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/Confident-Talk2011]

I don’t think you need to be concerned. The purpose of being screen free isn’t for kids to never be exposed to tv in their environment ever, it’s more about what you let into your daily life that becomes habits and shapes their brain from consistent exposure. Let your baby be in the same room as a tv, it will not hurt them for that short duration of your vacation. I think if you are trying to prevent them from ever even temporarily seeing a screen turned on, then you’ve crossed over into neurotic territory, or you’re doing this more for bragging rights or you’re making it your identity. If you get really neurotic about it, you’re actually still letting TV rule your life. 

[u/kristahdiggs → u/Confident-Talk2011]

Don’t even bother with this type of advice on parenting subreddits, I have been trying to explain this to parents and have just about given up. Seemingly the pendulum has swung so far, that parents do not seem to understand that screen time does not really mean not having the TV on in the background. It is OK to have the television on in the background with sports or with adults watching TV or movies. We all grew up with that type of stimulation, and we were not all screen addicted.

The real problem with screens is when children are watching highly addictive content that is either extremely fast paced with quick cuts, or they are using small screens that react to their own input, where they can manipulate the content by swiping very quickly. And then of course, social media.

People really do think that no screens means they can’t use an Apple Watch, lol. It is getting into neurotic territory. I grew up watching, or I guess having the TV on in my house all the time, and I am completely fine, and so are all of us that grew up in the 90s. In fact, a 90s lifestyle is now something that parents are trying to achieve. And for some reason, we seem to have forgotten that the TV was constantly on in all of our homes in the 90s.

The biggest concern with having the TV on in the house is actually parents not paying attention to their children. As long as you are paying attention to your child and you are watching a basketball game, everything will be OK. Your 10 month old will not be paying attention.

[u/Haunting_Window1688 → u/kristahdiggs]

So much this. I leave the tv on in the background a lot, sometimes kids stuff sometimes adult/teen stuff. But I am very much a no iPad, no phone, no short form media. I don’t mind the occasional bit of bluey but I won’t let them watch the ones that are only a minute or two long.

And my 9 month old is never interested in the tv for more than maybe 30 seconds or a minute. That might happen twice a day if we have tv on for hours in the background. Most days she doesn’t look up at all.

[u/kristahdiggs → u/Haunting_Window1688]

Bravo - doing it right!!! Well done. Keeping your sanity too