Am I being a lazy mom?

[Brookey]

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'.

Patch i wasnt aiming that comment directly at you btw. Im sure we have all encountered a bit of "holier than thou attitude on here at some time or another, thats what I was refering to.

Like I say we are all brilliant mums to our own children. I dont think im perfect but i do think im a brilliant mum to my baby.

 

[prettykitty]

I think some babies/children must have recognition of some shows. I dont plonk LO in front of TV all day but she does and can recognize certain ones from others.

For example, Baby Jake, Waylaboo - she knows these, even Laughs when Waylaboo comes on! I do worry what she may "pick up" from TV but there are lots of other things I worry about for her too, and think that if I worried about everything we'd not go out and do anything and Id protect her from growing up. If people choose not to let their LO's see TV I can understand that too.

I interact and have "play time" with her, let her meet other babies and protect her from harm, keep her fed, warm and happy. As for the future with regards to me letting her watch TV? We'll not know until it arrives

 

[spaceprawn]

I think if I listened to every guideline going, Id never do anything in case it had a detrimental effect on my LO.
If your baby is happy, keep on doing whatever it is you are doing. The fact that they are happy and have loving parents who care for them, is far more important to me than a load of articles analysing the ins and outs of everything.

 

[jessie_m]

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'.

Well, to be fair, Teletubbies is awful and I wouldn't let my child watch it because of the terrible way they talk. I think it's about making good choices in television if you are going to let them watch it.

 

[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'.

Well, to be fair, Teletubbies is awful and I wouldn't let my child watch it because of the terrible way they talk. I think it's about making good choices in television if you are going to let them watch it.

I know, it's a horrible show. It was mentioned specifically in one of the studies I posted yesterday, so it was on my mind. Although, it was the 'big thing' when my brother was about 1, and he watched it and wasn't ruined by it. But yes, if you're going to let them watch it, I definitely agree quality not quantity!

 

[patch2006uk]

I think if I listened to every guideline going, Id never do anything in case it had a detrimental effect on my LO.
If your baby is happy, keep on doing whatever it is you are doing. The fact that they are happy and have loving parents who care for them, is far more important to me than a load of articles analysing the ins and outs of everything.

*playing devil's advocate*

So, if your LO is happy eating nothing but crisps, you'd let them do it? If your LO is happy doing nothing all day but sitting eating play-doh, you'd let them do it? If your LO is happy weeing all over their trousers rather than being forced to wear a nappy, you'd let them do it? Simply because it 'makes them happy'?

 

[goddess25]

My son who is 3 watches about an hour of tv every other day or so usually when I am bathing our daughter as it keeps him happy and gives us some space. He watches it on occasions at other times.

We put the tv on to watch the news in the morning, around 12 noon and the evening news but once we have watched the headlines we turn it off so its on for about 20 minutes.

Our daughter doesn't seem too interested when the tv is on, she watches it for about 5 minutes then plays with some toys, whereas my son will just zone out and stare like a zombie. HE will not answer questions and seems incapable of anything so we totally limit it for him.

However if you need to put it on while you do stuff then that is fine.