Baby Einstein DVD's. Good? Evil? Looking for advice!

[AndreaMMS]

I refer to them as Baby Crackstein. My 15-month-old daughter has become addicted. My fault.

For the past week she had been fighting a virus with a high fever, which has now turned into a doube ear infection. AND she's got four molars coming in. "Miserable" does not even to begin to describe her, the poor kid. And I am exhausted.

I had been letting her watch a DVD once in a while. But when she started getting really sick, I let her just watch as much as she wanted, as it was the only thing that calmed her down and seemed to distract her from the pain. Now, though, she wants the stupid things all day long, and if I say no she has major tantrums.

She is still sick, so I don't know how "tough-love" I should be with her, you know?

Do you let your kids watch these things? How often? I have such a love/hate relationship with them. I cann't stand the blank stare she looks at them with. But she adores them, and will also make animal sounds at the puppets, and laugh and clap at times too.

If this post has made no sence, please excuse me- I am utterly sleep deprived.:rolleyes:

[jbemommy]

I feel your pain! It's tough at that age, b/c it's not like you can "reason" with them very well. DD is almost 3, and would watch TV most of the day if I'd let her. We are able to ration her viewing out by telling her she can watch 1 show after "x", and although there are meltdowns at times, it works for the most part.
At her age, distraction is probably better than anything else. I'd ignore the tantrums and then try to get her involved in something else she enjoys. At 15 months, I did let DD watch Baby Einstein for specific reasons--making dinner, etc., or while she was ill. That was pretty much the only TV she watched at that age, however, it is a slippery slope, and now she has branched out to a select few TV shows on Disney/Nick, Jr.

[Jenyfer9]

Perhaps I'll be in the minority here, but I'll say that anything goes (well, almost) when a kiddo is sick. I know that I don't feel like doing much when I'm sick, so I figure that's pretty much the same with my kids. Then, as hard as it may be to do, when your dc is feeling better, you can cut back to the normal amount.

[ShelbyMay]

DD is almost 6 months old, and when she was sick recently I let her watch Baby Einstein or Noggin. Like your DD, she felt crummy and trying to "play" with her just made it worse. She was only content while sleeping, nursing, or watching tv, so we just alternated those things until she felt better.

I am lucky so far in that she is too young to throw an actual tantrum, but I understand about the slippery slope -- I now find myself tempted to park her in front of the tv so I can make dinner in peace, but I try to resist. :o

[Kristen78]

My DD is almost 14 months. We have the Baby Einstein DVD set, but she has only watched a video about 2-3 times in her life. She does seem somewhat interested in them, but I hardly ever let her watch them. She doesnt seem to care for them THAT much. I dont know if its just her personality or what. She doesnt watch any kids TV shows either.

I love TV myself, so I dont know how I have been able to keep my DD away from it as long as I have...

[malala]

Good question! I'm interested in seeing what replies you get.

DD just turned a year old and got 2 BE dvd's as a present. She hasn't watched any TV yet, other than me having the news on in the morning.
I believe in general that things in moderation are not bad, but I can also see how this would be a very slippery slope.

To make things worse in my case, she got the dvd's from BIL. And my DH's family already thinks that I'm too crunchy as it is (which I swear to you I'm not, they draw that conclusion because I feed DD organic and she hasn't had any sugar yet:rolleyes: )
And I can see how sometimes DH is torn between our beliefs and the teasing he gets from his family.
So, anyway I'm just interested in learning from all of your experiences.

[Kanga]

Dd watches proably 3-4 videos a week. (30 min each) although there have been a few bad days where she watches 2 a day) I try to only use them for getting out of the house so it doesn't take 3 hours but sometimes she's miserable or I'm miserable and we let the rules slide. I would keep doing what you're doing until she's feeling better. I know I watch tv all day long and don't do a darn thing when I'm sick so I don't expect kids to want to do much of anything.

If dd is fussy from teething or something (she hasn't been sick yet, knock on wood) giving her as long as bath as she wants usually works (about an hour usually, the kid is really a fish I swear) or playing with the cats. Most times that's enough to distract her and let her forget about her pain until nap or meal time.

If she's still throwing tantrums after she's back to herself and distraction isn't working, I would have all the videos dissapear except for her least favorite one and hopefully she'll get too bored to want to watch it. I've noticed some of the dvd's aren't holding her attention like they used to and she'll get up to go play with something during the middle of it.

[Marisa]

DS didn't watch much tv at all until he was around 15-18 mos, but even then we never really used Baby Einstein (we had two of them). I actually preferred him to watch something like Sesame Street (which I'd Tivo) even though it was too "advanced" for him at that age -- at least they were all "doing" something. BE videos are just dopey, IMO. They only seemed to work on Joey when he was sick and otherwise dazed from the illness/medicine.

The general idea that watching Baby Einstein will make your baby smarter is completely false and actually opposes the guidelines set by the AAP. There are several parents groups who are organizing campaigns against the 'false advertising' on the BE videos. That said, like the exersaucer/playpen, there's a time and place when using one of these might be the best coping tool we've got as a parent. Just like the exersaucer isn't the best for the developing spine, TV isn't the best for the developing mind, so they should be used sparingly. Evil, probably not. :)

[newyorkgirl]

ITA with Marisa. Sometimes, you just gotta do what helps keep you going through the day. Also, when DS is sick, I will let some things go that I normally wouldn't allow - sometimes he gets ice cream, sometimes he gets to watch a video, etc.

I think that as long as you're self-aware and keep in mind the slippery slope, you can do a lot to prevent your DD from becoming a "couch potato."

DS has the BE set, but we generally only let him watch them when we are on a long road trip or otherwise traveling. At home, when he's well, he may get about 30 minutes combined of Noggin/Sesame Street/Sprout TV during the day so that I can get meals ready, take a shower, etc. He generally gets disinterested after about 15 minutes anyway.

[Renrel]

All I can do is tell you our experience and how it has turned out so far as far as DS video habits.


DS watched some BE during the first year. Some weeks none other weeks a few hours, depending on how much we were stuck in the house and how much baby play I could handle, and I was very into baby play most of the time. We also used them to help calm him and get him to sleep when he went through was night waking periods. The tv instantly calmed him when nothing else seemed to and they we could often get him back to sleep.

After he went into daycare at about age 1 he watched less. He generally got to watch one video on Saturday when I cut his nails and we moved away from baby einstein and on to signing times, letter factory and some other kid educational videos. I know he did learn from these since he knows stuff that I did not know, though I did try to watch with him when I could and I know that helps.

Around 2.5 or so I started allowing video's when we got home from preschool and work, while I started dinner as well as on Saturday. They are a mix of stories- like Thomas and Bob the building and eductational - Magic School bus, work factory, ect. He is learning about stories and the world from these, but I admit at this point they are a type of babysitter for me.

When he is sick, which is not often, the video/dvd watching has gone up, but that has only happened 1-2 times and he has not been sick longer than a day or two, so the habit did not really get ingrained. I can see weaning back being hard.

DS does love to watch his dvds, but even though we used them during the 1st and 2nd yr he is still very involved in all other kids of play and interaction. He knows that the dvd player should be turned off after the video end. He will sometimes asks for more but usually only pouts for a brief time when we say no.

He does however tend to ask for video anytime we enter the house after being out.

[BTB]

The general idea that watching Baby Einstein will make your baby smarter is completely false and actually opposes the guidelines set by the AAP.

Agreed. What I like least about Baby Einstein is their slick but false advertising. Had the video series been called "Baby Couch Potato" they wouldn't sell so well, KWIM? They're not any better than any other program, but I think a lot of parents spend money on the DVDs thinking they're somehow better than videos with other names.

Since we don't do tv at all, given that DD is under 2, when she's sick (like right now) we do other quiet time activities. She gets magic markers only when she's sick, because when she's well she runs everywhere and that's why there's currently a purple streak on my kitchen wall. ;) When she's sick and slow-moving, however, out come the markers, as well as stickers, which she also loves. I also have a basket of cheap dollar-store trinkets that are novel and thus fun to play with. I also get her some new books when she's sick. DD's 20 months.

[moderngal]

DS doesn't seem interested in them. He prefers Teletubbies. :rolleyes:
But, yeah- when DS is sick I let him relax and that includes a little more TV than usual.

[magdesilver]

BE are not evil persay, but I think there are much more high-quality videos out there for the toddler set. Before 1, all DD ever watched was baby signing times. I compared it to the BE sign language version and there was no comparison- the BST was so much better, more involving, and fun.
Now at 20 months, my DD watches more TV- she loves Jack's Big Music Show and also watches an occasional Wiggles or Play with me Sesame. I also have a few more DVD's that are more "active play" involved- Just got a nick jr. "let's move" that DD really loves to dance to, for example. I prefer ones that involve kids more, so they aren't just passively watching. I would love to not ever turn on the TV, but with a DH who is gone for weeks at a time, and hair that needs to be blow dried in order to look presentable, out comes the TV for a little bit each day so we can leave the house without me feeling like a hobo :) .

[mommydearest]

Some of the BE marketing on being educational depends on if you subscribe to the Mozart Effect theories. If you actually read the Mozart Effect book, there are aspects of the theory that are not scientifically supported very well. Some of the author's ideas are only supported in very limited studies (less than 50 participants) and in the author's own private practice patients. Needless to say, after reading his book, I do not put as much stock in the theory, though I do believe classical music is good for children.

That being said, for me personally, moderation is important. I own one of the videos and while I would rather watch Sesame or a real movie for the limited amount of TV time each day, it is ok every once in a while. I also agree that it depends on how much time you are at home with the child. If my child were in daycare all day, we probably would never watch it, at least not during the week. If I were in the house with the child all day and needed 10 minutes to wrap a gift, take a shower, or wait on hold on the phone, BE would serve its place.

[oshannon]

Kristen -

I'm embarrassed to admit how much baby E my DS (he'll be one next Tuesday) has seen in his short life. We're working to limit how much tv he sees, but we're both tv junkies, so it's a tough battle for us as a family.

That being said, i agree with the pps who said that sometimes when they're sick, you do what you need to do to get through. Sometimes the videos work when DS is sick to soothe him, sometimes not.

Just be kind to yoruself, too. Because - if my experience has any validity - you know you'll be sick yourself in a few days!

[LeslieR]

This is just another one of those parenting issues that you have to decide which side of the fence you're on for yourself. I struggle with how much TV DS watches all the time. He is now old enough to know to get upset when his shows are over and the TV is turned off, which upsets me a lot.

Now, I don't think BE is evil at all, but I don't kid myself in thinking that he's any smarter because he watches the DVDs. That being said, he does repeat a lot of the words that are said throughout the videos as well as call out items on of things on sight. We recently started checking out the Discovery Cards under the Bonus Features. For those that don't know, they put an image on the screen (say a picture of a duck), the actual word of the image, and then a voice says 'duck'. The image stays up for a long time, so it's not what is referred to as flashing images at all. DS will repeat the words if he can say them. It's probably the better feature of the DVDs as far as "educational" (for lack of a better word) goes and helps me greatly when I'm trying to make dinner or whatever.

As far as sick days, all bets are off when DS is sick (not often, thank God and knock on wood).

[mimieliza]

Sigh. I'm torn about it. I would LOOOOVE to be able to say, "No screen time until she's two!" as I really believe that is best (no baby NEEDS to watch television). But I work part-time, with my baby around. Realistically, I'm going to be all about the exersaucer, the swing, the jumperoo, and yes, the BE DVDs, if it allows my baby to be content a quiet for awhile while I work. This is not ideal, but for me, it is the difference between keeping her with me or sending her to daycare, and this is what I think will be best for both of us.

So I think they have their place, as a coping tool. If they keep a sick kid quiet, or let mama bring in some income, that seems like an appropriate use of the tool.

I hate the marketing, too. Someone gave us a BE DVD, and I watched it thinking it was going to be this cute, well-made thing (DD's not old enough). It was the dumbest crap I've ever seen. :p Come on, you can't tell me that for $20 each or however much they cost, they couldn't have spent just a teeny bit more on the production? I mean, I know kids love them, but they are really inane.

[LexyLou]

BE videos are just dopey, IMO.

I agree that the beginner BE videos are dopey but DD loves the ones that are for 1+ year. I don't think they are dopey at all. Do I think that she's going to be a genius for watching them? No. But I do think she has learned some from them (like the names of animals and what they look like and sounds they make).

Her favorites are Baby McDonald, Baby VanGogh, and Neighborhood Animals.

That being said, she usually only watches a video 2 or so times a week. She's also been in to Blue's Clues lately and likes to watch a 20 min episode once a day in the morning after breakfast.

Honestly though when sick or traveling, I say that different rules apply. THANK GOD for Baby Einstein on our 6 hour plane trip out to CA. I think she watched a total of 2 hours of video (30 here, 30 there) during the trip and I don't think I could have made it without them.

Don't feel badly, Andrea. Naomi is a SMART little cookie (I don't know many 15 month olds who know 30+ words). A little extra TV while sick isn't going to ruin her.

[mommydearest]

I definitely agree--when traveling, when sick...rules do not apply! Anything to keep a kid calm on a plane is a GOOD thing.

[Dally]

We watch these a few times a week (DD is 19 months old). I admit, I do it when I need a break from active play (for instance, after a long day of work, and then a couple of hours of intense play with DD). But, I cuddle with DD while we watch BE and we talk about what's on the screen. She likes Baby Neptune, World Animals, Baby McDonald, and Neiborhood animals. I always name things, and by now she can name (or sign) most of the animals, or make the noise (not necessarily solely from the videos, because we read a lot of books, etc., but still). Sometimes she gets up and dances (like during Old McDonald). So, no, I don't think they are evil (nor do I think they make little geniuses...seriously, does anyone think that?). But they can be interactive if you get involved. Which isn't a bad thing.

And when she was sick a couple of months ago, they really helped take her mind off of her misery.

[cc8]

I posed a very similar Q a while back and after a lot of thought and reading up on the subject, I've decided *not* to let DD watch TV or DVDs. Earlier this month, we took our 1st family vacay (flight to Hawaii). DD was miserable and she got sick, too.

We let her watch the BE DVDs. We had originally started letting her watch them for 20 minutes a day around Thanksgiving, I think and it freaked me out to see how mesmerized DD was by the videos. By the time Hawaii hit, DD had LEARNED how to turn on the portable DVD player and play the DVD; she would also hit "play" to restart the DVD after the show had finished.

After Hawaii, I hid all the BE DVDs and returned the portable player to my brother (we had just borrowed it for Hawaii).

This is a very personal parenting decision and I just wanted to share my experience. Now, DD is not allowed to watch any TV; I've hidden her BE DVDs and we won't be letting her watch TV before she hits 2 years; but if possible I'd like to keep her away from TV for longer than that. Instead, we read books to DD - she loves books.

I gotta admit tho - it is tougher on ME not to have the DVDs playing!

Good luck with your decision. For us, the clincher was when we asked DD's teacher her opinion on TV/DVD viewing - that kind of sealed the deal for our decision.

[Kristen78]

cc8 - What did the teacher think about it?

[kindermom]

Thankfully DD could care less about TV and videos, despite DH and I being junkies. The tube is usually on in the background on a grown-up show but she pays no attention to it. When I have introduced BE, she could have cared less. With that said, she had a stomach flu this week and was a miserable child. She semed to enjoy zoning and watching Sesame Street. Whatever works when they are sick works for me.

[shimmerstar]

I was interested to read these responses. I would like to use Signing Times with our baby, and it wouldn't bother me if our kid watched a dvd sometimes, but dh is totally opposed to babies watching tv. He read somewhere that it might cause autism, and that was it. Anyone else heard this? So I'm trying to figure out how to teach my baby sign without the video. I guess I could watch it by myself.

[Littlelamb11]

Personally, we're fans of BE in our house. and now Little Einsteins. We own them all. :) Both of our kids have watched a limited amount of BE since they were 2 or 3 months old. When used in moderation and along with a wide variety of other educational mediums, I find BE (especially the 9mo+ DVDs), LEs and TV in general to be a great additional educational tool. They have been very useful in helping to expand DD's vocabulary to enhance her literacy skills (she was an early talker and early reader), They've exposed her to many new concepts in ways that books can't, They've given her different angles of exposure on different subject and have helped spark her interest in learning more about MANY different subjects. There really have been benefits to the limited and moderated exposure DD has gotten from television. Does she NEED TV? Of course not. Anyone can get by with out it. But there are certain things she would not have been exposed to had we not used TV as a medium and I feel it has aided in expanding DD's overall skills and knowledge. It's a useful addition to our educational toolbox.

[kimthebride]

I look at BE videos and other "gentle" tv-watching (which I consider things like Sesame Street, puppet or other simple shows like Jacks Big Music Show and Oobie) as parenting tools. IMO they serve 2 purposes:

1. Entertainment that you CAN get involved with. You can talk about what's on screen, point out colors, laugh at the jokes, play the same instruments, use the same toys, learn and sing the songs with DC etc.

2. A break for mom. Parenting is tough stuff, and there are times (baby is sick, you are sick, travelling, a clingy day but you need freedom to cook a meal, you need 20 minutes to shower in peace each morning to retain some semblance of sanity) that I personally find it totally acceptable to let your toddler enjoy the show and leave you the heck alone.

I never bought into the idea that they make a kid smarter (though I could be wrong, who knows!?).

Kids go through so many stages, and they come and go pretty quickly. She still feels like crap, and the BE videos make her happy. I honestly do not think that a week or so of her watching way more of them than normal or is "AAP Approved" is going to do her any actual harm. She is under normal circumstances active, out-and-about, social and very interactive. Once she feels better, just cut down on the videos and she'll get over it and move onto a new obsession.

I am putting myself out there to be flamed (yeahyeahyeah I hear you people already!) but i would bet all my money that most - not all, but most - parents fib about how much tv their kids actually get exposed to. And if that's true, are you witnessing any disadvantages of all the kids you know who do watch tv before 2 years old? Are they less active, less bright, stunted in some obvious way? I just don't see it, but heck maybe I'm stunted because I grew up watching Sesame Street and The Muppet Show. ;)

I think she'll be fine and move on from the BE obsession soon. So no need to worry!

[BTB]

I am putting myself out there to be flamed (yeahyeahyeah I hear you people already!) but i would bet all my money that most - not all, but most - parents fib about how much tv their kids actually get exposed to.

You knew ahead of time this statement was flameworthy, because it is both arrogant and a flimsy rationalization, and yet you put it out there with your name on it anyway?

And if that's true, are you witnessing any disadvantages of all the kids you know who do watch tv before 2 years old? Are they less active, less bright, stunted in some obvious way?

Those questions have already been answered, in the studies that prompted the AAP to issue a consensus statement. They do not issue consensus statements on everything under the sun, but on issues for which there is solid, actionable evidence.

But there are certain things she would not have been exposed to had we not used TV as a medium and I feel it has aided in expanding DD's overall skills and knowledge.

No snark intended, littlelamb, as I really respect both what you said and the way you said it. You gave your reasons in a non-condescending, non-flame-worthy fashion, and I appreciate that. In the spirit of open, polite discourse, I'm curious in learning more about what you've said. What, specifically, have your children been exposed to through tv that isn't available in any other format?

So I'm trying to figure out how to teach my baby sign without the video. I guess I could watch it by myself.

Neither I, nor DH, nor DD has ever watched a signing video, and DD is an avid signer. We have a book called "Baby Signs" which taught DH and I; we then modeled signs for DD and she picked them up quite naturally that way. If you prefer to be taught by a live person, many communities have Baby Sign classes - around here, Gymboree, the YMCA, and the Park-Rec Dept all offer them. Someone asked earlier if Baby Sign videos "count" as watching tv, and yes, they do. But they're just one method of learning, there's other ways - and IMO, a live class is a more effective method anyway - of learning.

[pixiecat]

DD is 15 mos and has really never watched tv at all. I think this has a lot to do w/ the fact that all three of our tvs are flat screens and up high on the walls (can't really see it from the floor!). We have a BE DVD and tried to get her to watch it on the computer, but she only wants to "type" and didn't pay any attention. I took this as a sign, no TV for DD! For us, I don't think it will be difficult to make it to the 2 year mark. After that, we will see.

Also, DD has many many signs - we taught them from the Baby Signs book and made up our own.

[Sal03]

I look at BE videos and other "gentle" tv-watching (which I consider things like Sesame Street, puppet or other simple shows like Jacks Big Music Show and Oobie) as parenting tools. IMO they serve 2 purposes:

1. Entertainment that you CAN get involved with. You can talk about what's on screen, point out colors, laugh at the jokes, play the same instruments, use the same toys, learn and sing the songs with DC etc.

2. A break for mom. Parenting is tough stuff, and there are times (baby is sick, you are sick, travelling, a clingy day but you need freedom to cook a meal, you need 20 minutes to shower in peace each morning to retain some semblance of sanity) that I personally find it totally acceptable to let your toddler enjoy the show and leave you the heck alone.


ITA. DS is in EI and his speech therapist even says shows like Sesame Street are great. She says in moderation, in can be a great tool. If you use it as a babysitter all day long - no. But if you sit and watch it with your child and point things out and they repeat you and the tv - yes. My son knew all his letters and can count to 11 by 2.5 because of Sesame Street. We realized one day he could recognize and say them all and we were not pushing letters at such an early age...he picked it up from Sesame Street. I agree with the PP that said the older Baby Einstein DVDs are great. My son knows all kinds of animals beyond cow, duck etc. like wombats, pandas and flamingos because of Baby World Animals and the other older BE DVDs. I know plenty of kids who were parked in front of the tv since birth and were advanced with speech from an early age. And my son who watched BE, noggin or sesame street once a day ended up having speech delays. I don't think it is connected. Some people are really against tv for their children and that is fine, but I disagree and would certainly never call it evil.

[Littlelamb11]

What, specifically, have your children been exposed to through tv that isn't available in any other format?


one example is seeing animals in their natural habitat. She went through an obsession with all things animal phase from about 18 months old until 2.5 years old. We are not taking our kids on an African Safari or to a Rainforest so using BE DVDs and other television programs really helped DD learn all about exotic animals, animals in the artic, animals on the savanna by seeing them close-up moving and living in their natural habitat.

another example we have used TV for is expanding on DD's musical knowledge. She has been exposed to a ton with me being a professional musician and has been to many live concerts and seen instruments fairly close-up, plus has been in Kindermusik since she was 3 weeks old, but it was actually BE's Meet the Orchestra and a couple of specific episodes of Sesame Street that really sparked her interest in playing the violin around 2.5 years old. The difference in the DVDs and programs is the ability to see children her age playing instruments and adults playing in orchestras and other various settings at such close angles that are pretty much impossible anywhere else, unless you have the means to hire a full orchestra to come and play in your living room several times a week. Now, at 4 years old, she's taking the violin lessons she has been begging for since just before her 3rd birthday. :)


When you have a child that is starving to learn more and more about certain subjects and books and field trips aren't getting the job done effectively enough, television can be a wonderful learning tool.

[cc8]

Sorry for the late reply; I didn't receive any CC notifications about new posts! Happy New Year all BTW.

Kristen78
cc8 - What did the teacher think about it?


Kristen78 - DD's teacher recommended no TV until 2 and to even try to keep DD away from TV for way longer than that. FWIW, DD's teacher is also a mother of 2. Her point was that rather than have DD watch TV which is essentially a "passive" activity, we should try to engage DD in games, reading out loud to her, developing her motor skills (she loves to build blocks for example), run around with her, etc. I personally liked this advice and we have run with it with a lot of success. DD never 'asks' to watch BE DVDs anymore but of course this is due in part to my hiding the DVDs! :)