Does your baby watch TV?

Ramona - posted on 07/12/2009

we bought the Baby Channel from DirectTv.. but he is not interested in it at all.. or anything on tv ...

Amanda - posted on 07/11/2009

We usually have the tv on and my daughter only looks up for the commercials. She really likes some of the jingles. I've made a habit of muting the tv now during commercials when she's in the room. I love to watch jeopardy and she always turns to watch whenever the music comes on. I don't think tv is such a horrible thing. She's learning very fast about things she likes. As long as you're still teaching your child things and not relying on the tv to be a babysitter it can't be so bad. I don't think kids have an attention span long enough for anything yet that DVDs are worth the trouble.

Viviana - posted on 07/10/2009

I read somewhere (can't remember where now) that there was a study done that showed there was no effect (positive or negative) on children under the age of 2 who watch TV. Just thought I'd put that out there, but to each his own.

Kim - posted on 07/09/2009

We have the TV on but my 1yr old dosent pay much attention unless she hears music then she stops and looks up and bounces up and down to it,

my son is now 5 and loves playhouse disney and nick jr and still watches his Hi-5 dvd and it taking great pleasure introducing his baby sister to Hi-5

Sandra - posted on 07/08/2009

Yes my 1yr old b/g twins dont take much notice in the tv. Just with the ads and they hear a familiar song they look at it and dance for the 30 seconds and run off to play again! I have the 'your baby can read' dvds. They dont watch them as often as they 'recommend' but i think its good for them to get exposure to words when they hear the words yes and no they nod and shake their heads. So they are interacting with the words they are hearing and they LOVE the songs!

Jamie - posted on 07/07/2009

My daughter rarely watches tv. I watch my 2 neices 2 yr and 5 mo. I let the 2 yr old watch playhouse disney, and thats about it. My daughter will occasionally glance at the tv, but will not take time to actually watch sit down and watch it. She will stop to dance to the music, but thats only brief. When were at home, i usually have the food network on..lol. and she pays no attention to the tv, she just runs around the living room.

Dana - posted on 07/07/2009

My son has no interest in the TV but he loves to watch music video's of the Dropkick Murphys. He laughs and dances. His dads a musician so he's big into music.

Wei - posted on 07/02/2009

my year old cannot sit down, she has to move around. TV seems insterest her. She loves watching music video on computer with me though.

Ashley - posted on 07/02/2009

My 11 month old doesn't really sit and watch tv. The only thing she really loves is Wheel of Fortune. lol She sits and claps and yells like she is trying to scream out letters. It's too cute. But as far as anything else she doesn't like to sit and watch it. But man when Wheel of Fortune comes on you better watch out!

Alycia - posted on 06/29/2009

i don't have cable or anything so we only have DVDs...mostly I put on a show that's called Baby Road Trip because we go on trips a lot and he likes seeing the familiar. He never sits there and actually watches the whole thing but I find when he's tired he'll lay with his blanket and watch. I also put on Backyardigans because I like how it encourages imaginative play and the episodes are short! Mostly he doesn't pay attention to the TV but I really don't think having it on and having something appropriate for your child on is a big deal at all...from the other posts it's obvious at this age they're too interested in their own play to stop and watch something anyways! Everything in moderation :)

Fiona - posted on 06/28/2009

my son loves playhouse disney but i do limit how much he watches. maybe one or two episodes of mickey a day. as far as i'm concerned, i watched a limited amount of tv when i was a child and it hasnt harmed me. it's a personal choice of the parents.

Bridget - posted on 06/25/2009

I am taking a Developmental Psych Course. Babies should avoid TV according to the AAP until at least 2 years old. Babies psychological development happens from interaction and play with people. They are creating so many neurons before the age of 2 and their brains are developing so fast you want to keep them active with social play.

As for Baby Einstein.....it is a crock! Google them a little bit and you will see they have been sued because their videos can not be linked for ANY increase in development as they say. AAP stands strictly by NO television for the first 2 years.

Having said that I watch it in the room but I find she is watching it or taking note. I switch it off.

As for the ADD this is true there are actual studies documenting all of this. IT is the rapid movement on the television that causes it so shows that happen in real time like Mr Rogers should be ok.

True stat: for every 1 hour of tv your child watches per day you increase their chances for ADD by 10%

That is what I know. Hope it helps.

PS I have all the Baby Einstein DVDs and felt bad that she didn't watch them until I realized they shouldn't be watching them at all!

Heather - posted on 06/25/2009

My mother in law sent some DVDs from Brazil. We started watching Cocorico (little puppets with lots of songs and farm like education) with her and she looooves it. She claps her hands and watches intently. I have no desire to introduce her to much at all on TV. Anna has a tendency to get up early and be cranky in the morning but won't go back to sleep so we watch Cocorico and she is calm watching it. We only watch that. I am actually glad she likes it because I want her to get as much exposure of the portuguese language as possible.

Kathleen - posted on 06/24/2009

There are times when I watch TV during the day but I try to make that when my lil man is in bed. He likes to watch TV sometimes, mostly playhouse disney. He loves anything to do with music, the wiggles etc. I would say some TV time is fine. Lachlan only watches about half an hour a day.

Shanna - posted on 06/23/2009

I've posted here before but Brooke changes a lot. Just weeks ago, she would sit down for a few minutes at a time, usually in the mornings, and actually watch some TV and now, I havent seen her look at the TV in about 3 weeks. It's always on though. She's not interested in it at all.

Astrid - posted on 06/20/2009

don't have tv at our home and not interested having my boy watching them either. haven't watch tv like since high school time. my baby boy seem not to like them either if we are at my parent's house or my in laws. it annoys him. me and my husband are a bunch of geek anyway (i'm a total bookworm) besides indonesian tv suck soo bad it even had gone to the point that it scare me to death.

we still watch movies sometimes on the computer or movie screening in our city, but that's just about it. i don't think tv is educational at all for my boy, i prefer him going for books and the internet.

Jordan - posted on 05/31/2009

i usually have the tv on treehouse for him he doesnt pay much attention till certian shows come on but he loves it i think he learns off of some of the good ones like he will dance and try to copy them i dont mind it and when im watching tv he never pays attention to it hes usually playing with his toys

Amanda - posted on 05/30/2009

My DS will watches tv occasionally but most of the time he isn't interested.

Suzanne - posted on 05/29/2009

The only TV that Marleigh watches is her Baby Einstein DVD's. If the TV is just on, she never pays any attention. She'll only really pay attention to her Baby Einstein DVD if she's in her high chair. Otherwise, she's too busy to stop & watch. Too many things to explore & get into. I have to say it is really cute to see her laugh out loud at the babies on her DVD's.

Keri - posted on 05/27/2009

My daughter watches tv, but she will not sit through an entire show. She will watch for a few minutes then go about her way.

Christianne - posted on 05/25/2009

Quoting Charmaine:

I don't sit my daughter down to watch tv but if it is on I'm not about to pull her out of the room. I have noticed that she may play and then may look up once or twice but they have little attention span. The only reaction I have seen is when Dora was on one morning as she went hysterical. She absolutely loved it and was laughing at everything.

The same here in our house. The TV is on when sometimes, usually at night for my husband and I. One day we were flipping channels and a cartoon came up. He was hypnotized! So funny. But I would prefer that he doesn't watch it for a long time...

Shanna - posted on 05/23/2009

They have been unable to prove that TV cause ADD. They say that it may be excessive amounts of TV. I do not thin TV has anything to do with television. That said, the TV in my house is usually on low. My daughter never really pays attention to it. Sometimes in the morning I will put cartoons on for her but she only really likes the show 4 squares, on treehouse, or I will put in a Baby Einstein DVD, other than that she pays no attention to it! Its all up to you though, and what you believe in. Personally, I think a bit of TV is absolutely fine!

Elizabeth - posted on 05/23/2009

I watch tv while Chase (9 1/2 months) is ther and he pays no attention to it. Even if I put on cartoons, he could careless.

Crystal - posted on 05/23/2009

if your child is not watching tv i wouldn't feel the need to start. he/she will learn more by doing than watching. also, when i think about tv conceptually you really have to wonder how many images your mind takes in in a lifetime and that thought alone makes me want to have the tv watching process delayed as much as possible. too much for little people (and big people) to process.

Rachel - posted on 05/23/2009

I have either Playhouse Disney or a music channel playing on the TV most of the day. though its hardly ever watched. every now and again a song will come on and dd will clap and dance. One about brushing teeth and another is about turning off the tap. her biggest love is the music, and loves Beyonces Single Ladies. She is more into the music but will turn to look at the TV if she hears something she likes. TV is off for reading or trying to teach something new so no distraction. There are some kids programs I like, like New Macdonalds farm and some that teach counting and alphabet. I really don't like one Pooh one that Tigger doesn't talk properly, uses really poor language skills, probably similar to how a toddler talks but I don't think that's right.
I have just started working doing in-home childcare (so I don't have to go back to my old job, yay) and will always ask the parents about their view on TV in the interview process, so far no objections. Haven't had any eyes "glued" to it yet. The 3 y/o spends a lot of time asking questions about things they are doing on the TV, especially with shows like the wiggles when they show a kangaroo or koala, What is that? or wants to know how/why/who. I join in with the singing on the TV, singing ABCs and numbers, I try to make it more interactive rather than a "babysitter"
I have looked at DVDs but haven't seen any that look good enough to consider buying.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has used the "Your baby can read" series or something similar

Charmaine - posted on 05/22/2009

I don't sit my daughter down to watch tv but if it is on I'm not about to pull her out of the room. I have noticed that she may play and then may look up once or twice but they have little attention span. The only reaction I have seen is when Dora was on one morning as she went hysterical. She absolutely loved it and was laughing at everything.

Ldoo - posted on 05/22/2009

There are two sides to everything, so I'm not going to say that NO, they can't watch TV. But I have chosen to avoid it. That doesn't mean it's not on sometimes when she's playing. But if she starts to watch, I redirect her attention elsewhere.

MarieAntoinette - posted on 05/22/2009

Hi Christianne,

My son is 10 months old. My husband and I do not allow him to watch any TV. There have been studies that show that watching TV too soon may be attributed to ADD. I think it is due to the fact that most TV shows and DVD's change scenes too frequently. As for the "good" DVDs, I am not sure; I have not watched any and have just chosen not to even use them to be on the safe side. They can learn more through play and social interactions. I know in France, they recommend no TV until 2 or 3 years of age.

I hope this helps.