Tv before bed bad? How strict are you with 3 and under?

[Anonymous]

My three-year-old and I watch 20 mins or so together, with her evening snack, before bath.

[Anonymous]

15 months - zero TV so far. I plan to introduce it at 2, if he's interested. Probably 30 minutes a day.

I personally think anything up to an hour a day is fine. It's a whole different thing for the SAHM crowd too. It's just not fair to compare to kids that are in daycare or with a nanny all day. I get why a SAHM might use TV more. We're all human. People need a break.

[Anonymous]

We try to limit tv too, but our 2 year old typically watches about 15- 30 minutes in the morning when she wakes and before the rest of us are ready for breakfast and then 30 minutes or so in the evening while I make dinner. I have noticed 2 things... 1) the more she watches, the more she wants, but she is easily engaged with other activities if I just give her attention 2) Any TV w/in 30 minutes of nap typically means a much shorter nap. Do not notice the same thing at night, but bedtime routine always includes reading together.

[Anonymous]

For those people who say their toddler gets TV so they can get dinner ready, etc., are your kids unwilling to play with toys during that time? [No judgement, just curious]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those people who say their toddler gets TV so they can get dinner ready, etc., are your kids unwilling to play with toys during that time? [No judgement, just curious]

I don't do this but can say from experience that my child will not play with her toys for very long if I'm not in the room. She wants my full attention when we get home.

[Anonymous]

Kids are 3 and 5 and we did zero tv before age 2 (older DC watched only when younger was napping). Now they watch up to 30 min/day though usually don't during the week. I'm pretty strict on good sleep hygiene (for my kids at least, for myself I wish I were as strict) and this means we don't do TV before bed. I agree with the PP that the light and movement are not conducive to good quality sleep, let alone falling asleep. So far the kids haven't asked for too much more and it doesn't occur to them to beg for it during certain times of the day (before/during meals or before bed) because it's not even an option. Sometimes they ask for more on the weekend and we'll OK it if it doesn't interfere with other plans or they haven't watched too much during the week.

I think kids live up to whatever expectations you set. I expect mine to be entertained without TV (including with my engagement if they want to the extent I can) when I'm doing meal prep and such. If the kids KNOW they have the option of TV, meaning knowing that you will cave and say OK, they will push that option.