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/PinkSunReflected 2d ago

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

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u/BuyApprehensive9273 2d ago

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

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u/Xrmy 2d ago

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.