[Carm]

My 3 months old baby likes watching TV very much. I was told the baby's eyes still haven't really developed very well. The flashing pictures on the TV will cause eye's problem in the future. Can anyone tell me whether it is true or not? But my baby likes it very much and she always stops crying when she is watching TV. Kind of frustrated!!!

[Marta]

Hi Carm!
Here is something I found on the web:

http://www.goringe.net/tis/archives/000820.html

(if you are interested in more, just type in google: TV for babies, there is a lot more of this subject).
My son is 15 month now and I simply do not switch on the TV as long as he is around. I personally think once he is older he will understand better and then he still can watch TV. I do not exclude it totally, just right now I do not want him to watch. There is so much more to see, hear and smell in the "real" world.
I think if you stop it now, as long as your baby is 3 month old, he/she will not really miss it, because she/he will not remember it (as long as it is switched off....)

[armstroe]

My youngest was fascinated by the TV when she was your daughter's age, particularly sports programs. She could sit there for at least an hour with full concentration. From 6 months on she lost interest.

I remember that my elder girl watched heaps more TV as a baby (I was working full-time, and this is just one of those things that happen when you are not there...). Now at almost 7 she hardly watches it apart from the odd DVD. Her eyesight is great, and her years of couch potato TV habits have done nothing to harm her ability to be imaginative.

[Carm]

Thanks Marta & Armstroe!!!

It stops me worrying about my baby. Too many worries for a new mum!!

[meenu]

Dear Carm,

In my experience most of the kids stop crying for at least some time when brought in front of the TV. My son did so. I feel they are attracted by the colour, sound and the moving pictures on the screen.

[val23]

My now 4 month old baby has been watching CNN since about 2.5months of age for maybe 20 minutes a day. He thinks the person behind it is real and wants the newscaster to carry him. However, if we tune it to a different channel, he doesnt seem to like it. Well I don't know if the study also applies to news but I guess my baby wont be watching CNN for now. Thanks for bringing the subject up.

[Carm]

Hi val23 & meenu,

My baby is the same, she like watching the news report very much too. She talks a lot in front of the TV. She thinks the newscaster was talking to her!!

[meenu]

My son is now 4 yrs old. when he was a baby say from about 6 months to about 2 yrs he used to watch CNN, BBC and CNBC only. We were very happy that time thinking that he and may continue to do so as he grows up. Now he is 4 and watches only cartoon network and an indian channel with pop songs and dances, loud music.