Watching tv with baby crawling around - Page 2

[tzs]

....also, keep in mind that the ability to engage in imaginitive and independent play might be more related to the types of toys and the style of parenting that was involved as well and maybe not so much to the presence or absence of tv.

any "tv or no-tv relationship" could be that the parent that made the choice to get rid of the tv would be more inclined to engage their child in more open-ended toys and creative play whereas a particular tv-watching family might gravitate towards the blink-y flashy non-imaginative over-stimulation toys.

to use them as an example again, my "no-tv" relatives are completely unable to entertain themselves (unless you call "bugging their parents" entertainment.) just saying that there might not be a correlation. i also know some other "no-tv" kids that have amazing imaginations and independence. i just think in the cases i've seen it's more in the parenting styles.

[red and lulu]

Originally Posted by ErinYay

CJ's Mama- that sounds like a really interesting book; I'll have to pick it up!

Did it mention anything re. radio, music, etc having a similar effect? Ideally, should our babies only be exposed to live human voices set against the sounds of the natural world (makes sense, as it's only been, what? maybe 200 years of cars, machinery, industrial noises, etc? So it's reasonable to think that we're meant to grow up in something of a noise vacuum? I mean, it's not gonna happen for most of us, but still.)?

(nak) i'm trying to remember if it explicitly said anything about music or radio-- i don't believe so. but you can come to your own conclusions with what they do say. the analogy she used that stood out for me (i'm paraphrasing) was to imagine you're trying to learn a foreign language in which you have zero background. are you going to have more success hearing and processing the new words in a quiet classroom with a teacher or dropped off in the middle of a busy marketplace in that country with no translator? it's much the same for young infants in those first years -- they are learning so much so fast, tv is a distraction.

[beansmama]

Originally Posted by Icehockey18

I was worried about the tv with ds also, so I just stopped watching, cold turkey about 3-4 months ago. What pushed me over the edge was an article I read (sorry I can't recall it now) that said babies can't tune out the noise like adults can. I had always kept the volume low, but ds could still hear it. It was weird at first, not having the tv, but now I don't miss it at all! Dh still watches sports, but usually after ds is in bed. And if ds is up dh keeps the volume low and we both keep him occupied so he doesn't look at the screen.
This is what we have decided to do as a family, and like a pp said, it's our opninon, so take it as it's worth. I have many friends whose kids watched baby einstein, and other things to 'keep them occupied' and their kids seem 'fine'.... But, I will add this. I have two friends with children (girls) the exact same age (almost 4). One grew up tv free and one started watching early on (starting in the car) and still does. The one who grew up tv free has much more imagination and verbal skills then the one who watched tv...... So take that story for what it's worth, but I think there is some correlation there...

My daughter watched tv and played computer from an early age. She's now 5 and totally video game obsessed (anything with animals...and yes, it's annoying) and not SO much into tv.

Thing is...she was surpassing pretty much all of her peers in the verbal skills department even early on. She's smart, witty and full of imagination (seriously...the kid has imaginary pet horses that she knows all the details about, is constantly pretending she's my pet puppy, haha, etc).

I'm not trying to get defensive, because truly, I'm not feeling defensive, I just would like to tell you and anyone else who may be curious...that TV watching doesn't make your kids unimaginative little lumps that can't think outside of the box

[Angelorum]

I am reading Into the Minds of Babes right now. It is easing the mama guilt for me quite a bit. I haven't finished it yet, but I think I'm past the point where it talked about background noise. It didn't mention music/radio/audiobooks at all. I wish it had, because I do wonder about it. The one study that was interesting about tv as background noise while a toddler played had mamas and their babes come into a room set up as a living room. There was a couch, a television, and toys for the little one, as well as magazines for the mama. The mama had a choice between a couple of different of programs to watch, none of them kid shows. They did 30 minutes with the tv on and 30 minutes off. The hour they were there was recorded and the researchers analyzed all the videos afterward. They calculated how much the mama spoke/engaged with the child, and how long the child spent on each activity, and rated the maturity of the play level (the lowest maturity being banging or mouthing a toy, the highest maturity imaginative play with imaginary objects). What they found was that mamas engaged their children less while the tv was on, and that the time a child spent with a single toy was shorter and the maturity level of play was lower.

This is really the thing that has made me more aware of watching tv while my son is awake, even if he doesn't appear to be paying attention. I still do on occasion, but because I know that that time is not as enriching for him, I am more conscious of keeping it short, and engaging him more after I have enjoyed my break. I've also recently sought out other activities that are recharging for both of us, things like playgroups and library story times so that I'm not as tempted to just zone out to the tv all afternoon.

No mama is going to be fully engaged and talking to their babe all the time the baby is awake, tv or no. We have things we have to do and we do need breaks. My opinion is that limited tv usage isn't likely to do permanent damage, especially if you consciously make time for better play activities with no background distractions.

[veganfox]

Thanks to all the mamas for the input.

[Asiago]

Originally Posted by ErinYay

I have an 8 week old who has been hellbent on looking at the tv or my laptop, and it's already making me crazy.!

Same issue here! He's drawn to the TV/computer. I minimize the use of both of these when he is awake. I actually have a diffcult time nursing him if there is any way that he can possibly view the television. He pops off every other suck to try to look at the TV.

[tzs]

i think with little babes it's just the lights. my newborn liked the lampshade next to the bed as well as the computer/tv.
i wouldn't worry about them turning into cartoon junkies just yet!

[Karamom]

I don't sweat the TV. I watch it sometimes- not that often as I try to stay busy, not because I think TV is bad but because there are a lot of things around the house that need done- but my 11month dd doesn't seen to notice it. Rarely if her older brother is watching a kids show she will look at the screen for 2-3 minutes then go back to playing. With the older child (3yrs) I do not put any limits on TV -we are radical unschoolers- he watches whenever he wants and if I'm starting to feel that he is watching a lot I suggest an activity. Sometimes he will take me up on the offer but if he doesn't I accept that he is getting something he needs at that moment.

[akind1]

When I WAH, in the morning I have the TV on to CMT music videos; the baby seems to love the music (he is 2 months) and the lights; in the afternoon, we just listen to music. I focus much better with music in the background, and he seems to like it. I really don't think at a very young age there is much harm as I don't think babies can focus that well, that far away. he mostly likes the flashing lights - he seems drawn to any lights, no matter where we are.

I don't agree with planting kids in front of TV as a babysitter, and really don't like that they are making all these "learning" video games to make it seem like planting your kids in front of TV is not only normal, but beneficial. It seems like an excuse to not teach or interact with your kids personally, IMHO.

but as far as watching TV while baby is in the room; I say go ahead, I know I'd go bonkers without something, and since I am working on a computer and need to be able to hear the baby, the headphones thing would not work for me; but maybe it would work for some moms.

I know growing up watching cartoons with my dad on Saturday mornings was a bonding thing for us, did not seem to hamper my imagination or language, but like a PP I think it more a parenting style issue than a tv or no-tv decision.

[nukuspot]

I don't know if this is an option for you, but we have headphones hooked up to the TV. I make a pillow vision barrier in front of DD and only watch it when she is nursing. If she turns towards the TV all she sees is pillows. As soon as she is done nursing she either falls asleep (and I watch more TV) so I turn it off and watch the rest of the show later. (We have DVR or I watch movies.) Would something like this help?

[Holiztic]

Originally Posted by nukuspot

I don't know if this is an option for you, but we have headphones hooked up to the TV. I make a pillow vision barrier in front of DD and only watch it when she is nursing. If she turns towards the TV all she sees is pillows. As soon as she is done nursing she either falls asleep (and I watch more TV) so I turn it off and watch the rest of the show later. (We have DVR or I watch movies.) Would something like this help?

That was great for us until about 5 or 6 months, but after that was too much trouble! I am amazed that is still working for you, enjoy it!

Honestly, the 7 months I was totally TV free (for DS) was awesome! I got so much sleep, even though DS was a serious night-waker and night-nurser. I also read dozens of books in 7 months--about 2 a week! I felt less stressed and depressed (I wasn't very much either before, but there was absolutely NONE when I was TV-free!) and I was so much more productive!

Interesting point: when I watched the very first (I mean that literally) moment of moving image on a screen after the 7 months, I couldn't focus on it at all and I felt so disoriented and disturbed. It wasn't even a crazy fast scene, DH said it was totally "normal", but my eyes/brain (even after 27 years of TV/movie watching) were no longer used to it and couldn't make any sense of it! Made me feel even stronger about DS not seeing anything at all as a baby/young toddler! The first time we went to a movie I almost had a heart attack (size, speed, noise).