Way too much screen time.

Hi guys, it’s taking a lot of courage for me to come on this platform and talk about certain things so please try and be mindful about the things that you say, I would appreciate it a lot.

My little boy is 7 months now and I feel as though he gets too much screen time. I initially started screen time when I would be doing chores or bits around the house so that he could remain entertained. Now however, he seems to get bored very quickly when I try to play with him and his toys and only wants the screen to be on. I’m not sure what to do in this situation?

Can anyone recommend how I can keep my small boy occupied throughout the day with activities that will help with things such as brain development, language development and so on? I genuinely feel terrible when he gets too much screen time even if the things that he is watching are educational, I’d rather do something with him. I’m a first time mum and I’m trying my hardest but it feels like I’m failing… I’m really just trying to go with the flow and play with things such as stacking blocks, reading him books, teddies, etc… but he also likes to put everything in his mouth.

Could anyone offer me any advice? I would appreciate it a lot 🥺

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My 2month old daughter has to much screen time

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Try getting outside, Especially now it’s warming up take him to a local park or field, even a garden if you have one. take a blanket to sit down on the grass, bring some toys if you want. Get him out, let him watch kids play and people come and go as well as nature, you’d be surprised how much they love that. Talk to him about what you can see, let him relax and observe. You’re not failing mama, this shit is hard especially first time around. You’re doing an amazing job and your baby will thrive 🤍 but yeah if I find myself at a loss with entertaining him, we just go and sit at my local park and watch the world go by with snacks and milk 😂🤍

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Also try to source local baby groups in your area they can be a great way to facilitate interacting with bubba, I’ve learnt so much about my baby from attending a group once a week, we do sensory play, stories, songs and chat to other mums and health providers 🤍 don’t pay for them there are free ones out there ask your health visitor team x

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for an alternative when you need to get chores done, i’ve found sticking him in front of the washing machine keeps him occupied like screen time 🤣 try it

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I second this

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Hanging the washing? Take babe and talk him though it. Hoovering? My babies love the hoover. Cooking? Stick him in the high chair and let him feel involved. He doesn't need TV but it's easy to feel that you do

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Music

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Set up a little play area for him that only includes toys that are safe for him to use independently. Model how to use something for 5 minutes and then try leaving him to play independently. Eventually he will love his independent play space. I switch up the toys every few weeks to keep him interested, but always leaving the ones he is currently engaging well with x

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I tried things like music, sensory baskets, baby massage, going outside, using playmats and going to play groups to break up the day without a screen I also used the alexa instead of the tv. Good luck and have lots of fun together

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Books! I get board books for my daughter. She’s 18 months old and I have always given her books she can play with.

I have lots of different options s for her. Some I have to supervise her with as I don’t want her destroying them like pop up books but there are lots of different types of books for littles that have textures, sounds, flaps to lift with hidden things and open cut outs.

I always look at local thrift stores like good will because books can be expensive and why not save a little. But I do order from paperpie.com too and they have such cool books, puzzles and activity books for all ages. I look at them all the time with her.

You can also look up thrift books.com too and other sites like that.

I also let my daughter watch educational shows but I monitor what she watches. You aren’t failing mama, we sometimes will put on music and do dance parties too. So I can clean and get some exercise in. 😅

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it’s tough isn’t it??

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Thank you so much🥺 honestly this helps me more than you know🥹🫶🏻

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I’ve heard this!!!! Hahaha I will give it a go! X

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I think he’s definitely starting to find out home boring too lol x

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Thank you for your comment🥺 It is quite tough as you say because his wake windows are a lot longer and he gets bored very quickly. I sometimes feel as though it’s just me he doesn’t wanna be with🥺🥺

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Thank you for the advice xx

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This is very helpful! Thank you so much🥺🥺🫶🏻

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Thank you so much for the advice x My bubba is currently 7 months so I will try to involve him wherever I can but it’s tough since he can’t fully play independently yet xx

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Thank you gorgeous, how did you utilise Alexa may I ask? I have her too but am not sure what to put on!! X

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Thank you so so so much girl, this helps more than you know🥺🥺🫶🏻🥰

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Thank you darling, I will try all of these things!! Xx

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love that you mentioned hanging up washing and talking through it. Once when my daughter was about 4/5 months I was hanging laundry and made up a silly song about hanging laundry while she sat and watched me in her bouncer. Somehow I accidentally butt dialled my father in law who heard the whole thing 🤣

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@Sabina I use it for nursery rhymes/instruments and use it for everyday sounds like noises of cars/aeroplanes and boats just to get my baby used to how things sound

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Does he go to baby groups? I'm the same as you in that I feel baby is getting bored if I'm not entertaining her. So now I go to a baby group everyday, play with her a bit at home, take her out in pram walks. There's loads of free/low cost groups out there (normally through the council/family organisations). It keeps me sane 😁👍

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@Kate I used to just lay a blanket on the floor next to the airer and sometimes I'd hide behind it and play peekaboo to shake things up 😂 that was before they started crawling though 🫠 I used to bring a toy up for them each too, just in case they did get bored and sometimes that would happen.

@Sabina could you also maybe carry baby in a sling/carrier? We haven't for a little while but we used to do a lot if dancing in the kitchen 🎶

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Have you tried touchy feely books and flip up books. At that age I was showing my son to touch the books and how to flip the tabs down and he tried to copy me. Also letting him practice page turning with board books. Now he will happily sit with a bunch of books and turn the pages and do the tabs himself. Might give him more enjoyment than just sitting there and listening to you read to him (which is great too don’t get me wrong!) I just mean getting him more involved in the process of reading a book.

Also pointing at everything on the page and saying what it is.

Also like someone said above - the washing machine! It’s magical haha my guy doesn’t actually enjoy the tv much and quickly gets bored after about 10 minutes but will happily watch the washing machine go round for ages. Let’s me get the washing up done for sure!

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To build on the point above- check out your local library!

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you are welcome!! ❤️❤️

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this honestly helps so much and makes perfect sense!!!! I need a routine!!!!! Do you have one??? Did you have one when your little one was 7 months? If so, could you share ? Xx

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lol 😂😂 did he at least enjoy the song

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Thanks darling xx

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I literally cannot seem to find any play groups!!! Am I not searching right ??

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girl I could do my absolute best but 7 month old baby is almost 12 kilos lol he was born quite big - rip to my back LOL

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I’m most definitely going to try this washing machine method!!!! I keep hearing about it, I’m yet to see if it works with bubba. And I think I don’t read to him enough. However, when I do he just tries to put the book in his mouth lol xx

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when I took baby to be weighed, they gave me a booklet of all the classes. Try to contact your health visitor team to ask them or look on your local council internet pages for the family and children centers. This is the Waltham forest one https://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/beststartinlife. You should have similar in your borough

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https://www.ccenfield.org/

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This looks like yours

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Baby's asleep, so I've got loads of time on my hands now 😃😃

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thank you sooooooo much darling girl this helps a lot!!!! Xx

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thank you my girl this helps sooooo much honestly. You had such a good routine in place! You’re amazing mumma xxx

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Thank you my gorgeous you’ve been a massive help honestly. Tbh my ppd has been really bad lately too, my GP wants to put me on anti depressants but I’m not too fond of the idea :/ xx

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