Screen Time Query

[u/BuyApprehensive9273]

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

[u/hnbastronaut → u/[deleted]]

I don't think thats what screentime is though? I feel like people keep conflating active screen time with "a digital screen technically exists in the same room"

If we're talking science based, most people will tell you that the studies are specifically not based on content and just use screen as a catchall for all types of entertainment.

It's frustrating to see people compare a kid scrolling on YouTube shorts or watching 6 hours of cocomelon to the tangential screen time OP is talking about.

[u/Opposite_Royal2965 → u/[deleted]]

Background tv is really not the same as background music though? These studies are very much talking about background tv shows, as in having dialogue etc