The ultimate babysitter? iPads for infants stir debate

Expect to see a huge rise in the number of myopic hyper-Otaku in the coming years.

Of course it'll all be a big mystery why all the kids are going to become anti-social Adhd mind bombs, the experts will be stumped.

Pure hysterical nonsense. The same thing was said about children and books back in the Victorian era, children and computers in the 1970's, and now its iPads and smartphones... and you know what all these things had in common, the "experts" turned out to be dead wrong, and children who started using these devices (a reasonable amount and with supervision) had a massive edge over their peers since these new technologies prepared them better for the type of world they were living in.

In moderation there's nothing wrong with ipads, iphones, computers, etc. In fact I'd say that children deprived of exposure to technology are at a far higher risk than children who maybe get a little too much exposure.

I wouldn't let a baby use an iPad... that's nuts.

Pure hysterical nonsense. The same thing was said about children and books back in the Victorian era, children and computers in the 1970's, and now its iPads and smartphones... and you know what all these things had in common, the "experts" turned out to be dead wrong, and children who started using these devices (a reasonable amount and with supervision) had a massive edge over their peers since these new technologies prepared them better for the type of world they were living in.

We're talking about babies, not merely children. And it's generally a bad idea to jump to a hasty conclusion, which is why it's generally a good idea to not let babies use iPads until "more research is done". Don't act like you know everything and you are just spot-on. The fact that you can say "Pure hysterical nonsense" doesn't make you more right or wise.

Well said Never.

Also expect a rise in temper tantrums and a loss of attention spans and patience. I want it and I want it NOW!!!! Waaaaah!

Cognitive skills are not just hand eye coordination. Dimensions, textures etc all very important. A glass screen is no substitute for crayons and paper or rattle.

Thomas AndersonMay. 06, 2012 - 12:27PM JST I wouldn't let a baby use an iPad... that's nuts

What is nuts about it? We're not talking about 24 hours a day, or to the exclusion of anything else, we're talking about letting your baby use it sometimes.

As for your post, define "baby"? The dictionary definition is a newborn, but the term is used for children right up to the age of about 5 (and older in some cases). A newborn can't even focus. so obviously it can't use an ipad, so clearly the article is NOT talking about newborns, and the term should be "children", and the example given is a child who is nearly 2 years old.

Clearly I am more right and wiser than you, since I can read and understand the difference between a baby and a child.

Frungy, perhaps YOU won't allow your kids to use it 24 hours a day but many other parents out there will see it as a babysitter - a rather pricey and breakable one at that. You made comments about TV... You do get that there has been research linked with kids, weight and TV time, right? You do get that violent movies and games has been linked to violence in kids, right? Some parents aren't as wonderful as you and will abuse it and the kids (and society) will pay the price. Personal time, reading together, coloring together and actually spending time with your kids is a bit better than sticking them with an ipad, no? Lord knows I've seen parents ignoring their kids using theirs while their kids play games. While in public. I shudder to think what goes on at home. You don't see a problem with this? Using it together for things like reading, drawing... are fine but that isn't what is really being discussed in the article. "Babysitter" implies they aren't doing the things together and the kid is being left to their own devices. Which is itself is a problem.

I think as long as there is variety, an ipad is a good addition to the toybox. Children will need to be computer savvy, and will lag behind hteir computer literate peers if they are not exposed to technology at a young age.

As far as being allowed ds's out the house, tmarie, they occupy children on long tedious journeys, or whilst grown ups are talking in restaurants, and as they are occupied, they are less likely to fuss, move around and make noise, thus irritating people like you. As long as the sound is down they are bothering noone, and you certainly cannot draw the conclusion that they are neglected or deprived of attention at home from the fact they are allowed to play their ds's under certain circumstances. You need a firm surface to color-in, so it is hard to do so on a train, and also bulky to carry pens and books with you. Children who are not yet able to read are capable of playing a game, and those of school age, if it is not school time, have the choice of what they want to do or play.

In fact today, we have to go to a hospital appointment, with the whole brood, and we will most certainly be packing ipods and ds's...we will even go to starbucks afterwards I think.

Orange, do you kids actually enjoy Starbucks? When a child, I hated adult cafes and the like and much preferred places that catered to my needs - which usually meant a place that offered crayons and a place-mat I could colour - with a kid's menu of course.

tmarieMay. 06, 2012 - 08:40PM JST Frungy, perhaps YOU won't allow your kids to use it 24 hours a day but many other parents out there will see it as a babysitter - a rather pricey and breakable one at that.

Then they're bad parents and that's the problem. The problem is not the technology, but rather the abuse of the technology, just as books, television and pretty much anything you can think of can be abused. Honestly tmarie I don't doubt that there are parents out there like that, but if they can't afford an ipad they'll just sit their kid in front of the TV or lock them in their room. You're blaming the wrong thing here.

Then they're bad parents and that's the problem. I agree. And these are the people I'm commenting on. I made it clear in my posts that your type of parenting isn't the issue. You seem to agree with me on that.

You're blaming the wrong thing here. I don't think I am. I am blaming bad parents for buying tech to babysit their kids. I've already said Ipads when used with their kids can be great tools.

I also don't think books can be abuse. I am more than happy to see a kid sit and read for hours on end than I am to sit and see a kid on a game for hours on end.

Tmarie, I cant speak for all kids, but mine adore a starbucks, especially a vanilla frappucino, some colouring, reading or something to play, and those little "cake pops", if I were to say, offer them an ice cream at a nice ice cream parlor, or a starbucks, Im afraid they would chose Starbucks....Nice big tables, comfy chairs..and desserts you can drink...It as, I should say to Ms Judgy Pants, a treat after something stressful, like a hospital visit, not an every day occurence. I dont feed said children frappucino and cake on a regular basis....

Let me tell you a secret, many many people, before they have kids, seem to think their children will only play with wooden toys or suitably educational material, in a way the parent prescribes, will sleep 8 hours a night, after suitable sleep training, will never tantrum, or cause a fuss in public, because you will be so wonderful at parenting...and you will never use the tv/ipad/ds to babysit while you do 20 things at once round the home, or make important phone calls, or even just have a trip to the toilet. I remember fondly how principled I was BEFORE I had children.

The thing is, Marie, you give ALL parents a hard time due to your ideals as a non-parent. As long as people do no harm, give their children love and support, that is all anyone can ask. All this is window-dressing. The "holier than thou" attitude when you have not been there, done that and bought the t shirt, is what gets people's backs up.

I dont think any children would tolerate being given an ipad and ignored, and an ipad as a tool of neglect is not something I can see happening. That kind of parent, as Frungy said, is more likely to lock a child into a room (or out on the balcony in Japan), and not even think about giving an expensive piece of equipment to a child they dont want to interact with. As frungy said, much more succinctly, its not the tech, its the parents who would be bad under any circumstances, even with a house full of montessori toys.

Nothing wrong with taking them there is they like it! I just don't know if many life it - and based on the tanrums I've seen there, not all there like it! ;)

Again, with the defensiveness. I just merely asked a question. Why the snide comment?

Orange, and those parents who think all of the above really don't seem to have a clue about how kids work, do they? If you're trying to suggest I'm one of those people, you'd be mistaken. You have zero idea how my experience with kids. Have you ever thought that perhaps I have had plenty of experience with kids and know just how hard it can be? For all you know, I could have been a nanny or a daycare worker.

I don't give "all" parents grief. There are many, many amazing folks out there. You get your back up because you seem to have issues perhaps with YOUR parenting. Not confident perhaps? I don't know. I don't get it. If you're confident in what you do, you wouldn't care what I think. Thing is, you do. You care what others think which is why you get your nose out of joint when I make any comment you think I don't have a 'right" to make as I haven't given birth. Must be stressful going through life caring so much what strangers think.

As a parent myself..........does that give me the "right" to comment? Anyway, my general impression is that Japanese parenting ain't that impressive. Women in particular, if they take their kids somewhere, basically ignore them. Groups of 4-5 women go to a restaurant with their kids, and just sit and gossip. They more often than not bring nothing for the kids to do- no books, toys, nothing. Of course the kids are gonna get restless. Plus, they stay far far too long. It's obvious when kids are ready to leave, but the mothers (usually) can't be bothered to stop their inane chatter. Go to a park, for god's sake! Let the kids run and play, and you can still have a 3 hour "I hate my husband" session.

The lack of bicycle helmets, the lack of child seats in cars, also point to a sense of total obliviousness in parents here. I Pads will just be another electric babysitter. Kids need to engage ALL their senses, not just vision and hearing. They need to see, feel, hold, and explore. You can't do that when you have your face glued to a screen.

Well said Vast! :)

Wifi connected devices are ready to give your hold nice large doses of radiating energy....