Q: My child is 13 months old and loves reading books. She is below the 24 month suggested age for screen time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Is it ok to read books with her on the iPad? ~ iPerplexed, USA A: Dear iPerplexed, This is a wonderful question and one that many parents… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Ask the Mediatrician
Tagged: Infants & Toddlers
Is it dangerous to have my 3-month-old Skype with his grandparents?
Q: I’d like my parents to be able to see and start talking to my three-month-old son via Skype on my smartphone. I’m concerned about how the video emitted from the screen will affect his brain development and his eyes. Any advice will be helpful! ~ Nana Skype, New York, NY A: Dear Nana, This… Read more »
My three-year-old is obsessed with the YouTube Kids app, what should I do?
Q: My three-year-old daughter is obsessed with watching YouTube Kids on my phone. What can I do to stop this? ~ R You(Tube) Kidding, Arlington, VA A: Dear R, Stopping your daughter from watching YouTube Kids is easy, although may require you to deal with protests from your daugther. She is 3. YouTube Kids has… Read more »
Is it wrong for me to give my three-year-old my tablet or smartphone to use unsupervised?
Q: I recently read the New York Times article discussing young children using high tech devices unsupervised before they turn 4. Admittedly, I give my three year old daughter my iPad to play with on long car trips and I’ll occasionally hand her my smartphone while in line at the grocery store (she usually melts… Read more »
Is it ok for me to watch TV while I bounce my baby to sleep?
Q: Our daughter is three months old and likes to look at the bright colors and moving images on the television screen when I am bouncing her in the evenings. The images seem to calm her down, which is helpful for both of us (she usually falls asleep after just a few minutes and will… Read more »
Media Moment: Dance Inspiration at a Very Young Age
Dear Reader, Welcome to August’s Media Moment! This month, Richard Chalfen, a CMCH Senior Scientist, shares a story about parents realizing that they need to increase their monitoring of their toddler’s media use. These stories are meant to help create a village square of commiserating and co-celebrating the many ways media intersect with the lives… Read more »
Is brexting (texting while breastfeeding) okay?
Q: Does texting while breastfeeding affect how a mother bonds with her baby? ~ Connection Curious, on Twitter A: Dear Connection, This is yet another iteration of the most important question for parents in the Digital Age, one that will recur, in various forms, for both parent and child from infancy through adolescence. How do… Read more »
How can we take a balanced approach to TV if my 2 year old asks for it constantly?
Q: My daughter comes home and the first thing she says is, “I want to watch Doc McStuffins.” We try to avoid TV during the week and let her watch it on the weekends. She is 2 now, but before this, she was not exposed to television. If we tell her we don’t watch TV… Read more »
When and how should I introduce screens to my 2½ year old?
Q: I have a 2½ year old, and so far, per the advice of our pediatrician, she has had no screen time. However, I have heard that educational television, such as Sesame Street, can be useful to offer in small doses after the age of two. My inclination is to continue not to offer her screen… Read more »
Is a bouncy seat with a tablet mount really so bad?
Q: I’ve been hearing a lot about a new bouncy seat that includes a place where parents can put an iPad to occupy their baby. Is it really that different than watching TV, other than giving parents more control over content? –iPuzzled in Watertown, NY A: Dear iPuzzled, The recent attention on this toy is… Read more »
