10 week old is fascinated with the TV!?

Question

My baby, Arthur, has been like this since he was about 5 weeks old.

If he was laying on someone's lap or being held he would crane his neck to see the TV! When he's on his changing mat on the floor he'll turn his head and stare at it and if you put him in his rocky chair he'll sit looking at it for ages!

If he's crying and I turn the TV on he'll immediately quieten down and watch it.

I don't know what to do because I've read that its reall ybad for little ones to watch TV but I just can't distract him from it. anyone else experienced this? I don't want him to be a square eyed couch potato!

Answer 1

It is the noise and the colors because at 10 weeks he still cannot see very clearly.
You will have to at some point try to use other substitutes for it but you will have to do them gradually and eventually he will stop. My son was used to TV and the radio because I wanted him to be able to go to sleep at any time no matter what the noise level. He is 3 now and he watches it sometimes but is more into computers, his bike, baseball and swimming. Once Arthur starts moving around, he will find other interests.

Answer 2

My 11 week old seems to be a bit fascinated as well. The larger the tv, the worse it is. Unlike your son, he is easily distracted. I think that they are just exploring. He is too young for u to be worried. As long as he has other activities, he should be fine. My sister would wake in the middle of the night and watch tv as soon as she was able to move around; she is far from a couch potato. When he starts to walk tv should be limited. Right now, it may be a good thing. If he is turning his head and craning his neck to see the tv, he's gonna have really strong neck muscles!

Answer 3

My son was the same way. I just turned on shows like Sesame Street, Little Bear, and Franklin. He is now 15 months old and while the TV is almost always on he would rather play with his toys and run around. He will sit down and watch anything with Elmo and Franklin, but not much else.

Just make sure you have on educational shows and show him when he is old enough that there are other things to do than watch TV.

Answer 4

thats why they make childrens tv!! My 14 week old is the same! She just likes the light and movement on the tv.dont worry he wont be a couch potato he just wants entertaining and if the tv is on its entertainment for him, just like going in the car and looking out the window at things going by. I have 2 other children, my baby likes watching them play just as much as the tv, but if you havent got any siblings for your child to watch then he will turn to the tv if there isnt anything else to watch.

Answer 5

My son was also like that. I put shows like sesame street and blues clues for him and now that hes 7 and a half months, he jus loves it. I don't see a problem wit children watching TV if its shows that he can benefit from later on. And you can take the time to do what you have to do, alittle you time while he watches tv. As long as theres playtime on the tummy and playtime wit the parents I really dont see a problem. when he grows up, hes going to be more active, so he won't really be a couch potato. Only you will know whats best for your baby. thats the most important.

Answer 6

I have 3 1/2 y/o twins who were very much the same. I think they thought the people on the t.v. were talking just to them. I don't think t.v. is as bad for our kids if me monitor what they are watching. For example I only let my children watch educational programs but are still fun like Hi 5, The Wiggles or Dora the Explorer. My girls really pick up so much for example the can count to ten in Spanish. I should mention that I am a teachers aide and spend a lot of time teaching my kids but they pick up so much from the t.v. so i say if it's educational how bad can it be.

Answer 7

my baby has done the same thing since she got home, I even had to change the position of her crib in my room so that it would be facing the tv or else she kept turning her head so she would be able to watch. I think they really like the tv because of all the colors and sounds. I let her watch it with me, but I try not to watch that much tv so she wont be depending on it later on.

Answer 8

My baby likes it to. Its the colors and the fast moving pictures. It does not mean that your child will be a couch potato. You don't need to really start worrying about that until later. I keep on the Disney Channel though when I do let her watch it. That way she doesn't see things that she shouldn't or hear words that she could learn to say.

However you do need to turn it off sometimes. Playing with you will be fun. Just make sure that you are actually playing with him- not just leaving him alone.

Right now hes to young to spoil. Talk to your doctor if you get worried.

Answer 9

He's too little to be a couch potato! My oldest was like that too. It's the colors and the noise. Find toys that replicate the flickering colors and make lots of stimulating noise. And remember, educational tv can make making dinner a lot easier, but remember too much of a good thing is still too much! God Bless Sesame Street!

Answer 10

Relax, mommy!
Arthur's vision has dramatically sharpened and now he's attracted to the bright colours and lights.

There isn't really that much an almost three month old do but stare at pretty things. When he starts becoming more mobile, he'll all interest in the telly, unless you have one like my daughter who CONSTANTLY wants to watch Boogie Beebies, but she gets up and dances along, so there's no couch potato worry there.

Just relax, your little one will be okay!