Television seems to be a good way to calm a cranky or crying baby. It is also a useful means for yourself because if your baby watches TV, you will have a rare moment to relax. However, watching too much TV can have a negative impact on young children. Here are a few solutions to help you control your child's TV viewing.
When to start watching TV
Pediatric experts often recommend not showing TV to children under 2 years old for the following reasons:
Children will learn and grow best through interactions with a real person, not characters on the TV screen.
There is no evidence that TV supports or stimulates a baby's ability to learn early.
Children under 2 years old will find it difficult to grasp good visual information from 2-dimensional images on TV.
TV distracts children, loses interest in toys, and other games that help the overall development of the body.
If TV is used for the purpose of giving children companionship, finding sources of comfort, comfort, distraction or sleep ... then later on TV will become a habit that is difficult to get rid of.
Children watch TV a lot, get sedentary, not only affect their physical development but also intellectual
Make the most of your TV time
If you decide to let your children watch TV , you pay attention to how they interact with TV.
Children will be more excited if parents watch TV with their children, moreover, children will learn more if they watch TV with their parents. Watching the same TV show with your baby means that he or she still benefits from your answers to your baby's questions and the world around them.
Choose a few shows your baby seems to like, and watch only them.
When choosing a TV program for your baby to watch, the following should be avoided:
Programs not specifically designed for children's cognitive abilities
Creepy or spooky pictures / sounds: pictures of monsters that can frighten children once they are able to understand the images shown on TV. Then the child will be haunted by such terrible images for a long time and not be able to realize that the images are not real.
Advertising: children can recognize logos and associate them with playful colors and sounds. But children may not understand that advertising is only for commercial purposes, on the other hand some advertisements often have languages or images that are not suitable for children. So you should limit your baby watching ads by switching channels or turning off the TV for a while.
Limiting TV Watch Time
Turn off the TV when the program is over
Children are playing with toys but parents keep on TV 'let sound'. This will decrease your child's ability to focus on playful activities. Play is a very important activity because it is a time when children learn to handle objects, understand causes and effects, and interact with friends.
Put TV in the bedroom? Almost every expert thinks that is not a good idea. It is best to have the TV in the living area of the whole family.
Teach children how to watch TV in moderation
Children, especially toddlers, are old enough to observe how you use the TV.
You can be an example for your baby to follow when watching TV appropriately:
Try to limit watching your favorite TV shows in front of your child. Let your child see you doing something else - instead of watching TV - like listening to music, reading, going for a walk, gardening.
You turn off the TV after watching a program. Avoid turning on the TV when there is no need to watch.
Do not watch TV while eating. Let meal be the moment when the family really gets together and enjoy the dishes you cook. This helps young children learn more social (talking) and social skills (polite eating).
What to do when the TV is turned off
We all know for a fact that sometimes TV is the easiest choice. The TV can entertain your baby while you cook meals, talk on the phone, or even take a few minutes off.
Here are some ideas to keep kids entertained without having to turn on the TV:
listening to music or storytelling CDs is the best choice for young children even though it doesn't have the compelling picture and sound on TV.
Gather "strange" toys or objects into a special box that can only be used in case of "force majeure" (when you often turn on the TV to lure your baby to sit still). It doesn't have to be expensive toys - just things your child has not seen or seen in the home such as a wooden spoon and plastic bowl ...
Set aside a drawer full of safe items that your baby can freely rummage through and destroy, such as plastic objects, water bottles ..., when you need time to rest and regain strength.
Learn how to choose baby sleep layers using current safe-sleep guidance, your baby's chest cues, and product labels—without relying on one room-temperature number.
A later-than-usual bedtime does not have to derail a baby’s sleep. Learn how to preserve familiar cues, handle overtiredness, reset gently, and keep sleep safe.
Teething discomfort can begin before a tooth breaks through, but symptoms are not a reliable countdown. Learn what is typical and when to call a clinician.
Learn how to tell a true nap transition from a temporary nap strike, protect enough total sleep, try a schedule change safely, and know when to ask a pediatrician.
A baby waking after 30 minutes may be reaching a lighter stage of sleep, reacting to timing or discomfort, or simply taking a short nap. Learn what to observe, what to try safely, and when to call your pediatrician.
Few teeth do not rule out finger foods. Learn how to choose soft textures, cut foods safely, supervise meals, and recognize choking warning signs.
Compare gentle tummy-time positions, timing, and support options for a baby who cries right away, with clear supervision and sleep-safety guidance.
A baby may refuse a familiar solid food because of fullness, timing, texture, teething, or illness. Learn gentle next steps and when to call a pediatrician.
A practical guide to bottle refusal in breastfed babies: compare timing, caregiver, nipple flow, milk temperature, paced feeding, and when to get help.
Help two caregivers share a calm, flexible baby sleep routine with a clear handoff, age-aware steps, and the same safe-sleep finish.
