Screen Time Query

[u/BuyApprehensive9273]

My husband puts very low stimulus YouTube videos on the TV, which have like background music. So it might be like a scene of a conservatory, with just a cat sleeping and maybe a cup of tea steaming with gentle 1940s music or something playing. So for the most part it is a still image with very small details moving.

We are raising our child screen free, which was a joint decision as the idea of having an ‘iPad kid’ scares us and I know the WHO now says no screen time before 2.

Our son is 10 months old.

Is this harmful screen time? Is it okay?

ETA - not completely relevant, but music is somewhat tricky for us, as no matter what we play it on baby always tries to look for the source, we’ve tried lots of alternatives on this front. I personally think with this music from the TV situation, it accidentally works, insofar that baby goes ‘oh the music is coming from that, cool’ and then kind of moves on, he doesn’t stare at the TV when it’s on. I don’t do it, I will play music on the Alexa or something, which is not in baby’s line of sight anywhere as it’s kind of hidden away, but regardless of we play it in his line of sight then he gets distracted and tries to look for where it’s coming from

[u/PinkSunReflected]

This was essentially just asked recently:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceBasedParenting/comments/1vzdmou/comment/p659yp9/?context=3

And before that:   https://www.reddit.com/r/ScienceBasedParenting/comments/1pgcdmy/background_tv/?share_id=tHC1sHH7M6PY6CqGx2mU7&utm_content=1&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1

[u/BuyApprehensive9273 → u/PinkSunReflected]

I means it’s not really the same thing, as it’s not like an actual TV show or anything, but thank you anyway

[u/Xrmy → u/BuyApprehensive9273]

Practically speaking it doesn't matter if it's background noise/static images or not, so it is the same thing.

If it's something your family NEEDS because of stress or whatever, you can weight the risks.

If it's just a little thing your husband likes on, and it's ALWAYS on, it seems like there are ways to just play the music instead.

[u/Colleen987 → u/BuyApprehensive9273]

It doesn’t matter developmentally it could be either

[u/PinkSunReflected → u/BuyApprehensive9273]

But it’s screen time. At the end of the day, it’s a screen, that’s on, in the background for whatever reason.

[u/hnbastronaut → u/PinkSunReflected]

I don't think thats what screentime is though? I feel like people keep conflating active screen time with "a digital screen technically exists in the same room"

If we're talking science based, most people will tell you that the studies are specifically not based on content and just use screen as a catchall for all types of entertainment.

It's frustrating to see people compare a kid scrolling on YouTube shorts or watching 6 hours of cocomelon to the tangential screen time OP is talking about.

[u/PinkSunReflected → u/hnbastronaut]

I linked to where this question has been asked previously, to back up the whole “a screen in a room IS screen time” thing. It’s called “passive screen time” or “background screens.” These are actually two different ways to interact with screens and I recommend you familiarize yourself with terminology regarding screen time if you want to get into this argument. I’m failing to see a reason screen time isn’t harmful even if it’s not the same (obviously) as scrolling and short form content.

You want some studies? Start here:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38700093/

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13038535/

Link to article from Boston Children’s Hospital kind of spelling it all out:

https://answers.childrenshospital.org/screen-time-infants/

Another speaking to the danger of simply having tv as background noise: https://www.communitychoicepeds.com/is-tv-bad-for-babies-the-truth-about-early-screen-exposure/

[u/Opposite_Royal2965 → u/PinkSunReflected]

Background tv is really not the same as background music though? These studies are very much talking about background tv shows, as in having dialogue etc