LO and "Screen Time"

At what age did you start letting your LO watch TV and/or movies AND how long per day do you let them have screen time?

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

Is that including "educational" dvd's/baby einstein-type stuff?

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

I think she started paying attention and liking it somewhere around 14 months or so...she likes it now at 22 months more... she probably watches it a total of an hour or so a day throughout the day but i think its on about 3 hours a day.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

4 months old. Never really tracked specific time, a little here and there in moderation.

LO and

She started "watching" TV at 3 months old. Now at 9 months she only gets about an hour a day but she really doesnt watch it. She's busy and its on. And she will only watch Baby First TV which is all educational. If we are watching something she shows no interest.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

Our first son didn't start watching till he was a little over a year. Even then, it was only about a half hour every few days or so, nothing regular. Now, he's 3, and he usually averages about an hour a day.
Our younger son started watching at a younger age (maybe 10 months or so) because his big brother was watching. But he only sees about one half hour so every couple of days.

LO and

DS didn't even notice to tv until 9 months or so. Now he will definitely watch it but loses interest fairly quickly.

LO and

Just recently at 10 months I started putting sesame street on for her in the morning. She watches and plays while I shower. It's a lifesaver since she doesn't nap in the morning any more. She loves to chat with elmo!

She watches one episode a day at most. I don't count the fact that she loves to clap along to talk shows or game shows that I watch around her!

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

20 minutes per week- only when he was having his nails cut- until age 3.
Now, with a newborn, he watches two 20min shows per day while I BF the baby.
Lots of opinions on this topic, but this is what worked for us.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

I have tried putting on TV for DS but he doesn't seem interested, so he doesn't really watch any. He is 6.5 months.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

From day 1 I had the tv on around him. I didn't start putting on actual kid shows until maybe 3 or 4 months.

He's now 21 months and watches anywhere between 2 and 4 half hour shows a day. I let him watch at two crucial times of the day- when I need to shower, when I cook dinner. I'm not sure how I would do these things without tv.

It's just not something I'm that concerned about. So far he's been on target or ahead with all his milestones and I feel he's learned a lot from the shows he watches, such as letters, colors and numbers.

You really have to do what you feel is right for you and your family.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

More than I care to admit.

I put on TV in the AM while I'm getting ready. But she mostly sits at her piano playing. Doesn't really watch. But lets say she does watch it - I get ready 3 days/week - 30 mins tops. Usually watches from 8am - 830am or 830 - 9.

I used to put on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse but DH and I agreed to ixnay it. So she watched MMC here and there until about a week ago.

(I secretly watch Octonauts though, I LOVE that show.)

eta: The days I don't work - we don't really watch TV, usually time spent running around - so maybe 1 hr between the 4 days.

Message edited 3/7/2013 5:08:29 PM.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

Since the day he was born. I always have the tv on.

LO and

I had the TV on as soon as I got home from the hospital. DD didn't really start noticing the TV until about 13 months.

Now I frequently have Fresh Beat Band tunes stuck in my head and DH has a secret obsession with Sophia the First.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

DD sees more TV than she should. We usually have the TV on in my house, and she has been interested in it since she was a newborn. We started putting on Sesame Street for her and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse when she was about 3 months, but mostly limited it to a few minutes of Play with Me Sesame on Sprout on weekday mornings, to try to get her to drink her bottle. After her feeding therapist asked us not to use TV as a distraction, we stopped. Now I turn either Sesame or MMCH when I need her to sit in her highchair for a few minutes without complaining so that I can get something done. She will watch for a few minutes, then loses interest. At my MIL's, where she is cared for 2 days per week, I sense that she watches a bit more, as my MIL informed me that DD loves Abby Cadabby, which I didn't even know.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

LO and

DD just started noticing the tv around 4 1/2 months so I started putting on Sesame st and stuff like that for a little bit each day, maybe 30 min or so. She seems to get a kick out of it and she giggles and squeals at the funny voices. I figure as long as its age appropriate, educational and within moderation it's fine.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

My 2 1/2 year-old doesn't watch TV. Around her last birthday we started letting her watch short videos on youtube once or twice a day, but she became demanding and bratty about watching them, so we stopped doing that. At this point the only time she watches anything is if we're at the doctor in the waiting room or situations like that where it's unavoidable.

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

DD just turned one. It's been on in the background, but she doesn't really "watch" it. Like, I never see her sit down to watch a show or something. But then again, I've never seen her stay still for any length of time either...

Re: LO and "Screen Time"

Dd will be 19 months shortly, and we don't let her watch any tv at this point. We will revisit when she is 2 and we have baby #2, but right now she can't miss what she doesn't know!

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LO and

we always have it on in the background. but dd loves to watch mmch and yo gabba! she is 5 months. smiles and laughes at it. its educational, how harmful can it be