Is watching TV bad for bubs?

[LiddlePixie]

Last night Scarlet (almost 3 mths) had a bit of a tummy ache and wanted cuddles so we layed down together on the lounge room floor and she noticed the TV for the first time - She wouldn't stop staring at it, Jamie Olvier was on and when DF changed the channel she had a spat so he changed it back and she happily watched Jamie Oliver again...all up she stared at the TV for probably 1.5hrs and we couldn't take her attention away from it without her becoming upset (giving us grumpy looks like 'get your fat head out of my way i'm trying to look at that prettiful thing').

I never had a TV growing up (my mum was a hippy) and ours is very rarely on during the day or while she is awake, which is why i think she never noticed it until last night - Is it bad for her to watch at this age? I mean in a health sense, ie: bad for her eyes, development.

TIA

~ Hayley

[boomba]

Hayley I would be interested to know about this aswell! Myles has just found the TV too and loves it! I only let him watch it if I have to get dinner ready though, if he isnt happy to sit with me in his rocker IYKWIM!

x

[Emma1979]

im not too sure, i think at that age they just look at the pretty colours and lights, and can probably make out faces, but this is just a guess....

i just bought a baby einstein dvd that is aimed at 9months and above, its educational and stimulating, and has classical music.... it catches her attention and means sometimes i get 5 minutes to myself to fold the washing etc...

sorry i haven't helped, im not too sure, i wouldn't think it would be bad for them though - i would say it would be bad for them if they were a toddler and constantly put in front of the tv as a babysitting device, iykwim....

probably moderation is the key...

[AnyDream]

Ok I'm going to rock the boat here and say I for one don't believe it's healthy for them! Too much passive artificial stimulation, it's going to make the wrong parts of the brain grow. I have an older DD and I noticed that when she watches tv in the mornings she is bored and flat and difficult to entertain for the rest of the day. When she doesn't watch it early on, she's off busy with all sorts of self-directed activities. I'm sure incidental watching (ie sitting on your lap while you're looking at Jamie) whilst still interacting normally is fine, just don't be parking the baby in front of the teev to keep them quiet, (IMO).

[Junglemum]

There are all sorts of interesting studies and articles written on this topic. I googled Watching TV babies and came up with a few........ Not sure any of the information is too reliable, but interesting reading anyway!

[kungfubecca]

I've heard that TV can overstimulate a baby but my DS is the same he will stare at it sometimes. As the others said moderation is the key, but in my opinion TV is no worse than the loud noisy battery operated toys. Give me some wooden blocks any old day.

[Danni]

I dont mind ds watching it for short periods of time occasionally but our MCHN advised us against it. Apparently it is too hard for the babies to focus so its big blurs and shocks their eyes with repeated movement iykwim?