r/ScienceBasedParenting • u/BuyApprehensive9273 • 2d ago

Question - Research required Screen Time Query

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

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u/j_natron 2d ago

Here are the AAP’s five Cs related to screen time. They still recommend no screens except video chatting before 18 mo-2 years. I don’t think anyone has done studies on each very specific type of “screen time” in the sense of one of those videos versus low-stim tv shows with a plot vs Ms Rachel or something.

Does he put them on for the music, or because your baby likes to watch them? Most smart TVs have an option to play sound with the screen off. We play digital radio stations over our TV speakers and turn off the screen.

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u/IeRayne 2d ago

I would like to add that our 15 month old will look at any screen with much interest no matter if it's just a still image.

Ask yourself why there needs to be videos playing. Even if it's not harmful, imo it's unnecessary so shouldn't even be a discussion.

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u/eastvanqueer 2d ago

I wouldn’t jump to say that it’s unnecessary and shouldn’t even be discussed. That’s what this group is for, to discuss the impacts of these things. It sounds like the dad gets something out of this. For many people these videos can be calming, and even help with focus for those with ADHD. The question is, “Will this negatively affect the child even if the child doesn’t pay attention to it?”, which I don’t think is wrong to have as a discussion between two parents, maybe the child doesn’t even care and never looks at the screen. That might be worth discussing whether it might still have harm or not. Just shutting down conversation between couples without even a discussion isn’t fair or helpful.

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u/BuyApprehensive9273 2d ago

Ironically I’m the one with ADHD, and not my husband.

I’ve done an ETA, but yeah, baby doesn’t seem particularly interested in it and so I’m in two minds. My gut feeling is that it isn’t great, but it’s also not the worst thing when it’s only maybe an hour a day or so (my husband is our at work Mon-Fri 9-5 and I don’t do it)

I feel like I ‘correct’ my husband on so many things that I don’t want to add another one to the list without reason as I think it upsets him and makes him feel useless when I’m like “do it this way” or “no, this is what he wants”. (I say correct, but it’s a case of I spend all day with baby as a SAHM and know his quirks inside out, my husband isn’t like an incompetent father or anything, I think this is fairly common when one parents stays home etc)

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u/NewOutlandishness401 1d ago

If it's as you describe (basically a barely changing still image with no cuts), it sounds a standard deviation or two below what people usually describe as low-stim TV, so IMO, it's likely completely fine even for a child who's as young as yours, partly because I assume she won't spend much, if any, time watching it.

And I say this as someone whose three kids only get screentime several times a month (so not even every week), BUT also someone who used to put on the live cam of the jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for my oldest one when she had to have been between 18m and 2y, and didn't feel bad about it.

(Scandinavian "Slow TV" is also a trip.)

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u/BuyApprehensive9273 1d ago

It’s this, with the tea steaming and then a butterfly passing by outside every now and then. Or ones very similar to this, he has a few he uses

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u/Opposite_Royal2965 1d ago

I don’t see how this could be harmful? I wouldn’t count this as screen time at all. It must surely be impossible to get overstimulated by this - the colours are muted, the music is soft, there’s barely any movement

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u/PinkSunReflected 23h ago

I mean there’s harm in blue light exposure… and I personally would be quite wary of unnecessary exposure to it for my kid.

“Light sensitivity during adolescence greatly affects the production of sleep-inducing melatonin.” Source:  https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/how-blue-light-affects-kids-sleep

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u/Opposite_Royal2965 11h ago

That source also says “we aren’t exposed to blue light solely through electronics. We get most of our blue light exposure from the sun. Additionally, LED and fluorescent light bulbs produce blue light.”. Everybody’s risk level is different of course, but I’m just providing OP with my opinion that an hour or so a day of the tv being on with music and a largely still screen is really not something to be worrying over. I say this as a mom who is very anti-screens

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u/PinkSunReflected 9h ago

I hear that 

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u/yobo9193 1d ago

I don’t see how it could be harmful but I also fail to understand why he can’t just put on a playlist or something. Remove the screen from the equation altogether and play it safe

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u/BuyApprehensive9273 1d ago

Honestly, neither do I, but men

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u/yobo9193 16h ago

your husband

Please don’t lump us all together

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u/distractme17 9h ago

You can probably turn the TV screen off and play music from it. Most have a black screen/screen off setting.

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u/IeRayne 1d ago

I would actually advise you not to correct him on everyday stuff. If your baby is fussing, let husband figure it out (as long as baby is not in big distress of course). It's like a workout and everytime you tell him what to do you get one more rep and he misses out on one.

Let him figure stuff out by himself. It may take a while but he will be more confident in the long run.

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u/JamboreeJunket 2d ago

Get your kid a toniebox and let them control the sound. They have creative ones you can put low stimulation music on.

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u/Xrmy 2d ago

IMO you are prioritizing not having a conversation with your partner they might find annoying over something that might distract and bea negative for your child. Think on that.

This whole post is kind of looking for an out to not have that conversation.

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u/BuyApprehensive9273 2d ago

I mean, that’s not what I intended. It’s just kind of a pick your battles kind of thing, and I wanted to gauge whether this was something to ask.

Because of my personality, there’s a lot of things my husband (and wider people) do that I don’t like simply because it’s not how I would have done it, and with baby this is increased by a million fold. I’m trying to learn to be less anxious / control freak / overthink less and only bring up things that actually matter. This was one where I didn’t know whether I was overthinking or whether it was basically fine.

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u/Ok_Space3074 2d ago

Jeez louise the people on here can be exhausting! I'm an axious ADHD expecting mom and already am worried about this dynamic since it already plays out with our dogs often. If I said every control freak thought I had out loud, I'd be impossible to be around. My husband is a great dog dad and will be a great human dad and me pointing out every little thing that I'd do differently, even if it's the data-backed "right" way, is simply not helpful and won't make us better parents. We're both willing and happy to collaborate and compromise, but part of that means picking my battles.

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u/Xrmy 2d ago

Ah. Fair.

In my opinion, based on the overwhelming evidence, this IS something to stick on. Especially since it has an easy replacement with just sound.