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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you complain?

89 replies

Galaxyca · 15/05/2025 16:28

I took my baby to a GP appointment today regarding a rash under their chin after beginning weaning. Baby was lying on the bed and we needed them to look up so the doctor could see. I dug my keys on phone out my pocket and dangled them in the air, and tapped my screen so that the screensaver photo came on (baby smiled and looked up, so this worked.

He glanced for half a second under her chin and said straight faced, ‘parenting tip here for you, do not let them look at your phone’. I laughed thinking it was a joke but it was obvious from his expression that it wasn’t. I’ve thought on it and I feel a bit annoyed to be honest. Even if I were playing cartoons, he is there to look at a medical concern and not comment on anything else. I am a younger mum and left DH in the car and wonder if either of that was different perhaps he wouldn’t have said it.

AIBU to feed it back? I don’t want to be that person but I do think it was out of order and an arrogant thing to say, however minor a comment

OP posts:
wafflesmgee · 15/05/2025 16:47

The doctor gave you that advice because it is good advice not because of your age

wafflesmgee · 15/05/2025 16:46

It’s good advice. Just pretend phones dont exist around your baby. I would have said something too. You are annoyed because the doctor was right but you need to take the advice not complain. It is his job to help you make the right choices to bring up your child healthily…he is a DOCTOR… YABU

Original poster
Galaxyca · 15/05/2025 16:45

purpleme12 · 15/05/2025 16:36

Wow I'd be pissed off to be honest

I'd find it patronising

Don't know if I'd be pissed off enough to make a complaint

Thanks! Glad I wasn’t the only one.

OP posts:
Original poster
Galaxyca · 15/05/2025 16:43

Icecreammaninavan · 15/05/2025 16:43

Your doctor sounds very sensible. Babies should never be on phones.

Baby wasn’t on a phone :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Galaxyca · 15/05/2025 16:43

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Not teens, mid 20s but classed as younger in our area I’d say.

OP posts:
Icecreammaninavan · 15/05/2025 16:43

Your doctor sounds very sensible. Babies should never be on phones.

BethDuttonYeHaw · 15/05/2025 16:43

Let it go.

it’s just advice you don’t agree with.

RoseofRoses · 15/05/2025 16:42

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Littlemiracles232504 · 15/05/2025 16:42

I bet he sees far too many little ones come through that door placed in front of phones/tabs ect
id find his comment a bit patronising tbh, but I would just take it with a pinch of salt
it won’t be the last patronising comment, as a parent these days I can’t seem to do right from wrong no matter what I do

Ponderingwindow · 15/05/2025 16:39

There are legitimate concerns about babies and screen time. It is completely within a doctor’s remit to address the issue as a developmental concern. In my country this is a standard part of an appointment because we have non sickness appointments with our doctors for young children where the focus is entirely on development. I believe in the uk this might be more likely addressed with a health visitor check-in, but it still isn’t unusual for a doctor to mention.

PrettyPuss · 15/05/2025 16:37

I wonder if he has older children who he now struggles to get off their phones? That would be my bet.

I wouldn't complain, no.

B1anche · 15/05/2025 16:37

Don't complain. It's really not a big issue.

purpleme12 · 15/05/2025 16:36

Wow I'd be pissed off to be honest

I'd find it patronising

Don't know if I'd be pissed off enough to make a complaint

Cherrysoup · 15/05/2025 16:34

I would let that go, maybe he was worried that you’re popping the baby 8n front of a phone, maybe it’s not good for their eyes? I have no idea, but I don’t think it was a terrible thing, possibly unnecessary as you were juggling keys, my favourite thing when my cousins were small, they all loved jangling keys.