When I was pregnant, I made a lot of I'll never statements... It was easy to do because at the time I really truly meant them.  I had no idea what I was really getting into and my goal was to the perfect mom.  So I said, "I'll never let my baby watch TV" 

As it turns out, I have let Katelyn watch TV, I didn't think it would make her smarter, in fact I knew that letting her watch TV wouldn't increase her intelligence.  So why did I do it? sometimes it was because I just needed to take a shower, so I would put it on for five minutes while I take a quick shower. Sometimes b/c she was super fussy and nothing would calm her down.

Also, I didn't think it's a huge offense. I don't use the TV as a babysitter and most of the time if we are watching an age appropriate show together it's very interactive. But as one mom told us at training session... when you know better, you do better (Thanks Jill)

So now I know better, when I look back now I realize there were other things I could have done like take her to the shower with me or an array of other activities to keep her busy... but hindsight is 20/20 and at the time in my frame of mind that was what worked so I could take that shower.

I hope to have another baby and I can honestly say that I will TRY very hard to not let my infant watch TV but I won't say "never".  One of the main reasons we feel so guilty is because when we are pregnant with a first child we don't know what we are really getting into and we have very high expectations of ourselves and what type of mother we'll be. I don't want to put this type of pressure on myself again. The next time around I want to be more realistic.

Did you let your infant watch TV?  If so, why?  Any similar experience to mine?

I know what you mean. I never thought my little guy would watch TV. But I must say it is very rare. Like in the morning he's only awake for 1.5 hours or so, so we'll watch a little show, play a little bit and give him breakfast. Plus the TV sometimes distracts him so I can cut his nails.

I've made a point of putting the playroom in another room (without a TV). In the beginning I would have the TV on and his toys in the TV room but I found I was watching TV and not him,,,, like not watching him learn and discover. So I felt bad and moved the playroom.

Now we watch only a little in the morning (maybe 20 minutes) and in the early evening he'll be in his swing for a bit and I'll have to TV on while making dinner quickly.

 

I said never too but its gone from never to 1 show he liked to 4 shows he likes. I dont like him watching ALL of the time, but lets face it, its part of our culture and hes gonna see it sometime...all we can do is limit the amountof screen time they get