon, thankfully!

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NanaGary · 24/01/2026 15:01

Hi GhoulWithADragonTattoo - my twin grandchildren loved it too. At age 2 they enjoyed anticipating which thing would appear once the title sequence arrived outside the Night Garden hedge: would it be the Pinky Ponk or the Ninky Nonk (appropriate gestures for each)? I think the title sequence of ITNG is brilliant - I analyse it in the book, and compare it to Cococmelon's rather boring and obvious Old Macdonald's Farm (Big eyes! In yer face!! No shot longer than 3 seconds!!!) - though maybe that's an interesting challenge for baby viewers?

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Purplebunnie · 24/01/2026 18:25

Grandma here. Cocomelon is an abomination. Peppa Pig has been on permanent holiday and is not allowed in our house,

I quite enjoyed ITNG but DGD not so much wanted the pig or Gecko's garage which I also think is too fast paced.

Now at 3 and a half it's Bluey or Lucas. We refuse to admit that Paw Patrol is on our TV.

We used to have a DVD when my DC were young which was a compilation of the old BBC children's programs. The remakes of the old classics like Thomas the Tank are not as good. The old programs were not so frenetic is the only comparison I think I can come up with

Dawnb19 · 24/01/2026 18:30

I find cocomelon with all the songs make my children more awake. My 19 month old loves his cocomelon tonies during the day. And tractor ted, the Octonauts and Ms Rachel.

For on a nighttime In the night garden is ok but we prefer Puffen Rock.

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