I’m parenting 4 kids of different ages during the pandemic. How do I help my family balance media-use healthfully in lockdown?

Is it ok for me to read books to my baby on a tablet?

May 10, 2017

Es En Espanol Q: My child is 13 months old and loves reading books. She is below the 24 month suggested age for screen time recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Is it ok to read books with her on the iPad? ~ iPerplexed, USA A: Dear iPerplexed, This is a wonderful question and one that […]

Is it dangerous to have my 3-month-old Skype with his grandparents?

February 22, 2017

Q: I’d like my parents to be able to see and start talking to my three-month-old son via Skype on my smartphone. I’m concerned about how the video emitted from the screen will affect his brain development and his eyes. Any advice will be helpful! ~ Nana Skype, New York, NY A: Dear Nana, This […]

My three-year-old is obsessed with the YouTube Kids app, what should I do?

May 3, 2016

Q: My three-year-old daughter is obsessed with watching YouTube Kids on my phone. What can I do to stop this? ~ R You(Tube) Kidding, Arlington, VA A: Dear R, Stopping your daughter from watching YouTube Kids is easy, although may require you to deal with protests from your daugther. She is 3. YouTube Kids has […]

Is it ok for me to watch TV while I bounce my baby to sleep?

July 27, 2015

Q: Our daughter is three months old and likes to look at the bright colors and moving images on the television screen when I am bouncing her in the evenings. The images seem to calm her down, which is helpful for both of us (she usually falls asleep after just a few minutes and will […]

Is brexting (texting while breastfeeding) okay?

July 31, 2014

Q: Does texting while breastfeeding affect how a mother bonds with her baby? ~ Connection Curious, on Twitter A: Dear Connection, This is yet another iteration of the most important question for parents in the Digital Age, one that will recur, in various forms, for both parent and child from infancy through adolescence. How do […]

When and how should I introduce screens to my 2½ year old?

January 28, 2014

Q: I have a 2½ year old, and so far, per the advice of our pediatrician, she has had no screen time. However, I have heard that educational television, such as Sesame Street, can be useful to offer in small doses after the age of two. My inclination is to continue not to offer her screen […]

Is a bouncy seat with a tablet mount really so bad?

December 12, 2013

Q: I’ve been hearing a lot about a new bouncy seat that includes a place where parents can put an iPad to occupy their baby. Is it really that different than watching TV, other than giving parents more control over content? –iPuzzled in Watertown, NY A: Dear iPuzzled, The recent attention on this toy is […]