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Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to MayoClinic.com in general and primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
Dr. Hoecker, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, is certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
Infant and toddler health (3)
- Flu shots for kids: Should healthy kids be vaccinated?
- Baby Einstein: Can baby DVDs promote infant development?
- Fruit juice: Is it good or bad for kids?
Newborn health (4)
- Newborn care: Should I wake my baby for feedings?
- Baby poop: What's normal?
- Induced lactation: Can I breast-feed my adopted baby?
- see all in Newborn health
Infant health (10)
- Karo syrup for constipation: Is it safe for babies?
- Infant botulism: Why is honey a concern?
- Organic baby food: Is it worth the price?
- see all in Infant health
Toddler health (5)
- Discolored baby teeth: A cause for concern?
- Temper tantrums: What's normal, what's not?
- Toddler speech development: When should a parent be concerned?
- see all in Toddler health
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Question
Baby Einstein: Can baby DVDs promote infant development?
Is it OK to play baby DVDs for my 6-month-old? I've heard that baby DVDs, such as Baby Einstein, can promote a child's development.
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Baby DVDs, such as Baby Einstein, may catch your baby's attention, but screen time isn't likely to promote his or her development. In fact, an infant can learn just as much — if not more — by interacting with you or other caregivers.
Research examining the specific effects of baby DVDs and other infant programming is limited. In a 2007 study, children ages 8 months to 16 months learned six to eight fewer new words for every hour of screen time a day than did babies who had no screen time. In a 2009 study of children ages 2 months to 4 years, turning on the television reduced verbal interaction between parents and children — which may delay language development. In contrast, research has shown that reading to young children once a day has the opposite effect, boosting language ability for both babies and toddlers.
Many pediatricians discourage screen time for children younger than age 2. Instead of relying on Baby Einstein DVDs, concentrate on proven ways to promote infant development — such as talking, playing, singing and reading to your baby. Even if your baby doesn't understand what you're saying or grasp the plot of a story, he or she will soak in your words and revel in your attention. These simple activities form the foundation for speech and thought.
Still, baby DVDs such as Baby Einstein aren't necessarily off-limits. If your family enjoys this kind of programming, turn it on only occasionally — and encourage interaction by watching the programming together.
Next questionFruit juice: Is it good or bad for kids?
- Mendelsohn AL, et al. Infant television and video exposure associated with limited parent-child verbal interactions in low socioeconomic status households. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2008;162:411.
- Chonchaiya W, et al. Television viewing associates with delayed language development. Acta Paediatrica. 2008;97:977.
- Zimmerman FJ, et al. Associations between media viewing and language development in children under age 2 years. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2007;151:364.
- Armbruster BB, et al. A child becomes a reader: Birth through preschool. The National Institute for Literacy. http://www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/publications/html/parent_guides/birth_to_pre.html. Accessed Jan. 16, 2009.
- Zimmerman FJ, et al. Television and DVD/video viewing in children younger than 2 years. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. 2007;161:473.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 23, 2009.
- Christakis DA, et al. Audible television and decreased adult words, infant vocalizations, and conversational turns. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. 2009;163:554.
