What counts as screen time ?

[Anonymous]

We have a 4 month old and plan to follow the guidelines on no screens till 2. Some things are clear like no shows to entertain baby while you cook etc. but what about inadvertent exposure to screens- our tv is in the living room and we have no separate den. Do we just have to avoid turning it on until baby is asleep? DH also works from a computer in the living room or uses his iPad while holding baby at times and I’ve caught baby staring at his screen in fascination. For anti screen parents, what do you do?

Please no snarky comments- I get that it’s a pandemic and screens are a key way for older kids to connect now but this is a 4 month old.

[Anonymous]

The problem with babe-in-arms screen time is the parent is mostly ignoring the kid. I think baby would survive 1-2hrs a day of that unscathed. Phones count too. Try to make up for it with other high quality time (books and play and a daily walk).

[Anonymous]

As long as the baby isn't watching it, it's fine. I don't turn the TV on FOR the baby but might have something on.

[Anonymous]

I had these same questions right about at this age, and I think it's because that's right around when the baby started to "notice" screens. Before that, I could have my phone while nursing, have TV on in the background, and he didn't "see" it, but then he started noticing it and being fascinated - so we had to stop. So, since then, yes, no TV on when the kid is in the room, no playing on my phone where he can see, and we keep him away from the computers whenever we can (sometimes he crawls in to say hi while we're working, we don't stress about 2 minutes like that).

He'll still, of course, get a glance at a screen, like if we turn on YouTube for music or something, or if I'm answering a text. But it's very short.

It honestly was really easy because at this point, if he can see a screen he stops whatever he is doing and completely stares at it. So there's no corner cutting.

[Anonymous]

Dad working on a screen doesn't count, but using the iPad does. TV on during baby's waking hours counts too. The advice on no screen time is based on the idea that it affects parental interaction too. So parent's watching counts as screen time not just whether baby has his or her eye on the screen.

I'm not anti-screen, just answering the question. Basically, nearly everything counts.

[Anonymous]

I'm not really anti-screen (my 4 yo watches an hour a day, and my 21 mo watches an occasional "emergency show" if I need it).

However, I do count incidental TV time as screentime. Like if you have HGTV in the background all day, I don't think that is really a positive thing. I also don't like a baby staring at a computer or phone screen while I'm using it. So yea, I guess I do think all that stuff is screen time and you should limit it.

[Anonymous]

We don’t watch TV while our kids are awake, unless it’s an important event like inauguration, 4th of July fireworks, or Super Bowl. When they’re older we’ll probably do family movie nights. But we have better things to do than screens

[Anonymous]

Dad’s computer screen (unless he’s the animator for Paw Patrol) is fine. TV in the background should always be off. The sounds and glances at images even if it’s a peaceful show have been proven to raise baby’s stress levels. LED is far more disturbing than old TVs to babies.

[Anonymous]

My 3 month old stares at my workout video in the morning while down on his play mat. I’m pretty sure he’s just checking out the boobs so I just remind him mine work better!

[Anonymous]

I count any TV time as screen time, whether it’s on for my now-toddler or not. When she was a baby we did mostly keep the TV off when she was around except in unusual circumstances (like when we were both sick and I was caring for her and myself at the same time). It wasn’t that hard once she started napping in her crib or bassinet.

I also try to stay off my phone when I’m interacting with my kid (then and now). If she’s playing or being entertained independently, I will pull it out because she’s not looking at it. And any time I’m working on my computer, I don’t consider that screen time for her, because it’s usually something exceedingly dull and also because I have little choice.

I actually think the most important thing to limit is direct access to phones and tablets. My toddler is still only allowed to use the iPad on vacation, when we let her watch a show on it so that we can get more relaxation time. And she’s not allowed to play with our phones. We don’t intend to give her a tablet until elementary school at the earliest, and I’m on board with the “wait till 8th” movement for cell phones, if we can. But I already hate how much time adults spend staring at their phones and am really committed to trying to teach her healthier habits.

[Anonymous]

A brand new baby can't focus its eyes across the room. I used TV to help me stay awake during the first month when I was fried. I don't park my kid in front of the TV now.

[Anonymous]

We do not turn on the tv while our kids are awake. We don't use electronics at the dinner table. We did not worry about our kids seeing screens out in public, but at home, they saw none except for FaceTiming with relatives.

[Anonymous]

I am curious about this topic with my 7 month year old. We dont let him watch kids TV but we both work from home and its a pandemic so incidental screens happen at our house. We make sure to fill his awake time with positive activities: story time 2-3 x per day, at least 1 walk, playing in the gym and with his toys etc. But it does seem that baby is automatically fascinated with screens he sees, particularly with the TV.

I feel comfortable with the amount of screens he sees but I wonder if there is any science that says this automatic fascination is bad for their development or is it solely just that people who let their kids watch screens are less likely to engage in non-screen activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about this topic with my 7 month year old. We dont let him watch kids TV but we both work from home and its a pandemic so incidental screens happen at our house. We make sure to fill his awake time with positive activities: story time 2-3 x per day, at least 1 walk, playing in the gym and with his toys etc. But it does seem that baby is automatically fascinated with screens he sees, particularly with the TV.

I feel comfortable with the amount of screens he sees but I wonder if there is any science that says this automatic fascination is bad for their development or is it solely just that people who let their kids watch screens are less likely to engage in non-screen activities.

It’s the two dimensional picture and the lights that they can’t process or pull away from easily. It’s why the AAP rec is no screens until after 2. There is a lot of good research online from reputable studies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious about this topic with my 7 month year old. We dont let him watch kids TV but we both work from home and its a pandemic so incidental screens happen at our house. We make sure to fill his awake time with positive activities: story time 2-3 x per day, at least 1 walk, playing in the gym and with his toys etc. But it does seem that baby is automatically fascinated with screens he sees, particularly with the TV.

I feel comfortable with the amount of screens he sees but I wonder if there is any science that says this automatic fascination is bad for their development or is it solely just that people who let their kids watch screens are less likely to engage in non-screen activities.

Part of it is opportunity cost, but there also is an element of not interacting with the kid in that exact moment. It's not just a less likely thing. You literally can't look at a screen and your child's face at the same time. Seeing each other's face and responding (which requires noticing) their facial expressions is really important.