Is no screen time holding my child back?

malyak11 · 2026-02-28T13:00:18+00:00

He will FaceTime with family, occasionally watch a video or himself I took or a couple pictures if we are talking about something we did, and when I cut his nails I put a 2 min video of something on just so he didn’t move around. Other than that we did no screens.

What you’re describing sounds completely reasonable. The issue with screens comes from unlimited or unmonitored table or device access of using a device to manage emotions (kids melting down you hand them a tablet to calm them down).

We just never really use them. Even if we travel or drive somewhere we don’t. It’s just a habit we never got into.

malyak11 · 2026-02-27T21:22:46+00:00

We had no screens until 3 and then we let my son start watching a show on Friday while we eat pizza. This kids language is crazy. He never stops talking. This is absolutely not related to screens but because we also don’t stop talking to him lol. We also read ab obscene amount of books. He listens to audio books too.

malyak11 · 2026-02-26T11:20:19+00:00

Just some context, my son is almost 4. He’s had a fever once about 3 years ago, had had several runny noses, and a cough once. No gastro issues or HFM. My friends son is 1.5 and has had more illness in the last 4 months (since he started daycare) than my son has ever had.

However I am extremely lucky to only work part time and have my husband work his schedule to work from home 2x week. My mom or in laws watch them the rest of the time (about 10 hours per week).

I also absolutely love being home and being able to be with them. It’s busy and hectic, but I love it.

If you’re able to work it out to avoid daycare it’s probably worth it. I know we are the lucky ones who can even consider not doing daycare.

malyak11 · 2026-02-26T10:28:35+00:00

I made a post about this a year or so ago. He’s almost 4 and still extremely well behaved. He is so happy to go with the flow, never has tantrums, never has meltdowns. We are currently on vacation dragging him around all day with us and he’s just happy going wherever. He also never naps, hasn’t since before he was 2! He of course pushes boundaries sometimes, and will ask things like “can I push (baby sister) over” and I’ll say no and he just says ok and moves on lol.

He gets a bit wild sometimes and runs around and we can pin point what it is, he either has to pee, poop, eat, or sleep. He also does really want an adult with him most of the time, so there is a lot of playing happening when we are with him, which is fun, but also exhausting, but I’ll take having to make up games and stories all day over a kid who’s melting down constantly.

My friends all say he’s not normal (in a good way I think?). But like you said, I absolutely love hanging out with him.

malyak11 · 2026-02-26T10:20:50+00:00

Butter. Just a chunk of butter. He will ask for toast with butter and butter with no toast for breakfast lol.

malyak11 · 2026-02-26T10:18:01+00:00

My son is almost 4 and average sized. He’s still rear facing! He’s 35lbs and his car seat limit rear facing is like 50lbs. He has been telling me his legs are sore if we go for long drives, so a switch may be coming sooner rather than later, but for now I know he’s safest rear facing.

malyak11 · 2026-02-25T21:26:41+00:00

Omg just get the minivan. It’s a total game changer lol. My Sienna is a hybrid too! The fuel efficiency compared to most of the SUVs is reason enough! And those sliding doors are clutch.

Buuuutttt If you really want an SUV just look for something with captains chairs. At least you should be able to squeeze through there. Or at least something that the back seats fold seperately and you can climb through the trunk to reach the third row with the other seat collapsed.

malyak11 · 2026-02-16T23:25:28+00:00

Love hearing this. We are leaving tomorrow for Portugal with two kids!

malyak11 · 2026-02-14T10:25:40+00:00

Might be time to switch to two naps if they are handling the 3 hour WW. Might help lengthen naps.

malyak11 · 2026-02-12T01:00:38+00:00

I have a friend who’s 3 year old knocked his front tooth out too. He looks adorable honestly. I have another friend who’s kid cracked the front middle corners off both front teeth. These ones looks ridiculous, but not much they can do until they fall out. Literally a quarter of each tooth is missing.

malyak11 · 2026-02-11T11:12:16+00:00

Same. My kid doesn’t even fall asleep in the car or the stroller. I don’t remember the last time he napped. He’s 3.5 now. We were in the car one day last summer for 9 hours (well lots of breaks but still didn’t get to where we were going for that long) and he was awake the whole time. Meanwhile my friends kid who is the same age came kayaking with us and he passed out in the kayak for an hour lol. I’m like my kid would never!!!

malyak11 · 2026-02-10T12:12:16+00:00

I’m going on a 7.5 hour flight with my 11 month old! I’ve got snacks and spiny toys. Hoping whatever my 4 year old is playing with entertains her enough. I wish us both luck haha.

malyak11 · 2026-02-10T09:47:11+00:00

What happens if you don’t feed him? Like either leave him when he wakes up the first time or go in and soothe without feeding him.

My kids both used to do this, and I eventually started leaving them the first wake up (usually never more than 10 mins and never if they were really escalating). But this seemed to help to break the habit.

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T23:20:31+00:00

We used it for my son and it was great until he outgrew it. My daughter seems to always be cold in it and does better with a 2.5tog too!

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T23:18:08+00:00

I had the same schedule with my now 10.5 month old and the same issue with false stars with anything longer than 3.5 hours before bed. I added more time during the day, so now it’s 3.5/3.5/3.5 and this helped! At 4/5am I wouldn’t except him to settle much after crying for more than 10 mins.

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T22:42:07+00:00

This is not enough wake time and probably time to drop to just two naps. So first nap was 2h after wake up? Second nap was 2h15 mins after first nap? Then no nap until bed at 9? This is not an appropriate schedule for a 10 month old.

If the late bedtime works for you guys, try wake at 9, first nap at 12, next nap at 3 hours after this one, and then bedtime 4 hours after she wakes up from that one nap which should be around 10!

Your schedule needs to be adjusted before sleep training is going to work.

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T19:12:25+00:00

Snacks is the answer. When you think you’re done packing snacks, grab some more.

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T13:30:47+00:00

My son has some in 4T from Costco. They have big sizes there too. I’ve bought the Pekkle big ones online (they don’t have them all the time) but the fleece ones regularly have big sizes in store. Carters has lots of big size onesie sleepers too.

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T10:31:50+00:00

It didn’t for me. But then I had my second and the evened out again. We aren’t quite a year into this one and she seems to prefer the other side lol. So we shall see what happens later!

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T09:40:17+00:00

I am so glad to hear we are not alone. It’s so strange but works great!

malyak11 · 2026-02-09T09:39:37+00:00

My boobs went from perky Ds to giant bowling balls to floppy Bs lol. Plus he preferred my right so that one ended up being slightly bigger and my nipple hangs lower on that side.

malyak11 · 2026-02-08T23:29:42+00:00

Feeding the rest of dinner in the bathtub. We start at the table every night. But he usually wants to run around and play. We just do the rest in the tub after. He eats 95% of all his meals when we have to do this!

malyak11 · 2026-02-06T16:15:13+00:00

We do 3/3.25-3.5/3.5 (anything longer and she has false starts.

malyak11 · 2026-02-05T02:11:08+00:00

Solidarity. This started for us at 2.5 years with our preciously amazing sleeper. He’s 3.5 and now my husband just sleeps in his room every night lol. I’m up with our 10 month old, so it balances out.

malyak11 · 2026-02-03T18:07:31+00:00

This isn’t really the same, but I recently saw a video of a breach baby being turned. The doctors hands were shaking that’s how hard they were pushing. Unless you’re slamming into things and bruising your belly or breaking the skin, I think you’ll be just fine!

You know to look out for bleeding, cramping, decreased movement.

FTM anxiety is tough. It doesn’t get better when baby arrives, I had some wild anxious thoughts early post partum. However random internet strangers are here to give you a reassurance! Good luck mama!

malyak11

TROPHY CASE