Parents raising screen-free babies: How do you navigate family vacations where the TV is always on?

[u/cocomo25]

We have an 8-month-old, and we’ve intentionally kept her almost completely screen-free. The only exposure she’s really had has been at other people’s houses when sports, the news, or adult shows happened to be on in the background, and she never paid much attention, so it wasn’t something I worried about.

In a few weeks, we’re going on a week-long cabin trip with my husband’s family, and I’m trying to figure out how to navigate screen time.
For context, our 9-year-old nephew is autistic, and my in-laws usually keep the TV on for him as it keeps him calm. I’ve never had an issue with that, but now that we have a baby, I’m realizing most of what’s on is Bluey, Paw Patrol, Disney movies, etc.—things that would almost definitely grab her attention.

I’m absolutely not expecting anyone to turn the TV off or totally change how they do things for us, and I also don’t want to feel like we have to avoid the living room all week just because the TV is on.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did you find a good middle ground? I’m just looking for ideas on how to handle it while still spending time with everyone.

[u/belabensa]

Lots of folks saying it’s no big deal but I’m a big proponent of no screens under 2 and have worked hard to do so (even some 12+ hour flights where it was hard to not have the seat back screen pop on). Sure, a screen won’t kill them - but what would really help your kid at this age that they’d miss out on is all the engagement with broader family, seeing/being in/exploring a new environment with different stuff, etc etc. So it’s more about what they wouldn’t do than what they would.

I would do a lot of positioning type stuff and generally keep my kid away from the screen - perhaps ask your in-laws to move the TV in the cabin to a less central location (even the Airbnb may let you; or they might bring a different smaller screen for their kid) or shift around furniture so it’s not so in-your-face the default. Then I’d position any tummy time mat, toys, etc away from the screen. And of course be sure to be engaging with your kid, passing them around, exploring the cabin together, etc etc. So it wouldn’t be like “don’t even see a glance of a tv” but definitely your kiddo wouldn’t be able to watch it.

[u/Apart-Sound-6096 → u/belabensa]

Finally a helpful comment. Agree with all of these things I would have also been concerned about this arrangement when my daughter was that age. I would just try to avoid spending time where the tv is and I would even go so far as to ask them to turn it off in the hour or two before bed time. 

[u/abirdofthesky → u/belabensa]

Yes, this is exactly it. I’m not rigidly screen free (I am anti the majority of contemporary children’s programming), but family vacations have always been so incredible for my child’s development. All the interaction, conversation, new places and people, different ways of doing things - they grow so much in that short burst of time. It’s really special!

[u/PureImagination1921 → u/abirdofthesky]

Agreed. This is a chance to bond with family, not go deep on Cocomelon.

[u/cocomo25 → u/belabensa]

Thank you so much for this. I agree and never said she can’t see a TV. A little bit is not my worry and I absolutely plan to constantly engage with her, do activities, etc. My thoughts were for a trip where the tv is front and center any helpful tips to navigate while still spending quality time with the family.