Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

I put Enistein videos on all the time when DD was a baby.. more so when we were in the car though. I dont think there's any harm in it..

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

In our house, tv is on most of the day, as background. DD used to "watch" Baby Einstein" at 3 months (she loved Baby Monet the color one), but it was only for the music and the visual stimulation. She has gotten more into it as she has gotten older and has her favorite shows. But in reality she really just sits and watches for 30 min a day. Most of the time she can't be bothered because she is playing with her toys. I have yet to see any negative effects. She is an imaginative child with a huge vocabulary.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

DS has been watching sesame street each AM since he is 4 months, he is now 7.5 months. If I didnt' have him watchign that, i would never be able to get ready in the AM.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Posted by DRMom

Posted by CrankyPants

Posted by Dulcinea


I see nothing wrong with letting him watch at this age since it's visual and auditory stimulation. Better than letting him stare at stationary objects in the living room.

Not trying to be a jerk, but they (the AAP) say it's not. The recommendation is for no TV under 2 years of age.

I'm not crazy about it in that I never let her catch a glimpse of TV, but I do try to minimize TV.

a link to a quick AAP article

And a little excerpt from the website:
TELEVISION AND VIDEOS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 2 MAY NOT INFLUENCE SKILL DEVELOPMENT

Exposing infants and toddlers to television does not improve their language and visual motor skills at age 3, but does not appear to harm them either. In the study, “Television Viewing in Infancy and Child Cognition at 3 Years of Age in a US Cohort,” researchers looked at the amount of time 872 children spent watching television or videos from birth to 2 years of age, then assessed their language and visual motor skills at age 3. When researchers adjusted for other factors that could influence these skills, such as maternal education and breastfeeding, the effect of television appeared neutral. Contrary to many parents’ perception that television viewing is beneficial to their children’s brain development, the researchers found no evidence of such a benefit. The authors point out that there are many potential benefits of limiting television exposure in children, including improved diet, lower risk of overweight, less exposure to violent content, and improved sleep quality.

ETS: I don't link badly about anyone who lets their child watch TV, I don't follow all the rules of the AAP myself-just wanted to clarify on the above statement.

L-if you read this again-it says they found no evidence of a benefit but the negatives were just the researchers opinion...also as far as violent content how violent is Baby Einstein Iit seems they are talking about "adult" TV not necessarily child oriented shows.

I don't really care anyway since I will do what I think is right and works for my life but just wanted to point that out

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Yes, she loves the Baby Einstein ones. Most of the time, she's distracted and not really watching them.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

DH is dead against DS watching any type of TV. Even though our DS is super young and probably can't even see that far, DH makes sure DS's head is turned away from the TV. I think DH is being silly but he insists on it. I'm sure once DS is a bit older, he'll let him watch cartoons.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Baby Einsten is a must have in our house!

DS always enjoyed watching the videos, my SIL gave us a 5 or 6 pack as she said she couldnt have lived without it in her house. We now have a few more.

At a young age it was great to keep his attention so I could get dressed, make dinner etc. He loved the music most of all.
Also when DS gets sick he often needs a nebulizer for medication and BE videos keep him occupied for the 12 minute treatment.

Now at 16 months he laughs at "funny" parts, and he tries to mimic hte sounds. He also recognizes the animals and characters from BE videos. We generally watch it with him and repeat what they say or if he points to something we say what it is etc. So its more interaction that just watching.

I can't say how much he watches, some days its nice and its never on, other days when he is sick or just crabby its only 80% of the day. He watches snippets of it while playing then if he hears a song he likes he will return to watching etc.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

We limit screen time but I'm not an extremist. We have a bunch of baby and child DVDs. I like having them but we don't use them a lot. He knows what they are but he's more interested in other things. I went to a lecture about this and we got a lot of information from the side that does not promote screen time. There were several reasons, one of which is the idea that children learn vocabulary best from listening to the people in their house. TV may drown out the sounds of words that they could be learning! It is important to remember that there are professional opinions about everything but this is one article.

screen time bad for baby

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

At about 3 months Baby Einstein videos became a part of our morning routine. He would sit in his bouncy or rocker and watch it ---- mommy would get a cup of coffee and breakfast, and come onto LIF. Now, those were the good old days!

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

My DS watches it every night between 7-7:30 becuase it calms him down SOO much. Thank goodness for baby beethoven !!!

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

no never.

At 8 mos he started watching backyardigans...he loved the theme song.

That was pretty much it.

The TV was on while I nursed, but my shows.

I tried to keep it to a minimum.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

I think it depends on what you as a parent need to accomplish during the day and how much help you get to decide if they should watch tv or not.

I go to school, i have to do homework, most times if it was not for baby einstein or TV in general i would not get to shower, brush my teeth , let alone get homework done.

So, for what TV affords me to do , i love it.

I read the studies, and a recent study said that in moderation it does no harm and no benefit to the child.

Personally i think you can learn a lot from TV. My husband and I watch history channel, national geographic, and rent the universe and other similar series all the time.

If we as parents make smart choices for them, TV in moderation is a life saver. I couldnt do anything without the 1 hour or so that baby einstein affords.


I have all of the Baby Einstein Dvds (or atleast most) , a big box of over 50 i think, anyways, a lot of them are stupid, but about 10 of them are really useful and actually teach sign language and shapes , etc . Some of them just show toys in motion, which is BS imo.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

DS watch's baby einstein (only once a day) I put it on for him when I jump in the shower! & sometimes he watches sesame street in the morning (after his first bottle)

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

DD did not watch TV at all until I'd say 10 or 11 months...and then, it was only Sesame Street and not even every day. I just didn't see the need for her to watch TV...we rarely had it on (our shows) when she was around either...just at night.

Whatever floats your boat though...I know super smart kids who are TV addicts and super smart kids who never watch TV.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Absolutely, we love the Einstein videos, DD loes the stimulation and the soft music, I see nothing wrong with it for us.

Television watching doesn't have to be passive. I sit with DD and we clap her hands and sing along to the music with her :)

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

DD does not watch videos at all. I have put on Noggin, but the only thing she has ever paid attention to is the music, and she ignores everything else.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Yes, Ryleigh has Baby Einstein videos and she loves them!

I have no problem putting the tv on for her at all. My mom said that I was glued to the tv as a baby (so is she), and what can I say, I got a 1300 on the SAT

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

We do it during her Nebulizer treatments. They keep her calm. Go figure.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Yup baby einstein and noggin for a little bit in the morning so I can get a cup of coffee do the dishes and just destress for a bit before the day starts! She's obsessed with the TV, which I'm not thrilled with in the least...

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Message edited 5/1/2009 8:21:58 PM.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

Reilly loves to watch Jack's Big Music Show. She watches it once or twice a day. And I like it too!

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

No, not until he was 10 months. He didn't really seem to like it until he was around 12 months.

Re: Do you let your infants watch videos(einsteins etc))

We let Makenzie watch her 1st einstein dvd at about 3 months, she loved it, she now has several einstein dvds and kid songs too. i see nothing wrong w/ it at all. its one of the many things she does everyday. works for us!!