How much TV exposure for infants?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, please keep in mind that you are the parent of one (1) six-month-old -- jolly, friendly, stationary, easily distracted, capable of being amused by nothing more than a spatula and likely taking 2-3 solid naps a day. You are solely responsible for this single child's daytime entertainment and well-being two days out of seven.

You went to go visit friends whose kids are less than two years apart, and whose mom is home with them all day, every day. Counting pregnancy, the mom likely hasn't had a full night's sleep in over three years. Or a restful daytime nap, either -- that whole "sleep when the baby sleeps" goes out the window when there's an older child marauding. When you noticed the older kid parked in front of the TV (probably so that the parents could deal with the baby or the household) did you offer to play Candyland or build a fort? When you noticed the younger one strapped in front of the idiot box (so that the older kid could have some attention, or so dinner could be made), did you offer to hold the baby, or take her for a walk?

In other words, did you at any point offer to help your friend by taking one or more children off her hands for an hour or two, or did you just sit in judgement while "Dora" scrolled by for the third time that day?

I would recommend trying on your best friend's shoes for a bit before you get too smug. Chances are they're going to feel just as uncomfortable on you as they do on her.

Um, please go back and read my post again. I think I was pretty clear that I'm not judging my friend at all and that I get that she has different challenges than I do. And yes, I did spend plenty of time caring for both of her kids, which was fine because I love them, and her. I think you need a drink! Or a rest, or some prozac, or something.

[Anonymous]

I let my 18 month old watch two episodes of the Duggar family today. It's never to early to start teaching her about birth control!

[Anonymous]

I used to always have the tv on in the background tuned to CNN but once I realized how bad that was I moved the tv into the garage. I have a 2.5 yr old and a 6 month old. Neither watch any tv unless DH is around - then he sometimes watches Animal Planet with the eldest

[Anonymous]

Same as many posters. A lot of mom tv during the first six months of nursing. We didn't watch any "kid" tv shows until probably 18 months or so - basically when my sweet baby started to get a little crazy and mommy needed a break to cook dinner!

Now, my 2.5 year old watches close to 2 hours a day (I SAH - if she were in daycare it would be MUCH less, but I use it to shower, prep lunch, make a grocery list, etc.)

I wish it were less, but I also know my own limits. I have ZERO family and ZERO outside help (aside from a cleaning company 1x per month) and DH doesn't get home until 6:30 or 7pm. On weekends and trips/vacations she watches almost no tv, because there are so many people and things around to entertain her.

[Anonymous]

DS is 5.5 months and does not watch any TV (although has been mesmerized by it the few times he has caught a glimpse at this grandparents' house). We are not big TV watchers (never turn it on unless he is in bed), but are trying to wait until he is 3 yrs old before he watches any and even then plan for it to be very minimal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have the TV on most of the time when I'm home. Even if I'm not watching it, I like the background noise. It's a bad habit I've had my whole life. That didn't really change when 14 mo DD came along, despite my best intentions. We don't encourage her to watch or put on shows for her, but she is "exposed" almost every day. She mostly ignores it, but occasionally pays attention. I was surprised recently when I had "America's Funniest Animals" on and she started laughing at a video of a cat chasing a ball around in a circle; I hadn't realized she was capable of actually "watching" TV.

OMG, thank you for this post. I was scrolling through thinking, "Am I the only person out there who apparently is not good enough to break themselves of all TV habits and turn off the TV for the sake of their child?" Suffice it to say that I'm the same as you. Lots of exposure going on in our house too because to be honest, we never changed our habits. This might make me a horrible mother, but it's true.

With our first, he never showed any interest in the TV (this was the kid who was a nightmare on a plane when he got mobile and at no point did the whole DVD player thing work...he could care less), nor did we ever put him in front of any kids' shows until Sesame Street when he was maybe 2.5 yrs because I was home with him all day and needed to add something else to the mix. Now he's four and is definitely more in tune with the television than he used to be. He loves anything that is sports related and if it's on, we generally let him watch it. But besides Sesame Street and an episode of Thomas here and there, we never put on children's programming for him. Nor does he ask for it. He owns one movie - Cars - which has been watched multiple times, I will say (maybe once a month). At times, when I do look over and see that he has quit playing with his toys and is staring at whatever is on TV (which half the time is like HGTV), I will turn it off and he goes back to playing with his toys again. Of course now he has a baby sister and she definitely is showing a lot more interest in the TV screen from the start, so I try to make myself turn it off more or turn her away from it - but I'm still far from perfect.

Kudos to all you moms who never turn on the TV (and I'm being sarcastic...I mean that)!

[Anonymous]

I have kids the same age as OP's friend. WHile I never sit the 7 mo old in front of the TV, he sometimes pays attention to it when his sister is watching something or if DH and I have on the news or sports. BUt mostly, he ignores it. The 2.5 yr old watches up to 30 mins weekday mornings while I do her hair and finish getting myself and the baby ready to leave. I am so thankful that the TV holds her attention for this time - otherwise she would want to "help" me with everything and we would leave late everyday. On the weekends, I will let her watch up to 2 hrs, depending on how I feel in the morning or if I'm trying to get something done. But usually, after about a hour, she will get bored and want to play.

[Anonymous]

we moved last year and never got around to having cable installed so we really don't watch much tv. I have a 2.5 year old and a 7 month old. I liked putting the tv on in the morning for my dd while I fed the baby. we were watching postman pat on qubo which was AWESOME. I watched it with her and we would talk about it. It felt pretty harmless and she would often reference what she saw on tv. They changed the line up on the channel so we stopped watching. The new show was about some slutty pixie or something.

The winter with all the snow we watched a lot of sesame street movies but havent had to this summer. We are also in daycare so I think that helps.

Anyone know when I have to start monitoring what I listen to on the radio? I really enjoy listening to the sports junkies in the morning but am afraid the kids are going to pick up on their bad language.

[Anonymous]

7 month old gets no TV when I'm around but DH has introduced him to the pleasures of watching golf on TV, which I figure is okay since its SO DAMN BORING, I can't imagine it will produce the possible ADD issues. That being said, its likely because he is in daycare all day--12 year old brother watches a lot more and is glued to the computer screen (we do put limits).

[Anonymous]

IMO - infants don't need TV and I think it isn't good for them, especially if they are being strapped in front of it where they can't get away from it if they become over stimulated.

Toddlers should get less then 2 hours a day, according to the experts. I permit a half hour of TV or a movie (usually 30-40 minutes long) some days and not others. It depends on the day, our mood, etc. The soon-to-be-three-year-old likes Jack's Big Music Show, Pinky Dinky Doo, Franklin, Toot and Puddle, as well as Thomas the Tank Engine, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is 2.5 and she watches ZERO television. We literally never turn it on while she's awake.

Upside: It would never occur to her to whine/beg for TV like many of our friends' kids do. Downside: We need to entertain her and/or plan activities and/or encourage her to entertain herself (which leads to other types of whining).

One caveat: I sometimes watched TV while nursing. She was always turned away from the TV, but it's probably not ideal.

All of this, except DD is 19 months.

[Anonymous]

we tried to wait until 2yo, but DD did some some TV before then (occasional show). she really wasn't into it at all until she was over 2yo. now at 3yo she does watch some per day, but it's out of my own desperation to take a solo shower.

we intentionally kept her facing away from the TV & kept the volume low when she was little if we happened to have the TV on - but we don't watch much ourselves & if we did it was after her bedtime so it wasn't really an issue.

[Anonymous]

My DD started watching one or 2 episodes of Dora or Blues Clues at 18-24 months old (I don't recall exactly) while I cooked/prepared bath, etc. Now at 4 she doesn't watch cartoons on TV but watches parts of movies every day... I know she watches a lot of TV for other people's standards but I'm not worried. I'm a single parent with no friends or family here, I work full time and cannot entertain here every minute... Plus we're out doing outdoor things all day on weekends and she's always quick to leave the TV when I ask her to, she's not hooked to it...

[Anonymous]

our son is 21 months. he started getting a 15-20 glimpse of a thomas video on special occasions (waking at 5:30 am when mom and dad simply aren't awake enough to read yet or when he or we are under the weather about 2 months ago). we all watch together rather than sitting him down there by himself so it is an interactive family event. for world cup, he got to watch some soccer on the spanish channel which was semi-educational right? our TV is in the basement and it usually only comes on after he goes to bed and never during the day when he and the nanny are home so I'm not worried about a video here and there. that said, i'm aware that it could quickly develop into a habbit and it's not one I want to encourage. Then again, my niece is 4 and reading and super social and verbal and the TV in their house was on basically whenever they were at home. different strokes.

[Anonymous]

I limit the amount of TV my kids get to watch.

But it would be ironic if they ended up at a competitive disadvantage in the 2030 workforce because they had not been trained from birth to handle a constant stream of information from multiple simultaneous sources.