Baby Einstein Videos

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-great-baby-einstein-scam-531147/

Seriously, did you honestly believe that sitting your child in front of the TV and not interacting with them would make them a genius?   

Wow!!! 
I have to admit, I really hated the two video's I've seen.  Total crap IMO.

I saw this on Yahoo this morning.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/the-great-baby-einstein-scam-531147/

OK, I'll fess up and admit that I bought the Baby Einstein CD before our oldest was born.  I remember having it on when I would feed her. 
That lasted about a week before I put on Pink Floyd.   

I don't have any children yet, but I was always under the general impression that television was too overstimulating for infants and toddlers up to a certain age - yet they market dvd's towards them??? Totally confusing.

They had a good long chat about it on "The View" (haha I will admit that I Tivo The View everyday and watch it when I have time) and whereas normally I agree with Whoopi she kept going on about how she loves Sesame street and similar programs and all this hoopla is for nothing. Since when do infants understand/appreciate Sesame street?!?

I hate those DVDs, and am glad that they've finally been called out for what they are - crap.

My kid is a genius whether or not he watched Baby Einstein DVD's

But the really important part of babies loving Baby Einstein, is that I would pop one on and go to to the toilet, or make something to eat.

Don't care what anyone says, I think they are great and I will continue to show them to my kids, my only big regret is that I didn't come up with the idea first.

I agree with you 100% Racheeee.  They are a godsend at this time in the afternoon in our house.  She's overtired, but won't/can't take a nap that late in the day.  Pop on a baby einstein video and I get 20-30 minutes of silence to get her tea ready or tidy up or just sit and stare at the wall.  I was under no impressions that they would make her a genius, but they do act as a good babysitter!    In fairness...The Weakest Link has the same effect.  Must be the bright lights and colours.

We had these, a gift from my mom's friend.  SO, so, SOOOO much better! 



FWIW, Josh watched TV, just not the Baby Einstein's crap!

I agree with you 100% Racheeee.  They are a godsend at this time in the afternoon in our house.  She's overtired, but won't/can't take a nap that late in the day.  Pop on a baby einstein video and I get 20-30 minutes of silence to get her tea ready or tidy up or just sit and stare at the wall.  I was under no impressions that they would make her a genius, but they do act as a good babysitter!    In fairness...The Weakest Link has the same effect.  Must be the bright lights and colours.

I ask because I honestly have no idea how to entertain an infant - would a playmobile type of thing or something else non-TV related not have the same effect?

I know everyone has ideas of how they will parent before they are actually confronted with reality but I had hoped I could stay firm to the "no TV before age 2 or 3" but it seems like EVERYONE does it (even people I know who said they wouldn't!)

OK, I'll fess up and admit that I bought the Baby Einstein CD before our oldest was born.  I remember having it on when I would feed her. 
That lasted about a week before I put on Pink Floyd.   

  Sounds like something I would do!

We have Sky and I prefer BabyTV to the Baby Einstein videos.  They never captured DD's attention.  Maybe its because BabyTV has the short little snippet shows and the nursery songs from around the world (and no commercials)?     The songs helped me brush up on a few I couldn't remember (and learn words I didn't know), as well as learn a few new ones.

We had a play gym for DD, but she was always enthralled with bright colours and movement.   

I am with  racheee  and those  who  use the Baby Einstein DVDs.. I don't know which you have seen  .. We got all of them  for dirt cheap.. I think  they are  a  Godsend.. Obviously they progress with age level... The  first three are probably good  for the first 6 months  or so..   I don't think it makes them  geniuses  or anything but  if you are going to  use them  as  a baby sitter  it is a better option..Educational..  Also some kids like them  some don't.. DD has gained  LOADS  of vocabulary watching them..  She  knows her  shapes, basic sign language , colors, world animals, the different instruments in  an orcestra,   etc.   She doesn't really like Sesame street  except Elmo's world and when Murray goes  to the different  schools..  than .. Again personality.. Baby Einstein keeps her attention. She is almost 3 has a  good memory and loves  to learn..

We were given 2 Baby Einstein DVDs when Ethan was a baby.  One was about animals and the other was colours and shapes I think. I used to watch them a lot with him but he really never showed much interest in them and didn't seem to learn anything from them at all. The only programme I've known him to actually learn anything from is Countdown. He just isn't a big TV watcher, except when he's sleepy. His idea of watching TV is to look at the screen for 2 or 3 minutes then run around the house before coming back to watch another 2 minutes. I do envy those parents who can use the TV to occupy their kids for a bit while they take a shower or whatever because my son just isn't having any of it.  I guess he is more of a do-er than a watcher.

I ask because I honestly have no idea how to entertain an infant - would a playmobile type of thing or something else non-TV related not have the same effect?

I know everyone has ideas of how they will parent before they are actually confronted with reality but I had hoped I could stay firm to the "no TV before age 2 or 3" but it seems like EVERYONE does it (even people I know who said they wouldn't!)

Hehe...I had the same thought when DD was born.  I was going to be the most wholesome mother and she wouldn't be one of those kids plonked in front of the tv all day by the time she was 2. 

But there are a few problems. 
1.) She loves her playmat and her jumparoo, but her attention span seems to be about 20-30 minutes.  And even then, she has gotten to the age where she wants someone to play with her.  Baby Einstein gives us another 20-30 minutes of entertainment and this time we don't have to watch with her!
2.) We live in a small flat and all her toys are in the lounge with the TV. It can be very boring looking after a small infant, so I watched a lot of tv when she was first born.  She was therefore aware of the tv from an early age and it seemed to capture her attention. So now even when I have the news on, she will turn and watch from her playmat for a few seconds and then go back to playing.

I really wish I could have ended up as a parent that didn't let their kids watch TV until they were older.  I think its a great goal.