Baby Einstein?

Question

I was wondering what people thought of Baby Einstein movies. I am thinking about getting a couple for my 11 week son because I'm hoping that they will entertain my son for a few minutes so I can get some housework done. He doesn't sleep very well at night so I have to nap while he is napping in order to make it though the next day and night. I've tried his swing, but he doesn't like to be confined in areas. So I'm thinking about putting him on his play mat and putting in the DVD. Do these DVD’s actually keep babies entertained for a little bit or are they a waste of money.

Answer 1

They were very useful for me although they don't always work for everyone. My daughter loves them but the daughter of my sister in law does not even look at them (her attention spam is not the same and now that she is older she likes teletubbies and still won't watch baby einstein). Another think to consider, my daughter at that age loved baby neptune and baby bethoveen and would not even try to watch baby mozart although they are supposed to be for the same age.
I bought them when she was about 3 months and really liked the two i mentioned. IMPORTANT NOTE: I used them only when I needed to take a shower or have some housework done in 15 minutes or so (make sure you don't used them to keep your baby entertained for long periods of time even though you may feel tempted). Sometimes instead of putting her to watch tv i would bring her to the kitchen along with a radio or a boom box and play some music while doing the kitchen so she would not feel alone and she used to have fun looking at me making funny faces or voices or dancing and cleaning.
I also used to put my daughter in her bouncy chair sometimes but most of the time I placed her on her mat on the floor to watch baby einstein (in that way she could exercise an practice fliping to one side or the other, etc and I would have a peaceful mind that she would not fall from the bouncy chair while i was in the shower). because of that the tv did not slowed her development.
i would recommend you to buy a couple of used ones on ebay as they are cheaper and give them a try. my daughter is 7 months now and likes baby monet and baby van gogh because of the music, colorful images and the cute puppets.

Answer 2

My son is 6 months old and he loves to jump in his jumperoo and watch his Baby Einstein dvd's. However, I will say that Teletubbies and a few other shows on basic TV also keep his attention for a while so I can get things done (or just go to the bathroom!!) lol
If these don't work maybe you could try a baby sling. That way your baby can look around but you can still get some housework done.

Answer 3

We love the Baby Einstein videos! My son got them for his first birthday, and my younger 2 watched them from the time they were about 3 months. The video about colors is especially interesting to the very little ones. Also, anything made for babies with other babies in the video is interesting to small babies... they love looking at faces (try the Baby Einstein video called Baby DaVinci (I think that's the name of it), it's about body parts (mostly the face, then hands and feet)). I would never call these videos a waste of money... they are a lifesaver when you need 15 or 20 minutes to work on dishes or switch the laundry! Just don't rely on them too much, you don't want your baby to become dependent on the TV! Good luck!

Answer 4

11 weeks is a little young for those videos in my opinion. 4-5 months is a better time to start that type of visual stimulation.

Why not try a swing or a playgym thingie that lays on the floor? The playgym would encourage him to reach out and touch different things and watch how he can control how they move. It's a much better choice than TV. Or try a sling or carrier so that you can do the light housework like laundry and dusting with him right there with you.

FWIW, I think the videos are great when used appropriately but my daughter was not interested at all in them.

Answer 5

My kids weren't interested in anything Baby Einstein. The movies, the cd's, the puppets, none of it. So for me they were a waste of money. Cute idea though and some of my friend's kids really enjoyed them. At 11 weeks old I doubt your son will really pay that much attention. My kids didn't really pay attention to a tv until about the last 6-9 months and their a little over 3 years old. Now they really get in to some cartoons.

Answer 6

Teevee for babies!

At eleven weeks!!

NO.

They're junk, for a start. Just because somebody trying to sell you something says it's "educational" does not mean it's educational.

Try here:

http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/babyvideos/ftccomplaint.htm

see especially http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/babyvideos/attachments/AAP%20letter%20of%20support.pdf

If you're having that much trouble getting housework done, can you get Grandma to come over for a few hours here and there? Another relative, a friend? The DVD money would be better spent on a teen-ager to come be a "mother's helper" and get stuff done for you, or _play_ and _interact_ with the baby while you get it done...

...but at 11 weeks, screw the damn dishes.

Answer 7

I don't want to sound mean or nothing, but I didn't let my daughter watch tv till she was like 9 months old. A lot of people use them for a babysitter to much. For a little while while you get some work done thought shouldn't hurt. I would definitely try some music dvds of baby einstein and see if he will listen to those before you let him watch them, and if not then I would see if he would watch them. Good Luck. Hope you get some rest.

Answer 8

My two sons both used Baby Einstein since birth and I had positive results each time. My oldest learned to count to 10 very quickly, and I truly believe that the DVDs helped encourage it. I would definitely recommend them to any parent!

Answer 9

My son is 22 months old and absolutely loves them! He has been watching them for about 3 months and if I want 20 minutes to wash disher or do some laundry I just pop it in. He gets so excited and says "mama my movie" Good idea but I dont let him watch them every day just about once a week!

Answer 10

I think putting the baby in front of the t.v at a young age is not good for him. Try walkers, and other toys that will help him develop. I put my 7 month old in a walker in the kitchen so she can play with the toys on it and try standing on her own. When she is in it I cook and clean. When she is bored from that I use the swig or lying her in the play yard with her toy bunny Rae. She looks at t.v only when we are done cleaning eating and the bath is done than she will look at the abs and colors and shapes. She loves it she dances and will try to sing along. ITS SO CUTIE.