"I let my 2 month old watch TV because it gives me a break and he loves it BUT everyone says i shouldn't so I am wondering who else lets their young babies watch TV and how long did/do you let them watch? also how DO YOU DEAL with people telling you that you shoundn't?"
- Karen
18 comments:
I let my babies watch TV, I think that shows like baby Einstein give kids a good foundation, Austin (21 months) will often repeat words that they say on the shows, as well as words we say to him, so I think that is just great! I also find that maybe their 'digital flash cards' as it is often called, might be stimulating them in a different way than I can/ would have thought to do...
What kind of shows does he watch? If they are educational shows you could just try to reassure people that he only watches things that are designed for kids his age.
Depending on just how much you let him watch, I would say that an hour or two (two sets of one hour or less) is harmless. Hope that helps :)
I let my little one watch Baby and little einsteins so don't let anyone tell you what you can and cannot do with yer child. It would be different if you were letting them watch violence but if its just cartoons and gives you a break,, why not?
I let my little guy (now 19 months) watch TV at 2 months as well. He really liked "peep" on TLC. He now loves Bob the Builder. If someone says something about me allowing him to watch TV, I simply tell them that he does not sit in front of the TV all day, and that he will only sit and watch for a few minutes at a time anyway, given his age.
I dont let my son watch tv, honestly I dont think he has anything to gain from it and I much rather be interacting with him than him sitting in front of the tv. He is 14 months old and at most he gets an hour of tv every 2 weeks and that's just from glancing at it while we have it on. Now I am not a stay at home mom so any time I do get with my son is precious and I wouldnt want him to be watching tv instead.
Oh I should have added that my husband is ADHD so Im not taking chances and will do what I need to do to decrease my childrens chances of developping it.
My son doesn't watch TV either. He is 7 months old. It's not so much that I don't let him, but he doesnt' have much of an interest and I'd rather he not anyway for now. I just don't see a reason for a 7 month old to watch television, it doesn't promote anything. We don't own any Baby Einstein or I would watch that with him. I usually just wait until he is asleep to do stuff. I am not putting you down for your choice, it's just not something I choose to do.
My son likes blues clues, so I let him watch one show a day. It is the only one that keeps his interest. So I let him watch it and my husband likes it too.
We're one of those households where the tv is on all the time for background noise pretty much...but most of the time neither my son nor I pay attention to it. He will ask to watch his "movies" though...which are Blues Clues or Peep. He used to be really into the Baby Einstein ones when he was a bit younger. It amazes me the things he's picked up off of Blues Clues especially...words, colors, shapes, numbers, songs, dancing, you name it! A lot of the things we can directly contribute back to a Blues Clues episode. I also like letting him watch Peep because at the end of the shows, there are kids doing an "experiment" of sorts illustrating some point that was in the show. I think that TV has it's place in life, even young lives, and so long as he's not watching mind numbing things all day long and has a good variety of other activities in the run of a day, tv isn't going to harm him. I think some things on TV can enhance things they learn from books, interaction with other kids, etc. I know it certainly has with my 2 year old who can count to 13, say most of his letters, name a few colors and distinguish between an oval and a circle ;) Plus finish the cute songs from Blues Clues haha!
I really don't see anything wrong with letting my children watch TV. I have the Treehouse channel that is on from 8 am to 8 pm most days...they don't always watch it, but tune in for their fav shows while they are playing. My 2 1/2 yr old has learned alot from watching shows like Blues Clues, Dora and Sesame Street. She talks really good and knows all of her colors, she can count to 20, knows most of her alphabet, nursery rhymes, and most shapes. She surprises me every day. I do things to like sitting in for a couple of shows and play along with her, she really enjoys it and then you can monitor the shows as well. As far as what others say and think, I pay no attention to them, they are my children and as a mother I feel I know what is best for them. I think you should do what you feel is best!
Everyone does different things with their children and I feel that no one has a right to judge you, they are your children. My oldest is 2 and she has watched TV since she was 2 months old. My baby is 6 months and he watches it with his sister. I don't pay attention to what anyone else has to say, I pay attention to my children and play with them and need to take time to do housework also, so letting them watch tv helps in that area!
it really helps to see so many ofher moms let their kids watch tv.. thanks everyone... i will try and not let it bother me when others ask questions in a snarky way..
It really bothers me when others try to parent me on parenting my child(especially if I don't know them)...I usually ask them if it is any of their business, because to me I am the parent. If you are a first time mom like me you don't need people watching your back all the time, they learned as we are doing right now. We all feel as if we are the best parents and no one should be able to belittle us and take that away.
TV as long as it is educational to me is fine for an hour or two...too much and they may become too dependant on it, but there's nothing wrong with learning , and that's what most infant shows do(TEACH).Hope this helps
I never seen anything wrong with it till my friends husband told me they link it to ADHD because pics move too fast for there brains. So I try not to let her watch any, however she does love the sound and bright pics when it catches her eye.
ADHD? Wow, I had never heard that before, perhaps that's why BE (Baby Einstein) IS sort of like digital flash cards.
For those of you who have never seen one, they are made up of a sequence of puppet shows, pictures, and words, all set to a background of classical music.
Bless those folks at Treehouse. We have it on constantly but Lauren will only watch a few minutes at a time. She'll watch then go play and then watch more and then go play more. I'd take issue if she was glued to it but it seems to be just something to do in between other activites.
I don't think there is anything wrong with letting your child watch television occassionally, but all day long is just a bit much I think. If you are a SAHM and letting the TV babysit your kids, I think that is a bit off. You should interact with your kids, take them outside, not only is it healthy for them, but also you! I think if you are going to let them watch shows or movies, you should really take consideration into what they are watching. You really have to protect your children's eyes, ears and mind. They are like little sponges and absorb everything! Just think about it!! I let Zakk watch Curious George and sometimes he will watch Reading Rainbow, Poko and Sesame Street. But I find these days a lot of "toddler" shows are seeming to be a bit too old for them. Teletoon is just awful in my opinion. I have a friend who sits her 3 year old daughter in front of teletoon all day long and picks up terrible things from it like "Oh my God" and "Stupid idiots" and just really unneccessary things like that! It's sad, because those types of things can be avoided and prevented if a person is to supervise and choose the shows their child watches and learns from. That's my two cents. I know, I know, I'm all over the place and not too organized with my points. Meh.
HEY THERE,
I LET MY BABY GIRL TEEGAN WATCH TV AND SHE LOVES IT .ESPECIALLY THE CARTOON S WITH LOTS OF COLORS..SHE IS 8 MTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN WATCHING SINCE 3 MTHS..SHE EVAN HAS FAVORITE SHOWS LIKE CLIFFORD AND MISS BG..I AM LUCKY I DONT HAVE CABLE BUT 2 OUT 3 CHANNEL I GET HEREIN ONTARIO ARE CARTOONS ALL DAY,,OH AND TEEGAN JUST LOVES BABY EINSTEIN SHE COULD WATCH THAT ALL DAY IF SHE WANTED TOO..
The American Assoc. of Pediatrics recommends that babies under 2 do not watch TV b/c of its association with ADD and ADHD. As someone else posted, the images and editing are too quick and does not allow them to focus. I think it over-stimulates babies, who can be fascinated with very simple things like their fingers, a person's face (it's all new to them after all!). I have a toddler, 2, and a four year old, they watch TV on the weekends only, for a total of 2 hours maybe. What do they do the rest of the time? Things little kids will do when they are allowed to be creative and free: they play make believe, draw, paint, help me cook, read, run and swing outside, make up intricate stories and pretend, etc. etc. There's tons for kids to do! AND, if they are bored, that's ok too. A little boredom is the precursor to creating your own entertainment.
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