Television and Illness
Okay, my frustration and angst over my son's television watching is making our situation of dually having the flu even more stressful. I need to relax about it... I think?
We have NEVER left the TV on with Finn in the room unless the program is intended for him. He didn't start watching TV until around 1 and he only got 20 minutes a day. Now he's 19 months and I struggle to keep it to 45 minutes a day, broken into a morning viewing and an afternoon viewing. It kills me because I know the AAP recommends no tv before 2 years old at all.
The thing is that my son is FIXATED and FASCINATED by TV and so it becomes a number one trigger of begging, whining, tantrums and negotiations. He knows he gets a few minutes before bed, so sometimes he even rushes bathtime to get to it.
I've thought some of this might be because of his mild/proposed sensory issues, but the occupational therapist was not helpful. His pediatrician thought the obsessiveness with it might be related and the therapist did not. She suggested we cover the tv with a blanket to let him know when it's not tv time. Yeah, that doesn't change anything. :/ In fact, we stopped seeing the OT after she told me to shorten my sentences and just say "No!" to Finn. I was not impressed.
So, now it's 4 am; I'm hacking up a lung and all Finn wants is to watch "Cars". He has a fever and can't sleep.
My question is how do your babies/toddlers do with television and have ever been in the position of being anti-television watching only to have that be the thing your child really wants and throws tantrums for? Is it a stage that will pass? Do I give in on "sick days" and let him watch more than allotted time? What if there are just too many sicks days in a month?
Really, in the end, it makes me feel like a bad mother to let him watch more than 45 minutes a day... or any at all. Am I being too perfectionist?
Any advice is helpful.
X posted to Toddlertime.
We have NEVER left the TV on with Finn in the room unless the program is intended for him. He didn't start watching TV until around 1 and he only got 20 minutes a day. Now he's 19 months and I struggle to keep it to 45 minutes a day, broken into a morning viewing and an afternoon viewing. It kills me because I know the AAP recommends no tv before 2 years old at all.
The thing is that my son is FIXATED and FASCINATED by TV and so it becomes a number one trigger of begging, whining, tantrums and negotiations. He knows he gets a few minutes before bed, so sometimes he even rushes bathtime to get to it.
I've thought some of this might be because of his mild/proposed sensory issues, but the occupational therapist was not helpful. His pediatrician thought the obsessiveness with it might be related and the therapist did not. She suggested we cover the tv with a blanket to let him know when it's not tv time. Yeah, that doesn't change anything. :/ In fact, we stopped seeing the OT after she told me to shorten my sentences and just say "No!" to Finn. I was not impressed.
So, now it's 4 am; I'm hacking up a lung and all Finn wants is to watch "Cars". He has a fever and can't sleep.
My question is how do your babies/toddlers do with television and have ever been in the position of being anti-television watching only to have that be the thing your child really wants and throws tantrums for? Is it a stage that will pass? Do I give in on "sick days" and let him watch more than allotted time? What if there are just too many sicks days in a month?
Really, in the end, it makes me feel like a bad mother to let him watch more than 45 minutes a day... or any at all. Am I being too perfectionist?
Any advice is helpful.
X posted to Toddlertime.