? baby einstein ?

[BowenTherapist]

has anyone used these tapes? would you recomend them or do you think that they are a waste of time? MIL wants to get dd something educational and asked me for suggestions

[Elphaba]

i think they're fun. baby van gogh is my fave so far. the colors and music are enchanting, and the puppets are too cute!
baby newton, the music was cool, but the animation was weird, IMO.
baby shakespeare is next on my list!
and they're not just videos, BTW. the board books are darling, and the ABC book is beautiful.

[Tracy]

we love them in this house. ds, dh, mil, housekeeper when she is here, visitors, we all love them. but ds loves them the most.
laugh, laugh, giggle, giggle smiles, smiles....he has a crush on the girls.

[acystay]

dd lives them but it took awhile before she really paid any mind to them. she's 10mos now. i really like the language one. i'd like for her to hear the sounds of other languages. i think her fav is the baby bach one.

[JavaJerri]

All I know is at 29 months, these are still my sons absolute favorites. Right now, it's the Baby Santa one we watch most, but he loves, loves , loves them. In fact, while he was in the hospital (at 11 months) it's the only thing that would calm him down and saved my sanity! The only one he does not like is Baby Dolittle-World Animals. Something in it scares him and makes him cry so we don't watch that one. My favorites are the first ones, the later ones just don't seem quite as good imo.

Jerri

[frogertgrl]

Well, for a babe as young as yours, BowenTherapist, I'd say NO WAY, and I'm sure I'll be a minority here but that's okay.

These videos claim to be 'educational' but there is only anecdotal evidence of this. Further, the tapes are very expensive for what amounts to some show and a lot of advertising at the end of each tape (the advert is about 9 minutes long on each tape). I don't like to pay for more adverts...especiallyl when the Baby Newton video is only 12 minutes of 'education'!

These videos are not endorsed by the AAP either. In fact, the AAP is concerned enough about the use of 'educational' media to recommend all pediatricians tell their patients not to use them before the child is two years of age. And for pedes not to have these videos running in their waiting office. Or for childcare providers to use them for babies.

You might be interested in the TV thread here at MDC - there are links to the brain damage linked with all television viewing for babies. Yes, even the 'educational' viewing. And it's not one of those 'well, moderation is the key!' issues according to the scientific literature - any television viewing is linked with the impoverishment of this critical part of the rapidly developing babe brain.

Maybe grandma can purchase a toy that would be something you could interact with your babe while playing with? It's so nice she wants to purchase something for you both.

Here's the link to the TV thread here:
http://mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?threadid=32254

Good Luck!

[merpk]

IMO there's a place for videos. Interaction happens, assuming we're not talking about parking the kid in front of the TV for hours & hours.

Re the Baby Einstein videos, that's the only one we liked. The Baby Bach & Mozart we found obnoxious (& DD & DS#1 both were scared of the puppets in them ) and the music wasn't great (jazzed-up versions of Bach&Mozart, on synthesizers, no less ).

But the original Baby Einstein video is sweet, and while it doesn't teach languages, our kids could sing the alphabets of several languages because of it, and we think they're more easily able to distinguish different languages because of it (and just walking down our street you'll hear dozens).

And if you sit and watch the video with the baby, you can give them words for the visuals, etc. See, there's interaction ... sort of ...

- Amy

[Tracy]

You know, I'm sure I sound very pedestrian, but we really loved the bach and the mozart. It is silly and lighter version of the pieces but that's okay. My son loves the silly sleds going down the snow scenes, etc.
But frankly the one we got this summer he really, really loves.
Baby Doolittle. He goes nuts over the Lions and Giraffes. He was a lion for Halloween.

[Britishmum]

I always said that I'd not do TV or video at all with my children. I share some of Frogertgrl's concerns.

However, now that I have a 4 month old and a toddler, sometimes I just can't function without ten minutes to put dinner on, make a phone call, or feed the dog. For those times, I sometimes use the Baby Einstein videos. My two year old loves them, especially the animal ones. The baby sits and half-watches them, and half-watches her sister. She squeals and blows raspberries at the animals, and I get those few moments of peace that I need.

I'd say that if you strictly limit it, it's a good trade-off, but for an under two I'd only use it occasionally. The good thing is that toddlers still enjoy them, although dd is much more interested in the animals than the music ones, so if you want them to last a few years, I'd recommend those.

[acystay]

i'm conceredtoo about tv use i really dont use it very often. maybe once a week and it's usually when i've hadenough and just cant do any more. i dont want her to be a couch potato like my neice, 7, who zones the minute the tv is oN.

[Chi-Chi Mama]

I still have a few tapes in my closet that we were given before dd was born.

can't figure out what to do with them. dd is 13.5 months.. and I don't want her watching any tv, even if it's "educational"

between me and dh we speak 4 languages (fluently) + 1 so-so

we listen to different types of music

we read books to her in 3 languages on daily basis

I could see us using some sort of tapes if/when we have another one and either dh or I need a little break (we switch off for 'child-care') but that's about it

[Tracy]

My overall feeling is that if you are on this webcommunity you're not going to let your child be a couch potato. The values of mothering magazine and this webcommunity are so sensitive to the child's overall well being that I think we tip to the other side. In a good way. With that in mind, I say enjoy a little baby einstein tape, I definitely have needed it to make a meal. I can hold my son while I cook and I certainly have done that but then it is so scary when I'm trying to cut up foods etc. because he's always trying to grab the knife or the pot handle on the stove...yeesh.

anyway they are sweet tapes. they aren't that long either.

[oceanmommy]

Well I am not going to debate the TV issue here. That thread in the parenting issues forum covers it I'd say.

DD had the baby Mozarrt and Baby doolittle. I haven't put on either for some time but I suspect she'd like the doolitttle one (animals) over the mozart. She loves animals. These videos are mild and entertaining for kids that like them. I wouldn't call them educational, and I wouldn't rely on tv or videos to educate kids. entertainment is another thing alltogether.

There is nothing wrong with the occasional video, though I do agree a baby that's just a couple months old is a bit young for any tv.

If your mom wants to get her a truly educational toy maybe a book or small rattle she could interact with would be better ? Here are links to s few sites:
Treasue Island toys
Playstoretoys.com
http://www.rosiehippo.com/

HTH

[ladylee]

IMO the quality has gone down since DISNEY now owns the company. I believe Baby Newton was done under the Disney ownership.

We used them from the time she was almost two up until now. I used them in an interactive way--watching them with her and talking about everything. This is not a passive activity--she's dancing and singing along. My favorites (and hers) by far are Baby Van Gogh and Baby Dolittle. What's not to love about sharing art and animals with children? Love that sea turtle song on Baby Dolittle--we sing it all the time! Hey, we're havin' fun, swimmin' in the deep blue sea...

[JessicaS]

DD liked the Baby Einstein one..it gave me a few minutes to put some food on the stove and do a few dishes and that really what we used it for...

[RileysMom]

Love 'em!

DD doesn't get to watch them very often, but when she hears the intro music she gets SOOO happy, clapping and dancing.

I watch them with her mostly, but have used them as a "Calgon, take me away" moment when necessary

[BowenTherapist]

well thanks everyone for your opinions on this. i was leaning away from it because we dont have cable because i dont like the lure of tv. but i have to admit we download... south park .
cant help it i think that show is so irreverently funny.
oceanmommy thank you for those links! the sites are great.

[oceanmommy]

I am glad you liked them ! Here's some more:

Black Forest Toys
Music for Little People
Peapods.com