Babies & TV

[WhoopyPie]

I have a friend who invited me over yesterday for a cup of coffee and to chat. While there she said give me a minute and I'll set the baby up. She then put her baby in her bouncy seat and turned on a tape of Sesame Street. I didn't know what to say. The baby is 4 1/2 months old.

Anyone else besides me think thats totally wrong?

 

[jennyl772003]

Do you have children?

No, I don't think it is wrong. I wouldn't do it all the time, but once and a while for sure.

 

[goodeats]

I thought the ADA said no TV until 2? Not that people necessarily follow that rule! At 41/2 months old that's ridiculous!

I knew a woman at work who gave her infants (a few months old) rice cereal with a little bit of HONEY! She said they loved it. Well duh. I'm sure they'll love the botulism and diabetes they get too!

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I don't think it's rediculous at all. As long as it's not an "all the time" thing.

 

[dcgrumpy]

As long as the baby isn't sitting ther all day I don't think there's anything wrong with it. Also the no tv before 2 rule only works if you only have 1 child.

 

[WhoopyPie]

I have grandchildren, my youngest in almost 18.

My DIL when I told her was angry, she said children (according to a study) shouldn't watch TV before the age of 2. It has something to do with ADD & ADHD and how TV moves too fast and does something to the brain. (I know I'm not explaining it right.)

We just only after almost 5 years got our TV rehooked up to cable. We wouldn't have, but our grandkids were spending time and staying over a lot this summer. They would get very bored after awhile in the house during the heat of the day. So we let them pick a show and watch it.

 

[WhoopyPie]

Let me add when my kids were little they did watch Sesame Street, but not till they were well over the age of 1. I never thought to turn on a TV back then for a baby.

Also, please lets not argue over this. I was just really wondering about it. It was just something I would have never done.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I don't have a problem with it in small doses. I'm not sure a 4 1/2 month old would watch Sesame Street much, but when my DS1 was that age, he would watch a Baby Einstein video for a few minutes and liked it.

 

[Ginamarie]

I have a 4 month old who likes to look at the TV. I don't "set her up in front of it." She just likes to look at it while I have it on. She also likes to hear when there's music on TV. I'd imagine that she'd like all the music they play on something like Sesame Street. I don't think a 4 month old can really "watch" TV, since they're still learning how to focus on things and adapt to changes in lighting and such.

 

[va32h]

A four month old baby watching TV isn't necessarily wrong - but I think it's completely unneccessary.

A four month old would be just as fascinated by the visitor, the dog, a bug on the ground, leaves blowing in the breeze, or their own little hands.

 

[Maleficent13]

Also, please lets not argue over this. I was just really wondering about it. It was just something I would have never done.

JMHO, but you're sort of inviting argument when the last line of your OP is "Anyone else besides me think thats totally wrong?"

On occasion, I see nothing wrong with it.

 

[Bob Slydell]

JMHO, but you're sort of inviting argument when the last line of your OP is "Anyone else besides me think thats totally wrong?"

ITA -- by default, are all those who say it's not totally wrong (in their opinion) arguing?

 

[mrsltg]

I think the friend was using it as a babysitter and if a four month old needs to be babysat by a tv already there a probably some problems on the horizon.

 

[TerriP]

JMHO, but you're sort of inviting argument when the last line of your OP is "Anyone else besides me think thats totally wrong?"

This I agree with.

My personal theory on things like this: "I am no one's Judge or Jury."

 

[Christine]

Yes, I'll say it, I think it's wrong. I really hope this woman doesn't do it all the time.

Now, I have two kids and I wish, in hindsight, that I had not let them see as much TV as I did. My DD especially was a very early riser (like 5 AM) and sometimes I would pop in a Barney tape (she was probably between 18-24 months old) to keep her entertained while I had some coffee. Her babysitter would also use Barney tapes here and there.

It bothered me, much later on, when the study came out about TV and children under 2 and how it affects brain development and attention span. So, for that reason, I do think that strapping a 4 month old in a seat in front of a TV is not a good thing. How about putting her on a blanket with a few toys and some of those rubber books that she can chew on?

 

[GoofieRuthie]

No problem with it here. My kids loved the music. I have no problem with kids watching tv, so I'm a bad parent to ask. When DD5 was just a couple of months old we sat her in front of the Christmas tree for some reason. She was mesmorized. She loved watching the light twinkle. At 4 months old, I don't think it's about watching the show as it is the colors, movement, and sounds. If she had sat the baby facing the wall, it would likely get bored and cranky fast. She probably didn't want to hold the baby during your whole visit.

On a side note, on DirectTV they now have a Baby channel that you have to pay for. It is geared completely toward babies. They had a preview on, so I checked it out. It was super boring to me of course, but it had cute sounds and lots of things for the baby to look at. I wouldn't pay for this channel and think it's a little unnecessary, but to each his own. I agree that they shouldn't be left in front of the tv all day long. They need all kinds of other stimuli too.

 

[gas station]

Anyone else besides me think thats totally wrong?

Nope.

 

[dcgrumpy]

Right now my 3yo is watching the Backyardigans, my 1 1/2 is dancing to the music while she's playing. She's not even really paying attention to the images.

 

[WhoopyPie]

ITA -- by default, are all those who say it's not totally wrong (in their opinion) arguing?

Nope they're not wrong.... one of the reasons why I don't post much. What I wanted to say and how I typed it 2 totally different things.

I fully believe we can all look at things differently and still get along and not argue over it. Sorry if I "sounded" argumentive.

 

[Blondy876]

As long as this is rare thing and the child doesn't spend hours sitting in front of the TV I see nothing wrong with. I do agree that at 4 1/2 months old though anything would be interesting to the child. I don't see the necessity of it so Mom could visit. I used the TV when my girls were very tiny if I needed to take a shower or start dinner. I would put them in the seat, place them where I could see them and do what I needed to do. Now my youngest (22 months) loves lots of shows. She requests Barney, Calliou, Blue's Clues etc. I let her watch because I know that it will only hold her attention for a few minutes and then she'll be off to the next activity. I truly believe that if I ban TV altogether then she's just going to want to watch it more. I've seen this with nieces and nephews and my students. At our house since the TV is accessible, it's boring.

I think it's very easy to sit back in judgment if you have only one child, lots of help or only see a moment in the life of the child. You can't judge the parenting if you only see an afternoon.