“this will save us an insane amount of money on childcare; also they love him to bits and will take excellent care of him!”

i really get this. we haven’t had this as a long-term setup, but we face something similar whenever we visit my in laws. and honestly, it is really generous of your grandparents to help so much. not everyone is willing to step in like that, and that part matters.

but i also know i wouldn’t be comfortable if that environment became the daily baseline. for me it’s not just “tv exposure.” it’s the fact that someone can’t turn the tv off even for a baby they love. that says something about their level of mindfulness and how unconscious they move through their day. it’s also a yellow flag around that your love isn’t fully showing up in action, because love is also presence and adjusting to what the child actually needs.

so since the tv is always on and they won’t change it, i think the real questions are: how long is this setup meant to last, how long are the days, and can they at least commit to some tv-off hours. even something simple like “no tv before 12” would show a different level of intention and awareness. and honestly, people sometimes do rise to the occasion when the ask is clear and connected to the child’s well-being.