https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 01:14:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1966343 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 17:14:54 +0000 hellobeeboston 1966343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: at around 19 months or so he got into the iPhone/iPad - mostly just wanting to see videos of himself, and some music. Then apps started around 20/22 months. He isn't into tv yet, but just at 2 sat through the cars movie and loooooves it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1966335 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 17:12:02 +0000 blackbird 1966335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've always done a little FaceTime with my mom but we introduced her to a kindle at 15 months when we were flying. She liked to watch singing fisher price videos-eddie goes zoom. On repeat. Dancing along, etc. She would also play peekaboo barn a little bit </p> <p>She only truly became interested at 18/19 months so now we watch a little together. E is super active and crazy so I don't worry she's turning into a zombie. But when someone is sick in our house? Bring on the Mickey! And when DH is gone all day, I can get dinner on the table much easier if I give her a show while I make it (plus ever since I splattered her with grease, I'm paranoid to have her near me). And she'll cuddle nicely with me while its on :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1966327 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 17:03:20 +0000 meesker 1966327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The TV is on a lot at our house--almost anytime Daddy is home. Since the living room is also her main play area, she has seen a lot of TV. I started turning on cartoons for her between 4-5 months, around the time the weather got cold and miserable. Unlike Fia, D is not an active baby. She is an observer and we run out of things to entertain her in our house. I had wanted to wait two years, and still try to limit it to 15-30 minutes a day, but I am over feeling guilty about it. If she is bored and fussy and the only thing that will distract her for 10 minutes so I can use the bathroom is Sophia the First, then Disney is going on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1966220 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:02:43 +0000 rachiecakes 1966220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used Skype in the hospital on the iPad, so he's been exposed since the get go.<br /> He plays educational games here and there, and I've gotta say, it's helped with teaching him how to spell his name, write the alphabet (capital and lowercase), and he counts to 40. He's going to be 3 in two weeks. It's been a great learning tool. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1966218 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 16:01:47 +0000 avivoca 1966218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She's been FaceTiming with her grandparents since birth. Now at 12 months, she gets to watch an episode of KidsCamp on YouTube if she's especially fussy. This past weekend, she had a ton of screentime because we were at my in-laws house for the holiday and their TV is on from the time they get up until the time they go to bed. At home, she very rarely watches TV. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1966214 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:57:59 +0000 erinpye 1966214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Immediately. Both have been able to FaceTime and use an iPad by 6 months. We don't make it a "thing," and there are many days that they have no screen time at all. There are also days where they have an hour or two. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1966175 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 15:42:30 +0000 Mae 1966175@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: oh we do Skype! LO's grandma lives far away and has only gotten to see her in person once in her 6 mo so we Skype about once/mo. It's really fun because she seems to understand grandma is talking to her and she smiles at her :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965949 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:29:22 +0000 catomd00 1965949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She's around it if we are using it in her presence (which is invitable) but we don't specifically turn the tv on for her or give her a phone to play with. And we dont plan on it any time soon! When we do, it will be for desperate situations or a special treat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965938 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:25:47 +0000 ElbieKay 1965938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do not turn on the TV in front of the baby, who will be 9 months old next week. He has seen TV a few times in public (e.g., my dentist's waiting room). He has used FaceTime with his grandparents a few times. I admittedly use my iPhone too much, and he often tries to grab it but I don't let him use it. At the very least, we are planning to follow the recommendation of no screen time for the first two years. Honestly, I will hold out for as long as possible. It won't be hard for him to catch up on how to use the internet when he is older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965928 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:19:56 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1965928@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm very conservative with media in general, because I don't feel like there have been ANY positive links for use with infants or toddlers, and there have been some links that have pointed to negative effects.</p> <p>I wouldn't look to introduce it if you are already doing well without it.</p> <p>Ellie was 3.5 before she had any media time. After that it was limited. Lorelei was 2, and has probably had a total of five hours of media time over her lifetime. Again, I am the first to admit I am really conservative on this one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965918 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 14:14:38 +0000 Anagram 1965918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh! And we've used Skype forever because our parents are out of town. Probably since the day she was born!~ And I let her watch videos of herself sometimes on my phone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965860 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:54:35 +0000 Anagram 1965860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is 16 months and the only app she has used is that talking cat app, where it mimics whatever sound you make--she and DH play with it together and have been since maybe 12 months? I'm not against that app because the no-screentime recommendation was because research has shown that a lot of screen time might equal less face-to-face with parents time, so babies aren't exposed to real-life speech and vocabulary as much as they should-- but that app kind of focuses on speech.</p> <p>LO didn't watch any tv at all, not even once, until this month at 16 months. She was sick for most of thanksgiving and we let her watch 3 Daniel Tiger episodes over a few days so she rest a bit (and whine less, honestly. We had guests and LO was just crying constantly because she didn't feel well).</p> <p>I'm not into a ton of screen time for any age (even adults), but I think after a year a small amount is fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965815 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:37:26 +0000 looch 1965815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started using the computer for Skype sessions at 6 months of age. Mostly, my son would be playing and the computer was background noise.</p> <p>He actually began to show interest in the TV very early, so I stopped having it on for background noise, but then we had a tough, long winter, and I kind of relented, using TV at around 14 months.</p> <p>I can not remember when we used the ipad first, it had to be on one of our flights, maybe at 18 months? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965810 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:36:00 +0000 Mae 1965810@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: i think that is part of it-- i doubt she'd care even if i did turn a show on for her now! she's a super active kid and just wants to be moving around all the time. She's definitely not a cuddle on the couch and hang out kid, at least not yet. :) Although we have the tv going a lot (just our shows) and the thing she seems to look at the most is football! lol I wonder why that is. </p> <p>@Mamaof2: haha good point :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965803 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:31:40 +0000 autumnlove 1965803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I introduced the iPad at almost 26 months for LO 1. She still isn't that interested.</p> <p>I bought an Elmo app for LO 2 when she was around 14-15 months. She calls him a few times a month! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965800 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:31:21 +0000 Mamaof2 1965800@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mae: "But I don't know when most people start turning on saturday morning cartoons "</p> <p>When baby #2 comes along!!! :silly: </p> <p>When I had my DD the TV and phone became a life saver. DS never watched TV before that. Like you, he never had a favorite character because he didn't know any! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965798 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:30:33 +0000 lawbee11 1965798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Even if you try she may not be into it. LO is 16 months and I tried getting her to watch cartoons a couple of months ago when she was sick and I was desperate to do stuff without her clinging to me, and she had no interest and still doesn't. I think a few minutes is the longest she's ever sat still for a show. She actually seems more interested in sports that DH is watching than kids' shows! </p> <p>As far as devices...we won't be introducing those for awhile. I'm too paranoid about her breaking my phone or iPad (I don't know that she'd get anything out of it at this age anyways). We'll wait til we can get her her own device (I think some companies make tablets specifically for kids). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965786 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:27:32 +0000 mrsjyw 1965786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's always been around, but he didn't get into it until this past summer, around 18 months when he would sit and watch for more than a minute or two. </p> <p>He's 2 now and we most definitely are a screentime friendly family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965780 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:25:34 +0000 hilsy85 1965780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe around 14 months? It was the winter, and we just kind of got desperate! We stuck to 10 minute shows for a long time, and then we had two trips when he was 15 and 16 months old, one a 12 hour flight, and I was REALLY happy that he had some shows that he liked that could entertain him for a little while on the plane. Around 20/21 months he started getting more into shows, and now at 2 he has definite favorites and gets anywhere from 30 min to 1 hour a day. We don't really use apps though, just tv. I know plenty of people who haven't introduced any screentime to their 2 year olds, so don't feel any pressure to do it if you don't want to! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-did-you-introduce-tech-to-kids#post-1965751 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 13:14:47 +0000 Mae 1965751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just curious when other people started introducing technology (like apps on your phone or iPad; or tv shows/movies) to kids. I sort of thought it would be apparent to me when I had a kid, but it isn't. I feel like some of my friends turn on cartoons for their babies (less than a year) and I know by 1 year most of my friends kids had favorite shows. I've also seen babies with iPads online and whatnot. </p> <p>My LO is only 6 months but I just can't see giving her technology any time soon. Maybe things will change but I sort of don't see the point? She is interested in my phone, but that just means I keep it away from her. She's never seen our iPad or computer and I've never turned on a cartoon for her. I just don't know that she's missing out on anything without it and I fear once I start it, it will snowball. But I don't know when most people start turning on saturday morning cartoons :) </p>