To love this buggy!

[curiousgeorgie]

DH got a delivery this morning....

My DD2 is a nightmare. She screams and cries if I put her in the pram, she's impossible to pacify in a restaurant or shopping etc...

So DH says this is the solution.

She's been quiet for 15 minutes!!!!

Well, she did ask if she was being unreasonable to love the buggy. Are we not allowed to disagree and say we don't?

This actually exists?

What puzzles me, is maybe even a bit sad actually, but how on earth does an infant learn so early that a bright noisy box is more entertaining than the world around them and the people.

I don't know why it doesn't sit well with me but it just doesn't. Some children just are a bit more picky uppy than others and do require a lot more patience than others remembers ds and his non stop crying but I am not sure the solution is plonking a screen in front of them. There is a lot of research showing negative effects of screen time for under twos.

it's not really your business to judge.

Then perhaps don't bring it up on a public forum?

It was quite depressing on holiday watching families come into restaurants and set up an array of tablets or DVD players to 'entertain' their children before even opening the menus.

Ds1 is 8 and more than capable of sitting through a meal. We will let him play on a tablet or something after a meal when the adults want to sit and chat. But straight away?

Also I don't think having a 'fractious baby' during a meal out is part and parcel of being a parent. I've had 5 DC, but raised 7, some were a dream and never had a peep out of them during such occasions, the others were the total opposite and seemed to save up a days noise for release the moment we sat down in a public place. Some children are more difficult than others and we as parents should use what we can to cope. I'd say surely it's better if parents get a decent break and enjoy a meal together, could even say that it builds a strong relationship and lessens the chance of a separated family which is statistically far more important to child development than their screen time.

I do hate the comparisons to how parents used to cope. At one point we were all living in caves, or sending our children up the chimney, or smoking heavily around them and leaving them in pub car parks. Yes we have lots of new gadgets but we also have become far less lax in other areas (and a lot more anxious overall), I'm not going to be against something because my ancestor never had the luxury. How ridiculous. Should I not vote either or shop online because my great-great granny had a happy enjoyable life without either of those two luxuries?

Crack on OP.

I'm on the fence. On one hand, why would you leave a baby crying and distressed in a pram (and you've all exhausted all other options)? On the other hand, I don't like to see a baby craning their neck to gaze at a screen.

So the baby stares at a screen rather than looking at the world around the? That's nice.
The whole bored toddler thing in restaurants; yes they can be hard work when they're little but you take it in turns to follow them, you jiggle them up and down, you bring toys and guess what. It eventually teaches them how to behave at a table.
This baby's going to learn it needs a tablet when at a restaurant.
I find it really depressing the thought of mum and dad enjoying a meal ignoring the baby cocooned with their screen

Fair enough Username but maybe op expected "yabu I wouldn't use it" rather than a general criticism of parenting skills.

I do see where posters are coming from about the meal, I really do. But the op posted at 9.30 having received it this morning and baby has already been in it for 20 mins! It's easy to use it for the easy option.

So pillow, we are just to answer yabu or yanbu and not elaborate? I didn't realise that.

Yes nicky - to try it out! I can put your mind at rest though, she's now in her playroom making a mess... No more child abuse for the moment.

Pillow if you post on a public forum there is a chance you most likely will be judged.
I don't disagree some children are harder work than others, but under 2 to me just seems lazy.

I'm not accusing you of child abuse, what an odd thing to say. Enjoy your glass of wine while your baby enjoys her programme.

Clearly not or the forum wouldn't be v interesting!

Well, it's not even 11, so I probably won't have a glass just yet

And,screen issues aside, what a mug for forking out on a whole new buggy to accommodate an iPad!

"I've been there with eating in shifts while the other chases the baby but it isn't like that forever, it does get easier."

Not always. Still doing that with our 7 year old.

Chubby - it was cheaper than a maclaren and we just wanted an easy fold buggy for holiday. DH just happened to see this one and thought it would make our holiday a bit more enjoyable (which it will!)... It wasn't bought solely for that purpose...

Obviously there will always be children with additional needs or behavioural problems who will always struggle to behave lambsie but for the vast majority of people they can have children behaving and sitting at a table for a full meal from about 3 years old.

Lambsie, I can't obviously speak for every parent in the world but for the vast majority it does get easier. I'm obviously not referring to sn as the parents will have their own difficulties.

I'm glad some people have got young toddlers who will settle in a restaurant with a bit of jiggling and a toy

Can't believe I didn't think of that before, damn... And all this time I've just been watching him cry helplessly.

Of course, it is just a buggy without iPad too! She can just have the hood up and see the world....

See?!

I have no particular problem with this in itself- no, I wouldn't have one myself but I wouldn't judge parents at their wits end using it for much needed respite.

What would concern me is continuous screen time at that age or any other. There is cumulative evidence which persuades me that excessive screen time can be at the expense of other areas of child development - e.g. language, social skills, fine motor skills like model making.

I do think that iPads etc have a place with our children in today's society- but the key has got to be that they are additional to, not instead of, a balanced range of experiences.

I'm pretty sure outcomes relating to positive mental health and academic outcomes would bear this view out. I realise my point is not rocket science after all...

Ps your little girl is gorgeous op