18 month old using iphone

[Tiredmum21]

I have an 18 month old - we went on holiday two months ago and resorted to using our iphone to keep my DD entertained (mainly youtube videos).

Since then every time she sees mine or my husband's iphone, she immediately goes for it, crying if she doesn't get it - and we do occasionally give in🤷🏻‍♀️.

I feel conflicted about it - esp since i bumped into a friend who says she has a strict no screens rule with her own DD (and was shocked my DD could use you tube on my iphone my herself). I try to limit it to a couple of minutes max maybe once or twice a day.

Interested to hear how other parents with children of a similar age deal with screen time. How do i wean my DD off the iphone so she can see one in public without having a tantrum!

How can she use YouTube by herself? What does she search for?

She can use YouTube by herself?

Is she a child prodigy??

I have a nearly 3 year and we have had to delete the ‘arrow button’ from our devices. We started using tooth brushing songs on you tube and it turned into a nightmare of DD wanting to watch absolute crap.

I would go cold turkey have no phones in front of her.

Set an example- don't let her see either of you glued to screens, don't get the phone out in front of her unless it rings. Play with her and she'll learn that's more fun anyway.

Waaaay too young for phones!

can you buy her a toy phone

No no no.
Thank God my kids were little before all this screen nonsense, it's bad enough now they are teenagers.
I wouldn't be letting a little tot near one, they're so bad for their development.

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Just be consistent. I have a DD this age, who verbally asks me to play music whenever my phone is out. I’ve taught her that if she’s in her chair waiting for food she can have it, otherwise mum says no.

My 7yo barely gets my phone he couldn't cope with limited access so he just doesn't get it. My 2 year old I just don't think to give it to him and he doesn't look for it. I'd go cold turkey and remove it too

I know they are growing up In a tech based society but what's wrong with colouring or other means of distraction at such young ages

She def no child prodigy! She recognises the symbol for the YouTube app so swipes through until she see it, then presses it - and as it's mostly her videos we watch, they're on the landing page and hey presto it's baby shark for the millionth time 🤦🏻‍♀️

Thanks for the replies - guess it's time to go cold turkey on the iphone.

I feel your pain! I had a strict no screen rule with DD until she was around 2,6 (now3) which worked really well until I got pregnant with no2 and exhaustion meant I turned to the screen for help and I accidentally created a monster.

I tried to go cold turkey too but realised that I needed to be kind to myself and sometimes letting her on YouTube for ten minutes so I can have a cuppa/ go to toilet alone etc isn’t the end of the world.

It’s difficult when you’re not able to set clear boundaries as you are using it for unforeseen things like having to wait in the shopping queue/ getting dinner on etc.. things I’ve found that help are setting the guided access on it so that she can’t randomly hop between apps, setting a timer on it and warning her before she gets it how long she’ll have it for and the biggest one is trying not to fiddle on my phone in front of her - out of sight out of mind!

Good luck 😉