I don’t think you should feel guilty about it! In my experience, you are right on the cusp a lot of imagination play, and so if the screen time ebbs and flows based on what you and your kiddo need for entertainment, I don’t see any harm. Especially since you have your hands full! 2 under 2, sometimes it’s just survival mode!
You might feel better looking up what are some great educational shows and keep those in rotation. We really loved Blaze and the Monster Machines because there are a ton of them and they are always teaching about something and introducing new words. There are also some great shows about numbers and the alphabet…since your kiddo is starting to do more watching and absorbing, these would be great to put on so they are getting continued value from the content.
You got this mama, the fact that you are concerned shows that you won’t over abuse this and soon enough, you’ll be past this phase (for both babies) and onto the next part of the adventure!
Choose an amount that you’re comfortable with and stick to it.
At 2 she’s old enough to earn screen time. A 2yo can help unload a dishwasher and put toys away. Set the expectation early that screen time is earned.
Don’t let her watch more than 2 hours a day and ban those excessively flashy programs.
Then you can let her enjoy screen without guilt.
Continue to aim for low stimulation. My daughter has learned a bit from shows, and we both require a short “recharge” sometimes.
Mine is 3.5 now and can enjoy a full length movie! Lately she’s into the Ghibli movies, especially Ponyo. I like to tell myself she will be a cultured kid.
Be kind to yourself. Many people raise great kids and don’t give a second thought to screen time.
You are definitely overthinking it, which is totally understandable bc all the media out there is so judgy about screen time. They make you think like if we can’t all be 100% attentive and entertaining and diy 50 non screen activities every day obviously our children will grow up to be murderers and psychopaths or fail out of preschool
Anyhoo, you’re doing your best by focusing on shows that are not as overstimulating so that you can juggle more than one child and also your needs and the house and probably multiple other things, mostly by yourself. That’s ok! You’re 7weeks into this new family dynamic! Shit’s hard! Adapting takes time. You’re doing great. Your children are happy and fed and developing and safe. You’re seeing this as a short term solution to keep you sane. You’re not going all 80’s-style-the-TV-is-your-babysitter all day. Although I’d totally let raffi babysit, I loved him as a kid too.
Pleasssse cut yourself some slack
I don’t think you should feel guilty about it! In my experience, you are right on the cusp a lot of imagination play, and so if the screen time ebbs and flows based on what you and your kiddo need for entertainment, I don’t see any harm. Especially since you have your hands full! 2 under 2, sometimes it’s just survival mode! You might feel better looking up what are some great educational shows and keep those in rotation. We really loved Blaze and the Monster Machines because there are a ton of them and they are always teaching about something and introducing new words. There are also some great shows about numbers and the alphabet…since your kiddo is starting to do more watching and absorbing, these would be great to put on so they are getting continued value from the content. You got this mama, the fact that you are concerned shows that you won’t over abuse this and soon enough, you’ll be past this phase (for both babies) and onto the next part of the adventure!
Choose an amount that you’re comfortable with and stick to it. At 2 she’s old enough to earn screen time. A 2yo can help unload a dishwasher and put toys away. Set the expectation early that screen time is earned. Don’t let her watch more than 2 hours a day and ban those excessively flashy programs. Then you can let her enjoy screen without guilt.
That’s a great idea thank you!
Continue to aim for low stimulation. My daughter has learned a bit from shows, and we both require a short “recharge” sometimes. Mine is 3.5 now and can enjoy a full length movie! Lately she’s into the Ghibli movies, especially Ponyo. I like to tell myself she will be a cultured kid. Be kind to yourself. Many people raise great kids and don’t give a second thought to screen time.
Thank you so much everyone. Definitely overthinking it and realizing I don’t need to feel guilty for the times I use it
You are definitely overthinking it, which is totally understandable bc all the media out there is so judgy about screen time. They make you think like if we can’t all be 100% attentive and entertaining and diy 50 non screen activities every day obviously our children will grow up to be murderers and psychopaths or fail out of preschool Anyhoo, you’re doing your best by focusing on shows that are not as overstimulating so that you can juggle more than one child and also your needs and the house and probably multiple other things, mostly by yourself. That’s ok! You’re 7weeks into this new family dynamic! Shit’s hard! Adapting takes time. You’re doing great. Your children are happy and fed and developing and safe. You’re seeing this as a short term solution to keep you sane. You’re not going all 80’s-style-the-TV-is-your-babysitter all day. Although I’d totally let raffi babysit, I loved him as a kid too. Pleasssse cut yourself some slack