'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

This was an article in Newsday - any thoughts?


Infants shown such educational series end up with poorer vocabularies, study finds. Researcher says 'American Idol' is better.
By Amber Dance

Times Staff Writer

August 7, 2007

Parents hoping to raise baby Einsteins by using infant educational videos are actually creating baby Homer Simpsons, according to a new study released today.

For every hour a day that babies 8 to 16 months old were shown such popular series as "Brainy Baby" or "Baby Einstein," they knew six to eight fewer words than other children, the study found.

Parents aiming to put their babies on the fast track, even if they are still working on walking, each year buy hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of the videos.

Unfortunately it's all money down the tubes, according to Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington in Seattle.

Christakis and his colleagues surveyed 1,000 parents in Washington and Minnesota and determined their babies' vocabularies using a set of 90 common baby words, including mommy, nose and choo-choo.

The researchers found that 32% of the babies were shown the videos, and 17% of those were shown them for more than an hour a day, according to the study in the Journal of Pediatrics.

The videos, which are designed to engage a baby's attention, hop from scene to scene with minimal dialogue and include mesmerizing images, like a lava lamp.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television for children under 24 months.

The Brainy Baby Co. and Walt Disney Co., which markets the "Baby Einstein" videos, did not return calls from the Los Angeles Times.

Christakis said children whose parents read to them or told them stories had larger vocabularies.

"I would rather babies watch 'American Idol' than these videos," Christakis said, explaining that there is at least a chance their parents would watch with them — which does have developmental benefits.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

I never stuck my son in front of the Tv for over an hour a day but he did what these videos and has a wonderful vocabulary. Now he is 2 and watches Leapfrog Letter factory. He knows his vowels and all his letters and can identify them. I am not a big supporter of TV but a little monitored TV seemed to be what really taight him his letters.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

I wonder what they think of Sesame Street then?

Of course if Baby Einstein videos are the ONLY way your child is getting interaction it's going to be an issue.

But I can't think that Baby Einsteins are harming babies if they are still read stories and interacted with.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

My daughter loves those videos!! Her vocabulary is tremendous and quite honestly ahead of many children her own age as I have been told by many in the field and have been told this for quite awhile. I don't just let her sit there and watch them we watch them and talk about what we see and what the objects are doing and the colors etc.

If you are just plopping your baby infront of the tv for hours on end (not talking about a 1 video break here!) then I can totally understand it because there is not a lot of talking on there.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

I read a study last year saying that there is no educational validity to any of these "educational" companies (ie, Baby Einstein being the leading one). They are heavily marketed to and purchased by parents of Generation X. meanwhile not one educational institution, one study, or any institution dealing with children has endorsed them saying they lead to smarter children. One of the news programs did a piece on it but I can't remember which.

We were given some Baby Einstein DVD's by my friends whose children have outgrown them. I watched one while I was pregnant and noticed the lack of dialogue as well.

TV is passive and JMHO, I believe children should be as active as possible for that's how they learn best. For now, and at least the first 6 months, no tv at all for us. It's not on while they are awake.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

so being that my boys didnt like the baby eisntein videos...are they going to be genius's

where do these poepl come up with some of these studies

Message edited 8/7/2007 11:09:45 AM.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

Baby Einstein tapes are my best friends. I would never put DD infront of the the tv for hours on end but it does give me a good break for 15 minutes or so if she is cranky and she loves them! I never thought of them as an education tool but just as entertainment.

Of course you still need to interact with your child but if they enjoy it there is nothing wrong with watching a tape every once and a while. Everything in moderation!

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

Interesting article but how else would I have showered when they were young?

Not applicable for my situation. Joseph was a talker & Maddie rarely watched TV. Now that they're older, DH & I still question why we ever talk them how to talk.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

We don't show her any of the Baby Einstein dvds, but she does watch Noggin and other types of shows, but again, as others have stated, as long as you're not sitting them infront of the tv for hours on end and interacting with them the rest of the day, I see no harm. Ava can say almost 60 words at less than 14 months, I don't really think that TV has hurt her and I certainly don't give it credit for all that she says.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

I sat next to a psychologist (University Professor) at tdinner the other night. We just met. He BEGGED me not to use the Einstein DVDs. I told him I use it for backround when I am feeding her or things like that. He says there is no proof that they improve childrens' intelligence, but there IS proof that they decrease their ability to interact.

So, I won't be using it anymore....unless yeah just for a few minutes while I shower or something like that.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

everything in moderation

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

unless you are having your child just watch them over and over, 1 video (which is about 20 minutes long) is not going to stunt your child's growth.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

If anyone puts their kids infront of the TV for hours on end of course they are not going to learn to interact whether it is Baby Einstein or something else. These shows dont cause kids to not interact, its the fact that their parents stick them infront of the TV instead of playing with other kids which causes them to be like that.

Again, another stupid study just to drive parents crazy.

Message edited 8/7/2007 12:32:55 PM.

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

In our house, TV is very interactive. DW and/or I are always with DC, and we take cues from the shows, and ask DS questions, have him tell us about what he's watching, plus we have the Closed Captioning on. According to several milestone charts we've seen, our 4yo DS is at at least a 6yo level with words, letters, spelling, concepts, reading, stories, etc.

Oh, and BTW, he did watch some Little Einstein videos, too....

Re: 'Baby Einstein' a bright idea?

I agree with most ladies - I would rather him watch a little something for 10 mins while I shower instead of sit in his bouncy and scream and scream and scream. But other than that, no TV for him until he is older!!!