Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We have one but only used it in the car during a two 16 hour car ride & plane rides.

I'm not a big fan of driving around & letting my kids watch TV. Ilike the idea of letting them be bored. It's also the place where they are trapped & start talking to me. I'm probably going to carry it over to ipods too. I don't think seeing everyone walking around with ipods - even in a car teens have them on.

Message edited 7/11/2008 2:06:30 PM.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

I bought one. It saves me a ton of stress. For our car rides up to NY, when its just me and him. Other then that its never in the car.

I was tempted to take it out to eat with us while we were vacationing, but fought it.

I should have just brought it in, maybe its one of those technology advancements that I should not fight.

Instead, I had 7 days of horrible meals.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We don't have one now because we did not travel yet but I don't see the issue with having one.

We can't expect toddlers to entertain themselves for hours in a carseat for a long trip. What are they supposed to do? They can't count all red cars for hours. Or just stay confined in a tight space in an airplane for hours. They don't have the patience like adults (personally I hate long trips already so I can't imagine a yound child). I think using them is a good break. I don't think they should be used the whole trip but man if I fly to Europe, I am bringing one for DS with LOTS of Backyardigans DVDs.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We have a portable one. We just used it when we went to visit my Dad, Hayley was able to watch her DVD's and the grownups were able to watch the tv. I also used it when I flew alone w/Hayley last year.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We dont have one and if i could avoid it I will never get one. We grew up without them and we are fine.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We don't have one...yet. I would like to get one but for travelling only...IF we ever get to do that again

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

Posted by Summerrluvv

People have them in the cars, they take them out to eat, on airplanes, etc. How the heck did we grow up without being electronically entertained every minute of the day?

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

Your not the only one.....we don't have one. When we eat with a friend of mine and her son she tries to have Kerri watch it (her son is glued to it) but Kerri has no interest. She keeps herself occupied in the car and at restaurants

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We bought a portable DVD for our trip to Lancaster last year, and it was a disaster - it made DS carsick!

I already told DH that if we get a minivan, I do not want the DVD package, b/c my DD will want it on CONSTANTLY - it's bad enough I have to say NO all day long when we are home...I would lose my mind if I had to fight that battle in the car, trying to get errands done or take a trip somewhere. I do not like to encourage TV watching!!

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We have one but got it way before DS was born. We use when we are going to be someplace for awhile and think DS is going to get restless. We have never used it up in the car.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

we dont have one, but DH wants to get one soon

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

Nope, not the only one.. we don't have one either..
I am lucky that my son is REALLY good in the car... he reads his books and looks out the window and sings along with the songs I play for him on CD. We have gone on long road trips and really he never fusses, so I figure why mess with a good thing?

on the other hand.. he isn't all that great with sitting still at restaurants these days (mainly because he's become such a picky eater) However I still rather not get him into the habit of watching a DVD player at mealtime.

I'm all for doing what works for the individual person though! If it makes your life easier in the car/at a restaurant/on a plane trip to have the DVD player for your DC.. then by all means I would use it too

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We have a DVD player in the car but it has only been used for a VERY long car trip.

We have a very close family friend who has a child with autism and watching tv is the only way they can keep him calm outside of the house, so they use theirs all the time.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

My MIL bought one for Nate for Christmas. We only used it once on the plane when we went to NY in June. I don't see us using it unless we go on an airplane or if we do a road trip.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

nope, we dont have one.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

I don't use one in the car because he does very well in the car (knock wood). If I needed it to calm him down etc I don't see a problem with it.

I did use it on the cruise at dinner and if I didn't have it, we wouldn't have been able to eat at the restaurant at all. It worked great. When we go out to dinner for now on, I will be taking it with us. It is not far to the people around us, us, and whomever we are out with to here him cry and throw fits all the time when we are out to eat.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We don't have any either.....not that I am not considering it though.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We don't have one and we try to keep DD away from the TV.

My sister has one and my 3 year old niece has her very own flatscreen TV in her room.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

I dont have one and I take frequent 4hr car rides to Upstate NY.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

Posted by dm24angel

We have one, Well caus eI won it...But Noahs never used it. Dh uses it in the bathroom

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

I don't see anything wrong with having a DVD.

I think its silly that people say we didn't have it growing and we survived, well that can be said about alot things.

Heck my parents didn’t have a cell phone back in the day yet they survived, I don't see many people living with out them now.

My grandmother did not have a dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, baby monitors etc.... yet she survived.

I guess what I am saying is that technology is not a bad thing, if it will help keep a child form going stir crazy on a 5 hour ride than hallelujah for technology anyway JMHO

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

I don't have one. I have no philosophical opposition to it, we just haven't really felt the need for one. We are very very lucky, my 2 yr old DS really enjoys restaurants, I don't think he's thrown a fit or cried in a restaurant for over a year and we do go out 2-3 times a month (he's always adorable in public and just saves the terrible twos behavior for home, lol). So in those situations, the food, the crayons, sitting at the table with us all keeps him entertained.

On vacations and car trips... honestly... I LIKE him being TV-free for awhile. I hardly ever watch TV myself when I'm on vaca. It's refreshing to get away from all that.

Re: Am I The Only Parent That Doesn't Own a Portable DVD Player?

We don't personally have one (yet) but my Dad does, and we've borrowed it for a long plane ride, but DD is only 11 months old (she was 9 months at the time) and a little Elmo here and there was enough to pass the time. It is not something we're likely going to purchase anytime soon, and not something that we will likely use anywhere but a plane ride...

When I was little, I went to restaurants with my parents, we drove to Florida and to Texas, I flew on a plane to Bermuda...all without TV...I read books, I did puzzles, I colored, I talked to my parents...and that is what I want for DD...