To question whether to allow my baby to play with a toy smartphone and/or remote control?

[dellacucina]

As in Fisher Price versions? Thoughts on these toys?

It's just a toy, why not

Why would it be a problem? It's just a toy like any other

Is it encouraging the baby to want to use a smart phone or watch TV? Am I overthinking?

It's just a toy. Do you overthink everything to this degree?

Am I overthinking?

Yes

Most children like TV and smart phones regardless of whether they played with toy gadgets.

no i wouldn't avoid as long as possible

Personally I would have thought there were more fun toys than those - things that move or rattle or do something. So I would choose other toys over these mainly for those reasons.

But yes, there is plenty of time to get 'addicted' to screens so I wouldn't be keen to particularly encourage it!

It's a toy, you're over thinking it.

They're not real screens if they're for babies, they're just buttons that you press and they make noise. Just in a rectangular shape. And to be fair, the rectangle is not a new shape for a toy.

My kids knew they weren't the real deal from the get go but 3.5yo ds still likes preaaing the buttons on the smart phone to hear the numbers. He has an actual tablet to play with (supervised) so I would say you are overthinking it. 17mo pretends he is talking to Grandma. Very cute.
Or get your kid some montessori toys sticks and pinecones to play with instead.

Presumably you could allow them to play with a toy kitchen without the worry that is would encourage them to want to nip through and cook a 3 course meal?

As PP's, it's just a toy

But at least wanting and being able to cook is useful Migraleve!! So it would be a good thing to encourage.

DS lost interest very quickly as he realised they were nowhere near as interesting as the real thing.

It was cute when he got a bit older and would pretend to phone people, but that was on one of those old style Fisher Price pull along phones rather than the pretend smart phone.

I wouldn't worry about it.

It's just a plastic shape with buttons on from their perspective. I do think you're overthinking this!

I wouldn't ban them but I wouldn't go out and buy that kind of toy as battery operated, flashing musical toys aren't the best thing for babies to be playing with in terms of their development.

DS has a vtech remote he likes pressing for he noise & while he's pressing those buttons it keeps him away from others that could be more annoying (like on the TV).

He also pretends it's a phone but he's put other items like bananas, baby fork & other random stuff to his ear to have some very important pretend phone calls.

Pretend calls are all part of imaginative play & the buttons help show cause & effect without turning your TV up/down/over/on/off :)

You're overthinking, but equally the real thing is vastly more interesting to the average baby.
Having said that my 4yo played incessantly with a friend's child's fake car keys recently. You never can tell.

I was given pots and pans to play with, it didn't encourage me to cook.

I'm 40 and I had a toy phone when I was little, Sesame Street characters talked to me when I pushed the buttons. I loved that thing.

They look nothing like the real thing anyway. But how does pressing buttons mean they would be more inclined to want to watch TV? Babies like pressing buttons. Everyone goes a bit PFB, but this is quite ridiculous, you will look back and laugh.

I wouldn't and haven't for several reasons.

Like someone already said, flashing, noisy, button pressing toys are not great for baby/toddler development.

Open ended sensory toys or the real thing (pots and pans, dustpan and brush etc) are better for encouraging creativity and imagination.

I also try and avoid plastic for environmental reasons (plastic particles in the sea for one thing).

Also, I don't want to encourage screens with my DD.

I know I'll be accused of PFB and probably get some 🙄🙄 comments but I don't care.

Those are mine and my DHs choices for our DD and we're comfortable with them.

The book Simplicity Parenting has a great chapter on open-ended natural toys and why they are better for development if you fancy a read

My son has played with those for years (has sn) but has little interest in screens of any sort.

My DS has a toy smartphone and ignores it. He'd rather play with a real TV remote/phone. My logic is he sees us using them and wants what we use.

I agree with Absofrigginlootly about baby toys in general. Although my DD obviously has some. I prefer natural/real life open ended play for her and a few boxes and pots, pans etc entertain her far longer than a flashing phone.
I don't however think that a toy phone/remote etc will encourage screen time. Far more likely seeing parents constantly on phones/tablets or with the tv on will do that! And that's not a dig, I'm fully aware I'm on my phone a bit too much myself.

If you don't have a smartphone then it doesn't make sense to get one. In general kids want to learn about the world and copy adults. If they want a toy smartphone - or to get hold of yours - it's because they've seen you on it enough to clock that it's an important part of adult life. Either let them be part of it or put down your own screens I reckon.