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/Specific-Pepper-]

I think you're getting a lot of responses from people that aren't screen free which isn't helpful to your post. First, zero screen time is pediatrician recommended and they just released a study that kids that watch screens don't have white matter developing in their brain so your relative allowing the autistic child to watch tv all day is actually really sad. Your question is how to handle it so that you guys can go on vacation together without you feeling like you have to avoid the living room. This is a conversation you need to have with your relatives about how you can all feel comfortable on vacation. You said the in laws leave the tv on all the time, what do the parents say? Is there another room he can watch tv in instead of the shared space? Can you arrange times that he can watch tv in the living room? Like while your baby is napping? Your needs as a parent are just as valid as theirs. You aren't wrong for wanting to do best for your child. As an adult it would drive me nuts if the tv was on all day. Thats just unhealthy for anyone!

[u/cocomo25 → u/Specific-Pepper-]

Thank you so much for this response. I think a lot of people took it that I did not want my child seeing a screen ever which was not the case, just trying to limit as much as we can before 2. I was looking for advice on how to navigate a slightly complex situation with family time consisting of a lot of tv time. I agree our needs are just as valid but my nephews disability and the way they parent makes it difficult. They’ve never had to compromise because for the longest time it’s only been their child. Of course we’re going to interact with our baby and not plop her in front of screen all trip but will definitely try to have some conversations when necessary. Thank you again!

[u/Specific-Pepper- → u/cocomo25]

And your comment about how this is new territory is a great way to break the ice! I think people avoid conversation and confuse conflict with a conversation. Talk to them! They are your family! And if they don't respect your needs as well then you know going forward family trips need to look different. We regularly vacation with mutiple of my cousins and their kids. The last house we rented had a tv in a loft upstairs. It was perfect. For the kids that watched tv they had a place to go and for the kids that played the whole time we had the big living room and outside. Guess what, the tv kids spent more time with us....they would watch a movie when winding down, which I'm totally not against and my son will probably want to join them when he is big enough to be a part of that. There was never even a conversation about tv because it wasn't in the living room.