https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 05:53:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649621 Tue, 08 Nov 2016 10:21:17 +0000 looch 2649621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I noticed my son was mesmerized by the TV when it was on from a very early age, so I made the decision to turn off the TV. Once I began not having it on, it became easier and easier to live without it. But, I am extreme and there is no happy medium. It's either all or nothing with me.</p> <p>I grew up watching a lot of TV, I mean A LOT, and i can read, graduated college, have an advanced degree, work a full time job, so I don't think that watching TV equates to scarring a child for their entire life. My main concern is the quality of the programming. The news is very sensationalist right now and there's a lot of garbage on...is this what I want my son's early memories to be? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649616 Tue, 08 Nov 2016 10:17:41 +0000 winniebee 2649616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had no problem with it. I didn't prop the baby in a bouncer in front of the TV, but definitely nursed with TV on, etc. I think it's much more important to have the TV off when they are older (12-24 months) when they are actually trying to watch it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649612 Tue, 08 Nov 2016 10:06:17 +0000 peaches1038 2649612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing we ever watch is the occassional game on sundays. DS is one and hardly even looks at it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649487 Tue, 08 Nov 2016 06:21:34 +0000 meadow 2649487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: yes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649468 Tue, 08 Nov 2016 01:48:26 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2649468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Baby watching tv no. But dad watching tv while holding baby the other direction, sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649467 Tue, 08 Nov 2016 01:46:38 +0000 meadow 2649467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@GoGoSnoGirl: thanks for sharing! This article is helpful!</p> <p>@Pumpkin Pie: yeah...but my DH is clearly using it instead of interacting. He'll prop up.a baby on his lap so they can watch together. It keeps the baby quiet &amp; entranced....not playing with their toys or "talking" to us or anything. That's what frustrates me.....</p> <p>Also their weekend sleep is worse than weekday and I'm wondering if it has to do in part to TV watching..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649390 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 20:14:19 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2649390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How long is the tv on during the day? Is it the whole day? I personally find having a little tv on to be harmless. I know the recommendation is not to let your kids watch tv until 2, but if you are watching something for a limited amount of time, I think its ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649372 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 19:27:03 +0000 wrkbrk 2649372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: Agree. It's also almost impossible and definitely unrealistic to keep the tv off for 18-24 months. We watch mostly news but yeah DS is in the room! He pays absolutely no attention to it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649367 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 19:02:35 +0000 GoGoSnoGirl 2649367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's one, but DH &amp; I have read many about limiting screen time for babies (especially) because of the way the programs are recorded... something about the speed of images &amp; the imperceptible flicker rewiring developing brains. Babies can't distinguish between the 1-dimensional images vs the real-life 3D that the images represent, though this article doesn't discuss this particular concern. I'll post that too if I find it again. </p> <p><a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201604/is-what-screen-time-really-does-kids-brains" rel="nofollow">https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201604/is-what-screen-time-really-does-kids-brains</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649364 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:59:59 +0000 sarac 2649364@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Calling it 'dangerous' is borderline hysterical. Adults may talk less when the TV is on, sure, but that's probably because they'd like a break from talking, and not just because of the big scary TV. I would compromise by asking that it go on for a while, and then go off. Or just get out of the house and stop being around it so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2649351 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:03:01 +0000 meadow 2649351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@FaithFertility: thanks for sharing !</p> <p>@erinbaderin: thanks! I tried to explain the verbal thing to him the other day....... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2648997 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 08:09:41 +0000 erinbaderin 2648997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is more about toddlers, but this section is interesting: Just having the TV on in the background, even if "no one is watching it," is enough to delay language development. Normally a parent speaks about 940 words per hour when a toddler is around. With the television on, that number falls by 770! Fewer words means less learning. (<a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Why-to-Avoid-TV-Before-Age-2.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Why-to-Avoid-TV-Before-Age-2.aspx</a>) It's a good point that when you have the tv on you're not giving your baby your full attention. </p> <p>For some reason I can't copy from this article but there's a section on why even background tv can be harmful: <a href="https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/babies-and-toddlers-the-definitive-answers-to-screen-time-questions#" rel="nofollow">https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/babies-and-toddlers-the-definitive-answers-to-screen-time-questions#</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2648992 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 07:55:31 +0000 FaithFertility 2648992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had the TV on with news/games on a lot<br /> I did however make it a priority to turn it off at times!</p> <p>I like you am not big into TV</p> <p>Still at 22 months the news will be on but TV is off during dinner and at 6 to "settle down"</p> <p>We do however watch TV in our room and hang with DS but he is weeks old </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/screen-time-for-babies#post-2648986 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 07:30:15 +0000 meadow 2648986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I disagree about screen time for our babies. He likes to turn on the TV on the weekends to watch the news or mindless TV when the babies are playing with us. I think this is unnecessary and possibly dangerous for their development. </p> <p>He says it's just a bunch of lights like when we turn on some of their toys with blinking lights.</p> <p>Does anyone have a good article or research that is concise but explains why babies don't need to watch TV?</p> <p>They now crane their necks to see it even when I face them away and try to play with them. :sad: </p>