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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let 5 year old watch tablet in bed

46 replies

Sheend · 15/08/2022 19:59

So we have just been on holiday and my 5 year old DD has now got into the habit of watching the tablet to go to sleep, my one year old is really difficult to get to sleep too. Should I just choose the easy option even though we have got this far without it?

OP posts:
luckylavender · 15/08/2022 21:08

MoistBandana · 15/08/2022 20:09

Some people, not all people, are affected by the light screens give off.
There's limited evidence that proves the claim of people trying to flog orange glasses.

Give them the tablet, but prop it up somewhere and stick a Netflix film on for them to lie and relax with.

They're 5!

parietal · 15/08/2022 21:11

Take the ipad away in evenings at home. you'll have 2 or 3 days of fussing and then the 5 year old will be back into a normal routine with a story and then sleep.

if you let DC keep the ipad, they will have it every night for the next 10 years or longer. they will miss out on reading stories and are more likely to sleep badly and to access unsuitable content (if you aren't watching them).

Classicblunder · 15/08/2022 21:13

Have a look at a yoto player or Tonie box

It has really helped my two to sleep to have audio that they can control

balalake · 15/08/2022 21:14

I think you have done the right thing by taking it away.

Reebokclassics · 15/08/2022 21:15

My 5 yo is sat next to me in bed right now, watching her allocated one episode of her choosing after bath, pre books and sleep. Thats our routine, works for us! Shes more willing to go to sleep after and goes off no problem as she has two books read to her after the episode to calm her down 🤷🏼‍♀️ Shes allowed up a little later as its the holidays! Usually lights out at 8pm

Eunorition · 15/08/2022 21:16

No. Do better. Children need to learn good sleep habits.

Also idling on a tablet is a nightmare for their attention span and language acquisition. Tell her a bedtime story and leave the room.

Talkwhilstyouwalk · 15/08/2022 21:19

I wouldn't allow it before bed no.

turquoise1988 · 15/08/2022 21:26

In bed - it's not for me, but the person saying a 5 year old shouldn't have access to one at all is being a bit silly.

It's 2022. As long as you are spending time talking to, engaging with, playing with your child and they are having regular access to outdoors/other opportunities then having regulated access to a screen for bursts of time is fine.

As adults, we need time to chill, relax, zone out, whether that be with a book or TV or iPad or whatever else. Children should have this too!

Everything in moderation.

AlwaysLatte · 15/08/2022 21:31

Enjoy the time while they're little - bedtime stories together but no screens. Just my opinion though!

Nietzschethehiker · 15/08/2022 21:43

OP don't panic at the rush to hoik the bosom from some pp. Screen time is a red flag to a bull and lots of people have somewhat... erm single minded reaction because they don't entirely understand the studies with them. Same type of people who in the early 19th century would have panicked about novels ((look it up for the variety of those who don't believe me).

There's a somewhat unintelligent assertion that you couldn't possibly be doing all the wholesome things with dc at other times because usually people are just a bit sad and insecure and trying to find something that makes them feel superior for a moment because deep down they know they aren't.

So for us we did notice a relationship to tablet blue light (specifically as a small tv hasnt had the same reaction
..granted it is as old as the hills ) and we also noticed an issue with any Internet connection. Could just be my eldest dc which is where we saw it. Within 2 days he was arguing for more time.

This argument is unheard of in my house. We actually don't restrict screen time by minutes (on the grounds that it doesn't allow them to develop any actual understanding of why) they can have as long as they like as long as we are not doing something else or there isn't a task to do (dinner , activity, we are going out, teeth etc). This has resulted in them being relatively uninterested beyond about half an hour. It's not a battle so to be honest, they use screens for half an hour in the day and then get bored and wander off to do something else. (Tonight I got roped into making a cardboard Venus fly trap Grin).

It has oddly meant they spend far less time on electronics than their friends if what the other parents say is true. (Don't actually care not my children not my problem)

Except with the tablet ...in bed. First and last time it caused an issue. So it was banned as the only rule is that when you are told to come off...it goes off immediately without argument. Only time that rule was ever broken was with the tablet in bed for those two nights.

However what works well for us is somewhat old fashioned (for a tech savvy ish house) the dc have an old dvd player . Yep it started when ds2 as a toddler and baby was still needing a lot of time at bed time so we tried it with ds1 (after the tablet caused an issue) . They have a few dvds and one gets put on when they first go to bed. After story (x2 but that's because currently there is a debate between whether Superheros or dinosaurs are better !) And after song ( and in our case a specific poem that keeps monsters away...but thats probably very specific to us after train line behind our old house caused havoc with two ds with very strong imaginations ). I go in to switch off half an hour later and all done. They are fast asleep a few moments later (depending on the amount of hug tax demanded by them).

Look. Find something that works for you. Ignore those who chose to put the boot in. Think about exactly what kind of human you have to be to kick someone over this. It's kind of sad ultimately. The parents I know whose dc have a healthy minimal relationship with electronics are the ones who don't have a connniption fit in an attempt to feel relevant.

Maybe try a dvd , etc where there is aspecific end point and there isnt an automatic next video suggestion.

What we found works (which I'm sure will cause a pearly clutch for someone) is I don't actually ever discuss if I take something off dc after setting a boundary. We don't get it over electronics but we do over other things. They won't be traumatised I promise. Ds2 is a talented actor. If you saw him sometimes when I say no to something you'd think the world was ending. However the drama ends because once I've explained why, it's not a discussion . There is wailing and gnashing of teeth and 5 minutes later he is off planning his next world domination.

If you get a reaction just power through. Calm , kind , steady "Nope kiddo that's the rule and you know why so that's the rule, Na night now" , a bit of wailing and done. They figure it out fast and I promise they aren't traumatised.

Mine are 9 and 6 for. reference .
Don't panic you are not a bad parent
...ignore the pp who imply you are.

RoseMartha · 15/08/2022 21:49

No. I would say it was just a holiday treat.

SquirrelCity · 15/08/2022 21:59

It'd be cruel to keep letting her have an iPad to get to sleep TBH.

caringcarer · 15/08/2022 22:04

Madness to give a 5 year old more than 20 mins a day on tablet. They should be sleeping in bed not getting stimulation. You will love to regret it op.

namechangetheworld · 15/08/2022 22:15

Mine doesn't have it at night, but I definitely hand it over for an hour each morning in the holidays so I can have a bit of a lie-in..! Eldest was watching some children's documentary about the planets this morning, so I'll take that as a win.
I don't get the drama really - don't lots of people fall asleep with the TV on?

Spinasaurus · 15/08/2022 22:19

VestaTilley · 15/08/2022 20:30

That is terrible parenting and an awful habit. Tablets shouldn’t be allowed in children’s rooms full stop. Poor little girl, falling asleep to a tablet.

Read her some bedtime stories, sing some nursery rhymes, stroke her hand and kiss her good night like the rest of us do.

I can list a lot of worse things a parent can do than letting the kids have a game of candy crush before bedtime.

Spinasaurus · 15/08/2022 22:23

I do find all of the pearl clutching over the tablet funny. Mainly because I have a 9YO who could happily sit up all night reading. I've caught him at midnight on a school night when I went to the toilet still awake and reading.

Short of administering drugs, you cannot force a child to sleep.

toastofthetown · 15/08/2022 22:29

Would audio books work as a less stimulating, potentially sleep disturbing option, but without you spending hours reading story after story? When I'm struggling to sleep sometimes some background noise which isn't super stimulating helps me to drift off and stop focussing on the fact I can't sleep (most recent was a podcast on the popularity of air fryers). And DH was totally dependent on his story cassettes as a child to help him sleep and stay in bed, from about the the age of 5.

Pleasecouldihavesomeadvice · 15/08/2022 22:32

Personally I wouldn’t. It’s not too late to stop this habit

Disneyblueeyes · 15/08/2022 22:33

VestaTilley · 15/08/2022 20:30

That is terrible parenting and an awful habit. Tablets shouldn’t be allowed in children’s rooms full stop. Poor little girl, falling asleep to a tablet.

Read her some bedtime stories, sing some nursery rhymes, stroke her hand and kiss her good night like the rest of us do.

Could you BE more dramatic?

Sometimeswinning · 15/08/2022 22:51

For anyone who missed it, the op agrees with those who say no screen time. She's taken the tablet back.

She also reads bedtime stories. She had a wobble but has sorted it!

Sunflowersinthewind · 15/08/2022 22:59

All these perfect parents typing furiously about how screens are bad from their screens that I very much doubt they have regulated themselves to use for no more than 30 mins a day. You think they would be reading a book, crafting or doing something equally wholesome with their time

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