Newborns and tv

Hi,

I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are about having the TV on when your baby is around? My 9 week old has discovered the TV when he has floor time after a feed. He can happily look at the TV for a good 10-15 minutes while he's having a kick on the floor.

When I queried him looking at the TV with my family they said it was nothing to worry about, but then today when I mentioned it to the child health nurse she made me feel like a terrible mother that was going to cause my child to have severe developmental issues. She said that he shouldn't even see the TV until he's at least 2 years old.

Should I make sure he's nowhere near the TV when he's awake?

My TV is always on. I know that they say that babies should not watch tv and I agree. I would never put my baby in front of the tv to entertain her. But I don't think that you watching some morning tv with your breakfast and catching up on the news with your bub in the room is going to harm him.

Both my girls have grown up with the tv on as babies and my 3yr old show no signs of harm lol. She is very intelligent and speaks beautifully. She can play and occupy herself and doesn't watch much tv on her own.

You're not a terrible mother and I think the majority of mothers will say that they watch the tv with baby in the room. smile

That sounds silly to me. We often have the TV on too. We put a DVD on for DS now and then but most of the time he just ignores what is on (i.e. like the news or something). He is developing perfectly normally.

First off I wold like to say that you are not a terrible mother.

It is recommended that children have 'no screen time' before 2. But I doubt that 10 minutes here and there would hurt.

It is bad for children's eye development for them to be watching TV before 2 and can lead to them having problems learning to read. Though like I said before, I doubt some here and there would do any harm - just don't sit him in front of the TV for the purpose of watching TV.

Don't let people's comments get to you too much, I'm sure you are doing a great job as a mother smile

My kids are older now well 6 years and 3 years old. I have the TV on most days. Not always watching it but as backround noise. It is on ABC2. The kids can watch if they want and play with other things whatever. Even when we are all playing together the TV is on in the background.

I think as long as your not making them sit and watch they will be fine. I find with the twins if they are tired they are happy to lay on the lounge and have a little sleep but no way they would go to be. I use it as a bit of down time for my kids when they want it.

Your not a bad parent by having the TV on.