[bellymama]

so i am curious about peoples thoughts on those baby einstein videos...my girlfriends swears by them...calls them "baby crack" (not so sure i like that <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> ). when we (my 3 month old and I) are at her house and it is on, my son seems bored and doesn't watch it, which i like because i planned on not letting him watch tv till he was at least 2 years ( i just don't want to be THAT mom who tries to impose her beliefs at others homes, so i didn't protest to her putting it on). so anyway, my son didn't really like it, but i am still interested in what y'all thought. the videos are not really like regular tv, just a bunch of brief colorful images of animals, shapes, puppets, etc...do you guys think that these should be included in the "no tv till 2 years" suggestion by the Pediatric Association? i didn't watch tv till i was 5 (except snippets and friends and families houses) and as much as i whined as a child, i am so grateful my mom didn't just plop me in front of the tube.

 

[nonconformnmom]

The "no tv until two years" recommendation is regardless of content, even so-called "educational" content. It is the medium of television and viewing screens themselves that is of concern, the rapidly flickering nature of the electronic screens, etc.<br><br>
Content wise? I think the Baby Einstein videos are wonderful tools ..... for marketers wishing to create another generation of compliant little consumers.

 

[kibba]

I think it is just a marketing idea.. and it helps sell the toys and other things that are baby einstein. .. makes parents feel like their children will be smart by owning that brand of toys, the movies and so on. If you dont buy them---maybe you'll feel guilty?? I think that is their plan and so I really dislike the company <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[devster4fun]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>bellymama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7887269"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">...my girlfriends swears by them...calls them "baby crack" (not so sure i like that <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"></div>
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I think that says it all....<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[twogreencars]

Not for us, thanks! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shake.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shake"> Our DC don't do tv...<br><br>
At baby group yesterday someone also referred to them as "baby crack"...<br><br>
Having said that - DH was watching a law school DVD to study for an exam - and DD#3 at a few months was also watching it - INTENTLY - I think they'll watch anything on tv...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[sandy'smama]

I am guilty of using DVDs as a babysitter while I am feeling unwell or need to do something urgently. I have a wee selection of gentle stop animation stuff and I do have 3 Baby Eistein DVDs.<br>
Now what I think specifically of BE - it is chewing gum for the brain, a 20min long ad for their toys (they even tell you what the toys are and you can buy them off the website), a friend sent us a newspaper article fairly recently and after evaluation by some experts in the field it was decided that a walk in the park is more beneficial and educational than watching Baby Einstein!<br>
I should ad here that my 5mo dd does not watch anything, she is far too busy with wooden spoons and other kitchen utensils <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> and the 3 year old started when his sister arrived .....

 

[ASusan]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>twogreencars</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7887953"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><br>
Having said that - DH was watching a law school DVD to study for an exam - and DD#3 at a few months was also watching it - INTENTLY - I think they'll watch anything on tv...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"></div>
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<br>
:that:<br><br>
Babies are developmentally (neurologically) unable to withdraw their attention from the television stimuli. So, they watch because they must.

 

[angelcat]

Rachel had some baby einstein & similar videos. I like them. I used them a couple times when I had a meeting with my financial advisor. Worked great. I also used thenm occasionally when I showered, but she wouldn't always watch. Sometimes she just ignored them. Usually I had to sit with her & tlak to her about it etc to keep her interested, and I didn't have much time for that. When I had time, I preferred to read to her.<br><br>
She hasn't watched them in almost a year, I think. She has other videos/TV she watches occasionally.<br><br>
I LOVE Baby Einstein Books & flashcards. We have tons of other books to though.<br><br>
I don't think there is anything magical about the videos that makes your child smarter. If it gets you interacting with your child, then that is great.But I suspect that the people who will interact a lot will do so anyway, and those who wouldn't, likely won't anyway.

 

[rzberrymom]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>sandy'smama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7888705"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">a friend sent us a newspaper article fairly recently and after evaluation by some experts in the field it was decided that a walk in the park is more beneficial and educational than watching Baby Einstein!</div>
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Do you still have the article? I'd love a link. That is hysterical!

 

[g&a]

I watched it and hated it. What mindless nonesense.<br>
I tried rice cereal, too, and hated that, so didn't feed it to her.<br><br>
DD only ever watched signing time DVDs when she was little. I don't want her to get into the habit of watching a lot of tv. there's so much else to do.<br><br>
I had to post since they just rub me the wrong way. Like nails on a chalkboard!<br><br>
g.

 

[Baby Makes 4]

Logan watches a little bit of TV each day, that included Baby Einstein when he was younger. We homeschool and that 30 minutes gave me time to help my older child with his learning.<br><br>
It's like anything else (Bumbos, harnesses, strollers...) it can be a useful tool in the right hands or it can be overused and become harmful.

 

[erynn42]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>angelcat</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7888864"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Usually I had to sit with her & tlak to her about it etc to keep her interested</div>
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if you read about be, that's exactly...<br><br><a href="http://www.babyeinstein.com/about/01-01_aboutus.asp" target="_blank">http://www.babyeinstein.com/about/01-01_aboutus.asp</a> first paragrapgh under Children and Electronic Media. You may not want to read the next paragraph...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:<br><br>
unfortunately, it is used way more often to allow parents a little freedom. (i'm not flaming those who use it occasionally though. i have a babe, i can understand it may be the only thing to use to be able to shower once a week, by all means... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> )<br><br>
my opinion, they make me dizzy...<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[jennifercp8]

A friend recently said to me; "We finally found something that makes DS go <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/huh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="huh">: (closest to a blank look that I could find). Baby Einstein! And she was right - I sat and watched him watch the TV and he was zoned. No interaction... and where were they? Playing World of Warcraft. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:<br><br>
This kid also watches close to 3-4 hours of Sprout every day. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/rolleyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="rolleyes">:<br><br>
As for my own personal opinion - not for us. I am a classical musician, and everyone gave us all the Baby Einstein CD's and some DVD's as gifts. Intentions were good, but the music is BAD. DS prefers the real thing, so I compile CD's for him of stuff he reacts well to. For example, I was watching Martha Stewart the other day when the boy was on the show playing the piano. He totally stopped, listened, and then went back to playing when it was over.

 

[NYCVeg]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>angelcat</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7888864"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I don't think there is anything magical about the videos that makes your child smarter.</div>
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Quite the contrary. It is far more likely to cause actual harm. Babies brains are not designed to watch television images. Television watching is all input w/ no output/interaction and changes the way the brain processes things. It puts the brain in a hypnotic state and depresses the metabolism to levels below that if the baby was sitting staring at a blank wall. TV watching by children is associated with obesity, ADD, difficulties with/disinterest in reading, and who knows what else--we've only recently started exposing our babies en masse to television and computers, so we not know the full extent of the harmful effects for some time.<br><br>
There are many reasons why you might not want to expose a baby to television. I can't think of a single reason why you would.

 

[bellymama]

thanks for all the replies...when i watched the video all i kept thinking was..."man why didn't i think of this, i coulda made millions." also, i kept thinking that i could do most of the things that were being shown the baby, and that the only reason to let them watch that was cause i wasn't willing to make effort to engage my son myself. however, i don't see what's wrong with the occasional use of them if you really need to get something done, or if you are having one of those moments when you might kill someone if you don't take a 5 minute breather.<br>
i agree that the marketing that these products will make your kids smarter is BS, and i also agree with the woman who is a musician, why play crappy versions of already amazing music?<br>
what really freaked me out aboutthe videos was the "REPEAT PLAY" option, to me that showed that the people at baby einstein know that their are people out there who just use it for "baby crack".

 

[twogreencars]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ASusan</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7888790"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">:that:<br><br>
Babies are developmentally (neurologically) unable to withdraw their attention from the television stimuli. So, they watch because they must.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/jaw2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="jaw2"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/scared.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="scared"><br><span style="color:#800080;"><span style="font-size:x-large;">scary!</span></span>

 

[thorn]

well my DD never watched any of the baby einsteins before 2, or much before anyway, but she saw the Meet The Orchestra one at someone's house and loved it. She is obsessed with musical instruments, and it goes through the whole orchestra and shows all of the sections and instruments in each section.<br><br>
I don't think it is any better than any other kids DVD really, but I enjoy television, my husband enjoys television, and my DD enjoys a limited amount of television as well. There are plenty of hours in the day - enough for walks in the park, games, books, crafts, nursing, snuggling and a little bit of tv, too.

 

[OGirlieMama]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ASusan</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7888790"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">:that:<br><br>
Babies are developmentally (neurologically) unable to withdraw their attention from the television stimuli. So, they watch because they must.</div>
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I've read this several times - do you have the reference? I'm curious what age baby they are talking about. My Dad used to sometimes keep the Mets game on last summer when he was helping me out with my babies, and I noticed if they were in the room, they would watch for a few minutes, and then get bored and turn away. They were between 4 and 6 months adjusted age at the time. I was surprised when I read that babies cannot turn their attention away from TV after seeing this. I'd love to see the original research from which this claim is drawn!

 

[Sydnee]

I just don't get BE to be honest. I got some videos as gifts, and we've never watched them.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[prettypixels]

Here's a great post discussing Baby Einstein...<br><a href="http://alittlepregnant.typepad.com/alittlepregnant/2005/12/the_mozart_effe.html" target="_blank">http://alittlepregnant.typepad.com/a...zart_effe.html</a><br>
The writer mader her own "BE" video which is *hilarious!* For parents to watch... <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">