I have a moo anxiety post, so ignore if you don't want to

[Jalapeñomel]

know about my baby woes.

so we normally don't really have the TV on anymore when D is awake, because, well, that's what someone told us not to do.  But he currently cutting his first tooth, or should I say 5 teeth, and he's freaking miserable.  So the only thing that will calm him down and keep him from inconsolable crying is if we put on a cartoon/movie/tv show for him to watch.  

I'm all weirded out that he stares at the tv.  Please tell me that kids can watch tv, and they don't turn into psycho killers or kids who have no ambition or something equally tragic.

I guess I just need some reassurance here. 

[spankswife]

He'll be fine.

Keep it educational if it makes you feel better.

[gretchenindisguise]

L loves tv and is thus far not a psycho killer.

I loved tv as a kid too, and am also not a psycho killer.

Poor A has no hope, because there's no way for me to protect him from the tv.

[Deleted]

Keep your sanity however you can. Put him in front of the TV, take a break.

You are not going to damage your baby. Trust.

[Deleted]

He will be fine.

[spwspw]

He'll be fine. We were tried to be super vigilant with TV when DD was young, but it just wasn't possible with DS. We had to rely on TV to keep DD occupied when DS was an infant to keep ourselves sane. Unfortunately, that of course meant DS was exposed to it at a much younger age. He's fine now. I mean, well, sometimes he acts like a little punk, but I don't think it's TV related.

[pantsparty]

Well, you don't want him to be the only baby that doesn't know all the...Daniel Tiger...pop culture references, DO YOU?

[speckledfrog]

You do what you need to do to keep sane.

[ninjabridemom]

Depends on the kid but it's fine.

When we're feeling better we are doing a tv detox but the boys have been okay with tv since very little. Our rules are: no tv for background noise, research shows it trains the brain to be distracted or something like that, so we only have it on if someone (even me/Jake) is watching; and m-f normally it's 30mins/day.

I think tv is a good way to ignite imagination when it's not the only thing kids do, and I've seen the boys pick up good stuff from like Daniel tiger and dora. But it needs to be moderated. We also avoid violent shows and will avoid overtly sexualized stuff.

[trafficgirl]

I feel you Mel. I've recently been turning on the TV in the mornings for 15-20 minutes so I can finish getting ready. If I don't, the boys won't leave me alone and it's hell trying to get ready to get out the door.

I feel SUPER guilty about it, but I'm putting it in the category of "do what you gotta do to survive".

ETA - they've watched Daniel Tiger and Dora.  And I think Doc McStuffins once. So far Daniel Tiger has kept the most attention.

[ninjabridemom]

Oh obv my depends on the kid comment was relating more to how they balance tv and bounce between and was NOT relating to psychos lol.

[moolarkey]

Did you watch TV? Are you a psycho?

[junebug]

My brother and I were basically raised by the TV and we are both productive members of society. lol

My kid watches waaay too much TV lately, but yesterday, she walked up to me and held up two whale puzzle pieces while watching Octonauts and said "whale". so, the tv is picking up where I am slacking. ha

[SKP82]

He'll be fine.

[papie]

You are fine.

[papie]

Mar 4, 2015 17:57:14 GMT -5 @booby said:

what do people do with their kids all day without the tv on? i don't get it.

I force them to play. We limit tv to one hour a day otherwise they turn into whiny assholes.

Eta: that's for my kids. I realize some kids watch more tv and remain normal. For some reason mine get all crazy.

[sewpinkgal]

He'll be fine. Promise.

FWIW, DS1 didn't watch tv until he was 2. LOLOLOL that we would even get close to that with DS2. In fact, he already enjoys Jake and MMC. Oh, poor 2nd child.

[rex]

you are fine. my h has been obsessed with tv his whole life and is the kindest, happiest person i know. L becomes whiney and clingy with tv so in ideal times she gets like...15 min a week.

L has watched more tv than i ever thought i would allow this winter though but that's because this winter has been insane. i do try to only turn it on when we are desperate, and id say a teething mess of a baby qualifies as desperate.

[kristie]

I love it when my kid zones out to baby einstein. The first one did it too, and so far so good on the psycho killer thing.

[Jalapeñomel]

Thanks guys. Sometimes I just need to hear that I'm doing ok with this mess of a thing we call motherhood.

[Muddled]

He's getting teeth!!

[hopecounts]

Totally fine at his age.
Cutting 5 teeth falls under the survival exception. Do whatever it takes to survive and deal with it later

[FastHands]

TV is how we unwind. At this point I "try" to turn him away and engage with toys etc, but homeboy LOVES tv and it immediately calms him, so I don't always try very hard. I'm not sure the tv was ever off when I was growing up, literally. I'm not planning on that being the case for ds, and I'd like to watch less tv than we do even now, but like Que said, it is so so SO far down on the priority list for now.

[adhdfashion]

My kids are very kind hearted, gentle and love tv. You are fine.

[meganew]

Ollie and I watched so much Greys Anatomy together when he was a baby I'm pretty sure he'll be a surgeon.

[Captain Serious]

You are doing just fine, and he will grow up perfectly well, too.

[emoflamingo]

Super Why is annoying as hell but fantastic for educational purposes. DS2 knows his alphabet and has for quite awhile. Total genius (jk).

[rosiebear]

Don't worry; you're doing fine! TV is just fine-it'll prompt imaginative play, teach things (hell, The Electric Company taught me to read before kindergarten), and give everyone a much-needed breather. Use it when you want it!

[underwaterrhymes]

TV is fine. We were firmly in the no TV until 2 camp until we got stuck in the hospital when he was 5 months old and needed a way to help entertain him. Someone here suggested Daniel Tiger. It is awesome and we have never looked back.

We try to limit it somewhat, but he's usually doing other stuff anyway at the same time and he really has learned a ton. I'm sure when the weather is nicer we'll be outside a lot of the time, but when the weather is shitty or he's sick (or, frankly, I need a break) we have lots of snuggle time and watch some Yo Gabba Gabba together.

[kristie]

Mar 4, 2015 22:58:24 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

We try to limit it somewhat, but he's usually doing other stuff anyway at the same time and he really has learned a ton. I'm sure when the weather is nicer we'll be outside a lot of the time, but when the weather is shitty or he's sick (or, frankly, I need a break) we have lots of snuggle time and watch some Yo Gabba Gabba together.

I am pretty sure the adults that came up with and write yo gabba gabba are high as kites or tripping on something. It's a good show, but yeah..... Lol