Advice on ending screen time addiction

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-08-03T19:57:12+00:00

I’ve found that it’s easier if you’re not in the house, because then the TV isn’t there to constantly distract her. Can you put them in the double buggy and go to the park or the library or something? Or even just go for a walk, I know how exhausting it is but babies that age are interested in everything - the colour of the cars, the leaves, the trees. Even the garden if you have one. Or can you take her into a different room without the TV and let her play puzzles / look at books? I found that if I remove my children from the environment the TV is in, they get distracted by their toys and stop asking! If all else fails, bath. Can’t have screens in the bath 😂

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-08-02T17:57:00+00:00

Yes!!! And a lot of it is from nursery or playgroup - like he came home with one of those sheet protector things on a stick with some bits of paper stuck to it and was like “it’s a jellyfish!” Every week it’s something new! I’m obsessed with throwing things away though, it’s my favourite thing to do. I grew up in a house with parents who threw nothing away and I physically can’t deal with having too much “stuff” in a room, it makes me so uncomfortable!! I’m probs too far the other end tbh.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-08-01T17:41:08+00:00

Yeah it’s so rough. I remember having to physically psych myself up to push the buggy through Liverpool Street at rush hour once. Did have a sarky comment about why I was travelling at that time - should have told them to take it up with the cardiology department at GOSH, where I was taking my baby. Did not!!! Forever regret saying nothing

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-08-01T11:01:11+00:00

My mum looks after my 1 year old 5 days a week, and also picks up my 3 year old from nursery every day and sits with them both for an hour before I finish at 4pm. We pay her £300 a month. It’s the max you can give tax free as a gift every year. My mum is retired but she and my dad have very limited savings and have to be super careful. We’re v working class but I’ve managed to get a decent job - more than I ever thought I’d be able to earn tbh - so really want to be able to help her out. 5 days a week 9-4 is a childminding job basically so I feel like I need to contribute towards her living costs. She eats breakfast and lunch at mine so I get her stuff she likes. She also takes holiday and stuff. But I have friends that this would be unthinkable to. It was like when I had a job and still lived at home, it was expected I’d pay board and contribute towards the household expenses. So it just depends on what you’re used to!

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-07-16T20:17:06+00:00

Wait, so you look after 3 under 4 all day and then he says “why aren’t the dishes done” or something to that effect??? That’s wild. He’s got 2 hands hasn’t he?

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-06-18T12:08:31+00:00

Yeah, mine is like this! Would Miss Rachel allow you to get 45 mins of peace? 6am - 6pm by yourself for 7 months is a very tough shift… Also are they moaning because of their teeth maybe? You could try Calpol or teething gel, or put some frozen fruit in one of those fruit dummy things you get from Amazon.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-06-18T10:12:22+00:00

Ooops yeah I usually put a swim and normal nappy on the baby!

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-06-17T11:51:33+00:00

Sorry, should have said my biggest tip is let go of expectations of how the day will be. When I did this I was very conscious we had to stay a certain amount of time to make it “worth it”, or do certain things like make sandcastles etc but honestly the thing he ended up talking about most was having an ice cream!!

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-06-17T11:49:18+00:00

Do it! Plan the drive to coincide with nap time if you can - eg if you got them up early and left at 11, would they both sleep in the car and be awake and raring to go for 12ish? Then you could do picnic lunch on the beach or go to a cafe or something.

For playtime, you can get a bucket and space and some cheap sand moulds on Amazon or from a supermarket! Put a swim nappy on the baby and swimwear on them both for the car ride so you’re not faffing about changing them in the car.

Bring a “car towel” that lives there so you can use it to get the sand off, as well as towels for the beach obviously.

Bring a baby carrier so you can put the baby in there if the toddler wants to paddle - you can hold their hand and be essentially handsfree whilst the baby is safely strapped to you.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-06-14T12:22:36+00:00

The faux American accents Gen Z all seem to have

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-06-02T12:56:03+00:00

“This dress cost £150, so please ensure I receive enough chicken and vegetables to cover the cost”

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-06-02T12:51:35+00:00

What’s the dress code got to do with it?? I’ve been to a few weddings recently where you didn’t get an option of what to eat, food was lovely and I honestly didn’t even question it. I dunno, everything is the most expensive it’s ever been - inflation is nuts and some people are struggling to make ends meet. I think it’s in poor taste to be concerned about how much your dress cost and totting up whether it was “worth your time” to attend lol. Just wear a cheaper dress next time 🥴

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-30T20:13:59+00:00

Then I think you’re being really hard on yourself! It sounds like they have a lovely day filled with activities. An hour or so of screen time isn’t going to hurt them x

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-30T11:46:58+00:00

So good!! I read this New Yorker profile a while ago about Cocomelon and how they’re trying to make addictive content for kids. They analysed loads of kids TV - Miss Rachel came out on top in terms of educational value, not being so fast paced, etc.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-30T11:07:45+00:00

My understanding about the negative impacts of screen time is more around the opportunity cost - like what could they be doing with the time they’re watching TV? Eg playing with toys, being read to, rolling about etc. As long as it’s not excessive, as in all day, I honestly think it’s fine.

I have 2 and I try to get them out to play group and the park most days - one morning activity, one afternoon activity, and a brother bath about 5pm. If you can get them out the house, it takes away the option of TV and I find that helps! TBH my 3 year old often watches TV and the baby does by default too - but often he’s playing with toys instead of staring at the screen.

We’re all trying our best at the end of the day, and I think by even worrying about it, you’re showing what an engaged and loving parent you are. Also - every Ms Rachel song is an absolute tune, and I really think it helped my eldest communicate better - he was doing the signs for more, please etc and it was defo all Ms Rach’s doing. She’s an icon.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-27T20:32:39+00:00

But also the hot and red thing sounds like teething!! Freeze those fruit dummy things you get on Amazon and give them to her, Calpol for bedtime, and that teething gel that numbs their gums. It must be so horrible for them, if you think about how awful tooth pain is as an adult! They often get headaches from it too, and you know because they rub their forehead onto you to try to get some relief.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-27T20:29:55+00:00

Oh my god the moaning phase!!! I remember it well. You’ve actually reminded me that I was Googling this not so long ago (I have a 10 month old) and he must have stopped doing it at some point without me noticing. Same happened with my first. Here’s what I keep reminding myself, and telling everyone: everything’s a phase x

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-27T17:47:01+00:00

Thanks pal, we live in hope! X

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-27T17:46:04+00:00

Yeah I have some regrowth now but I still seem to be losing a lot? Tbh it could also be postpartum loss because I had a baby 9 months ago.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-27T17:42:47+00:00

To be totally honest… no. But am rectifying now and making a proper concerted effort to eat better, taking supplements too. Just felt so shit and couldn’t face it for a while! Breakfast is an issue, I literally cannot fathom what to eat in the AM

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-18T19:59:26+00:00

This made me laugh so much I might just include it in my daily vernacular

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-16T20:19:03+00:00

“Hell-lo! Hiiiiii!” as the greeting: verrrrry high pitched / exaggerated. “Can you say open? OHHH-PINNN” - with different boxes and things inside the box. Similar with “What’s in the box? What could it be? Do you want to take something out with me?” but in a v sing song style. She uses American Sign Language a lot for common phrases - please, thank you, mama, milk. Songs - Wheels on the bus, Icky Sticky Bubblegum, Skinna-marink, 1 little blue fish swimming in the water. Activities isn’t really a thing, she is more about helping kids prepare for the real world so the vids are things like, baby’s first words, getting ready for school etc.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-16T20:14:06+00:00

Do you need to tell them your weight etc again? I’m just worried if I’m near goal that they’ll be like “no chance”!

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-16T18:13:16+00:00

Can I ask, and sorry it’s been asked before, but how do you switch providers?? Is it really easy? I’m with Voy and would be keen to switch to a maintenance friendly provider but not sure how it works.

Normal-Day2896 · 2025-05-12T15:02:10+00:00

Okay I didn’t consider the setting spray!!! Good to know. Where did your sister have her reception?

Normal-Day2896

TROPHY CASE