how long does your 12 mo - 18 mo old watch tv for.... and please state how old baby is.?

Question

I'm just curious of how long the attention span is of a child of that age, if your baby is older feel free to answer also!

thanx!

okay, just so everyone doesn't think I am neglecting my precious one year old:

We don't have cable, bc I don't agree with using tv as a babysitter or even having in our house to warp our minds! But I did buy two Elmo's world dvds and I was soooo suprised at how much she loved it! and how much she has learned from it. I got one about hands, feet, and ears, and now she can point at all those when you ask, and she always wants to wash her hands! Anyway she watches the Elmo dvd's all the through, I was supprised about that. I am a stay at home mom and i spend a TON of time with her as far as reading singing dancing playing library park, etc.... but thx for all the great advice, i agree with everyone!

Answer 1

When my son was 18 months I started buying him Sesame Street and Barney movies - about 30 minutes each. I let him watch them right after lunch while I cleaned up. It certainly hasn't made him stupid or fat and lazy. He could sing his ABC's by 24 months and knows his numbers to 20. He knows all his animals and the sounds they make. He also learned different kid exercises (Elmocises) and dances with Barney. Of course I teach these things too and I do read to him but seeing these things in different formats helps reinforce the lessons plus it includes things like manners and even some things I forget to teach like fire safety and when it is o.k. to pet a dog, etc.
Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for doing it either. You are the mother and you know what is best and 30 minutes of TV is certainly not neglect.

Answer 2

Everyone thinks TV is so bad for children, I just want to say there are several educational cartoons out there. My 22 month old has loved Noggin ever since I can remember. Ok people don't have a heart attack on this one but at about 6 months my daughter started watching TV, she was crying all the time due to severe acid reflux and the only thing that could stop here from crying was Dora. Needless to say I went out and bought several Dora DVDs. Anyone who wants to criticize feel free, however I am a certified teacher and I know my daughter is advanced for her age. One of her first words around 11 months was backpack (LOL). Our TV is on Noggin 24/7 at 22 months she watches for 5 min here or there but plays most of the time. When it comes to TV, as long as they are getting the appropriate social and developmental interaction. All is well. Honestly as a stay at home mom whose husband works long shifts if it wasn't for the occasionally episode of Dora or Noggin show I would never get anything done. I do know several parents who do use TV as a babysitter so they do not have to interact with their kids, that should never happen. Always remember you child no matter what age should not spend the majority of the day in front of the TV not interacting with anybody.

Answer 3

I allowed my daughter to watch a half hour of television from when she was a year through kindergarten. After that it was "bumped" up to an hour until she purchased her own television for her bedroom at 17. In our home television was not a right it was a privlege and not used as either a source of entertainment or a "babysitter". BTW her attention span lasted the entire half hour as the only show I would let her watch was on PBS it was Bob Ross the painter, she loved that show. Is pretty good at painting now that she is 20 too.

Answer 4

My daughter is 15 months old and watches almost no TV. Once in awhile something small will catch her attention. For instance she will stop anything she is doing and dance to the music to the Nick JR show Max and Ruby. Once it's off, she goes about what she was doing. I have 5 children though, all under 5. They spend a lot of their time in their play room which has a TV in it. I always have the TV on for sound for them, but not one of them will sit for more than 2-4 minutes to watch anything. If at any point they got to the point where they were content watching it all the time, it would be shut off immediately. My 4 year old will sit and watch a full show if she's alone without the other ones.

Answer 5

If you are going to let her watch them try the Baby Einstein videos. I know I know they say don't let your child watch tv blah blah blah. By the time mine was that age he was into EVERYTHING!! It was basically my only chioce while I cooked dinner. Baby Einstein was the best thing I found. He loved them! He is almost 5 now and very rarely ever watches tv. He is one of the most active kids and smart too. He started Kindergarten early this year. They turn out fine as long as you aren't using it for a babysitter 8 hours a day.

Answer 6

I have a 21 month old and the TV is never on. We play and play! Before I was a mom I watched maybe one hour of TV a week, so my little guy was born into a house that doesn't watch TV!!

I believe that every mom is capable of making what she feels is the best decision for her child. I won't turn on the TV for him until after he's two because of there have been studies that link TV viewing with ADD.

The American Academy of Pediatrics say, "Pediatricians should urge parents to avoid television viewing for children under the age of 2 years. Although certain television programs may be promoted to this age group, research on early brain development shows that babies and toddlers have a critical need for direct interactions with parents and other significant caregivers (eg, child care providers) for healthy brain growth and the development of appropriate social, emotional, and cognitive skills. Therefore, exposing such young children to television programs should be discouraged."

Answer 7

Oowee! People can be sooo judgemental! I have two "babies". A 13 year old and a six year old. I must've been a Terrible mom! I let each of my kids have an hour a day throughout the schoolyear and during the summer. I let them "buy" an extra hour sometimes during the summer after they were schoolage with extra chores especially if it was too hot to be outside. The thing is, you have to sit with them. Cartoons lately have gotten pretty violent. But there are programs that are completely appropriate. Sesame Street, Barney (groan!), Dora the Explorer, Blues Clues, things like that. During the commercials, we tried to remember the last song that was sung on the show and sing it. Hilarious!

Answer 8

I am a stay-at-home-mom to a 17-month-old son. We also have a very scheduled day of singing, reading, playing, outside time, etc. My son watchs 20 minutes of the 'Wiggels' every morning with my hubby. They snuggel together with a cup of coffee (Daddy) and sippy cup of milk (son). This is their special time before Daddy leaves for work. This is their special time and it just happens to be that they are singing along with a TV show.

He also watches 1 episode of 'LazyTown' each night before his bath time. It kind of kicks off his bedtime routine. I also have the TV on in the background during the day (CNN, E, Noggin sometimems). I don't think there is anything wrong with it, as long as your baby is getting other stimulation (which it sounds like). Don't sweat it, in moteration it's okay

Answer 9

An hour and a a million/2 feels like plenty. My son wasn't allowed to observe ant television until eventually 2. Now he's authorized to observe 2 20 minute episodes at maximum, one in morning and one after dinner.

Answer 10

MY 18MO OLD SON WATCHES TV-Videos that I choose/buy for him appropriate for his age, or Sesame Street, Blues Clue's, Peep... In the morning I put him in the high chair in front of the TV while I prepare breakfast for him. Then I roll him over to the kitchen, he eats then I roll him back to the TV; for about 30-45min (1hr or so in the morning). I sweep and mop (if necessary). Then most of the day he plays outside and runs around the house, I entertain him and clean house or I should say I try to clean house. One last 30 minute video just after bath and then off to bed. I use this 30min to cut his nails if necessary, apply his eczema cream, brush his teeth, Socks...TOTAL 1 1/2 HOUR DAILY OR LESS.