Baby Einstein Gift Pack Volume 3 (Baby Galileo/Baby Neptune/Baby Beethoven/Numbers Nursery)

I bought this video collection for my sister. I have the entire baby Einstein collection and I cannot live without it. It was the only way I was able to even get time to take a shower when my kids were infants. It is also a great teaching tool, my son (who is 3) loves to watch and repeat the words and signs that he sees on the videos. I also find them very entertaining, even from an adult perspective. It is really fantastic that it doesn't annoy the parents, entertains the kids, exposes them to fine art and music, and helps them learn. This is a must have for any parent.

I got the 18-pack for my latest kid, Floyd, and no matter how long I kept him tied to his TV chair, he still was as dumb as a rock after watching these things.

The name "Baby Einstein" can lull you into thinking it's okay or even good for babies to watch t.v., but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television at all to children under 2 because so many studies have proven its harmful effects on children. Studies have shown that:

- for every hour of television a baby watches a day, their chances of acquiring an attention deficit disorder increases by 10%.
- among babies ages 8 months to 16 months, every hour spent daily watching programs such as 'Brainy Baby' or 'Baby Einstein' translated into six to eight fewer words in their vocabularies as compared with other children their age."
- brain wave activity in babies is slower when watching television than when sleeping.

I believe television should be used SPARINGLY and with caution, and without any delusions of it increasing baby's intelligence. As for making them more intelligent, Dr. William Sears says, "relationships, not things, make babies smarter." The easiest way to make babies smarter and calmer is to carry them a lot. Slings, pouches and carriers help make this more manageable. Studies have shown that:

- carrying babies an extra 3 hours a day resulted in 40% less crying.

Babies who are frequently carried are proven to pick up verbal skills faster, and develop better core muscle strength and balance. My Listmania list "Natural Parenting for Baby's First Year" has more information on babywearing, or you can google "babywearing" or "television and baby studies" for your own research.

Crown Crafts The Original NoJo BabySling by Dr. Sears - Black Chambray is a great starter sling.

Finally, I'd suggest "SIGNING TIME" videos - not to be confused with "Baby Signing Time" - as a last resort instead of other baby videos because at least baby can learn sign language. Sign language is proven to:

- reduce frustration and tantrums
- accelerate language development
- promote parent-child bonding

I found the entire series at my local library. I especially liked Signing Time! Volume 4: Family, Feelings & Fun DVD and 'naming' feelings also increases emotional intelligence in babies.

My son has been watching the Baby Einstein video series since birth and at the age of two and a half, he is speech delayed and is actively in speech therapy. I think there is a correlation between the Baby Einstein videos and speech delay and sensory development. My son is intelligent, but is not expressive in speech. He understands but cannot express himself with words. The speech therapy is working but we will be in therapy until he is at the level he should be for his age. I also think there is a issue with sensory development. He is my second son and I never had issues with my first son who is now nine and back then Baby Einstein videos were not around. He watched Barney, Sesame Street, and other cartoons that used actual words and communicate dialog between two or more people and not so much sensory fluff. Take caution because I read one review that talked about autism and speech delay being an epidemic in the last five years. I think research needs to be conducted about the effects of Baby Einstein videos on baby and toddler development. If anyone else recognizes this problem or would like to write back, please email me directly at falina@sbcglobal.net

I have a 14 month old daughter who loves all the Baby Einstein DVDs. She watches them while she's playing with her toys and it seems to calm her down. Babies just love these DVDs, for whatever reason!