Hey Bear Videos for Babies: Why We Used Them in Our Daily Routine

We knew some people would criticize us for this, but we didn’t mind—we, including the baby, loved Hey Bear videos for babies.

The Screen Time Debate: Why We Weren’t Worried

Yes, we had heard the arguments against baby screen time for developmental reasons. One claim we read was that babies couldn’t tell 2D images from 3D ones, making screens confusing.

Yet, those same experts recommended showing picture books, which were also 2D! For the record, we read to our daughter every day. She loved books so much that she ran out of shelf space, so for Christmas, when she turned six, she asked Santa for a large bookshelf.

Let’s be honest: many of us grew up with TV. My mom “plopped” me in front of Sesame Street three times a day in the 1970s. I turned out fine.

I have a BA and a Master’s and would have had a second one if it weren’t for an illness. Watching Sesame Street piqued my curiosity and made me constantly curious.

How We Used Hey Bear Videos for Babies

Here was the truth: Nola Nerd Baby didn’t just sit and stare at the screen. While Hey Bear videos played, she still:

• Played with her toys
• Looked at us and talked
• Engaged with her surroundings

Hey, Bear became a comfort routine, something familiar that helped her transition through the morning. When she did pay attention to the video, she often drifted off to sleep or calmed down if she was upset.

What We Learned About Our Baby from Hey Bear Videos

Watching Hey Bear videos for babies actually taught us a lot about our daughter:

• She loved round yellow shapes—she squealed and smiled when they appeared
• She started trying to imitate us as we sang along to lullabies
• We bonded as a family by humming and singing together

Our favorite video was mostly classic lullabies, which made it perfect for a soothing start to our day.

What Does Research Say About Babies and Visually Stimulating Media?

Some people worry that babies shouldn’t look at screens or videos. Still, recent research suggests that enjoying visually stimulating content, like brightly colored or fast-paced videos, is a normal part of individual sensory development for some babies. This sensory seeking is just one way babies explore their world and varies from child to child (Piccardi et al., 2020).

So, when we used Hey Bear videos for babies as part of our routine, we weren’t just entertaining our daughter—we were supporting her natural curiosity and engagement with her environment, in a way that fit her individual needs.

The Only Downside: YouTube Ads

The one downside of watching Hey Bear videos for babies on YouTube? The ads.

We understood creators needed to make a living, and we were happy to support them. But, YouTube, could we get ads for diapers or baby food instead of seven-minute commercials for adult skin medications? It wasn’t Hey Bear Productions’ fault, but better ad targeting would have been appreciated.

This is one reason why we like YouTube Kids. Ads are very limited.

How Much Screen Time Did Our Baby Get?

We were intentional about screen time. Hey Bear videos were typically only played in the morning while we got ready for work.

Our daughter spent most of the time smiling when the logo came on and playing in her bouncy seat while we talked and made her breakfast. We didn’t have the videos on all day.

Not Everything Had to Be Educational

Sometimes, routines were just about comfort and fun—a positive start to the day. The smile on our daughter’s face when she saw the Hey Bear logo was proof enough that she was enjoying herself.

---

In summary:
Hey Bear videos for babies became a small, happy part of our daily routine. We balanced screen time with books, play, and lots of family interaction. For us, it wasn’t about using screens as a babysitter—it was about joy, comfort, and bonding.

About The Author