How much TV...

[Anonymous]

...do you let your child watch? Really. I'm looking for total honesty here, because lately I've been letting my 20-month old DS watch way more than I should. There are a variety of reasons for it, and I'm not proud to be using it as much as I have been, but I'm also wondering if I'm that far off of what the average SAHM lets their kids watch. I guess I'm looking for some validation (although I know I should cut down regardless) and also just curious what the norm is since you hear so much about how kids under 2 shouldn't watch any TV at all. I do know some moms who claim their kids don't watch TV at all, but they all happen to be full-time working moms and it seems more SAHMs allow some television. How about you all?

[Anonymous]

I'm a SAHM with a 16 month old and we've kept it off so far. Now that we're down to one nap, though, the days are REALLY long so I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out! Our ped. is very anti-TV and brings it up at every single well visit, reminding us to wait until 2, so I think that makes me feel way guiltier for considering it than I would other wise!

[Anonymous]

To your last point - no, we don't allow TV for DD (9 months). We may have it on in the room while we're playing w/ her but if she turns to watch it then we'll turn the picture off (sound is a seperate stereo button). BUT - both my DH and I work FT. I think it's much easier to do the "no TV" thing while working FT than it would be if I SAH.

[Anonymous]

We are following the AAP guidelines of no tv until two. It is stressful when friends come over/stay with us and their kids scream tv or dvds - even during meals. I don't want to say no, but I also don't want my 10 month old to be exposed until he is a bit older. He is already mesmerized when he sees one in a restaurant and aiport - his basically "zones out" and is transfixed by what he sees.

[Anonymous]

I'm a SAHM. DS (now 5) watched no TV at all until age three. DD (now 21 months) hasn't watched any at all yet; her older brother only gets to watch if she is napping. We plan to hold off on DD also until she turns three.

[Anonymous]

DS is 26 months. He watches 30-45 minutes in the morning while I am getting ready for work (usually Sprout) and he is waking up and 30-45 minutes in the evening while he drinks his milk before bed (usually Signing Times.) During the day M-F, the tv is off. On the weekends, he may watch an extra 30 minutes if we are trying to clean/cook/etc.

Before 2 he'd watch 2 videos of Signing Times per day (AM/PM) - about 50 minutes total a day.

[Anonymous]

30-45 minutes, every other day or so.
(4 and 2.5 year old), no TV before 2 but I think we were less concerned w/ #2...he really didn't sit still though.

[Anonymous]

part-time working mom, children ages 4 and 1.
No TV at all for the 1 year old.
For the 4 year old, also No TVl, except when we're on vacation or at a hotel or someone else's house... an "unusual" setting.

in other words, never at home.

[Anonymous]

10 month old and no TV. I work part-time.

[Anonymous]

11 month old. no tv! if he sees it on b/c we are watching it, he becomes transfixed. it's kind of scary. we immediately either turn it off or redirect him. tv is so intoxicating, for me, too!! haha! i work full-time, but was home with him for 5 months. the days DO seem long but you just have to find other things to do.
good luck.

[Anonymous]

I admit that I used to let my children watch an hour or so a day before the age of one or two. Mostly because my DH can't seem to function without the tv on. They now watch nothing during the week, and maybe a total of an hour or two on the weekends. They very rarely ask to watch it, and when we turn it on, they never watch a program all the way through.

[Anonymous]

No tv until 6 months. Then 30 minutes of video once or twice a day, mostly for my own sanity!! DS is now 6 and we still limit tv to no more than 1 hour a day of tv/video combined. No commercial tv. And we do not watch tv when DS is awake, because it seems hypocritical and it prevents us from fully engaging with him if we are zoned out ourselves.

My advice to you is do the best you can but no need to feel guilty if you are not completely pure as the driven mommy snow!!

[Anonymous]

We started letting DD watch around 20 months or so. Even then, it's not a daily ritual rather a few times a week. We've decided to control it by buying Elmo and Dora videos that have a number of short episodes and no commercials. When she does watch, it's usually only one episode.

[Anonymous]

8 months old - no TV - unless he sees it at daycare - they watch the Wiggles sometimes......

going to try & keep it this way unitl 2 years old at least......

[Anonymous]

To OP - Don't be too hard on yourself. Most people do let their under 2 kids watch a little TV. My husband is a SAHD. He lets our son (21 months) watch a little TV. I'd say its less than an hour a day, with some days being none at all. He likes to turn on the TV and watch for a few minutes and then he's off doing something else. He loves watching this music channel that shows concerts. He dances around and then claps at the end of each song like he's at the show...its pretty funny!

Just do your best to limit it. I'm sure you are doing a great job!