This morning when my daughter woke me up before the crack of dawn, though still partly asleep I knew one of us was going to have to get up with her. If she gets up at midnight, I know I can usually get her back to sleep—but any time past four and we’re likely just going to play Hi Ho Cherry-O for a couple of hours before the rooster crows.

A fleeting thought passed through my head as I lay there mumbling incoherently in my pillow (some rubbish I don’t even remember; probably half-hearted plea bargaining with my husband to get up with her): what if she had a TV in her room? Then I could just put Nick Jr. on for her and catch a few more Z’s and…

Wait a minute! That thought got me up. There was no way I was going to start using the TV as a babysitter. It’s bad enough that I TiVo Mr. Rogers for her to watch while I make phone calls, used to have her watch the Curious George movie while I had to be in phone conferences, and occasionally let her watch a Noggin show. But TV in the early morning? Was I sick?

Before I’d even given birth, I had decided that she wouldn’t even watch TV before turning three. And after that, maybe—maybe—half an hour a day. I’d read the research, but more importantly, it was my own personal belief that I’d rather have my kid drawing (even on the walls, which she’s done plenty of times), looking through books (or gnawing the edges—been there, done that), or building cities out of blocks (and yes, destroying them all over the floor afterward) than sitting passively in front of a television set.

But I didn’t anticipate her developmental delays or the possible techniques I’d have to use to combat them. Her occupational therapist recommended certain shows that she could interact with to help with her development. I’m not sure if it helped or not, but the therapy did. However, it also instilled a love for television that’s simply not worth fighting tooth and nail over. I think it’s fair to give her a little TV now and then rather than none at all.

A TV in her room, however, is quite a different story. I hope that I’ll never do it—but who knows what will happen? Who knows what circumstances could arise, like the ones her therapist deemed necessary? My own parents let me have a TV in my room since I was a child, and while I didn’t live my life watching it (I lived it reading all day instead…) I did like to use it as a way to stay up late. I’m not about to judge other parents on their decisions, but I am curious: would you, or have you, put a television in your child’s room? Why or why not?