Am I being a lazy mom?

[pinklightbulb]

I don't put it on for education... I put it on so I can eat my brekky

 

[jessie_m]

Thanks for all of the input girls! Nothing else seems to entertain her for a long time yet. OH started a full time position at work and goes to school full time now after taking a semester off, and I go to school full time. It just seems like unless I let her play and watch tv like that then EVERYTHING has to be done after 730 when she goes to sleep and we go to sleep at 9 so that doesn't give us any time for ourselves or each other. OH says that while tv isn't the best form of entertainment, it's more important in the long run that we are able to finish school and have me and us time and time to relax so we're not stressed out and cranky. I agree. She watches it for the 10-15 minutes that I make and eat my oatmeal in the morning, then there's a long 30-45 min session she'll watch and play with toys while I clean, do homework, etc. and then she won't do it but for 10-15 min at a time in the evenings. I'm not scared about 'ruining' her. I just feel intimidated by some of the super moms on here who manage to do it all and still constantly entertain their babies.

Oh, and LO hates being worn, otherwise i would do that more often.

I hope it's not me who's intimidated you! I'm lucky to have a super-fab OH who does the laundry before he goes to work, leaving me a bit freer to concentrate on me and LO during the day we also go for a lot of walks! And BLW means I can tidy the kitchen while LO finishes his lunch. Also now LO walks, he doesn't want to sit with me so much. The house is pretty much baby proofed, so he can entertain himself while I sort lunch or something.

Everyone says it gets harder as they get mobile, but I've found every month so far slightly easier and more rewarding than the last hats off to you studying-I chickened out if doing any more of my degree last year (I study at home with the OU) cos I just couldn't face it.

It's a shame your LO hates being worn. I genuinely can't imagine parenting without slings now. I wouldn't manage half the things I do!

I think intimidate isn't the right word for it. It's more 'amaze in such a way that I wonder if I could be doing better,' and yes patch, you are one of the moms that amaze me, but I adore you and I so appreciate all of the advice you've ever given me.

I have a carrier, not a sling, but she only deals with it for about 5 minutes or so before she starts fussing. I wish she would have liked to have been worn.

 

[Pixelle]

It's actually that the parents talk less to their children when the TV is on.
And there is no educational value to letting a kid under 2 watch tv.. They don't learn from the tv..

Do infant/toddler programs have any educational value for kids under the age of two?

Nope. There is a digital developmental divide. Video gets “lost in translation” for children under one and a half to two and a half-years-old. They can’t figure out the content or context to actually learn from televised programs. While a few 18-month-olds might “get it,” the majority of kids don’t have that skill until they are at least two-years-old. Entertaining? Yes. Educational? No. Young children learn best from real people and playing with real objects. Kids over age two can learn language and social skills from high-quality shows.

https://m.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=E83CCC2E-FE67-11E0-B06B000C296BA163

Not sure I agree with that. My son learned to dance from watching Show Me Show Me and copies their "Groovy Moves". He also copies the "Yoga" on Waybuloo and has learned different positions. Is that not learning?

The TV is on for a lot of the day if we're not going out or doing anything much. Kai enjoys his TV time and always plays while watching it. He only focuses on certain programmes he likes. I don't see the harm. I'm not strapping him in a chair and making him watch it. It's there if he wants it. I turn it off at dinner time and other times throughout the day so we can have 1 on 1 play/learning time.

 

[jessie_m]

It's actually that the parents talk less to their children when the TV is on.
And there is no educational value to letting a kid under 2 watch tv.. They don't learn from the tv..

Do infant/toddler programs have any educational value for kids under the age of two?

Nope. There is a digital developmental divide. Video gets “lost in translation” for children under one and a half to two and a half-years-old. They can’t figure out the content or context to actually learn from televised programs. While a few 18-month-olds might “get it,” the majority of kids don’t have that skill until they are at least two-years-old. Entertaining? Yes. Educational? No. Young children learn best from real people and playing with real objects. Kids over age two can learn language and social skills from high-quality shows.

https://m.educationnation.com/index.cfm?objectid=E83CCC2E-FE67-11E0-B06B000C296BA163

Not sure I agree with that. My son learned to dance from watching Show Me Show Me and copies their "Groovy Moves". He also copies the "Yoga" on Waybuloo and has learned different positions. Is that not learning?

The TV is on for a lot of the day if we're not going out or doing anything much. Kai enjoys his TV time and always plays while watching it. He only focuses on certain programmes he likes. I don't see the harm. I'm not strapping him in a chair and making him watch it. It's there if he wants it. I turn it off at dinner time and other times throughout the day so we can have 1 on 1 play/learning time.

I agree. And what about those Baby Einstein videos? I'm too broke to get any of those and I'm not sure if I would, but people say little ones learn from those.

 

[jessie_m]

I don't put it on for education... I put it on so I can eat my brekky

Exactly. Lol. I doubt my 5 month old will be learning much, but it keeps her entertained and makes her do tummy time, it makes her laugh, and it entertains her while she plays with toys so mommy can get shit done.

 

[Phantom]

My son LOVES the tv. From day 1 he has been very intrigued by it (even before he could supposedly see!). It doesn't matter where he is in a room, he will find the tv by turning and twisting. Naturally I feel like a crap mom because of this. He doesn't watch a lot of tv, he plays a lot and seems to be very bright and attentive (so I am told), but he just loves that screen. I'm sure many would judge me for this but it's nothing I did, it just happened. It will be interesting to see how he is when he is older. Hopefully he proves people wrong and is a clever kid.

 

[JakesMummy]

In my house my OH is obsessed with the TV, and my toddler demands all kinds of programmes to watch. So baby has no chance getting away from it! She is naturally curious and nosey so will also strain her neck to watch. A programme was on the other day, probably cbeebies, and she was copying the presenter waving and clapping LOL!

But I don't sit her in front of it, she just plays and glances over if something catches her eyes. In the mornings, it does help give me time to get ready! It already takes 2 hours in the mornings, so every little helps

 

[vintagecat]

My parents watch a lot of television, but after I moved out and started college, I wouldn't pay to have cable in any of my apartments. I would only rent movies or go out to movies with friends. It became more of a social thing to do occasionally.

My husband and I haven't had cable for years and now that we're in Japan, we never pay any attention to the television. We tend to do more hobby-related things. We're both readers and like to go on walks out in the park, etc. I don't think we'll be paying much attention to the television once the baby comes either. I would rather have our baby learn to interact more with their environment and interact with their toys, toes, etc.

 

[hulahoop09]

My LO never used to bother with the tv but now she can get grumpy and I put Baby TV on or she loves Handy Manny and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse I think some of them are good as fair enough she wont learn lots at this age but they do teach shapes etc and Handy Manny has words in a different language which I thinkis fab! I did the other day have to switch the tv off while I was feeding her as she was too engrossed in Judge Judy!! Maybe have a judge girlie on my hands when she grows up. Lol. xx

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I think there is a big difference between a little tv and CONSTENT tv watching. I'm sure none of us plonk our babies in front of the tv 24/7.

 

[nugget80]

we have cbeebies o here during the day... lo won't watch all day but there are certain. programs he loves like little charley bear and baby Jake. he Will stop and watch these! we also watch waybaloo in bedtime hour a.d it has helped us push back k bedtime! oh can also play theme for in the night garden which lo recognises and loves! my girls loved cbeebies as babies and they have grown into highly intelligent girls who interact well with both children and adults so it did them no harm!

 

[lovelylaura]

I have the tv on all day I would go bonkers if it wasn't for tv , although poppy barley looks at it I've put baby programs on for her before but she doesn't even look at them so i don't bother. Although my tv is in the corner of the room and is small and I don't just sit and watch it , poppy loves her toys I sit and play with her all day she happily plays on her own . I honesty don't think it dose any harm in the back round if you plonk your baby in front of it all day and it can't move away then of course its harmful but I doubt anyone will do that x

 

[Natasha2605]

If we're in the house then generally the tv is on, I like the background noise. Summer likes the telly, but she likes running around like a headless chicken more so I don't worry. She probably watched more programs than some people allow their children, I'd say she sits and concentrates on it for maybe 2 hours max a day, broken up from 8am to 7pm (when we're in the house majoritively all day). Generally it's when Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Curious George comes on. She is happier running around kicking a ball the rest of the time, being chased about etc so she is no couch potato and tv isn't the only thing she does by far

She's learnt an AMAZING amount from Mickey Mouse in particular, she can count to nine, knows all the characters names, knows so many animal names and noises etc. Obviously Mickey didn't teach her these while mummy sat and done nothing, we do lots of counting etc but it definitely helps her

I just think it's all about balance really. And the type of shows which your child is watching.

 

[Ozzieshunni]

If we're in the house then generally the tv is on, I like the background noise. Summer likes the telly, but she likes running around like a headless chicken more so I don't worry. She probably watched more programs than some people allow their children, I'd say she sits and concentrates on it for maybe 2 hours max a day, broken up from 8am to 7pm (when we're in the house majoritively all day). Generally it's when Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Curious George comes on. She is happier running around kicking a ball the rest of the time, being chased about etc so she is no couch potato and tv isn't the only thing she does by far

She's learnt an AMAZING amount from Mickey Mouse in particular, she can count to nine, knows all the characters names, knows so many animal names and noises etc. Obviously Mickey didn't teach her these while mummy sat and done nothing, we do lots of counting etc but it definitely helps her

I just think it's all about balance really. And the type of shows which your child is watching.

How cute

 

[Brookey]

Thanks for all of the input girls! Nothing else seems to entertain her for a long time yet. OH started a full time position at work and goes to school full time now after taking a semester off, and I go to school full time. It just seems like unless I let her play and watch tv like that then EVERYTHING has to be done after 730 when she goes to sleep and we go to sleep at 9 so that doesn't give us any time for ourselves or each other. OH says that while tv isn't the best form of entertainment, it's more important in the long run that we are able to finish school and have me and us time and time to relax so we're not stressed out and cranky. I agree. She watches it for the 10-15 minutes that I make and eat my oatmeal in the morning, then there's a long 30-45 min session she'll watch and play with toys while I clean, do homework, etc. and then she won't do it but for 10-15 min at a time in the evenings. I'm not scared about 'ruining' her. I just feel intimidated by some of the super moms on here who manage to do it all and still constantly entertain their babies.

Oh, and LO hates being worn, otherwise i would do that more often.

Let me assure you hun, nobody on this internet forum is a "super mum", although you do get that feeling that they think so sometimes. Everyone on here does what they beleive is best for THEIR baby.

I am a brilliant mum to MY baby but I know that some of the choices and decisions I make wouldnt suit all mums. Does that bother me? Hell no.

Although Parenting Forums are so valuable to mums, especially in the early days, I do think that it opens the door to compare every little thing you do to every other mum out there...and thats not always a good thing.

 

[Natasha2605]

If we're in the house then generally the tv is on, I like the background noise. Summer likes the telly, but she likes running around like a headless chicken more so I don't worry. She probably watched more programs than some people allow their children, I'd say she sits and concentrates on it for maybe 2 hours max a day, broken up from 8am to 7pm (when we're in the house majoritively all day). Generally it's when Mickey Mouse Clubhouse or Curious George comes on. She is happier running around kicking a ball the rest of the time, being chased about etc so she is no couch potato and tv isn't the only thing she does by far

She's learnt an AMAZING amount from Mickey Mouse in particular, she can count to nine, knows all the characters names, knows so many animal names and noises etc. Obviously Mickey didn't teach her these while mummy sat and done nothing, we do lots of counting etc but it definitely helps her

I just think it's all about balance really. And the type of shows which your child is watching.

How cute

It is... especially when today's role of headless chicken has currently involved tipping my mop bucket full of water over when my back was turned, tipping a tube of pringle crisps on my hall carpet and running her doll's buggy over them and posting my door keys through the letterbox...all by 9am ha!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

I wonder what I'm in for! Alex already whizzes around the living room in his walker and moves backwards at lightning speed! Everything has been moved out of the way. He loves cables too!

 

[tu123]

We view The Bedtime Hour in our house most days. LO dances to music, points to characters she likes and coos and babbles at it. I lay on the floor watching her happy before the drama of getting ready for bath and bed.

No harm in a bit of TV here and there.

I expect research on why tv is bad for children is probably based on kids who see far too much of it. So it probably doesnt apply to most educated parents.

 

[NewMummyx]

My TV is on for background noise but my LO has no interest in it and never has, far too busy looking at bits of fluff on the floor

 

[patch2006uk]

We view The Bedtime Hour in our house most days. LO dances to music, points to characters she likes and coos and babbles at it. I lay on the floor watching her happy before the drama of getting ready for bath and bed.

No harm in a bit of TV here and there.

I expect research on why tv is bad for children is probably based on kids who see far too much of it. So it probably doesnt apply to most educated parents.

Why would the AAP put out a blanket recommendation not to let under 2s see tv if it was ok for 'educated' parents to do it?

I respect your opinion, but the guidelines are based on studies of children from all walks of life and all socio-economic backgrounds. If teletubbies hinders the language development of the poorest or worse educated families, it will affect the richest, most intelligent too.

I don't understand why people assume guidelines wouldn't apply to them? Fair enough if you choose to ignore them because you've decided it's not a risk you consider to be significant, but to just dismiss them out of hand, I don't understand.

Also, brookey, I certainly don't consider myself a brilliant mum. The ability to reproduce doesn't mean I'm an expert in child development and psychology. Therefore, I read up on recommendations by people who are experts, and follow them, rather than my own, often questionable, 'instincts'.