Are adults who give babies tablets showing American cartoons at full volume in medical waiting rooms the lowest form of life? (Serious, not in any way light-hearted)

[CurdinHenry]

Aaaaaaaaaa

Mine probably had the most screen time of his life when he was in hospital but always, always with headphones. Or on silent if no headphones.

Loud ipads aren't necessary at all in public spaces.

Raised decent kids without needing them to play iPads with the volume on. Same with everyone I know and their lovely children.

It's infuriating. It's not just children it's often adults watching things or listening to music without headphones too. It's anti social and selfish. I don't care about other peoples kids screen time because it's none of my business, but I do care when they make it everyone's problem by having the volume on full blast. Headphones or turn the sound off!

i’m not generally a screen time parent, but when DD was two, she was on a ward, on a drip with a nasogastric tube down her throat. I had brought drawing, magnetic tiles, and some mega blocks with us, but she spent the majority of her time watching nonsense on my surface pro, or asleep. I don’t know what else you’re meant to do with a poorly child. We are a very outdoorsy family, live in Devon, beach/moors/farms/national trust properties etc every day. But when you’re stuck wired up to all sorts you can’t really do much else can you? I did bring Little over ear headphones for her. But Very dramatic on your part to say you’d go on a killing spree when very sick small children are watching some bloody telly

I think most are objecting to the use without earphones etc mainly. If a kid or adult wants to listen with headphones on during a hospital admission then that’s fine in my book.

Not allowing the volume to disturb others is just part of common courtesy surely. In the same category as not dropping litter, or eating a smelly McD on public transport, holding the door for somebody etc. Unfortunately these things aren’t as common now perhaps.

Yep. I'm sure I'm one of the "old" people being derided by some (my kids are 14 and 10, I'm in my lateish 40s), but we've always just called it parenting.

I won't deny I've given my kids a tablet or phone once in a while when they were younger for long waits/journeys but we've always had a very strict rule that it's no headphones, no volume, no exceptions.

And a rule for myself that it's never the first thing to reach for.

I’m calling you judgemental and my “kid” is 23 so we didn’t have them when he was small. He’s autistic and when small was non verbal so you can bet your bloody life we would have used a screen if it helped.

Still, it’s stopped me being a judgemental arsehole around other parents. You have no idea what else they might be dealing with, sure…sit there and sneer.

It’s the volume that’s the issue rather than them being on screens - I’m not sure why everyone here is being so defensive when they say they themselves turn the volume off or use headphones?

and yes, adults who do it are even worse because they should know better

Yanbu op. I’ve started taking noise cancelling headphones now everywhere I go as people’s noise is so bloody irritating although they are only helpful if waiting rooms have screen notifications for you.

Yes because the noise is maddening. I don't care if they've got headphones that's your business. If I can't sleep or my sick family member can't because you've raised a paw patrol literal addict and forgot the headphones then it's my business.

I think your turn of phrase is interesting like you don't realise anyone except your precious offspring might be sick IN THE HOSPITAL.

The people who do it on 5 hour long trains… there is a circle in hell for them.

Even lower are the adults who seem oblivious to the fact that headphones were invented and listen to whatever on their own phones loudly on a plane! Honestly makes my blood boil even though logically I know it’s not as bad as I think k it is.

Noise pollution isn't just annoying, it's also a proven health hazard.

Aye right. The parents who allow their kids to watch their tablets at full volume in public are highly unlikely to be story readers.

I feel like I didn’t get the tone of my message right as it was a joke on the type of answers you get on here!

As I pressed send it did occur to me that you were being tongue in cheek. My bad.

I must be much more zen than the average person when it comes to other people’s parenting.
Everything in moderation, it’s not an everyday occurrence, as someone who spends a lot of time in the children’s hospital, I think whatever works for the moment is fine, it’s mind numbing for the children. My children are older, I’m well over the toddler stage. The noise might be irritating but hardly the lowest form of behaviour.
The children who hog the available toys and scream, the ones who have gentle parents are more annoying, but again nothing worth writing a thread about. I wouldn’t beg my children in a sweet voice, they get “the look” it is enough to do the job.
Maybe I’ve experienced real fresh hell in life that I can tell the difference between a mild irritation and antisocial behaviour.

Yes- giving babies tablets is a no no full stop. Turns me into the judgiest of people !

Hmmm. I was in a&e with my hysterical 20 month old and no amount of reading/playing/cuddling was soothing him....hence needing a&e. When the doctor arrived she said 'haven't you got a phone he can watch something on?'. He doesnt get much TV and doesnt have a tablet and I'd left my phone in the car in the rush to get him to A&E so the answer was 'no'. She went off and returned with a tablet which she proceeded to put pepppa pig on at increasingly loud volumes so it could be heard over his crying. It had no effect on soothing my son, but as it was a hospital provided tablet set on (increasing) volume by the doctor I can only presume they felt it was acceptable.

Well yes but that was whilst being examined, anything to shut them up. The issue is sat in a waiting room subjecting a load of ill people to loud kids crap on phones/tablets.

Why would you have left your phone in the car anyway surely family would have wanted updates.

So. Parents yes use screens when cba to interact just do so with earphones, it shouldn't need spelling out.

Quiet isn't silent.

You set up a false dichotomy where they were either watching a tablet or talking to strangers.

It’s something I think receptionists, train conductors airline staff etc should now be trained to manage and be on top of.

so many inconsiderate parents out there. Headphones solves this problem and they should be mandatory

Is your problem with the fact that the cartoons are American? If so you are a xenophobe.

Nonsense!

You can control a child, you should control a child and, what's more you have a duty to control a child.

No wonder with this sort of soft, slope headed thinking ,more and more teachers are leaving the classroom and everyday we have a poster appear terrified of her own child...even 5 year old children.

Get a grip, stop pissing about ang get controlling.