Proposed TV Ban for Babies in the U.K.

The British Parliament will hear testimony Wednesday from a doctor who thinks the government should issue a "daily recommended allowance" of television consumption for children. He also suggests a ban on all TV time for children under the age of 3.

(I'm sure my boy is glad he lives on this side of the pond.)

The story in The Sun of London referred to a Lancet medical journal study in 2004 that found "children who watched more than two hours of television a day between the ages of five and 15 saw their health suffer years later."

"Experts made the link between childhood viewing and raised cholesterol levels, obesity and smoking in adulthood," the article stated.

It is becoming increasingly clear that we, as parents, must limit the time our children, particularly our babies and toddlers, spend in front of the telly. I'm not sure a government restriction would go over well in the States, but perhaps a suggested serving size - just like we have for food - would help parents who are unsure how much is too much.

It would seem that if our government opens the door to restrict television viewing, how far away is regulations for video game play time or eating too many between meal snacks. Those habits can be just as detrimental, no?

I don't disagree with the experts who fear TV is bad for your health. I just would prefer they arm me with the facts, and then let me decide what's best for my child.

Here's the link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007180740,00.html