Glued to the Tube

Have you done this? Scenario: you need a minute to yourself to do laundry, sit back with a cup of coffee and finish it before it gets cold, or just want to read a book—so you turn on some Pinky Dinky Doo to get a few moments to yourself. Are you harming your baby by letting him watch television?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids under the age of two watch no television. We find this a little much, since sometimes you need to use the television as a distraction, especially if you're alone with your child, all day. One family gave up television for a year. Would you be able to do that?

Turning on the TV isn't just a measure that home caregivers take—70% of child care centers use television at some point during the day. We watched our share of "Electric Company" and "Sesame Street" when we were young and we turned out OK, so is watching a little bit now and again such a big deal? Instead of banning television altogether, try limiting the amount of time your child spends watching shows. For all you new moms out there, the AAP has put together a few tips on "smart TV" watching. How does your family deal with the boob tube?