If you’ve got a baby, you’ll already know that “no screen time before two” advice sounds great — until you’re trying to make a cup of tea with one hand and stop the baby eating a shoe with the other. Sometimes you just need something to hold their attention for five minutes.
The good news? Not all baby videos are mind-numbing noise. Some are genuinely well made and can even help with early development when used sensibly. Here are a few channels that are worth knowing about — and why they’re better than the average algorithmic chaos.
Hey Bear Sensory
This one’s a bit of a phenomenon — and for good reason. Hey Bear Sensory makes bright, rhythmic videos full of dancing fruit, colourful shapes and gentle music designed specifically to stimulate babies’ developing brains. The high-contrast patterns are great for newborns, while the bouncy beats keep older babies engaged.
It’s brilliant for short bursts when your little one needs something calming or visually engaging. Just pick one of the slower “wind down” videos rather than the rave-level banana dance if you’re aiming for nap time.
Little Baby Bum
One of the UK’s biggest baby exports, Little Baby Bum turns classic nursery rhymes into simple, sing-along animations. It’s the digital equivalent of a parent who never gets tired of singing The Wheels on the Bus — which, let’s face it, is sometimes exactly what you need.
The songs are repetitive in all the right ways, helping babies tune in to rhythm and language patterns. It’s especially good once your baby starts recognising sounds and gestures.
Super Simple Songs
As the name suggests, this Canadian-British hybrid channel keeps things slow, clear and uncluttered. No flashing lights or hyperactive cartoon characters — just catchy rhymes, easy visuals and songs you’ll probably find yourself humming in the shower.
It’s a nice middle ground: entertaining for babies but not unbearable for adults. Perfect for keeping things calm before bed or while you’re trying to eat something vaguely resembling a meal.
Oxbridge Baby
This one feels a bit more educational. Oxbridge Baby focuses on early speech development — naming objects, showing faces, introducing everyday words. The pacing is slower and the tone gentler than most baby content, which makes it great for very young babies just starting to focus on images and sounds.
Think of it as a relaxed way to expose your baby to early vocabulary, especially if you talk along as you watch.
Mother Goose Club
A mix of real people and animation, Mother Goose Club is full of nursery rhymes performed by smiling humans rather than animated bears. Babies tend to love seeing actual faces, so it’s surprisingly engaging.
It’s especially good once your little one starts reacting to facial expressions or trying to copy sounds. Just stick to the shorter clips — some of the compilations go on longer than a bad wedding speech.
Why These Channels Can Actually Help
Used properly — that’s the key — short bursts of baby-friendly content can be more than a desperate distraction. Here’s what the research (and a fair bit of parenting reality) suggests they can do:
- Language learning: Repetition, rhythm and simple rhymes help babies recognise sounds and build early speech patterns.
- Visual development: High-contrast colours and smooth motion encourage visual tracking and focus.
- Memory and attention: Familiar tunes and repeating visuals help babies anticipate what’s coming next — the start of pattern recognition.
- Parent bonding: Watching with your baby and talking about what you see (“There’s the red ball!”) turns screen time into shared time.
Of course, moderation matters. No baby needs hours of YouTube. But a few minutes here and there — especially when you’re joining in — can be surprisingly useful.
So don’t feel guilty if your baby ends up transfixed by a dancing avocado for five minutes while you regain the will to parent. If you choose the right channels and keep it short, you’re not just buying yourself a breather — you’re giving them a bit of stimulation too.