Screen usage infront of DC

[Lovelypillowcase]

I am a SAHM and so spend a lot of time with our DS. My DH works ft so doesnt get as much time with DS, and certainly nowhere near the amount of one on one time with him. When he is in charge of our DS though he is often on his phone, or sticks the tv on. It really annoys me! When I say anything he levels it back at me that I do the same - sometimes I do look at my phone, yes, but when with DS I make a conscious effort to put it to one side. He also just gets tetchy and defensive about it and I feel like I should drop it.

DS is 1, I know they dont need constantly playing with and he can occupy himself nicely. I just don't want his first memories of his parents to be zombies looking at their phones, it makes me sad. Does anyone else have this? And am I being totally unreasonable? Or worrying for nothing?

I am in the exact same position as you and have found DH very frustrating! A few months back I really started to make an effort in leaving my phone in another room etc to stop temptation and as a result I realised just how much you miss from not watching them play and interact. There have been a few occasions when DS has hurt himself as a result of DH not watching him because he was on his phone so therefore numerous arguments have occurred. Always get the same response of “your always on your phone”. I literally send a message and then the phone will go back on the side whereas DH can sit for hours playing on his and it gets incredibly frustrating. We had an argument over this just the other day and he basically said that why shouldn’t be allowed to look at his phone and was he supposed to just sit and play with DS all day bored. I suggested that I didn’t think he had transitioned into having a child very well and whereas when he was a baby we could get away with it now he is a toddler he needs interaction whereas DH just wants to carry on his life as it was before. I think this made him realise slightly but we’ve had the conversation before and he lessens the screen time for a few weeks before it goes back to normal. I totally feel for you in your situation and men can be so stubborn! I don’t have any real advice for you but know that your doing the right thing by telling him it’s wrong and your not overreacting at all.