[mac128k-1984]

As I'm sure some of you know I have 14 month old twins, well they're at the age now of getting into everything. The entertainment center we have positions the tv rather low - easy enough for them to access the buttons.

Well I'm sure you already jumped ahead and know what I'm going to write Those kiddies of mine did something to the tv to produce a huge black box that covered the majority of the tv. I could still see the tv image behind it, because if I changed channels the box would pop up a second later plus the the box was smaller then the tv tube so I could a small portion around the edges.

It took me hours to figure out what they did, I thought the cable box died, the tv broke, the v-chip was engaged. Finally after digging out the manual (trying to figure out hour to access the v-chips stuff) I found out they turned on close captioning text mode. Never in a million years would I have looked in the on screen menu - close captioning section.

Being 14 months old, this is only the beginning.

My wife recommended getting a flat screen tv to hang on the wall YES!! but then we heard a story about a 2 (or was it 4) year old twins, where one having a temper tantrum through a toy car and again you guessed it, stuck the flat panel tv and broke it. We're probably going to hold off on that now

[brassplayersrock²]

and this is why my friend with a tod. put Velcro on the back of his remotes and stuck them up high so that his tod. couldn't get to them

alex

[mac128k-1984]

They did this from the tv console because its at the perfect height. The remotes not within reach but they still managed to mess it up

[kick52]

maybe you could get a set with parental controls?
or get some high selves or something to stick everything on top.

[brassplayersrock²]

hmm: Amazon.com: tv guard baby - Baby Products: Baby

alex

[BlueSky]

I've found a workaround. I didn't have kids.

[brassplayersrock²]

but you're missing the fun parts!


alex

[Doofy]

Give Angelina a call, see if you can get good money for them.

[brassplayersrock²]

boo uncle doof

lol, see the hair lice south park episode??


alex

and to stay on topic. here's something for the headache: Aspirin

[Atomic Rooster]

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock 

and this is why my friend with a tod. put Velcro on the back of his remotes and stuck them up high so that his tod. couldn't get to them

alex

I think velcro on the kids and stick them high on the wall is a better idea.

[analogika]

[design219]

You know, everyone has different ideas about raising kids, but when my first child reached the age of 2, my wife and I decided to get rid of cable TV. All we could get was educational TV where we live with an antenna.

I discovered I could do without watching CNN, HBO and all those channels without going crazy.

Of course, we have a small TV and watch DVD's (and Battlestar Galactica on iTunes), but life is better without the TV being the main form of entertainment in our house.

One big benefit is our kids don't ask for everything they see on commercials. And we talk a lot!

This is not a parenting critisism, and it's not for everyone, but something to consider.

[analogika]

[Atomic Rooster]

Is Barney still on?

[design219]

Mine are too old for Barney now, but I think it still is. God, that's the worst show on PBS.

[mac128k-1984]

Originally Posted by design219 

You know, everyone has different ideas about raising kids, but when my first child reached the age of 2, my wife and I decided to get rid of cable TV. All we could get was educational TV where we live with an antenna.

That wouldn't have helped this situation, as they messed with the TV and not the cable box. As for cable the wife and I thought that the programming of cable far exceeds what is over the air. For instance during the day there's a number of education channels that surpass what is being offered on pbs and other "educational" programming. Another example: ABC has cartoons on during staturday mornings all of them are advertised as educational - they are anything but (for some reason the gym I go to has abc on during the morning when there's no kids working out on the machines - but then that's a different story).

[imitchellg5]

I like your new sig Michael. Very nice.

[mac128k-1984]

Thanks I was wanting a change that was a little more polished.

[bstone]

Originally Posted by BlueSky 

I've found a workaround. I didn't have kids.

I have no TV. Much happier since i got rid of it.

[vmarks]

acrylic or plexi in front of flatscreen, useful for defending against children and Wii players.

remove the glass doors from the entertainment center, would you?

[andi*pandi]

we got one of those plastic things that covers the buttons and always put the remotes up high. We rarely used the tv buttons so he wasn't too interested. It took him til about 3 to figure out he could get behind that screen, and by then he knew which button to push to turn it on/off and that's it. If you don't push those buttons, they won't think they're any fun either.

TV, VCR, & DVD Guards - One Step Ahead Baby

I've also heard of people putting baby gates around the tv/entertainment area, toyboxes that are taller than they are and won't tip, etc. Picture a barricade.

and they sound adorable.

[mac128k-1984]

I'm going to need to get one of those guard things, plus door knob protectors, they're just about able to turn the door knobs in the house.

Baby proofing my house is an ongoing battle.

[Mastrap]

^ That's nothing. Wait until you'll have to teenage proof it.

[andi*pandi]

don't forget the drawer locks too. Aside from the a) picking up all their clothes off the floor problem, and the b) dangerous items in the kitchen problem, I've seen a little one tip a file cabinet over on herself by opening the drawer and creating a staircase to climb. Gotta stay one step ahead of em.

Ooh, and fridge locks.

[mac128k-1984]

Originally Posted by andi*pandi 

don't forget the drawer locks too. Aside from the a) picking up all their clothes off the floor problem, and the b) dangerous items in the kitchen problem, I've seen a little one tip a file cabinet over on herself by opening the drawer and creating a staircase to climb. Gotta stay one step ahead of em.

Ooh, and fridge locks.

For intents purposes we've decided to gate off the kitchen. Mostly because its just a lot easier to block it off then to try to baby proof it. Additionally there's a set of stairs to the outside in the back of the kitchen that we cannot close off, so its just safer to keep them out.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

Give Angelina a call, see if you can get good money for them.

Or Madonna

My son's TV is mounted high on the wall, as is the one in our home office. The big screen in on a 40" sideboard, and he's just now big enough to be able to finger it up good. He learned fast not to punch the big button on the front, 'cause that got him scorn and disdain. When he played with the buttons on the side (volume, source, etc.) we just ignored him and it lasted about a week.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by mac128k-1984 

For intents purposes we've decided to gate off the kitchen. Mostly because its just a lot easier to block it off then to try to baby proof it. Additionally there's a set of stairs to the outside in the back of the kitchen that we cannot close off, so its just safer to keep them out.

That's what we did, although we baby-proofed it too (18 drawers and about 15 cabinets). There's a gate system sold by Baby's R Us that expands one panel at a time, and it works great. But it's expensive. There's just no way to keep him off/out of the gas stove otherwise.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

I thought this thread was going to be about any TV shows staring twins cause anyone a headache.

[::maroma::]

Get yourself a Trunk Monkey. But instead of keeping him in your trunk, sit him behind the entertainment center. The kids will learn quick.