Screen time for babies

These few days my mil been really keen to let my 2.5 mth old baby watch nursery rhymes on youtube to assist his learning and also to occupy his waking hours. There's once he watched for about 2 hours in between feeds while me and my hubby was out. I've told her nicely that it's best to cut down screen time and talk/play more to baby but she did not take it very well. She say its better than letting baby 'gong gong' lie on the sofa or go to sleep. But the thing is I'm having my maternity leave now so I spent a lot of time with baby teaching and training his motor skills and not just let him idle away. Any advise? Same thing for drinking water, she insist of letting baby drink some when he's difficult to calm down. She went to the extend of getting second opinion from her younger brother and his wife even though we told her that it's strictly advised by the Paediatrician not to give.

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Super Mum

2.5 month olds shouldn’t have any screen time at all. Really. At this age, they don’t learn that way. People need to be talking and singing to baby, and letting baby do tummy time, feel different textures (from toys). Water is also dangerous for a 2.5 month old baby. The gut is not developed well enough to take that. Every doctor and parenting website will tell you not to give water below 6 months of age. If you want a 3rd/4th/5th opinion, get them from credible sources. I know it’s important to have personal time and dates with your spouse, but if baby’s not in good hands (pardon the harshness), then it’s better to just bring baby along for now. Also, if you’re going back to work soon, and you or your husband cannot get your MIL to change her methods of caring for your baby, perhaps seriously consider infant care? It would be so sad if something serious happens to baby, whether it’s severe myopia, delayed mental/physica development, malnutrition, or even needing to go to hospital because of severe diarrhoea and other effects of giving water.

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