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Screen time for babies

By meadow Nov 7, 2016

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.

He says it's just a bunch of lights like when we turn on some of their toys with blinking lights.

Does anyone have a good article or research that is concise but explains why babies don't need to watch TV?

They now crane their necks to see it even when I face them away and try to play with them. :sad:

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Tags: tv , screen time , infant , research

13 comments

FaithFertility
eggplant / 11861 posts

Nov 7, 2016

We had the TV on with news/games on a lot
I did however make it a priority to turn it off at times!

I like you am not big into TV

Still at 22 months the news will be on but TV is off during dinner and at 6 to "settle down"

We do however watch TV in our room and hang with DS but he is weeks old
erinbaderin
pomelo / 5573 posts

Nov 7, 2016

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. (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Why-to-Avoid-TV-Before-Age-2.aspx) It's a good point that when you have the tv on you're not giving your baby your full attention.

For some reason I can't copy from this article but there's a section on why even background tv can be harmful: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/babies-and-toddlers-the-definitive-answers-to-screen-time-questions#
meadow
persimmon / 1272 posts

Nov 7, 2016

@FaithFertility: thanks for sharing !

@erinbaderin: thanks! I tried to explain the verbal thing to him the other day.......
sarac
pomelo / 5093 posts

Nov 7, 2016

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.
GoGoSnoGirl
pear / 1558 posts

Nov 7, 2016

Here's one, but DH & 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 & 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.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/behind-online-behavior/201604/is-what-screen-time-really-does-kids-brains
wrkbrk
pomelo / 5084 posts

Nov 7, 2016

@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.
Pumpkin Pie
persimmon / 1431 posts

Nov 7, 2016

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.
meadow
persimmon / 1272 posts

Nov 8, 2016

@GoGoSnoGirl: thanks for sharing! This article is helpful!

@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 & entranced....not playing with their toys or "talking" to us or anything. That's what frustrates me.....

Also their weekend sleep is worse than weekday and I'm wondering if it has to do in part to TV watching.....
T.H.O.U.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts

Nov 8, 2016

Baby watching tv no. But dad watching tv while holding baby the other direction, sure.
meadow
persimmon / 1272 posts

Nov 8, 2016

@T.H.O.U.: yes!
peaches1038
nectarine / 2047 posts

Nov 8, 2016

The only thing we ever watch is the occassional game on sundays. DS is one and hardly even looks at it
winniebee
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts

Nov 8, 2016

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.
looch
wonderful pear / 26210 posts

Nov 8, 2016

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.

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?

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