Babies & TV

Shann50952

So we are both big TV watchers, but I have read that you shouldn't let babies watch TV until they are two.  Well lately Kaelyn has been very interested in looking at the TV and will wiggle her way to look at it.  Anyways I have a few of those baby einstein DVDs that say they are apprpriate for 3 month olds....do you think it is ok to let her watch it....or is she still too young.  I don't want her turning into a couch potato, and I would def watch it with her and talk to her about it....what are you thoughts on babies and TV?

Inlove05

In my opinion some tv is ok... its when you sit your child infront of a tv for hours on end to entertain them, which is when it can be harmful to them.  When Brianna was Kaelyn's age she was also very interested in tv.  Its the colors, sounds, and movements that drawn them to it.  If she was curious I let her watch it, but it wasn't ALL she did everyday.   I think the DVDs are fine for her to watch.  Everything in moderation  = )

nwlywedsfooreva

I agree completely with Maura. Jordan loves looking at the TV...I assume also that it is the colors and sounds that he likes. We don't just sit him in front of the TV for hours. I've put Sesame Street on or other children's programs with songs and educational components and let him sit in his bouncer and watch. We are TV watchers in my house too....it's almost always on as background noise. And, it was like that for me growing up--I don't think I've turned into a lazy person or become any less intelligent because of it. A lot of those educational shows can be great for kiddos. And, tiny ones are very impressionable (which also goes to show you have to be careful WHAT you are watching when they're in teh room---I am constantly telling nate to turn violent or more "adult" shows off when Jordan is in the room).

MyNameHere

My DD's interest in watching TV peaked around 3-5 months. . . see would watch anything and and be pretty entertained. In the morning I would put her in front of the Today Show to do tummy time while I was getting ready for work and I figured the benefits of tummy time (and me getting ready in time) were far better than the so called negatives of watching TV. Around 6 months she started not to be as much into the TV and more into playing with her toys and now that she's starting to move around she really isn't into sitting and watching it (and sadly I don't get to watch as much either).

When she's older I agree with TV / videos in moderation. The stuff for young kids is mostly very educational and you can't possibly play, interact, read to your child ALL the time.  . . it's when TV replaces reading / playing with your child on a regular basis that it's an issue. I think those stupid studies "TV makes you dumb" or "Kids that watch 8 hours of TV a day know less words" just reflects bad parents that ONLY sit their babies / kids in front of the TV instead of giving them quality time too.

WideSmileMama

Personally, I worry about TV more from an "activity" standpoint than an "rotting my kid's brain" standpoint.  I grew up as a TV junkie because my parents always lived in a community type setting (apartments).  From what my mom tells me about the places we lived, your kids making noise was something that neighbors would complain about.  I think I turned out to be a fairly intelligent person despite all of the TV I watched, but I'm not a very sports-oriented type of person and I'm definitely overweight.  I'm trying to achieve a better balance between watching TV and activity in my kids than what I grew up with, and hopefully I will get that part closer to right!

I won't put anything on the TV when my kids are awake and we are home that I would not want them to see, though (meaning things that show violence or other inappropriate content).  Even when they are young, kids are paying attention to everything that they see way more than you might think!

My kids do watch some TV, though.  Jakob, specifically, is a big fan of the Wiggles and Sesame Street and he watches those shows daily, usually!

harvest-wed

Owen LOVES TV, seriously he totally wiggles himself around to look at it.  He is starting to be more intereseted in toys as a PP said, but he does like looking at it.  We don't really put on anything just for him, I don't, but DH has. 

The problem with the baby einstein videos is that they claim on the package to increase vocabulary - this is not true, these claims are from parent report, not a scientific study, what would Einstein think of that.  The "danger" is in a parent thinking they are doing something beneficial for their kid.  While I don't think TV is harmful, I do not think it is beneficial either.  As a fellow SLP you know kids need input that is targeted right to them, which TV and videos can't go quite like us mommys!!

That is my take!!  I will say I have seen a lot of language delayed toddlers where the TV is always on in the house, I have also seen language delayed toddlers in households where no TV was allowed. 

Chrissy