Baby Einstein

What do you guys think of the Baby Einstein videos? A relative gave us the entire collection as a gift and I'm somewhat torn because I've read the studies about TV watching before age two to be negative but it also seems like maybe the kids could learn something from them. I don't want to start a debate but I'm curious about what everyone thinks.

I haven't looked at those studies closely enough to know, but I wonder how quality of tv viewed is taken into account. I think the Baby Einstein videos are appropriate for the under 2 set -- they are not visually over-stimulating or loud. (Well, for a younger infant they might be). Those videos were a nice way to keep my daughter happy for 30 minutes or so while I needed to get something done. But I don't think your baby would be missing out or anything if she never saw them.

You got the complete collection?? DD has about six of them, and I think thats a lot. Honestly, I had the same concerns when my mom picked one up for her. I watched it, and saw it was basically a video tape of toys (it was Baby Mozart, I think). Then I felt guilty putting her in front of the tv to watch toys when I could use real toys and play with her. I ended up letting her watch it once per day (while I took a shower ). She loved it, but as soon as she could roll over, it didn't hold her interest. And as soon as that happened, I felt no guilt about playing a movie while I had to get something done. She didn't really watch it anyway. If anything, it was just music playing in the backround, or maybe once in a while it would be distracting for a minute or two. Now, I sometimes wish I could plug a movie in and it would make her happy for a half hour. She's way too active to be sitting infront of the tv, but if she would, I think I would let her watch certain programs. I think tv can be very educational.
Anyway, you should do what ever you are comfortable with.

[Flynn]

I think they are fine in moderation. Most of the studies about TV specifically site commercials to be harmful to a child's attention span in addition to some content. PBS coesn't have commercials during a show (unlike other children's channels) nor do short DVDs like Baby Einstein.

When you have more than one child and you would like to eat more than just take out, a Baby Einstein is fine.

[Vanquisher]

Noggin is also a good network, as is the Disney Channel. Neither of these have commercials during shows. Also, the commercial breaks aren't really commercials at all. As in, they don't adertise products. I think Blues Clues, Sesame Street, and some other shows are actually quite good for small kids, in moderation. I mean, I'm sorry, but I need to shower and eat, and I can't do those things with my daughter hanging onto me all day. Sometimes the experts need to be slapped with a dose of reality. If you can go through all of pre-school without a little tv or video stimulation for your child, then, and .

My daughter, who just turned one, will very occasionally watch a few minutes of tv. I find nothing wrong with this whatsoever. It is not on for hours on end, nor does she watch it everyday. But she happens to dance and love the musical "commercial" that comes on between shows on Noggin featuring Laurie Berkner. Not really a commercial at all, and highly entertaining.

http://www.noggin.com/shows/laurie_berkner.php

I highly recommend Victor Vito and Song in My Tummy. She loves all the songs and squeals in delight when I play them for her on the computer or she happens to see one after Sesame Street is over.

There are good things on tv. For what its worth, my 7 year old watched tv too, and he's very ahead in all areas of school, and his attention span is well above average. He is also thin and plays outside.

All in moderation. Baby Einstein is fine.

[SueC]

We used them more with baby#1, with baby#2 I never got around to getting them back out and I have plopped Mitchell in front of it I think twice so far. I think they are fine, and wouldn't really worry about the harmful effects at that age. At least in our case, there's no way the baby will tolerate sitting in front of it for more than 15-20 minutes at a time anyway, so there wasn't any harm of her getting too much TV at that age. The songs are nice and the visual effects are enough to get a baby's attention.

Thanks, all! Now I don't feel guilty about having them on. I've caught the baby looking at the TV a few times so I figured I might as well as have something educational on while she's looking.