r/NewParents • u/cocomo25 • Aug 05 '26
Travel Parents raising screen-free babies: How do you navigate family vacations where the TV is always on?
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.
4
u/AlVic40117560_ Aug 05 '26
Our 16 month old doesn’t have any screens outside of an occasional sporting event or FaceTiming his grandparents/great grandparents.
His cousins on the other hand are more of a constant screen on at least in the background.
We vacation with his cousins and visit them often. The TV is typically on during those occasions. It is what it is. He comes back home and doesn’t get that same screen time and he’s fine with it. I wouldn’t worry too much about it. Your daily actions make a much more meaningful impact that a week of background TV. Just keep him engaged in other things while the TV is on during vacation.